The operation had been successful and during the following ten days Arthur began to take an interest in his surroundings again. He was taken out of isolation and allowed visitors, but when Sally took Angel to see him, she felt his attempts at cheerfulness were false. Sally had kept Joe Somerton up to date, and he was going to see Arthur within the next few days.
That morning, Sally had just taken Angel to school, and was almost home again when she felt a shiver of intuition as she reached Tommy’s house. She paused to gaze at his front door, the feeling or foreboding so strong that she rattled his letterbox. Something was wrong, she was sure of it.
The door opened a crack and a small voice said, ‘What do you want?’
‘Tommy, is that you?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Why aren’t you at school?’
‘My mum ain’t well.’
‘What’s wrong with her?’
‘I dunno, but I’m staying home to look after her.’
‘Where is your father, Tommy?’
‘I dunno.’
Sally crossed her fingers, hoping Gran would be all right for a few more minutes. ‘Perhaps I can help. Can I come in to see your mother?’
‘No, she’ll kill me if I let anyone in.’
‘Tommy, if your mum’s ill she may need to see a doctor.’
There was a pause, but then the door opened a few more inches. ‘All right, come in.’
As Sally walked inside, she gagged at the smell of the place, for a moment wanting to run out again, but then Tommy led her upstairs. In the bedroom she saw what looked like a bundle of rags on the bed and, amongst them, Laura Walters. The woman’s eyes were closed and she looked awful, her lips tinged blue. ‘How long has she been like this, Tommy?’
‘She was all right last night, but she won’t get up this morning.’
‘Laura . . . Mrs Walters,’ Sally said loudly.
There was no response, and though frantic with worry, Sally tried to keep her voice calm. ‘Listen, Tommy, I’m going home to call the doctor. I can’t leave my gran for long, so I’m going to find someone else to stay with your mum until he arrives.’
Tommy stared up at her, his eyes round with fear, and Sally’s heart went out to the boy. ‘Don’t worry, everything will be all right. Wait here, and I’ll go and get Nelly Cox.’
Sally shot out of the house and as soon as she got indoors she called the surgery. She then rattled off a quick explanation to her gran before hurrying down the lane to fetch Nelly.
Thankfully the old lady took in the situation straight away, and in no time they were standing by Laura’s bed. ‘Blimey, she looks rough,’ Nelly said as she gazed down at the woman.
‘I told the receptionist that it’s an emergency, so the doctor should be here shortly.’
‘The sooner the better,’ Nelly said as she endeavoured to straighten the bed covers. ‘What about the boy?’
‘I’ll take him home with me.’
‘No, I want to stay wiv me mum.’
‘All right, don’t get upset, love. You can wait with me if you want to,’ Nelly said, adding, ‘Go on, Sally, you’d best get back to Sadie. I’ll give you a knock after the doctor’s been.’
Sally reluctantly left, but once indoors she hovered at the window, looking out for the doctor’s car. ‘Laura Walters looked awful, Gran.’
‘Are you sure it isn’t just a hangover?’
‘It’s more serious than that.’
‘Did you look at her aura?’
‘Yes, briefly, and I think it’s her heart. Oh good, the doctor has arrived.’
Sally turned away from the window, but shortly after there was a knock at the door, the doctor asking to use the telephone.
‘Of course, come in,’ Sally said, stepping to one side.
She hovered whilst he rang for an ambulance, and when the call ended he turned to speak to Sally. ‘I need to get in touch with Mrs Walters’ husband. Do you by any chance know where he works?’
‘No, I’m afraid not. In fact, I’m not sure if he has a job.’
‘He needs to be found. The child can’t be left alone, and he’s too young to go to the hospital with his mother.’
‘It’s all right. I’ll look after him until his father comes home.’
‘Good, well, I’d better get back to my patient.’
Things happened quickly after that. The ambulance came, and with the neighbours watching, Laura Walters was carried out. Tommy was yelling, trying to get into the ambulance too, and it took Sally, along with Nelly Cox to restrain him until finally he was led sobbing into number five.
Nelly sat opposite Sadie, both of them saying nothing as Sally did her best to soothe the boy. When Tommy finally stopped crying, he closed his eyes, obviously so emotionally exhausted that he fell asleep.
‘Blimey, with the way Laura Walters treats the boy, and the state they live in, I’m surprised he’s so upset,’ Nelly said softly.
‘I’ve seen it before,’ Sadie said. ‘The bond is strong. Kids can be beaten, abused, half-starved, but they still cling to their mothers.’
