Her pay, Sally thought. With all that had happened her mother was worried about a paltry few quid. She fought to quell the tide of hysterical laughter that bubbled up inside her, but found it impossible and doubled over with mirth, leaving the telephone receiver dangling by its cord.
‘Come on, come and sit down,’ Elsie said, rushing over to lead Sally back to her chair. ‘Bert, if Ruth is still on the line, have a word with her.’
‘Yeah, all right.’
‘Now, Sally, what brought that on?’
‘My mother,’ she spluttered, hiccupping as she gained her composure. ‘Arthur is in the operating theatre, yet all my mum seems worried about is money.’
‘Don’t take any notice of what your mum said. I’m sure she spoke without thinking and is just as worried about Arthur as we are.’
‘Oh, Elsie, you always see the best in people, but my mother can be very selfish at times. And what about me, laughing like that when Arthur’s in the operating theatre?’
‘We all react differently to stress and I’m sure it was just nervous tension that needed an outlet. As for your mother, she spent years when your father left worrying about money, and it’s a hard habit to break.’
‘Ken Marchant isn’t my father.’
Bert came back to the table, and sitting down he reached across to take Sally’s hand in his. ‘I told your mother that you’re all right. You are, aren’t you?’
‘Yes . . . thanks, Bert. Oh, how much longer will we have to wait to find out how Arthur is?’
‘It’s only been an hour since he went down to theatre, but if you like I’ll pop up to the ward to see if there’s any news.’
‘We’ll all go,’ Elsie said firmly.
There was no news yet but the ward sister allowed them to wait in a small side room where they sat quietly, each with their own thoughts and prayers.
Another hour passed, then another, until at last, a nurse poked her head around the door. ‘Mr Jones is back from theatre and sister says you can see him for a minute or two.’
All stood up quickly. ‘I’m sorry, but one at a time please.’
Sally tiptoed into the ward, her face registering distress when she saw Arthur. He looked so pale! She took his hand and he briefly opened his eyes, yet it was obvious that he was hardly aware she was there. His leg was encased in plaster, but he seemed unaware of that too as his eyes closed again. She bent forward, kissing his cheek, her voice a murmur as she said, ‘I love you, darling.’
After her in-laws had been to see Arthur the ward sister came out of her office, saying kindly, ‘The operation went well, and he’ll look a lot better in the morning.’
‘Thank you,’ Sally said, feeling faint with relief and, she now realised, hunger.
They were on their way home again, exhausted, yet happy to know that Arthur was going to be all right. ‘I’m so tired,’ Sally murmured.
‘It’s stress, love, but you can relax. The worst is over.’
Sally registered Elsie’s words and they played a drumbeat in her mind as her eyelids drooped. Yes, the worst was over, and she thanked God for listening to her prayers.
When they arrived in Candle Lane, Sally wasn’t surprised to see her Aunt Mary sitting in the kitchen, all three women looking at her expectantly as she walked into the room. Like in most families, past rows were forgotten when an emergency arose, and Sally asked, ‘How did you know about the accident, Aunt Mary?’
‘Your mother rang me of course. Now tell me, how is Arthur?’
Sally managed to say that he was going to be all right, but then to her surprise she found the room spinning. She swayed on her feet, Bert rushing forward to help her onto the sofa.
‘She’s as white as a sheet and it’s probably delayed shock. I think she needs to be in bed,’ Elsie said.
‘Yes, and a drop of brandy wouldn’t hurt,’ Bert added.
The room came back into focus again, the dizziness passed, and as a cup of strong tea laced with brandy was placed in her hands, Sally began to feel better.
‘I think Sally should eat something,’ Elsie put in. ‘She’s eaten nothing, no wonder she felt faint.’
‘I’ll make you a sandwich,’ Ruth said, bustling over to the cupboard.
It was Bert who answered their questions about the accident and Arthur’s condition, but then he smiled gently at Sally. ‘I’ll have to go to the yard in the morning to sort out drivers and deliveries. After that I’ll be down to run you to the hospital.’
‘I’ll be with him,’ Elsie said, and after Sally assured her again that she was all right, they said their goodbyes.
