‘You ain’t been s’long this mornin’, caught me on the ‘op’ Charlie quickly folds his newspaper as the back door opens and Edna puffs her way into the kitchen. He lays his reading glasses on top of the paper and pushes himself to standing. ‘I were goin’ t’do a few taters’ he says, coming from behind the table to lumber towards the kettle.

‘What you arter?’ Edna gives Charlie an old fashioned look and hoists her shopping bag onto the draining board. ‘Take more’n a few taters t’make amends’ she sniffs and walks past him en route to the hall, unbuttoning her coat.

‘Cor blimey! That were weeks since’

‘Ain’t that long I should forget’

‘Did think it would be’ Charlie mutters to himself.

‘That my ‘usband should do such a thing’ Edna stomps back into the kitchen and starts to unpack the shopping.

‘It weren’t just me!’

‘No it weren’t!’ she slams cupboard doors to highlight her annoyance. ‘But I don’t ‘spose either a them tried t’pass off a shop cauli fer a proper ‘un!’

‘All right, all right, gi’it a rest woman. I got banned an’ tha’s that. We’s allowed back now so tha’s an end to it. You want tea a summat?’ Charlie asks, hopeful of a better mood afterwards.

‘I do....an’ you can fetch me me slippers from upstairs an’ all. I ain’t ‘ad no sit down this mornin’’

‘You ain’t?’ Charlie is unusually solicitous and pulls out a chair for her to sit down. 'There y’are, gal. Let me get this ‘ere tea goin’ then I’ll fetch ‘em for yer. So you never went in the caff, then?’

‘Not s’mornin’ I never. It’s Kath’s day fer doin’ at the surgery ..an’ Jessie’s all took up wi’Nathan an’ that poor gal of ‘is’ Edna crosses one leg over the other to take off her shoes and gives each of her feet a rub before putting them to the floor. ‘It ain’t s’much fun on yer own’

‘I don’t ‘spect is i tis, not without them t’gossip with’

‘It’s Kath’s turn t’pay an’ all!’ Edna declares that as the final insult to her day.

‘George were sayin....’ Charlie flicks a glance at her as he pours water into the teapot, to make sure he is on safe ground by mentioning him. ‘E were sayin’ what Jess were off t’see that nephew on ‘ers afore ‘er got the news about the gal. I s’pose tha’s all been forgot ’

‘I didn’t think you was interested’ she turns on her chair to look at him in surprise ‘You said what it was a waste of ‘er time’

‘I said what it were a lot a fuss ‘bout a few bones. I never said ‘er were wastin’ nothin’’

‘But them few bones might be ‘er Clifford’ she turns the other way to still face Charlie as he  passes behind her to bring the pot to the table ‘An’  ‘e can be give a proper send off if it turns out they is’

He lumbers past her again and returns with two cups and a jug of milk. ‘Tha’s all very well....but why go upsettin’ all them folks just t’prove a point what don’t need provin? She ain’t let on, ‘as she? She ain’t told ‘er fam’ly none on it’

‘Tha’s what ‘er were goin’ for!’ Edna heaves a deeply exasperated sigh.  ‘You on’y listen t’arf a story an’ go off arf cock ‘n get it arse back’ards every bloomin’ time’ She waves him towards the door. ‘Go get me slippers’

‘You think on it’ Charlie refuses to be dismissed so easily. ‘Though it ain’t quite the case wi’you’ he allows with a shrug of his shoulders ‘not wi’you bein’ took in an’ all...but what say you got a reg’lar Mum ‘n Dad an’ them brothers a yourn was proper ‘uns...’

He takes heart from the fact that Edna has not interrupted and takes a step back to the table. ‘Then from out a nowheres, some other begger ups ‘n tells yer, yer lost lost uncle ain’t yer uncle, e’s yer brother an’ yer granny ain’t yer granny cos yer Mum never belonged at all....An' the person what’s tellin’ yer all this ain’t yer auntie neither, cos the woman what she thought were ‘er sister ain’t no relation whosoever’ He knits his brows as he runs through what he has said in his head. ‘You’d be a bit befuddled wouldn’t yer?’

‘Like you, yer mean?’ she titters.

‘Well, it ain’t easy t’think on...but that there nephew won’t be ‘er nephew be time she’s finished an’ that t’me  is mighty cruel fer the sake a buryin’ a few bones what might be nothing t’do with ‘er at all!’

