Blood Brothers (14 page)

After a few dances, Frank made his way to the bar, while Alice wandered over to her friend Mandy, who was still smarting from not being asked to be bridesmaid. It wasn’t long, though, before the two of them were deep in conversation, and all was forgiven. ‘I must admit, I was disappointed not to be your bridesmaid.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Alice apologised, ‘I always meant you to be, but you know what Mother is like, when she gets a bee in her bonnet. Once she’d decided that Pauline was going to be the only bridesmaid, there was no reasoning with her.’

‘It’s all right, Alice, don’t you worry.’ Mandy was a big girl, with a less than shapely figure. She had never been in the front row for a pretty face, and Mandy Baker knew full well why Maureen Jacobs did not want her for a bridesmaid. In her warped
mind, she probably thought Mandy would lower the tone of her daughter’s wedding.

‘I really don’t mind,’ she assured Alice; although in truth she had been bitterly disappointed. ‘I do know what your mother is like once she makes a decision, and I know I wasn’t pretty enough or slim enough for her, but you and me won’t ever fall out over it, because all I care about is that we’re still friends.’

‘What!’ Alice threw her arms round Mandy’s neck. ‘What are you saying? Of course we’re still friends. You will always be my friend, as long as we live.’ The very idea of Mandy not being in her life was unthinkable to Alice.

She and Mandy had known each other since before going to school; right from the day Mandy and her family moved into Brighill village, and Mandy’s father took up the vacancy of blacksmith.

From that very first meeting some fifteen years ago, when Maureen Jacobs took Alice on her pony to have its hooves trimmed, Mandy and Alice had been inseparable.

Maureen Jacobs, however, was horrified at the friendship, but she needed a blacksmith for her horse, and there was only one in the village. And so she reluctantly suffered the clumsy, chubby little Baker girl, for no one’s sake but her own; and that of her precious horses.

So now, with Alice having mended their friendship, the two girls chatted and laughed, and talked of plans for the future; until Mandy became flattered and flushed, when a young man approached her and asked her to dance.

Throughout the evening, Joe had kept a watchful eye on Alice. The moment Mandy was whisked away to dance, he first reassured himself that Frank was still propping up the bar, before snatching what he knew would be his last chance.

He quickly made his way across the floor. ‘Would the lady care to dance?’ His smile enveloped her, ‘Unless you’re afraid I’m got two left feet and no sense of style?’

Alice laughed at that. ‘It sounds like a description of me, not you.’

‘Oh no! I can’t have that. I’ve seen you dance,’ he told her, ‘all the way across the land and through the brook like a wayward nymph; no shoes, and not a care in the world. Am I right?’ He led her on to the dance floor.

‘Maybe, but that’s not dancing.’

‘It is in my eyes.’ He drew her into his arms. ‘Did I tell you how lovely you look?’

‘Mmm.’ With his strong arms about her, and the easy way he took her into the slow, rhythmic steps of a waltz, she felt herself relaxing too easily into his embrace. ‘Joe…?’ She drew back a little, her worried gaze trained on his face.

‘You don’t need to say it,’ he whispered. ‘I know, because I feel it too.’ Afraid he might say too much, he wisely suggested, ‘I’d best take you back…’ Suddenly he was wrenched away as Frank forced his way between them. ‘Well, well! Aren’t we nice and cozy?’

Joe resented the manner in which Frank took control of Alice. Frank’s fist was so tight round the lower part of Alice’s arm, the blood ebbed from his knuckles. ‘Don’t do this, Frank,’ Joe said in a harsh whisper. ‘We were dancing, that’s all…just dancing. Afterwards I was coming to tell you, I’m leaving tonight. It’s time I struck out on my own…make a future for myself. Much like you and Alice intend doing.’

Frank laughed out loud. ‘So! You shout your mouth off when you think
I’m
planning to desert Dad, but here you are about to take off like a scared rabbit into the night!’

He gave a sly little snigger. ‘Look what happened the last time you went off on your own. You and I both know it didn’t turn out the way you would have liked, did it, eh?’

Taking note of the warning expression on Joe’s face, Frank decided to stop right there. It wouldn’t be clever to rile Joe,
he reminded himself. Not unless he wanted Joe to reveal secrets best left undisturbed.

The best thing was to shut his mouth and let Joe go; the quicker and further Joe went, the better he would like it. ‘Bugger off then!’ he snapped. ‘We don’t need you anyway!’

