Lettuces and Cream (25 page)

‘How’s it going Mr Williams?’

‘Slow, but we’re getting there.’

Eight of the clock, Monday morning, and thankfully the rain had held off and the JCB was grinding away at the hard rocky subsoil.

‘If all goes well, and we can get these land drains in, then the concrete for the foundations will be going in at the end of the week.’

‘I can give you a hand to mix the concrete.’

‘Bit awkward for you with that leg of yours, isn’t it? No, don’t worry Mr Jones, Joe’s on another job at the minute but he’ll be here to mix the concrete.’

‘Oh, okay.’ Mike was disappointed because he wanted to be involved, and also to save on Joe’s wages, but decided not to push the issue, for the moment anyway. ‘I’ll leave you to it then.’ He gave Mr Williams a wave then he limped away to do the milking and to feed Pinky and the piglets, which were now in a pen of their own. The calves were now strong enough to be grazing in the field with Primrose, when the weather was good enough. Not that they grazed much themselves, but at least they were in the fresh air with their mother. That done, he was back in the house having his breakfast.

‘What’s on the cards today?’

‘Well, if it stays dry push on with the new tunnels I suppose. It’s taking me ages, with this lump of plaster I’m dragging around. Then some more work getting the veg garden ready for planting the fruit trees. Strange that the Davis’s didn’t have a veg garden or some fruit trees, God knows there’s enough land here.’

‘It is a bit odd. Perhaps they couldn’t be bothered and bought everything in. Any way, I’ve got to go to Llanbed to get some food in ready for your mum and sister. I know you’re sick of chicken but I thought I would get one for roasting for Sunday dinner. But I’ll have to get some money from the bank ‘cos I need some new cheap Jeans or trousers for working in.’ Her faced puckered with concentration, and apprehension. She hated going into the bank knowing that they must be approaching, once again, the overdrafts limit. She just prayed she wouldn’t be called into the manager’s office.

‘Roast chicken would be nice Darl, it’s not the same as pies is it?’ He was aware of Jan’s worries but thought silence was the better ploy rather than expanding upon their concerns.

‘Good, that’s what I thought.’ She liked having Mikes backing for her suggestions, it gave her confidence somehow. Jan didn’t like cooking for other people, especially parents, and she often had the silly notion that they were secretly critical of her efforts.

‘I’m doing the washing this morning, so I’ll do the shopping in town this afternoon. Then I can pick the kids up on the way back before it gets dark. And it’s rehearsals tonight.’

‘Okay, sweetheart, just another quiet day then,’ Mike said with irony.

Things were equally as fraught at Chris’s place.

‘So, are you going to put some extra yard lights up, or not?’ Chris slammed her coffee cup down on the kitchen table.

Keith swallowed a mouthful of his cooked breakfast. ‘I don’t think we need more lights - too bloody expensive.’

‘You don’t believe me do you?’

‘Aye, but you didn’t see anything did you?’ He stuffed in another mouthful of bacon.’I told you, Cindy was barking at something,’ Chris persisted.

‘Nothing new in that, is there, stupid bitch is always yapping at something –typical bloody woman.’

‘So now I’m a stupid dog -aw piss off, you bastard.’ She got up from the up from the table and reached for her jacket and walked to the door.

‘You said it,’ Keith said under his breath.’

‘I bloody well heard that, sod you.’ She slammed the door behind her.

Outside in the yard she reached into her coat pocket, taking out her secret pack of ciggies and lit up. Her head was pounding with rage and she sucked hard on the fag. She exhaled a cloud of smoke with equally vigour. Why was he being such a bastard? They hadn’t ever been a lovey dovey couple but now there was viciousness in their rows that surpassed all their other rows. And she seemed to be losing her control over him, what was going on? Another cloud of cigarette smoke hit the early morning air. Thank Christ he would be away at least one more time. Chris had become used to her additional freedom, and of course all that extra sex. Carefully disposing the remains of her illicit ciggy, she walked into the cattle yard and began the feeding routine with anger raging in her heart.

