Swansea Girls (36 page)

‘He touches you, you let me know and I’ll punch out his lights. Like that other smarmy bugger who tried to grope you.’ Turning and leaning on his elbow, Jack slid his hand over her naked breast.

‘If you did, the police would lock you up and throw away the key,’ she whispered, squirming as he fondled her nipple. ‘Mr Thomas is a solicitor.’

‘So what?’

‘He’s an important man.’

‘I think I’ve proved you’re worth a bit of trouble.’

‘Jack.’ Clamping her free hand over his, she imprisoned his legs between hers. ‘I never thought it would be like this.’

‘Like what?’

‘Like, feeling that this is the best thing in the world and something I’ve been waiting all my life to happen. Like, wanting to tell you absolutely
everything
about myself and wanting to know
everything
there is to know about you. Like, not caring that I’m naked with you, and wanting to be with you every minute of every day and falling asleep next to you every night.’

‘If we got our own place, all our life outside work could be like this.’

‘Our own place – Jack ...’

‘There are rooms to rent.’

‘Not for people our age. You haven’t even done your National Service.’

‘Don’t remind me.’

‘Helen, Helen, you down here?’ Joe’s shout was followed by a banging on the door that connected to the rest of the house.

‘Oh, God! That’s Joe, quick.’

‘You’ve locked the door?’ Jack grabbed his trousers.

‘Yes,’ she hissed, picking up her pedal pushers from the floor and thrusting a leg into them.

‘Then it’s all right.’

‘Not if he doesn’t find me in the next few minutes. Here.’ Bundling up the rest of Jack’s clothes she threw them at him. ‘Quick, get dressed and out of here. I’ll tell him I was at the bottom of the garden.’ Pulling her sweater over her head, she grabbed her plimsolls and ran to the connecting door.

‘You’re wobbling.’

She looked down. ‘It’s that obvious I’m not wearing underclothes?’

‘Normally you’re strapped in like a jelly in a mould.’

‘Thank you very much.’

‘Helen ...’

‘Coming, Joe.’ Taking her time over unlocking the door, she glanced back before opening it. Jack was nowhere to be seen; she only hoped he was already lying low in the garden.

‘Didn’t you hear me shouting?’

‘I was at the bottom of the garden.’

‘Doing what?’ he asked suspiciously.

‘Talking to Katie.’

He looked around the door and down the empty passage. ‘Dad wants us upstairs.’

‘I’ll come with you now.’

‘The back door locked?’

‘Yes.’

‘I know what you’re like, I’d better check.’

‘There’s no need.’

‘I know what a scatterbrain you are.’

‘I said there’s no need!’ She reached the door to her sitting room just before he did. As he threw it open, she breathed a sigh of relief. Jack had tidied everything away; the throws had been straightened on the sofa, and one of the chairs.

‘It smells of cigarette smoke in here.’ Joe walked in and turned to see Jack standing behind the door, mercifully fully dressed but to Helen’s mortification holding her panties and corset.

‘My, Katie, you have changed,’ Joe said flatly.

‘You won’t tell Mam, will you?’ Helen asked Joe anxiously, as he embarked on a staring match with Jack.

‘There’s no time to talk about this now, Helen.’ Joe was very glad there wasn’t. Jack was what was known in Swansea terms as a ‘hard nut’ and from the glint in his eye Joe suspected he’d have little compunction about using his superior strength, even against his girlfriend’s brother – that’s if Helen was Jack’s girlfriend and not just casual recreation.

‘I’m not leading your sister on.’ Jack scowled, as if he’d read Joe’s mind.

‘I didn’t think you were,’ Joe replied, desperately trying not to look at what Jack was holding.

‘I’m serious about her.’

Helen snatched her corset and pants from Jack, and stuffed them under the nearest cushion.

‘I’m glad to hear it.’

Jack squared up to Joe. ‘I suppose you think I’m not good enough for her.’

‘I have other things on my mind right now, Jack, and so will Helen in a few minutes.’

‘Like what?’ Jack demanded belligerently.

Joe looked at Helen, not Jack, as he broke the news.

‘Our mother’s just walked out on us.’

‘So what’s going to happen now, Dad?’ Helen asked anxiously.

‘Nothing that should affect either of you, apart from your mother’s absence, and you can see her whenever it’s convenient, in your grandmother’s house, here or in her own place, if she gets one. She told me she’ll telephone both of you. If she wants you to live with her I’d like you to feel free to make up your own minds. It’s not your or Joe’s fault that I can’t get on with her.’