From across the room, Tom had witnessed the heated exchange between his two sons, and knowing how it might escalate, he hurried over. ‘It’s late,’ he told Frank, ‘and you’ve had too much to drink.’

‘So?’ When Frank swung round, Joe managed to prise his brother’s grip from Alice’s arm. Before Frank could confront him, Tom had Frank by the shoulders. ‘Come on, Frank, time to go home.’

Frank shrugged him off. ‘I’m not ready to go home yet,’ he seemed suddenly sober; though still slightly unsteady on his feet. ‘Me and Alice have to dance the new day in yet. It’s a tradition, Father. Or have you forgotten?’

Without another word and with surprising tenderness, he laughingly took Alice into his embrace. ‘Me and my wife are duty bound to dance the new day in, and that’s what we’re gonna do!’

He turned his attention on Joe. ‘Y’see, Joe, this is my wife, and she only dances with her husband, isn’t that right, sweetheart?’ He kissed Alice on the neck. ‘Me and and nobody else.’

As he swirled her about on the dance floor, Tom voiced his disgust. ‘I don’t know what the devil’s got into him, but he never could hold his booze.’

Tom was relieved that the little fracas had not attracted too much attention, but during Frank’s rant, he had been painfully aware of the sinister undercurrent between Frank and Joe.

Remembering the manner in which Joe had taken to Alice when they had first met, and after what happened here tonight, it only served to confirm Tom’s belief that the feelings Joe had for her remained as strong as ever.

It worried him so much so that he told Joe, ‘Don’t be too long before you make your way back, son. Your brother seems to be in one of his moods.’

Joe was concerned, for both his father, and for Alice. ‘In that case, it might be best if I stayed to keep an eye on him.’

‘No.’ Tom was adamant. ‘I’m suitably familiar with his tantrums. If you step in, it might only make matters worse. No, you go on, son. Go home. I’ll handle him, don’t you worry.’ He gave a little chuckle. ‘He might think he can get one over on me, but he hasn’t managed it yet, and he never will.’

Joe understood. ‘You might be right,’ he conceded. ‘Me being here does seem to rile him up, so I’ll get off, but if there’s any trouble send for me, and I’ll be back here in no time at all!’

Tom shook his head. ‘There’ll be no trouble, not now.’ He patted Joe on the shoulder. ‘The way things are with him, you’re best away from here.’

As Joe turned away, Tom stopped him with a firm hand on the shoulder. ‘Apart from all this, it’s good to have you home, son.’

Despite his growing suspicions about Joe’s dangerous feelings for his brother’s wife, he truly meant what he said.

It really was good to have his second-born home again.

Having taken heed of his father’s words, Joe made to leave.

When he got to the doorway, he glanced back to see Alice looking over Frank’s shoulder at him. She even gave the whisper of a smile.

Ashamed, Joe dropped his gaze and left.

Behind him, Frank talked and laughed, and whispered sweet nothings in Alice’s ear.

When the music stopped she looked up to where Joe had been. The door was swinging shut. He was gone.

Along with her happiness.

‘Come on, wifey!’ It was now in the early hours. ‘Goodnight everybody!’ he waved to one and all. ‘Me and Alice are off to our brand new love-nest.’ He gave a meaningful wink. ‘All on our own, with no one to bother us.’ To Alice’s embarrassment, his meaning did not go unnoticed.

Believing his dreams had all come true at once, Frank was convinced that the cottage given to them by Ronald Jacobs, was just the start of things to come.

Alice reminded him, ‘I need to say goodnight to my parents, and besides, I haven’t seen Grandad and Grandma for a while…they must be outside. They would not be best pleased if I went away without saying cheerio.’

A short while after she went in search of them, Frank decided to follow her. ‘Grandparents…worth a bob or two, best keep in with ‘em.’

Ronald Jacobs had been delighted when his parents agreed to come to the wedding. Due to a bitter confrontation between Maureen and his mother Tricia, his parents had refused all invitations to their son’s home.

Joshua Jacobs himself had little liking for his daughter-in-law; and as ever, his loyalties were to his wife.

Having returned from a brisk walk around the grounds with his wife, Joshua was pleased to see Alice making her way towards them. Smiling broadly, he stretched out his arms to receive her. ‘So, here you are, my dear. I was afraid you might go away without coming to say goodnight.’

A man of considerable stature, he made a formidable sight, with his iron-grey hair and steel-blue eyes.

