Rhiannon (22 page)

September 1909

 

As they walked down Chapel Street, Rhiannon's eyes went straight to her old house. It looked the same yet different. It felt strange to think of another family living there.

‘The couple living in your place have four small kids. They're a bit rough and ready, but my mother says their hearts are in the right place,' Frank said, quickly adding, ‘Of course it's not the same as having you and Mair next door.'

‘Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. I'm glad for your mother though, it's so much easier when you can get on with the neighbours,' Rhi said, mainly to make him feel better.

‘Mam, we're here!' Frank called as they entered the familiar hallway of the Lewis's mid-terrace house.

Ethel Lewis opened the kitchen door. ‘Well now, there's a sight for sore eyes. Come here. Let me give you both a big hug.' She wrapped her arms first around Mair and then Rhiannon. ‘You don't realize what a difference it'll make to have you both here for my wedding day. Having you live so close to me for all those years, I think of you as part of the family. My day wouldn't have been the same without you. It's so good to have you back home.' Raising her wrap-around pinafore she dabbed her tear-filled eyes. ‘What a daft ha'peth I am, crying like a baby because I'm that happy to see you both.'

‘Mrs Lewis, it's so good to see you too. And as for your wedding day, we wouldn't miss it for the world,' Rhiannon said, and truly meant it. She held fond memories of all the kind neighbourly things Ethel Lewis had done for them before and after her father's death.

‘Well, there's posh you sound. Your Aunt Florrie's influence over the past months has definitely had an effect. You're quite the young lady now, aren't you?'

‘I don't know about that. Although I will admit that I've changed; I feel a lot more grown up.' Rhiannon almost added in more ways than you could imagine, but stopped herself.

‘I suppose that living and working in Cardiff, surrounded by such well-travelled theatre folk, it was only to be expected.'

‘Anyway, we'll not impose on your hospitality for long. Tomorrow I'll start looking for somewhere to rent.'

‘And I've already told her that there's no hurry. Isn't that right, Mam?' Frank said.

‘That's right, lad, no hurry at all. Our home is yours and you're both welcome to stay as long as you like. Now what must you think of me chatting away, when I should be offering you a nice cup of tea? Come on, you sit yourselves down and I'll put the kettle on the hob,' Ethel offered.

‘Mrs Lewis, if it's all right with you, I think I'd like a lie down.' Mair's voice sounded weak.

‘Why, of course, child. Travelling all the way from Cardiff in one day is no joke. I've sorted out the sleeping arrangements; you two can have Frank's bedroom.'

‘Oh no, we can't take your room, Frank,' Rhiannon objected.

‘Oh yes you can, Mam's made me a bed up on the settee in the parlour. I've slept there before, I'll be fine, I promise. Now come on, let's get young Mair settled.' He picked up their suitcase and headed for the stairs.

‘That's right, Frank, you show them the way. And Rhi, once Mair's settled, you come back down. I'll have the tea brewed by then, I can't wait to hear all your news.'

‘Here we are, then,' Frank said, opening the door to his bedroom. ‘I'm afraid my mother insisted that I must clear out all of my personal bits and pieces, so the room looks a bit bare. Mam's changed the bedding this morning. The bed's really comfy, so I hope it suits you both.'

‘I'm sure it'll suit us fine. Thank you,' Rhi said.

‘Right, I'll leave you two on your own to settle in.' He turned to leave.

‘Frank?'

‘Yes, Rhi?'

‘Thanks again. It's feels good to be back.'

‘It's good to have you back.' He flashed a warm smile before closing the door behind him.

When Frank had gone, Rhiannon turned to Mair. ‘Mair, love, are you all right?'

‘Y-yes, I'm fine. I just need to lie down for a while.' Mair slowly sank onto the bed. ‘Rhi, why do I always feel so weak and so tired?'

Rhiannon stared down at Mair's tiny frame. Since her ordeal she'd lost so much weight. And even with Rhiannon's and Mrs Gordon's daily efforts to tempt her with tasty snacks, she had refused to eat.

‘I'm not surprised by your lack of energy. Look at you. There's nothing of you. Mair, you really need to build up your strength and the only way to do that is to find your appetite. I'm sure a few bowls of Ethel Lewis's famous lamb stew will soon make you feel better.'