Sally ate her sandwich, suddenly alert when her Aunt Mary spoke. ‘I thought for a while that I might have to change my plans, but thankfully as Arthur is going to be all right, I can go ahead.’
‘With what?’ Sadie asked.
‘I’m going to be away for a while. I . . . I’m going on a cruise.’
‘What!’ Sadie spluttered. ‘Have you won the pools or something?’
‘No, Mother, but I have savings. I’ve always wanted to travel and as I’m not getting married now, or getting any younger, I felt that this is as good a time as any.’
‘When are you leaving?’ Ruth asked.
‘In just over a week. I managed to get a late booking.’
‘What? That soon! What about your job?’
‘I’ve been allowed extended leave.’
‘You jammy cow,’ Ruth said sourly.
It was obvious that her mother was jealous, but Sally couldn’t blame her. She doubted her mother had ever had a decent holiday, her life a hard one, but Sally was pleased for her aunt. ‘I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time, Aunt Mary,’ she said, ‘and I’ll expect a postcard from every port of call.’
‘And I’ll see that you get one,’ Mary said, smiling warmly.
Sally was unable to stifle a yawn, tiredness washing over her again.
‘Why don’t you get yourself off to bed?’
‘Yes, Mum, I think I will,’ Sally replied, saying goodnight and going upstairs.
The bed felt empty without Arthur beside her and Sally clutched a pillow to her chest, finding that despite her exhaustion it was impossible to sleep. For an hour she tossed and turned, her mind refusing to still. She should have known that Arthur had been in an accident, should have sensed something. So much for intuition. Yet even as this thought crossed her mind she felt a shiver run up her spine again. No, no, surely there wasn’t more to come?
Sally’s heart was full of fear, sleep still impossible and her head began to ache as she turned onto her back. It happened then, a familiar glow appeared, something she hadn’t seen since Angel’s birth. The room began to glimmer with a strange but beautiful translucent light. Her friend was here, the lovely presence had come, and as the soft light began to spread, she smiled with joy.
Slowly it seemed to drift towards her, and then Sally found herself enfolded, cocooned as wonderment replaced her tormented thoughts. She closed her eyes, a smile still on her lips, and as soft fingers seemed to caress her hair, she finally drifted off to sleep.
When Sally awoke the next morning she was smiling as she recalled her dream. She’d been flying, free as a bird, skimming low over the rooftops. The dream had been so real, so vivid that she could still feel the exhilaration coursing through her veins.
She turned over, luxuriating in the warmth of the blankets, but then little niggles of worry began to pick at her mind. Last night the spiritual presence had come, one that as a child she had called her friend. When she was upset, hurt, or worried, this friend had come to comfort her as it had last night. Since her marriage to Arthur, she no longer saw it, sensing that perhaps it had disappeared because she no longer needed it.
So why now? Why had it come back now? Suddenly frightened, Sally shivered and flung back the blankets. Had Arthur taken a turn for the worse? Without stopping to put on a dressing gown or slippers, she ran downstairs, frantically dialling the number of the hospital. Come on, come on, she thought impatiently as she waited to be put through to the ward.
‘What are you doing up so early?’ Sadie asked as she came out of her room.
‘I could ask you the same thing,’ Sally said, but then pressed the phone closer to her ear as she was finally put through. She was aware of her grandmother listening as she spoke to a nurse, and then her shoulders slumped with relief as she replaced the receiver. ‘He’s all right, Gran. Arthur’s still all right.’
‘Sally, you’re shaking with the cold. Put your dressing gown on and crikey, your feet are bare. Do you want to get chilblains?’
She smiled happily at her grandmother, her footsteps light as she ran back upstairs, calling, ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’
In no time Sally returned to the kitchen, wrapped up warmly. She wondered again why the spiritual presence had returned. ‘Are you feeling all right, Gran?’
‘Yeah, I’m fine. Ain’t you looked at me aura?’
Sally adjusted her eyes, studying the halo of light surrounding her grandmother. There were dark patches, but these were familiar ones caused by her arthritis. ‘I think you need a bit of healing. I can see your arthritis is playing up.’
‘You always know when I’m in pain and it still gives me the willies.’