‘I’ve never had kids so I wouldn’t know, but then again my old mother was a strict and taciturn woman, and I still loved her.’
‘It’s the only life Tommy knows, and so he’s clinging to it.’
‘The poor kid,’ Nelly said. ‘I hope for his sake that Laura recovers.’
‘I’ve got a feeling she’s going to be all right,’ Sally murmured.
‘Have you, love?’ Sadie said. ‘That’s good. Now I don’t know about you two, but I’m spitting feathers.’
‘I’ll make a pot of tea, Sally,’ Nelly offered. ‘You’ve got your hands full.’
Sally smiled her thanks as she continued to hold Tommy. Yes, something was telling her that Laura Walters was going to be all right this time, but if she didn’t keep off the booze, Sally feared it wouldn’t be for long.
Tommy’s father still hadn’t turned up when Sally left to visit Arthur that evening. She found him sitting in a chair by the side of the bed, a blanket over his knees and his expression glum. She pulled up a chair beside him, her attempts to cheer him up unsuccessful, but then Joe Somerton arrived.
‘Well mate, how are you doing?’ Joe asked Arthur.
‘Not so bad, but I expect you’ll want to find another partner.’
‘Why?’
‘I’ll be no good to you or anyone else with half a leg.’
‘Leave it out. Now if you said you only had half a brain that might be a problem, but with a prosthetic you’ll be walking in no time. Like it or not, you’re my partner, mate.’
‘What if I’m unable to drive?’
‘We’d find a way round it and stop putting obstacles in the way before you know the score. Take one step at a time or should I say hop?’
Sally stiffened, but to her surprise Arthur laughed. ‘Yeah, and you can call me Skippy.’ Both men then broke into song, ‘Skippy, Skippy, Skippy the bush kangaroo.’
‘That’s the spirit,’ Joe chuckled. ‘Arthur, you’re young, you’re strong, and I’m sure you’ll adapt to a false leg in no time. Anyway, our job is to sell houses, not build them, and with the show house taking shape we’ll be able to start marketing them when you get out of here.’
‘Thanks, Joe, but I wouldn’t hold it against you if you’d prefer to find someone else.’
‘No, Arthur, we’re in this together. All you’ve got to worry about for now is getting on your feet – or should I say foot?’ Joe joked.
Arthur laughed again, and Sally was thrilled to see him looking so much happier. There was a brightness in his eyes and as he and Joe continued to chat, she sat there holding Arthur’s hand.
‘I must say I’ll be glad to get out of here,’ Arthur told Joe.
‘Yeah, I can understand that, but if you want something to keep you occupied, how about having a go at designing a brochure to market the houses?’
‘I suppose I could give it a try.’
‘I’m having a board put up at the site soon so we’ll need a name for the development. Any ideas?’
Arthur’s brow furrowed in thought, and then said, ‘It’s in the countryside, surrounded by fields, so how about “The Meadows”?’
‘Yes, I like it,’ Joe said, smiling. ‘See, I knew you had a brain in there somewhere. It’s just as well it wasn’t in your foot.’
‘You cheeky sod,’ Arthur joked back.
Sally loved to see Arthur so happy, but all too soon visiting time was over. Joe rose to his feet. ‘I’ll leave you two to say your goodbyes, but would you like a lift home, Sally?’
‘Yes, please.’
‘Right, I’ll be in the car park. Bye, partner, and get on with that brochure,’ he said to Arthur.
As Joe left the ward, Arthur said, ‘He’s a great bloke, Sally. I thought that he would want to find another partner and where would that have left me? I’d be no good to my dad now, unable to drive a lorry or to hump furniture.’
‘Your dad would have found something for you to do.’
‘I wouldn’t have agreed to that. I’d just be a burden, taking pay for doing sod all.’
‘Well, Joe is happy to keep you as a partner so all you’ve got to worry about now is getting on your feet.’
Arthur smiled. ‘Foot, as Joe said. If he can joke about my leg, then so can others, and though I expect it’s been my fault, it’s been lousy in this ward. All the other patients seem to avoid talking to me, but I know what to do now. I’ll make a joke of having one leg and that’ll surprise them.’
‘Good for you.’
‘Sally, I’ve been meaning to tell you something, but sometimes I think it’s all in my imagination.’
‘Tell me anyway.’
‘It was the night before my op, and at first I thought it was the pills, but I’ve had them before and since without the same effect. I don’t really know how to describe it, and I’ve never taken any notice of this spiritual mumbo jumbo that you and Mum get up to, even if the pair of you have unnerved me at times. But that night . . . well . . . I sort of felt something around me.’