Edna harrumphs, unable to find anything to argue with.

25 Piper Street

Chapter Forty-three

Dell Cottage, Washbrook Lane

‘Crikey Moses! You made me jump’ Jessie drops the iron and puts her hand to her chest. ‘I feel like a burglar that’s been found out!’ It takes a few moments spent standing and staring at Nathan to get over the shock and be able to move. ‘Aaaaaaw!’ She hurries to him with her arms open and lays her hands either side of his face to pull his head down to kiss him. ‘It was the best news’ she says with tears in her eyes ‘the best news ever. Thanks for letting me know’

‘Of course I’d bloomin’ well let you know. You were the first person I rang’

‘Really?’ she lies squashed against him as his arms go round her and he hugs her tightly.

‘Who else?’ He rocks her from side to side, his hands almost meeting his own back.

‘Eeerk! You’re suffocating me!’

He loosens his grip and grins apologetically ‘I’m just so relieved’

‘And with good cause too’ Jessie straightens her clothes and pats her hair back in place. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘What d’you mean what am I doing here, it’s my piggin’ house!’ Nathan grins and looks round him. ‘I’ve come home for a shower, there’s only so clean you can keep yourself with only a basin to do it in’

‘But I did give you baby wipes for...you know....the bits you couldn’t wash in public’

‘I know ....’ he puts an arm around her again and drops a quick kiss on her forehead. ‘And don’t think I'm not grateful but the idea of standing under hot water was too hard to resist... so I nipped back while I could.’ He picks up the mail stacked on the worktop and flicks through it.

‘I didn’t think you’d want to be bothered with anything that wasn’t personal’ Jessie says hesitantly, unsure if his grimace is one of annoyance ‘so I only brought cards and anything with writing on’

He laughs and tosses the envelopes down again ‘They’ve ALL got writing on’

‘Ooooh’ her mouth tightens in mock reproach ‘Proper writing...not typing!’ She walks away to switch off the iron. ‘Oh ‘eck’ she looks down and lifts it from the board where it had fallen ‘think I owe you a pair of knickers’ she stares at the scorch mark.

‘You iron me boxers?’ he gapes and shakes his head, laughing.

‘I wanted you to be comfortable’ she says with an indignant toss of her head. ‘I do what I think best.’ She views the gleaming kitchen with a critical eye before looking back at him ‘You’re all clean and tidy. I’ve done all through and changed your bed so I could wash the sheets. That’s why you’ve caught me. There didn’t seem much point in carting the washing home and bringing it back again so I did it here this time’

‘Jess-ie!’  Nathan’s head tips to the side and he smiles softly ‘You shouldn’t have done all that....but thanks’

‘I didn’t think you’d want to be bothered with cleaning when you did get home’ she says simply and puts an end to the subject. ‘So....how is she today?’  Her smile is cautiously hopeful of continuing good news.

‘Asleep...but they said that’s normal what with everything they’re pumping into her... but she is sleeping, she’s not slipped back into a coma or anything, so that’s good.’ He sighs and puffs his cheeks, letting the air out in one long stream of frustration. ‘I see her eyes fluttering and they do come open but she drifts off again before I get chance to say anything’ he sounds despondent.

‘It’s still very soon’ Jessie grips his hand and gives it a brief shake. ‘She is getting better while she’s asleep and she isn’t in pain. They’ll know when to cut down on the jollop so she’s awake for longer. It’s a bit of a balancing act, I expect. She’s got a lot to get over’

‘I know you’re right...but....’

‘It’s not going to be a quick job’ she looks up at him without blinking, as though he needs the pronouncement spelt out to him. ‘But she’s a fighter. Look how she surprised everybody by waking up when she did! That was little short of a bloomin’ miracle, that was’

‘Yeah’

‘What was that look for?’ she asks when he grimaces a laugh and shakes his head.

Nathan picks up the mail again, delaying any explanation ‘You know what we were doing when it happened’ he mumbles.  ‘I told you when I rang’

‘You were gabbling on like nobody’s business’ she says with a watery smile, bringing the call to mind. ’I knew something had happened but apart from she was awake, I couldn’t make head nor tail of anything much, what with you all excited and me bawling as well’

‘We were....’ he pauses for a while, trying to gauge what her reaction will be ‘We were praying’ he admits on a rush of exhaled breath then sets his face into a scowl of warning. ‘Don’t come over all Holy Joe on me, but that’s what we were doing....leastways her Mum and Dad were....’