Seeing nothing else to worry about, Sally was perplexed. Why had she felt there was worse to come?
She glanced at the clock, deciding to get ready before getting Angel up for school. However, at that moment there was a flurry of movement as her daughter scampered into the room, hair tousled and a worried look on her face.
‘Where’s my daddy?’
‘He’s still in hospital, darling, but don’t worry, he’s fine.’
‘I want to see him.’
‘Not today, but soon, I promise.’
‘But I want to see him now!’ And as Ruth walked into the room, Angel cried, ‘Nanny, tell Mummy.’
‘Tell Mummy what?’
‘That I want to see my daddy.’
‘Come here, pet.’
Angel ran to her nanny, and leaning forward Ruth gently stroked her granddaughter’s cheek. ‘Your daddy is a bit poorly and needs to rest. When he feels better you can go to see him, and when he comes home you can be his nurse. We’ll get you a nurse’s uniform. Would you like that?’
‘Yes, Nanny, and can I give him medicine?’
‘Of course you can.’
Peace reigned then, and just after Ruth left to take Angel to school, Bert and Elsie arrived. ‘You’re earlier than I expected,’ Sally said as she opened the door.
‘Elsie came to the yard with me, pestering me to get a move on. The drivers have been sorted out and the rest can take care of itself for a while. Are you ready to go?’
‘I don’t like to leave Gran so do you mind waiting until Mum comes back? She’s just taken Angel to school and won’t be long.’
‘Of course we don’t mind waiting. It’ll give us a chance to say hello to Sadie.’
Sally took them through to the kitchen, hardly listening as they chatted to Sadie, her thoughts again on Arthur. The ward sister had said he was comfortable, but was she just being kind?
As Ruth left Candle Lane, Angel’s hand gripping hers, her mind was on her sister. She envied Mary going on a cruise, but then Tommy Walters fell into step beside them, his cheeky grin in place.
‘Watcha, Angel. Where’s yer muvver?’
‘My daddy’s in hospital and she’s gone to see him.’
‘’Ospital! Why’s ’e in ’ospital?’
‘He got run over.’
‘No, he didn’t, Angel,’ Ruth said. ‘Your daddy was involved in a car crash, but thankfully not a bad one.’
‘Has he got broken bones?’ Tommy asked, his eyes wide.
Puffing with importance, Angel said, ‘Yeah, loads of them.’
‘Angel, that isn’t true!’ Ruth protested. ‘He’s broken his leg, that’s all.’
Tommy fixed Angel with an accusing glare. ‘Gawd, you ain’t ’arf an effing liar.’
‘Now that’s enough of that language!’ Ruth snapped, cringing and hoping that Angel didn’t repeat the word in front of Sally. She hastily changed the subject. ‘Do you have school dinners, Tommy?’
‘Nah.’
‘Have you got a packed lunch then?’
Tommy shook his head, but before she could question him further he shouted, ‘Come on, Angel, race yer to the end of the lane!’
Like a flash they were off, both skidding to a halt when Ruth screeched, ‘Come back here!’
She hurried towards them, crouching down to take one of Tommy’s grubby hands in her own. ‘If you don’t have school dinners, or a packed lunch, what do you get to eat?’
‘Stuff,’ he said. His eyes lowered. ‘I manage.’
‘I always save him some of mine, Nanny.’
‘Oh, is that a fact? And how do you get it out of the dinner hall?’
‘I shove it in my pocket.’
‘What! If you’ve ruined your coat your mother will do her nut,’ Ruth exclaimed, pulling Angel to one side and hastily checking her pockets.
‘It’s all right, Nanny. I don’t put any runny stuff in there.’
‘She gave me her jam sponge on Friday, and even though there wasn’t any jam left on it . . . it was smashing.’
Ruth sighed heavily. ‘Here,’ she said, taking some money out of her purse. ‘This week you’ll have school dinners.’
His large eyes rounded. ‘Cor, fanks, missus. Blimey, I wish you was my nanny too.’
Still holding his hand, they began to walk again, and as Tommy looked up at her, Ruth’s heart flipped over. Dirt and all she was still drawn to the child.
When they reached the school gates, Ruth bent to kiss Angel. ‘Now, be a good girl.’