Keith was still seated at the kitchen table, a sly grin on his face. He had rattled her cage all right. His plan had paid off, he had something on her now. Knowledge was power, and it had given him back a sense of masculinity, of confidence. She could strut and shout all she liked, he would have the last word – when he was ready, in his own time…

Jan was surprised by the realisation that she was enjoying her shopping trip to town, although lugging heavy shopping bags around could sometimes be an irksome chore. Perhaps it was reminding her of shopping back home, but unlike then, economy was now uppermost in her mind. It was odd how they both still kept calling Barey, home, this was their home now. Her visit to the bank had gone without incidence so she had relaxed a little, and went from shop to shop in a reasonably happy mood. It was a pleasant experience for another reason too. Because it was winter, and all the tourists tucked up in their cities, most of the shopkeepers treated her as a ‘local,’ which gave her a nice feeling of being welcomed home. Of course it also meant they spoke to her in Welsh, but even that was pleasing, and she did her best to respond.

She bought some vegetables and a fresh local chicken for the weekend visitors. And for her, the cheapest pair of working trousers from the cheapest shop. The November afternoon was fading as she headed back to the car, and set off back to Llanbeth to collect the children from school.

‘Look mum I’ve done this drawing of you and dad. And we’re making cards for Christmas.’ Mandy waved her masterpiece in front of Jan.

‘That’s lovely, darling.’ Jan said enthusiastically, although inwardly she cringed with the expensive worry of Christmas.

‘I’ve got to make a model of a Red Kite for the nature class.’ David chipped in, not wanting to be left out of the accolades for scholastic achievements.

‘Gosh, that’ll keep you busy, love.’

‘I’m going to look in the fields for feathers to stick on it.’ David sounded enthusiastic.

‘That’s a great idea – if you can find some.’

It was only a short drive home and Jan was soon making the turn into the track entrance, and concentrating on missing the ruts and potholes. Suddenly, just as she neared the worse section of track, a fox ran down from the hedge bank right in front of the wheels. Jan instinctively turned the wheel to avoid it, with a horrible crunch the car slid into the ditch. She and the kids were thrown forward by the impact and although unhurt, Mandy started crying and poor Jan was close to tears too, but had to pacify the kids.

‘It’s okay, don’t cry we’ll be all right, are you hurt, son?’

‘No, I’m okay mum. I haven’t seen a fox before.’ He seemed calm, and more interested in seeing another wild creature.

‘Mum, mum, you’re bleeding,’ Mandy yelled in horror, and her sobbing increased.

Jan hadn’t noticed she had a cut on her forehead from hitting the mirror. She pulled some tissues from her pocket. ‘There, it’s nothing, look, I’m all right, love.’ Now that the rivulet of blood had been moped up, her sobbing eased.

‘Can you get out on your side, David?’ He was in the back seat, and Mandy in the front with Jan.

‘Yeah I think so.’

‘If you get out, you can open the passenger door for us to get out.’

With much heaving and pushing, doors were opened and they all stood on the track looking sadly at damage. Now the worse part of the catastrophe, telling Mike that his beloved Austin was in the ditch. Jan was shaken and utterly heart broken. This was such a disaster. It seemed that the evil spirits still had mischief to spare. What were they to do now?

‘Come on kids lets get to the house. We’ll collect the shopping and your school bags later.’ It was a sad little trio that trudged homeward through the early evening darkness.

‘They’re coming, they’re coming,’ the kids were dancing about the yard in wild expectation of the weekend visitors. They knew there would be lots of goodies to be had from their generous Aunt and Grandma. Spot the pup was behaving as wildly as the children, and joyfully dashing about the yard. The car stopped and they all gathered around to greet them.

‘Hello mum, Marion. Seems ages since we saw you.’

‘Well it has been months, son. Come on, give me kiss.’ Mike hugged his mother warmly. Both Jan and he had missed them. When they were back home they used to see them at least once a week.

‘And how’s that leg of yours? Looks pretty with all those drawing on it.’

‘Yeah, but it’s getting a bit dirty now though, mum,’ Mike said, looking down at the mud splattered plaster.

‘You got here earlier than you said, sis. And you didn’t tell me you had a new car? Fast is it?’ Marion had a good job at the same factory that Mike had worked in and once again Mike felt small and inadequate. First Roy, and now his sister, both with nice new cars, while their car was in a heap.

‘I thought it would be a surprise for you. Fast, no not really, Mike, I finished work extra early so we could get here in daylight. Just as well, bit difficult to find isn’t it? We had to stop twice and ask for directions.’