‘And?’ Jessie senses something unsaid. ‘Go on, tell me.’ Her expression is sincere ‘I’m not going to....extract the urine’ she rephrases with a satisfied twist of her lips.

‘Coincidence, probably’ Nathan gives a shrug and turns away, lifting the mail in his hand to signify he has something more important to attend to.  ‘Going upstairs. Stick the kettle on. I’ll have a quick coffee before I go. Cab’s coming back in an hour’

‘Nathan Samms!’ Jessie calls him back ‘All of it...or....or...or I’ll turn the hot tap on down here as soon as you get in!’

He smirks as he turns around. ‘Won’t make any difference to mine’

‘I’ll dirty your house up again’ she threatens ineffectually.

Nathan takes a slow step in her direction, pushing his hand through his hair and looking uncomfortable. ‘You knew my Dad...’

‘Of course I knew your father’

‘That wasn’t a question...but did you know my grandfather?’

‘Ye-es’ she nods and waits expectantly, continuing when he lapses into another silence. ‘Not as well as Maurice but I knew Sol passably well...and Nanna Samms’

‘Nanna Samms’ the name brings a soft smile to his face. ‘There are pictures of her and me but I don’t remember her’

‘Another one taken too young’ Jessie sighs then checks herself. ‘Sorry’

‘No’ he shakes his head emphatically ‘Steph’s not going anywhere. I know that now. I know that for certain.’ He eyes her carefully ‘You won’t laugh?’

‘As God is my witness’ she affirms, crossing herself.

‘That’s just it’ he grins self-consciously and lowers his eyes ‘I think there is one and he was listening’

‘I’m not going to say ‘I told you so’’

‘No...don’t do that. I haven’t got it straight in my own mind yet. It probably was coincidence but the whole thing was so bloody weird!’

‘What was...and what’s it got to do with your grandfather?’

‘He was Jewish, right?’

She nods again ‘As was your Dad’

‘Yes...but Granddad was more Jewish, if you get what I mean’

‘Right...’ she waits patiently for things to become clear.

‘Steph’s Mum and Dad were going to say a prayer like they always do when they first come in. I reckoned it was time to go get a sandwich but her Mum....Her eyes...it was like she was telling me ‘Join in or else’...so I did. It was the first time she’d called me ‘family’ as well but that’s something else. I’d got no intention of praying or anything but I held hands like she wanted me to and let them get on with it.’ He snorts a laugh ‘Another minute with my eyes shut and I’d probably have been snoring but....then..’

‘Go on’ Jessie urges her smile encouraging rather than amused.

‘Then.....’ Nathan’s eyes stray from side to side as he barely controls the urge to laugh hysterically. ‘I heard him!’

‘God?’ she squawks.

‘No, you fool! My Grandad!’ He gives in to the urge and laughs until tears roll down his face. ‘God!’ he guffaws ‘As if he’d talk to the likes of me’

‘I don’t see why not’

‘No’ he says, wiping his face and snatching a breath ‘My Granddad, as clear as anything...saying words he always said if one of us wasn’t feeling too good...or he heard anyone talk about anybody who was ill. I remembered it from when I was a kid! It was like a prayer for the sick...asking God to make them better and I thought ‘Why not?’ so I said them...over and over...until...’

‘She woke up’ Jessie bites a quivering lip ‘It WAS a miracle’

‘Hang on’ Nathan stops her with a growled rebuff ‘Don’t go getting carried away. I’m no born again nutter; cos I was never ‘born’ in the first place... it’s just that I’m not knocking what happened, alright? I’ve not told anyone else either, so keep it to yourself’

‘But....’

‘No, Jess...to yourself. Please....’ he stresses ‘Let me get my head round it. Coincidence is winning hands down right now but part of me wants to believe what I did helped...and something else inside me’s saying she’s going to be okay. It’s strong...in here’ he bunches his hand on his chest ‘I don’t know if it’s wishful thinking...the hope her waking up gave me.... or a knock on from what happened when we all got together and prayed. Maybe it was that I'm so bloody knackered, I hallucinated, I’ve got no idea. I’m totally confused about the whole thing and I need time to work it out’

‘It’ll come to you’ Jessie says quietly, touching his arm ‘Go have your shower’