‘I hope so, I really do.' Mair closed her eyes and, almost immediately, she was fast asleep.

Lifting the patchwork eiderdown from the bottom of the bed, Rhiannon carefully covered her sister and placed a soft kiss on Mair's forehead. Quietly she left the room.

When she entered Ethel Lewis's homely kitchen; a huge coal fire burned in the grate, heating two black-lead ovens and hobs. On one hob stood a saucepan of simmering stew, while on the other sat a large black kettle of boiling water.

‘There you are. Tea's made. Frank, pull up a chair near the fire for Rhi,' Ethel instructed.

Frank did as his mother asked and gestured for Rhi to sit next to him.

‘How's Mair?' Ethel asked, handing her a cup of tea.

‘I'm sure she'll be fine after a little nap. I'm afraid she's not been very well of late,' Rhiannon said.

‘I can see that. I can't believe the change in her. Whatever happened to the feisty young girl who left the valley? Why, she looks a shadow of her former self.'

Rhiannon shook her head. ‘It's a long story.'

‘Well, I've got all the time in the world,' Ethel said.

‘Rhi, I really think you should tell her,' Frank urged.

‘Tell her what?' Ethel looked puzzled.

Rhiannon looked towards Frank. She shook her head and turned her gaze to Sadie and Martha, who were sitting at the kitchen table playing a game of snakes and ladders.

Frank immediately understood. ‘Sadie, Martha, how'd you fancy a walk to the corner shop? I've believe there's a jar of sherbet just waiting for you two, and I just happen to have a threepenny piece in my pocket to treat you.'

‘Oh yes! Come on Martha, I'll race you.' The youngsters were soon on their feet heading for the door.

Frank looked at his mother. ‘It'll keep them out of earshot. What Rhi has to tell you is really not suitable for their ears.'

When the girls had gone, Rhiannon took a deep breath and began to relay the whole sordid story of Mair's abuse and ultimate betrayal.

Ethel listened, most of the time shaking her head in disbelief. ‘Well, I always knew that Nellie Parsons was a bad 'un,' Ethel eventually said when Rhi had finished. ‘It makes you wonder what sort of a mother could stand by and let this happen to her own flesh and blood? It's not natural. When my Frank told me you were both returning to Ponty, I had a strong feeling that something was wrong. But I'd never in a million years have guessed at this ... this is just unthinkable.'

‘I know. What that man did to her was so terrible, I can only imagine how she feels. But knowing her own mother was party to it... ? Is it any wonder she seems to have lost the will to live?'

‘Tell me, Rhiannon, what are your immediate plans? How long can you stay?' Ethel didn't wait for an answer, she just continued: ‘As you know, after the wedding I plan to move the family – except Frank that is, into Mr Jenkins's – John's house. Frank, rightly, needs to spread his wings and make a new life for himself, although I'm not so sure about his joining the army – something else for me to worry about, eh? Only don't tell him how I feel, will you?'

‘I'll not say a word,' Rhiannon promised.

‘Anyway,' Ethel continued, ‘John's house is one of the biggest in the valley. It has four large bedrooms – and you'll not believe it – an indoor bathroom and lavatory. I shan't know myself. I've had a word with John and he says that you're both welcome to stay with us for as long as you like.'

‘That's so very kind of you both. The thing is, Mrs Lewis—'

‘You calling me Mrs Lewis all the time sounds very formal. I remember how, when you were little, you used to call me Auntie Ethel, I liked that.'

Rhiannon smiled and nodded. ‘The thing is, Auntie Ethel, with the end of the show's run at the Empire, I have this dilemma.'

‘Which is?' Ethel urged.

Rhiannon took a deep breath. ‘Adam Fletcher, our musical director, has planned a twelve-week tour of Wales and the West Country for a small troupe of artists, and ... well ... I've been chosen to join them. It's such a great opportunity for me. Adam even offered Mair a job in wardrobe, so
that we could be together, but she's adamant she doesn't want to go.'

‘Well, Rhiannon, if I may say so, having seen for myself the way Mair is, I really don't think that, in her present state, she's fit enough. So why not leave her here with me? You know I'll look after her as if she were one of my own.' Ethel's voice was firm. ‘What that poor mite upstairs needs most of all is to feel part of a caring, loving family. It'll be the start needed to build up not only her strength, but her faith in human nature.'

