Kevin?’ Bernie asked, his expression cold.
‘To see you and Mum, and to show you I’ve changed, Dad.’
His mother appeared behind Bernie, her eyes lighting up when she saw him. ‘Kevin! They’ve let you out?’
‘Yes, and praise be to God,’ he said piously.
‘Oh, son,’ Dolly cried as she shoved Bernie to one side. ‘Come in. I’ll make up a bed for you.’
‘No, Mum, I didn’t want to burden you so I’ve made other arrangements,’ he said. The thought of sleeping under the same roof as his mother again made him shudder.
‘You’ll never be a burden to me,’ Dolly said, drawing him inside.
The words almost choked him, but he managed to say, ‘I once was, Mother, but never again.’
‘We’re about to have lunch. Would you like some of my home-made soup?’ she asked eagerly.
‘Yes, please. I must admit I’m rather hungry,’ Kevin said as he looked around the room. He recognised a lot of the furniture from their old place in Battersea, along with the mahogany-cased clock in the centre of the mantelpiece and the silver candlesticks that stood at each end. A fire was burning in the hearth, but with his father’s eyes fixed on him, Kevin hovered uncertainly.
‘Kevin, come and talk to me in the kitchen while I’m heating the soup,’ his mother said.
‘Yes, all right.’
‘How are you finding the outside world?’ she asked as she lit the gas under a saucepan.
‘A bit strange,’ Kevin replied, which was actually the truth.
‘Of course you are. You need time to adjust and you can forget those other arrangements. I’ll get the bed in the spare room made up for you. It’s nice and quiet here so you’ll be able to take things slowly.’
Bernie marched into the kitchen. ‘Hold on, Dolly. I haven’t agreed to that.’
‘It’s all right, Dad. I can’t stay. I feel I’m being called to London; that my mission is there.’
‘So you’re going back to Battersea?’
‘No, Dad. I know I have much to repent for in that area, but I’m going to Ealing.’
‘But why there?’ Dolly asked. ‘And where will you live?’
‘I’m in God’s hands, Mother, and He has been guiding me,’ Kevin told her, ‘so much so that while in prison I met a fellow inmate in the chapel, one who is like-minded. He was released six months ago, but we’ve been corresponding. He’s interested in setting up a refuge in a needy area too and to that end he’s offered me a rent-free room in his house.’
‘Humph,’ Bernie grunted, a sceptical look on his face as he walked out of the kitchen.
Kevin wasn’t worried. He knew his mother handled the purse strings and that she was a soft touch where he was concerned. He intended to get every penny out of her that he could. His father had disowned him, had refused to visit him in prison, and this was the first time he’d seen him in thirteen years. Despite that, it was his mother Kevin hated the most: it had been his desperation to get away from her that led him to robbery. Then when it all went wrong, something had snapped in his mind and while bludgeoning the jeweller over and over again it had been his mother’s head he saw … her blood flowing …
‘What do think of our little cottage?’ Dolly asked, breaking into his thoughts.
Worried that she’d see the hate in his eyes, Kevin fought to hide his feelings. ‘It’s very nice,’ he said quietly.
‘Your father chose it, and got it for a good price. He handles all our finances now.’
Flaming hell, Kevin thought, his dad had found some balls at last. That meant it wasn’t his mother he had to work on, it was his father; and that wasn’t going to be so easy. He’d need more time and now hoped his mother would ask him to stay again. Of course he’d put on an act, pretend that he couldn’t, before giving in.
When Dolly put their lunch on the table, Bernie sat down opposite Kevin, taken aback when he asked if they minded if he gave thanks for the food before they began to eat.
Bernie shrugged, but bent his head, and then afterwards he listened carefully as his son spoke of his plans. By the time the meal ended, Bernie had to admit that Kevin had mastered his act well. If he hadn’t known his son of old, he might have fallen for it, but he wasn’t as easily fooled as Dolly.
‘Kevin, surely staying for one night won’t hurt,’ Dolly appealed. ‘We’ve hardly seen you.’
‘I’m sorry, but Rupert is expecting me.’
‘With a name like that he sounds like a toff,’ Bernie commented.
‘I suppose he is,’ Kevin mused. ‘Rupert’s certainly well off, but though he’s offered me a rent-free room I’d prefer to pay my own way. To that end I must find work and the sooner I get started the better.’
‘You’re getting a job? That’ll be a first,’ Bernie said sarcastically.
‘I’ve changed, Dad.’
Bernie didn’t believe it for one moment, but before he could make a comment, Dolly said, ‘Please, Kevin, surely it won’t hurt to delay leaving for one night? You can travel to London in the morning.’
‘Well, Dad, I can see how much it would mean to Mum. What do you think?’
‘All right, but just one night,’ Bernie said grudgingly.
‘That’s settled then,’ Dolly said happily, ‘though I don’t like the thought of you living in one room when you go to Ealing.’
‘Don’t be daft, Dolly,’ Bernie said scathingly. ‘He’s been sleeping in a prison cell for thirteen years.’
‘Yes, you’re right, Dad. After that anything will seem like luxury.’
‘If you really are looking for work, what have you got in mind?’ Bernie asked.
Kevin shrugged. ‘With a prison record it won’t be easy, but I’ll try the building sites.’
‘Kevin, I don’t like the sound of this,’ Dolly protested. ‘First you say you’ll be living in one room and now that you’ll be labouring on a building site.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with good, honest labour, and as most of my earnings will go towards setting up a refuge I don’t want to waste money on renting a flat.’
‘But that could take you years.’
‘Everything starts with one small step,’ Kevin said piously. ‘I’m hoping the mission Rupert’s involved with will be interested enough to make a donation.’
Bernie had been expecting this and said derisively, ‘I suppose you’re hinting that we should chip in too?’
‘No, Dad, in making John your heir, you’ve done enough.’
‘So your mother told you about our wills?’
‘Yes, she did, and as I’ll be involved in charitable work I won’t be earning a great deal, or buying property to leave my son. Though of course I hope you live for many, many more years, it’s a huge weight off my mind knowing that you’ve taken care of John. I can’t thank you enough.’
Bernie was surprised. He’d expected Kevin to be upset about being usurped, but instead he was thanking them. Maybe he really had changed, maybe his religious conversion was genuine. If that proved to be the case, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to help him out a bit – but not by way of a donation to this daft idea of a refuge. He’d give Kevin a few bob to tide him over until he found his feet, Bernie decided, but as he’d be leaving first thing in the morning, he’d have