then, don’t run away. As I told you, stand your ground, girl.’
Pearl wanted nothing more than to flee, but moments later the door flew open, crashing back against the wall. Ramrod straight, her hair still loose and flying wildly around her shoulders, Dolly marched into the shop.
‘I don’t know what your game is, but you can bring that child back to the café.’
The noise woke Johnny up and he began to cry, but as Dolly moved towards the pram, Pearl barred her path. ‘Keep away from him.’
‘You must be mad, girl. I’m not having my grandson living in this dump!’
‘Oy, watch your mouth, Dolly Dolby,’ Bessie said, moving from behind the counter.
‘Shut up!’ Dolly shouted, her hand coming out as though Bessie was a fly to swat away.
‘Don’t you dare touch her!’ Pearl screamed.
Dolly stayed her hand, saying with a scowl, ‘Huh, I wouldn’t touch her with a bleedin’ bargepole.
She made for the pram again, but Pearl bent swiftly, snatching Johnny up and holding him tightly to her. ‘Stay away from my son!’
‘I’ll do no such thing! He’s my grandson and his place is with me.’
Pearl felt her body swelling, stretching, and from somewhere inside she felt imbued with strength. ‘No, Dolly, his place is with me, his mother! I’ll decide where he lives, not you, and we’re staying here.’
‘You heard her. I want you out of my shop, Dolly Dolby, and now.’
‘I told you to shut your mouth, Bessie Penfold! I ain’t going anywhere without my grandson and if you get in my way I’ll smash your bleedin’ face in.’
When Pearl heard the threat it was the final straw. She had lived in fear of this woman, allowed herself to be ordered about like a servant, but she wasn’t going to let Dolly take her son. Johnny was still wailing, but her voice rose above his cries. ‘You lay one finger on Bessie, or my son, and I’ll call the police.’
‘You wouldn’t dare!’
‘Oh yes I would.’ And playing what she hoped was a trump card, she added, ‘And I’m sure the locals would love to see another Dolby being carted off to gaol.’
‘You little bitch,’ Dolly spat. ‘All right, I’m going, but I ain’t finished with you yet!’
The breath left Pearl’s body in a rush as Dolly marched out of the shop, slamming the door behind her.
‘There, there, it’s all right,’ she soothed, patting Johnny on his back. His cries turned to little hiccuping sobs, and then finally stopped.
‘Well done, love,’ Bessie said. ‘She was like a bleedin’ Amazon, but you sorted her out.’
‘Yes, but for how long?’
‘You’ve got the upper hand now, and it won’t take her long to realise that if she wants to see her grandson, she’ll have to behave.’
Pearl smiled at last. She had done it. She had stood up to Dolly and from now on, nobody was going to walk all over her again.
Dolly was fuming as she marched across the road, but saw many eyes looking at her, and heard sniggers of laughter. Her hand flew up, touching her hair, and she suddenly realised that she had dashed out without giving any thought to her appearance. Christ, she still had her slippers on! Head down she surged forward, almost running to the sanctuary of the café.
The postman had been and a few letters lay on the floor. She swept them up, still sick with shame as she flicked through them, but then stayed her hand as one caught her eye. It was addressed to Pearl, the writing spidery, and she frowned, wondering who it was from.
Well, sod the girl. She had run off, taking Johnny with her. Without hesitation, Dolly tore the envelope open. Her mouth gaped in disbelief as she read the contents. She then smiled slyly. She’d keep this bit of information to herself and it would serve Pearl right. Dolly stuffed the letter into her pocket and went upstairs.
‘She wouldn’t come back then?’ Bernie said.
‘No, and she even had the cheek to threaten me with the police.’
‘Blimey! Why did she do that?’
‘Oh, I dunno. Probably because I threatened to give Bessie Penfold a clout.’
‘Bloody hell – what did you do that for?’
‘Cos the old cow told me to get out of her shop.’
Bernie shook his head. ‘Dolly, it sounds to me like you went in there like a bull into a china shop.’
‘Yeah, well, maybe I did, but Pearl can’t keep me away from my grandson.’
‘Dolly, she can, and we can’t do anything about it.’
‘Huh, we’ll see about that. I’ll go to a bloody solicitor if I have to.’
‘It won’t do any good. We have no legal rights over Johnny.’
‘Don’t be daft. We’re his grandparents.’
‘As the law stands at the moment, it doesn’t make any difference.’
Dolly sunk onto a chair, her mind turning. So, they had no legal rights, but she wasn’t going to give in. ‘I’ll tidy myself up and go over there again.’
‘It might be better if I speak to her.’
‘No, I’ll sort her out.’
‘Dolly, if you aren’t careful, you’ll frighten her off. There’s nothing to stop her leaving Bessie’s, and if she does we’d lose track of her.’
Dolly frowned. Bernie was right. She didn’t want the girl bolting and needed time to think, to plan. In the meantime, Bernie might be able to calm things down.
‘All right, you talk to her. She always did have a soft spot for you.’
Bernie left half an hour later. Awaiting his return, Dolly paced the floor. She wanted out of this area, but had no intention of leaving without her grandson. A plan began to form, and as she went over it, Dolly decided it could work. But would Bernie agree?
A lot depended on how quickly they could sell the business, but then, struck by a thought, she stopped pacing. The letter that had been delivered for Pearl might put a fly in the ointment. Grabbing her coat from the back of the chair, she pulled the crumpled envelope out of the pocket.
As she read the contents again, a small smile of satisfaction crossed her face. The woman was ill, too ill to travel, and that suited Dolly fine. There was no chance of her turning up for the time being, no chance of any interference, and with any luck they would be long gone before she showed her face.
She went over the plan again, a little unsure if Kevin had any legal rights. He must have, he was Johnny’s father! It might be for the best if Bernie approached him. He could tell Kevin that Pearl was an unfit mother and that Johnny was in danger. It was rubbish, of course, but Kevin loved his son and would want to protect him.
Dolly frowned, unsure of this stage of her plan, but then her back straightened. Even if Kevin wouldn’t co-operate, it could still work. They’d have to change their names, of course, but just in case Bernie baulked at the idea, she’d wait until they had a buyer for the café before telling him. He might not like it, but she’d get round him, and if not, well, sod him. She’d do it on her own.
Bernie sat in Bessie’s living room, relieved that Pearl had agreed to speak to him in private, his eyes soft as he gazed at his grandson. The lad was growing fast, sitting up now and a happy baby, with chubby arms and legs that waved with excitement at the sight of his toy.
‘Dolly is really sorry, Pearl, but when you went off without telling