Having started the family business many years ago, he now trusted his son Ronald to run it; though he retained some shares in the business, together with keeping a wary eye on all transactions. He was proud to see his son taking the business from strength to strength.

Alice buried herself in his hug, and then it was the turn of her grandmother, who cradled her long and hard.

Considered to be a woman of elegance, with her sleek, silver hair, and quiet, caring nature, it was well known Tricia Jacobs did not suffer fools gladly. Intelligent and trustworthy, she had stepped back from her husband’s business enterprises, and instead immersed herself in numerous deserving charities. Since then she had earned an admirable reputation for her tireless efforts at rehousing the homeless.

Maureen could never understand why Tricia ploughed so much energy into helping homeless people and their very different views were a matter of great contention between the two women.

Maureen took the view that, ‘Anyone can secure themselves a home, if they’re prepared to work hard enough!’

The comment had caused such bitterness, that neither woman was prepared to apologise. Tricia had no fondness for Maureen, and though she hated to admit it, she believed her eldest granddaughter Pauline was made in the same cold mould as her mother.

Amazingly, Alice was a completely different creature. Because of her caring nature and simple beliefs, she had earned a permanent place in Tricia’s heart.

Delighted now that her favourite granddaughter had sought them out, she cast her eyes over Alice’s beautiful gown. ‘You look lovely, as always,’ she croaked. Her voice suddenly choked with emotion.

‘What are you thinking Grandma? I look lovely
but
?’ she wanted to know.

Tricia laughed out loud. ‘You know me too well, Alice Jacobs!’

Alice persisted. ‘Ah! I was right then. So there
is
a but?’

‘Yes, there is, and I mean to keep it to myself.’

‘I won’t let you, Grandma. I’ll follow you everywhere, and keep nagging, until you tell me what it is you don’t like.’ When pushed hard enough, Alice had a real stubborn streak in her.

Tricia took a moment, but she knew Alice well enough to realise she would keep her word. ‘All right, bossy boots!’ Tricia lowered her voice to a shameful whisper. ‘If I’m honest I think I would rather have seen you in a simpler gown. Something nearer Pauline’s, less fluffy and ornate.’

When her husband glared at her, she realised the gravity of her thoughtless comment. ‘Oh, Alice, I’m terrible!’ She gasped with embarrassment. ‘I should never have said anything.’

Mortified, she grabbed Alice by the hands. ‘I’m just a silly old woman who should know better! Here it is, your wedding day, and I’m complaining about your dress.’ She made a sorry face. ‘I expect you’ll hate me forever now, won’t you?’

Alice laughed. ‘Course I won’t, Grandma!’ she assured her with a fond smile, ‘I would never hate you, and anyway…’ Alice leaned forward and whispered, ‘I agree with everything you say. Y’see, Mother chose my dress and I had no say in it. Mandy thought the same as you, so without Mother knowing, we fiddled with it here and there, trying to flatten the skirt, making it less like a blown-up balloon.’ She giggled. ‘We did our best, but after what you just said, I think we failed.’

Tricia was greatly relieved. ‘Oh, Alice, I’ve always cherished the fact that you and me could always talk straight with each other, but today was not the day to poke my nose in. In any case, to be honest, the dress does not matter one jot, because you would still look lovely covered in a brown paper bag. It’s
you
Alice!
You
that shines out. Not what you wear.’

‘Quite right!’ Grandfather Joshua totally agreed. ‘You’re like
a breath of fresh air,’ he said. ‘You’re a natural and lovely person without airs and graces, and you don’t give a stuff for money or possessions. I for one find that to be most endearing, especially in this material world we live in.’

Just then, Frank stumbled up to them. ‘Alice is not like me,’ he hiccuped. ‘I want the world, and I’m prepared to work for it.’ He steadied himself. ‘I learn quick, I do. I’m…ambitious.’

Afraid that Frank might be making a nuisance of himself, Tom hurried over to apologise. ‘Sorry about this, Joshua…Tricia.’ Taking control of Frank, he promised, ‘He’s had a few too many, but I expect he’ll suffer for it in the morning.’

Joshua assured him, ‘It’s his wedding night. Most bride-grooms are put to bed legless on occasions like this. Don’t worry, Tom, we’ve all seen it before.’

‘Well, I certainly have!’ Tricia revealed with a sideways glance at her husband. ‘On
our
wedding night, you were out of it, well before the last waltz. I’ve never really forgiven you for that!’