‘Can we carry on living here if we want to?’

‘I have no intention of moving and there’ll be a home here for both of you for as long as you want it.’

‘I want to stay,’ Helen announced decisively, not only thinking of herself and her father but her proximity to Jack.

‘Joe?’ John turned to his son who had remained disturbingly silent throughout the watered-down explanations of ‘differences of opinion’ he’d given Helen for Esme’s sudden departure.

‘It doesn’t really affect me that much, Dad. I’ve only one more year in university before I’ll be off, making my own way.’

‘But you’ll still live here with us, won’t you?’ Helen asked, more concerned at the prospect of Joe leaving the family circle than her mother.

‘No, I won’t.’ Joe decided that as he’d told his father and Lily about his job he might as well tell his sister. ‘I’ve been offered a position – conditional on my getting a degree – at the BBC in Cardiff, and there’s something else.’ Joe glanced uneasily at Helen.

‘Joe ...’

‘Let Joe finish what he wants to say, Helen, then it will be your turn.’

‘I asked Lily to marry me this afternoon and she said yes.’

‘Congratulations.’ Leaving his chair, John shook his son’s hand: ‘I couldn’t be more pleased. She’s a nice girl and she’ll make you a good wife.’

‘And me a great sister-in-law.’ Helen kissed Joe’s cheek out of sheer relief that he hadn’t mentioned Jack’s presence in the basement.

‘Lily wants to keep our engagement quiet until she’s had a chance to talk to her uncle which, given the funeral today, probably won’t be for a while.’

‘Roy’s a sensible chap. She’ll find a way to tell him soon and when she does I don’t doubt he’ll be as pleased as I am about it.’

‘Mum won’t be,’ Helen said without thinking.

‘The best advice I can give both of you is, it’s your life, live it the way you want, because if you try to please everyone you’ll end up pleasing no one, least of all yourselves.’ After delivering the platitude, John went to the cocktail cabinet. ‘How about drinks all round to celebrate? Helen?’

‘Sherry, please.’ She would have preferred gin but she was wary of her father’s reaction if he discovered she’d developed a taste for it.

‘Joe?’

‘I’ll have a whisky, Dad.’

John opened the cabinet, but before he could lift out the sherry and glasses ‘Strangers in Paradise’ tinkle-plonked into the atmosphere. Helen looked across at Joe and they both burst out laughing.

‘If either of you can disable this damned music box, please do so.’

‘What’s it worth, Dad?’ Helen asked.

‘Five pounds,’ John answered recklessly.

‘I’ll nip down the basement. I found a hammer there when I cleared it.’

‘And I flew to Cyprus on a green flying pig but it was very noisy. All that squeaking and honking.’

‘Pardon?’ Judy narrowed her eyes as she looked at Brian.

‘Hello, how are you? I’m Brian Powell, remember me? I invited you out this evening. I’m so glad I’ve finally caught your attention. Would you like another coffee?’

‘No, thank you.’ Judy pursed her lips to show her disapproval of his bad joke.

‘Would you like me to take you home?’

Judy checked her watch. ‘Not until half past ten.’

‘Which gives us another hour. I repeat my question, would you like another coffee?’

‘No, let’s get out of here.’

Judy was outside, pacing the length of the Mumbles shopping centre before Brian had time to pick up his coat, let alone pay the bill.

‘Where to now?’ he asked as he joined her.

‘Anywhere.’

‘It’s too dark and cold for a walk along the beach, it’s too late for the pictures and that, unless I’m very much mistaken, leaves the café you’ve just walked out of.’

‘There’s always a pub.’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because it will give your mother yet another reason to dislike me.’

‘Who cares whether she likes you or not?’

‘I do,’ he said firmly.

‘I’m being difficult, aren’t I?’ she asked, challenging him to say otherwise.

He smiled tactfully. ‘I take it you’re not used to quarrelling with your mother.’

‘She’s never been unreasonable before. It’s always been us against the world and now all of a sudden she’s laying down the law like Ernie Clay ...’

‘That’s a bit harsh,’ he remonstrated. ‘She’s not thumping the life out of you, only concerned that you’re taking up with the wrong sort of boy.’

‘You agree you’re the wrong sort?’

‘I’m wonderful, but as she doesn’t know me yet she might not realise it.’

