‘Yes, I was, but that’s not all. She’s left me her shop and the flat.’
‘Has she? Now that was good of her.’
‘There are strings attached,’ Pearl told him, going on to explain about the provision in Bessie’s will.
‘If you ask me, it’s a bit much,’ Bernie said when she’d finished. ‘Nora isn’t your responsibility.’
‘Derek says the same.’
‘Yeah, well, he’s right. So what are you going to do?’
There was silence on the line for a moment, but then Pearl said, ‘I’m not sure yet, but if I do as Bessie asks, it’ll mean telling John the whole truth about Kevin.’
‘I don’t see why.’
‘There are sure to be people in Battersea who remember what Kevin did. I’d rather tell him myself before John hears it from them.’
Just then Bernie heard Dolly stirring and had to end the call. He wondered how John would react when he heard the truth about Kevin. Would he still want to meet his father? Somehow, Bernie doubted it.
After dinner that evening, Pearl went over things in her mind once again. It was early days yet, but at the moment Nora was clinging to her like a limpet. The strangeness of staying here, away from Battersea and all that Nora knew wasn’t helping, but Pearl knew if she didn’t agree to the terms of Bessie’s will, they would soon have to find somewhere else to live. That would not only exacerbate Nora’s fears, it would put a huge strain on their marriage, both mentally and financially.
Taking everything into consideration there seemed only one choice, and if they returned to Battersea at least Kevin would be on the other side of the Thames in Ealing. Oh, she was tired – tired of trying to make the right decision. There was so much to consider: her son, her mother and of course her husband. She couldn’t do it alone, it was too much, and turning to Derek she voiced one of her concerns. ‘I know you think we should move back to Battersea, but it would disrupt John’s education.’
‘He’s young and he’ll adapt,’ Derek reasoned. ‘There’s the financial side of things to consider too and as the shop and the premises are worth a good few bob it’s a lot to give up.’
‘What about your business?’
‘Pearl, I’d hardly call it that. I do a bit of painting and decorating, that’s all, and the new contract I was hoping to get has fallen through. With only the hope of small jobs coming in now, there’s nothing to keep us here.’
‘There’s my mother.’
‘Pearl, she won’t be that far away, and we’ll see her regularly, or we could ask her to come with us.’
‘Come where?’
Startled, Pearl turned to see her mother standing in the doorway. ‘To live with us in Battersea,’ she explained.
‘Oh, no. Surely you aren’t going to agree to Bessie’s terms?’
‘Mum, I don’t think we have any choice.’
‘Well, I’m sorry, but I won’t be coming with you, and what about John? He’d hate it in London. He loves the countryside – and what about his friends?’
‘Derek, my mother’s right,’ Pearl cried as she turned to him. ‘Oh, I just don’t know what to do.’
‘There are weekends, school holidays, and as you don’t want to come with us, Emily, perhaps John could spend them with you,’ Derek suggested. ‘That’s if you’d like that.’
‘Well, yes, of course I would, but …’
‘There you are, Pearl,’ Derek cut in. ‘Your mum would be pleased to have John and I’m sure he’d be happy with that too.’
‘Yes, maybe, I … I’ll go and talk to him,’ Pearl said, and aware that she would have to tell her son about his father too there was a dull ache growing in her temples.
Steps faltering, Pearl walked upstairs.
Chapter Nine
‘I still can’t believe that Bessie Penfold has left Pearl everything, and there’s my poor Kevin having to live in one room,’ Dolly complained. ‘It doesn’t seem fair.’
‘Leave it out,’ Bernie complained. ‘It’s all you’ve been going on about and it’s getting on me wick.’
Dolly’s hands clenched into fists. She wanted nothing more than to lay into Bernie, but somehow, with gritted teeth, she managed to control herself. Bernie still had no idea that she wasn’t taking her pills and she wasn’t about to give the game away. With an even tone, she said, ‘Unlike Pearl, our son is homeless and I’m just worried about him, that’s all.’
‘There’s no need. He’s got a room and a good few bob in his pocket on top of that.’
‘How much did you give him?’
‘A hundred quid.’
‘That isn’t much towards the refuge.’
‘I only said that to get him to take it. If he runs out of money it’ll be enough to tide him over.’
‘I see. So when he comes to see us again we’ll give him a substantial donation.’
‘No, we won’t, Dolly.’
‘Yes, we will! It’s Kevin’s dream to open a refuge and I intend to help him.’
Bernie’s eyes narrowed. ‘Have you taken your pill?’
‘Yes, you saw me.’
‘In that case, I think I need to make an appointment for you to see the doctor.’
‘Whatever you say, Bernie,’ she said, climbing into bed. It was so hard to keep up the act, to pretend mildness, but she’d have to be more careful. If she could keep her temper under control, Bernie wouldn’t be so suspicious. Nonetheless, she wasn’t really worried about the doctor increasing her medication. After all, she wasn’t going to take it.
Dolly snuggled down in bed, aware of Bernie climbing into the twin one next to hers. He’d been in control for too long, in control of her pills and her purse. If he was daft enough to think he could stand in the way of her helping her son, then he had another think coming.
When the time was right she’d take over their finances again, and to do that the only one who’d be swallowing her pills would be Bernie.
While his parents slept, Kevin was in Soho. Thanks to one of the many cards displayed in a telephone box, he had found a tart, a tom, but she hadn’t been willing to indulge his fantasies. Instead, at the first sign of violence she had threatened him with her pimp and he’d been forced to do things her way. While his immediate needs had been met he’d been left dissatisfied and now drifted into one of the many clubs, finding it surprisingly busy, despite being midweek.
Though thirteen years had passed, Kevin found that nothing had changed, the bar prices astronomical, but there was a stripper gyrating on a small stage who held his attention for a while until her act came to an end.
Kevin looked at his empty glass, unwilling to pay for another drink and about to leave when there was a drum roll. Like those of every other man in the room his eyes were riveted to the stage as the next performer appeared. She was stunning, though it wasn’t her long dark hair or perfect features that held his attention: it was her haughty attitude. She stood with her legs slightly apart in a tight black skirt with a side slit, hands on hips as she looked loftily down at them.
What felt like minutes passed, yet probably was only seconds, and Kevin found he was waiting, holding his breath until at last her shoulders and upper body began to sway to the rhythm of drums. Gradually the tempo increased and tauntingly