Rhiannon breathed a sigh of relief. Ethel Lewis had come up trumps and Rhiannon was free to go on tour, safe in the knowledge that Mair would be well looked after. Still, part of her wondered what she would have done if Mrs Lewis had refused to look after Mair. Would she have stayed at home and not gone on tour? She wanted to believe that that would have been so; thankfully this was a decision that now she wouldn't have to make, but that didn't stop her feeling a tinge of guilt for, once again, putting her career before Mair. She hoped Mair would understand how much this tour really meant to her. She truly loved Mair and she hoped that one day she would have a chance to prove it.

 

‘Congratulations, Auntie Ethel. Or should I now call you Mrs Jenkins?' Rhiannon laughed.

‘Auntie Ethel's fine.'

‘You look so happy,' Rhiannon said.

‘I am. John Jenkins is a good man. The truth is, I thought after my Jack died that I'd never feel this way again. But when I'm with John, it feels so – so right.'

‘I'm pleased for you. You're such a good generous person, you deserve to find happiness, whereas I'm... .'

‘You're what?'

‘I'm selfish and ... not at all good.'

Ethel reached out and took Rhiannon's hand in hers. ‘Rhiannon, that's just not true. What you are is a young girl with ambition. And that's to be admired. Your dear father and mother would have been so proud of you. They both wanted so much for you. In my book, you've done them proud.'

‘I don't think they'd approve of the way I'm abandoning Mair.'

‘I take offence at you suggesting that leaving her with me constitutes abandonment! Why, your father often entrusted you, his special little girl, to my care ... until Nellie Parsons came on the scene, that was.'

‘Oh Auntie Ethel, I didn't mean to imply that I don't trust you with
her. Of course I do. You've always taken care of me from as far back as I can remember.'

‘Then you have to stop reproaching yourself. Mair will be fine, I promise. You go on the tour with a clear conscience ... be successful ... make us all proud. And when the tour ends I'll expect you back here to spend Christmas with us.'

‘Oh, thank you so much, Aunt Ethel.'

Rhiannon went up to the bedroom.

‘It's all settled. Aunt Ethel said that, you're more than welcome to stay on with the family when they move into John Jenkins's house for as long as you want. My tour lasts for three months. As soon as it's ended I promise I'll be back in time for Christmas. We're to spend it with Aunt Ethel and the family. Now, you must be pleased with that.'

‘Oh Rhi, a real family Christmas – I can't wait. Although I will miss you; three months is such a long time. Mind you, I'll miss Frank too. This morning he told me how he's actually received his call-up papers.'

Rhiannon looked surprised. ‘Funny. I wonder why he didn't come to tell me.'

It pleased Mair to think that Frank had chosen to tell her before Rhiannon. But she knew better than to read anything into it. After all, she'd seen the way he looked at Rhi, the drooling sort of look that made her wonder if there wasn't something going on between them.

‘Rhi, can I ask you something, personal, like?' Mair ventured.

‘Ask away; what is it you want to know?'

‘Rhi, you would tell me if you and Frank were... ?'

‘Were what?' Rhi asked.

Seeing the puzzled look on her sister's face, Mair decided just to come out with it. ‘Rhi, do you love Frank?'

‘Of course I do, to me he's like the brother I never had.'

‘I don't mean as a brother. I mean ... like ...
in love
with him?' Mair persisted.

‘You daft ha'peth, whatever's put that in your head? And no, I've never thought of Frank in that way. The only man I've ever felt that way about was ... Gus.'

‘Well, if that's the case, then I really don't think you should lead Frank on so!' Mair snapped.

‘I don't know what you mean?' Rhi looked genuinely puzzled.

‘Come on, Rhi, are you trying to tell me that you haven't noticed the way his eyes light up every time you enter the room or the way he hangs on your every word? It's so obvious. He's besotted with you.'
Mair almost added
you lucky thing, you
, but stopped herself, confused as to how, after all that had happened to her, the thought of Frank loving Rhi hurt so much.

‘Mair love, if what you say is true ... then before I leave, I shall set him straight on the matter; make my feelings clear.'