‘Don’t you dare take her side.’

He held up his hands as though to ward off a blow. ‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’

‘I’m sorry, I’m in a foul mood.’

‘You mean you’re not normally all sweetness and light?’

‘Beast.’

‘At least I got a smile, then, and contrary to expectations it didn’t crack your face. I could invite you back to our basement. It’s not salubrious, but we have tea and chocolate biscuits if Jack hasn’t eaten them all. And before you think your mother was right, and all policemen want to do is have their evil way with young girls, Martin will be there. He was staying in to study tonight.’

‘Then we’d disturb him.’

‘He always stops working at ten to make tea. If we’re quick, he can make one for us. On the other hand if he’s delayed for any reason you can make it for the three of us.’

‘My mother’s right. All men expect women to wait on them hand and foot.’

‘If women are prepared to do the waiting, who are we to argue?’

‘I’m not prepared to do anything for a man.’

‘So I see. Independent young miss prepared to walk the streets until half past ten just to prove a point with her mother.’

‘You think I’m being childish, don’t you?’

‘Have you noticed the moon tonight? It’s a new one.’

‘What would you have had me do, allow her to lay down the law and dictate who I can and can’t see in my free time?’

‘I think you and your mother have some talking to do, which is nothing whatsoever to do with me.’

‘That’s rubbish. You caused this argument.’

‘Me?’ He turned an innocent face to hers.

‘It wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t asked me out.’

‘Thanks a bundle. Next time I’ll pick the blonde or brunette. Ready for the ride back?’ He climbed on to his bike.

‘I know, let’s go back to my house for tea instead of yours.’

‘Me, face your mother after this afternoon? No thanks, I’m a coward.’

‘You can’t be a coward and a policeman.’

‘Frankly, I’d prefer to deal with hardened criminals than independent women. They scare me.’

‘Then why did you ask me out?’

‘You look softer and sweeter than you are.’

‘Tonight’s been a disaster all round.’

‘It has,’ he concurred. ‘But if you’re very good I might give you another chance. You coming or not?’ Waiting until she climbed on the back of his bike, he kick-started the engine and drove slowly out on to Mumbles Road.

Once they left the village behind, he picked up speed. Judy clung to his waist, cold, exposed and absolutely petrified. The wind rushed through her hair, knotting the ends and whipping them painfully against her face; her heart pounded so fast she felt as though it was going to burst from her chest; but oblivious to her fear he raced on, keeping his head down. Her relief was palpable when he slowed to walking pace as they rounded the corner of Craddock Street into Carlton Terrace.

‘First time you’ve been on a bike?’ he asked, seeing her tremble as she stepped on to the pavement.

‘Second.’

‘I wouldn’t have thought it.’

‘You didn’t drive like a lunatic on the way into Mumbles.’

‘If by that you mean I drove slower because there was more traffic around, I’d agree. But I do not drive like a lunatic.’

‘You terrified me.’

‘I gathered you’re the nervous type from the way you hung on to me.’ He unzipped his jacket and rubbed his waist. ‘But don’t concern yourself, I’ll get my broken ribs strapped up tomorrow.’

‘I hung on tight because if I’d fallen off at the speed you were going I would have been mincemeat.’

‘I never went over forty miles an hour.’

‘It felt more like a hundred.’

‘Sorry, didn’t know I had a maiden aunt on the back.’

‘You set out deliberately to scare me.’

‘And make you forget your mother. It worked, didn’t it? You coming in for tea?’

She looked down the steps to the door of the basement. A light was shining through the glass fanlight at the top of the door. Someone was at home, hopefully Martin. She could handle him. ‘All right.’

‘I’ve had more gracious acceptances, but then you are just marking time until half past ten.’ He ran down the steps and opened the door. Martin was standing in the middle of the room cradling a hysterical and sobbing Katie.

‘Sorry,’ Brian backed out of the door, treading on Judy’s foot.

‘Please, come in,’ Martin pleaded. ‘Judy might be able to do something we can’t.’

‘Men!’ Pushing past Brian, Judy took Katie in her arms.

‘Roy Williams called.’ Martin pulled out a chair for Brian. ‘My father went before the magistrates this afternoon. He pleaded guilty to drunk and disorderly, affray, criminal damage and assaulting a police officer. They gave him a two-month prison sentence. Roy said with good behaviour he could be out in four weeks.’