Tommy’s little chest puffed, and with a look of importance he said, ‘Don’t worry, missus. I always look out for her.’
Unable to resist, Ruth pulled him into her arms. ‘You’re a good kid.’
Shooting her a look of surprise, but pink with pleasure under the grime, Tommy gave Angel a shove. ‘Come on, that’s the bell.’
Ruth watched the two of them as they ran into the playground, then turning she made her way home again, wishing that she could do more for Tommy.
As soon as they reached the hospital it was obvious to Sally that Sister Moody wasn’t pleased to see them. She frowned as they approached, saying, ‘It isn’t visiting hours yet and the consultant will be arriving soon to do his rounds. We have a strict routine that must be adhered to.’
Bert, already well over six feet, towered over the woman. ‘We would like to see our son, if only for a few moments.’
At first it looked like the woman would refuse, but then with an impatient nod of her head she said, ‘Very well, but only for five minutes. Visiting time is between two and three in the afternoon, and between seven and eight in the evenings. If Mr Jones were in any danger there would be leniency. However his operation was successful, and in future there is no reason why you can’t keep to visiting hours.’
‘Thank you, Sister,’ Elsie whispered as they all moved towards Arthur’s bed, Bert hovering anxiously at the foot whilst Sally and Elsie took a side each.
‘Hello,’ Arthur said, his voice weak.
Sally forced a smile, thinking that he still looked awful and not a lot better than last night. ‘Hello, darling.’
‘How are you feeling, son?’ Elsie asked.
‘Not so bad, Mum.’
Sally focused her eyes, her vision just slightly off centre as she studied Arthur’s aura. His head area still showed slight darkness, but there was an improvement. Her eyes now moved over his body, and she saw a lot of darkness around his leg that worried her.
There was a slight groan as Arthur tried to adjust his position in the bed and, determined to show a cheerful face, Sally said, ‘That’ll teach you to argue with a ten-ton truck.’
‘Yes, you were lucky to get off so lightly,’ Bert said, now moving to stand next to Elsie. ‘How did it happen? The lorry driver says you jumped a red light. Is that true?’
‘To be honest, Dad, I can’t remember. I was driving down West Hill, but other than that my mind’s a blank. Is the other driver all right and what’s happened to my car?’
‘He’s fine, but I’m afraid your car is a write-off.’
The ward sister approached the bed, her white starched cap as stiff as her body as she said firmly, ‘You’ll have to leave now. Mr Hardcastle has arrived to do his rounds.’
‘Mr Hardcastle?’ Bert queried.
‘The surgeon who operated on your son’s leg.’
‘I’d like a word with him please.’
‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible at the moment.’
‘Huh, we’ll see about that,’ Bert said, then marching down the ward to the surgeon.
Sally turned back to Arthur, grasping his hand. He smiled wanly, but his eyelids were beginning to droop. Their visit was obviously exhausting him.
‘You really must go now,’ the ward sister insisted a few minutes later. ‘Your husband needs to rest.’
Sally bent to kiss Arthur, finding his lips unnaturally dry, but then Bert returned to say goodbye too and soon they were leaving the ward.
‘What did Mr Hardcastle say?’ Elsie asked.
‘He said it would be some time before Arthur will be able to use his leg.’
‘Some time! What does that mean? Weeks? Months?’
‘He couldn’t say for sure. It depends on how well the injuries heal.’
‘Oh, dear,’ Sally gasped.
‘Now then,’ Bert cajoled. ‘Last night we were worried that Arthur might have brain damage, so let’s count our blessings. His leg is broken, but it’ll get better, even if it takes a while. Let’s look on the bright side.’
‘Yes, you’re right, love,’ Elsie said. ‘What do you say, Sally?’
‘I was so worried last night, but feel reassured today. He was hit by a lorry, shoved yards along the road, his car is a write-off, yet all he sustained is a couple of fractures.’
‘Someone up there must have been looking after him,’ Elsie commented.
For a moment Sally’s steps faltered as she found herself thinking about the spiritual presence again. Why had it come to comfort her? Stop worrying, she told herself, and as Bert said, count your blessings. Arthur was going to be fine, and that’s all that mattered.