‘’Tis a bit, but we like it’. Mike thought he would get that in first, before there were any comments about, remoteness.

‘And where are my little darlings,’ Mikes mum turned to hug the excited children who were both trying to tell their grandma all their news at the same time.

‘Dads going to be father Christmas,’ Mandy blurted out, wanting to be the first with the unusual hot news.

‘Really,’ Grandma said with enthusiastic surprise. She turned to Mike and gave a knowing smile. ‘You’re Santa every year, aren’t you son?’

Mike laughed. ‘Well yes, but this is for the school, I’ll tell you all about it later.’

‘Let’s get inside shall we, Mum?’ Jan said, ‘you must be dying for a cuppa.’

‘Oh, yes please love it’s been a long trip.’ His mum was fond of tea.

Friday afternoon had arrived. Mike and Jan had got through the week with out much enthusiasm. Monday’s disaster had upset them both. Apart from the damage to his lovely car Mike had been doubly upset because Jan had been so distraught and blamed herself for the accident. He hated seeing her crying. Luckily, Mr Williams still had his JCB on site, so it was used to pull the car from the ditch, and back into the yard. Although it had been a low speed crash the car was in a bad way, and any repairs would cost far more than the car was worth. They only had the cheapest third party insurance on it, so for the time being, it stood forlornly in a corner of the yard. Now, they only had the van for transport. Not really suitable for the whole family.

They were both totally at a loss as what to do next, and were at their lowest ebb, though neither would say as much to the other. Lesser mortals might have been getting ready to call it a day and head home. However, they had, in a comparatively short period of time, built a myriad of affectionate memories. From the Robin that would appear each time Mike tilled the soil, to the ever-changing smells and colours of the open countryside. Even the old house with all its faults was now home and once inside its ancient walls, they all felt safe and secure. In their minds and hearts it was now truly – Home. So they intended clinging on until the bitter end. And what money they had, or rather what the bank had, would be needed for Christmas, and the builder, so the car would have to wait.

‘What’s going on here?’ Grandma asked, pausing by the heaps of soil and rocks.

‘We’re putting on an extension, bathroom, another bedroom, airing cupboard and stuff upstairs, and new kitchen and utility room downstairs. And these foundations went in today.’

‘That will be nice, son.’

Yeah, it will, if it ever happens, Mike thought sadly. They were paying the builder stage by stage so as not to owe him money. Now the foundations were laid a payment, which they didn’t have, was due, but he had to be optimistic and cheerful for the visitors’ sake. At least he didn’t have to go over the depressing car crash business. He had got that over with when he had spoken to them on the phone the other evening.

‘Come on, mum, Jan’s made fresh cream éclairs to go with our tea – with our own cream.’

‘Mm, sounds lovely”

Keith was driving back to Wales and nearing home. Now that his father was able to cope on his own he wouldn’t be going North again for some time. Which was just as well because he needed to spend time seeing to his own farm business. Good profits were essential because Chris had very expensive tastes. He turned on the car radio and tuned to a Pop station. He was fond of lively noisy music. What’s more, he was quite relaxed. When he had begun to suspect Chris was messing about with other blokes he had wanted to kill the pair of them. But in a strange way he was now enjoying the situation. His plan had worked, and now he liked knowing what she was up to without her knowing. Now, when she lied to him he would be able to smile at her, -that would wind her up a lot, she wouldn’t know why. But for how long did he want to carry on like this? What was the point of living together as they were now? And he didn’t think she would ever change.

‘These cakes are delicious, Jan, you’re such a good cook.’

‘Huh, I don’t know about that, mum.’

‘Um, lovely,’ Marion agreed.

‘More tea mum?’

‘Mm, please, love.’

‘What about you, Mike.’

‘No tea, just another éclair please.’

‘And me mum,’ David said, following his dads example.

‘Me too,’ Mandy said, anxious not to be left out of the feast.

‘We can have a slide show later. I’ll show you what we’ve done here already’

‘Oh, yeah,’ the kids were enthusiastically, ‘we like slide shows.’

‘Still a lot to do though, son,’ Mikes mother looked around the kitchen.

‘Well, this is going to be knocked down –eventually’ Mike said, frowning once again at the very idea of the expensive project.