‘Can you describe it?’
‘It’s going to sound daft but it was like a presence, and for a while it felt as though I was wrapped in cotton wool. The feeling was so comforting, and suddenly I wasn’t scared about the op any more. I could still sense it the next morning and sort of felt at peace when I went down to theatre. They gave me an anaesthetic and the next thing I remember was waking up in the ward.’
Sally gave silent thanks, smiling as she said, ‘I’ve had that same feeling in times of trouble and I’m so pleased to think you experienced it too.’
‘It was a bit strange, but watch out, love, visiting time was over a while ago and the battle-axe is on her way. You’re the last one here and had better scarper.’
Sally glanced to her side, saw the ward sister and then hurriedly leaned forward to kiss Arthur. ‘Bye, darling. See you tomorrow.’
He waved as she left, and finding Joe’s car in the car park, Sally got into the passenger seat. She felt much more optimistic now. ‘Thanks, Joe.’
‘There’s no need to thank me. It won’t take me long to drive you home.’
‘I meant for cheering Arthur up.’
‘I didn’t do anything, really. Arthur’s a fighter and won’t let this beat him.’
‘I know, but it was good to see him laughing. I think he needed that.’
‘Losing a leg below the knee isn’t the end of the world, and I’m sure he realises that.’
Sally smiled at Joe. He was a lovely man, not only Arthur’s partner, but also a good friend. She sighed and leaned back in the seat, thinking that the future looked brighter than it had for what seemed such a long, long time.
Joe dropped Sally off and she walked in to find that Tommy was still there. It was eleven o’clock before they heard noises coming from next door, Tommy’s father obviously home now, but Ruth had already put the boy to bed.
‘I ain’t waking the kid up now,’ she complained.
‘All right, but his father needs to know what’s going on. I’ll go and tell him,’ Sally offered.
‘I’ll come with you,’ Ruth insisted, but when Denis Walters opened the door he was drunk, bleary-eyed and barely able to take in what they were telling him.
‘You wanna see my wife? What for?’
Ruth sighed with exasperation. ‘We don’t want to see her. We’re telling you she’s in hospital.’
He swayed and clutched the stanchion for support. ‘Hospital? She ain’t in hospital.’
‘Oh, this is hopeless. Let’s leave him to sleep it off and we’ll come round in the morning.’
‘All right,’ Sally agreed and, talking as though to a child, she enunciated her words, ‘Tommy’s in our house, Mr Walters.’
‘Wh . . . what?’
‘This is a waste of time. Come on, Sally, let’s go.’
‘Oi, jush . . . jusht a minute,’ Denis Walters slurred. ‘What was you shaying about an ’ospital?’
‘For Gawd’s sake go to bed,’ Ruth shouted and taking Sally’s arm she ushered her away.
‘What are we going to do, Mum?’ Sally asked when they were back home again. ‘Denis Walters doesn’t seem fit to look after the boy, and we have no idea how long his mother will be in hospital.’
‘They may have family in the area he can go to. If not, he’ll just have to stay with us,’ and seeing the worried expression on her daughter’s face, she added, ‘It won’t be so bad. He’ll be at school all day.’
‘Yes, but what about when he
isn’t
in school? He’s used to running the streets and I’m not sure I could control him.’
‘Of course you can. He isn’t a bad kid, just one that craves a bit of love and attention, that’s all. I’ll have a word with him and I’m sure he’ll do as you say.’
‘But what about Gran? She won’t be happy about this.’
‘Until Laura Walters comes home she’ll just have to put up with it.’
‘Mum, we still have to be careful that we don’t upset her too much. I feel sorry for Tommy, I really do, but Gran has to come first.’
‘Sally, your gran is all wind and water. Once she knows the circumstances, she won’t mind, you’ll see. I’ll give the lad a good talking to. He’ll behave, you wait and see.’
‘I hope you’re right, but I’m off to bed. Let’s hope we can get more sense out of Mr Walters in the morning.’
‘All right. Night, love.’
Sally kissed her mother on the cheek before going upstairs. The bathroom was freezing and she shivered as she washed, glad to jump into bed. Oh, how she wished she could cuddle up to Arthur. She missed the warmth of his body, but surely he’d be home soon, and then there would be the joy of moving into their own flat. It would make things a bit difficult if Laura Walters was still in hospital, but as long as her mum got Tommy ready for school before she left for work, it should be all right.