‘Don’t take it to heart’ Jessie pats Liz’s hand.
‘I had no idea’ Liz sniffs into her handkerchief. ‘I knew there were summat went on but I never thought it would be as bad as this. Look what it says here’ She peers again at the newspaper, running her finger under the print.
‘I know’ Jessie sympathises, refilling Liz’s cup from a large brown teapot. ‘I haven’t met anybody this morning who hasn’t been stunned by it all’
‘It int all of it though, is it?’ Liz looks up, her mouth twisting in distress. ‘T’think I stood in this shop and I never did a thing t’help the boy. I should a known. I should a done summat’
‘Nobody knew’ Jessie reminds her.
‘That int the point! I should a done’
‘When even his grandmother had no idea?’
‘The woman wants stringing up! I ‘ope she gets it’ Liz jabs the newspaper angrily ‘I ‘ope they do ‘er over in prison. They will y’know. They don’t like folk what hurt kiddies’
‘But it’s only a minor offence…’ Jessie starts to say
‘Minor! I’d put the rope round ‘er neck meself!’
‘But that in there is nothing to do with what she was charged with. I suppose she’s in one of those open prisons…’
‘She int got no right t’walk this earth!’ Liz snaps a ginger biscuit in two and crunches noisily. ‘And it weren’t just the lad, there’s all sorts comin out now. Did yer see this bit about what she did t’that nanny?’ she asks, picking up the newspaper and turning it towards Jessie. ‘She’s a wicked, evil bugger and I ‘ope she suffers, I really does’
‘She’ll suffer alright’ Jessie says rereading the section Liz has pointed to. ‘That’s her career finished…’
‘Huh! She were no good any rate’ Liz declares, grinding the rest of her biscuit. ‘She int nothing compared wi’Chris, never ‘as been’
‘Chris, eh?’ Jessie teases.
Liz’s head wobbles with feigned nonchalance. ‘E says what I got t’call ‘im that’ she says, her cheeks pink with pleasure ‘He were in ‘ere wi’that nice young woman ‘e got now. She won’t treat ‘is kiddie the same way, I c’n tell yer that!’
‘She must be due quite soon’
‘November time, she were sayin’ I can’t see ‘er goin that long, she looks fit t’pop a’ready’
‘Were they just visiting?’
‘Noo…they’re stayin wi’Arriet fer a bit…’ Liz touches the side of her nose ‘That’s between you an’ me a course. You ain’t got t’let nobody know’
‘No…I won’t’ Jessie hides a smile, knowing that the original advice came from her.
‘Just ‘til this’s died down some…though ‘e were in a right puckertary wi’im got a talk show what he got t’do. I thought per’aps what it were cos he’d have t’leave ‘er here but I ‘spect he knew what were comin. They’ll ask him all sorts now, won’t they?’
‘All we can do is treat them the same way we always have’
‘The boy….Kester int been in this morning…..the other chap has…one a the one’s what works for him but he ain’t been in’
‘Maybe he’ll be in later. I know he’s been spending a lot of his time up at The Manor. It wouldn’t make sense for him to come into the village and then go back again, what with him being practically next door’
‘Hope yer right’ Liz sighs ‘He ain’t got no reason to avoid us, bless ‘im’
Milliwick Newsagents
The flat above
Chapter Twenty
49 Metcalfe Road, Woodbury
‘Kester! You haven’t got the time to be here!’ Marie turns from the door.
Kester follows her into the living room. ‘It’s a flying visit. I was passing the end of the road. How’s things?’
‘Things are fine, now go home’ Marie laughs ‘I’m not even going to offer you coffee’
‘Meanie!’ Kester flounces past her, flicking his hair.
‘Will you stop it!’ she giggles.
‘Seriously, you’re okay?’ he asks, turning round.
‘I am absolutely fine but how are you? I saw the papers’ she grimaces ‘Not good’
‘No…but let’s not talk about that. I’ve had pitying looks all day. People don’t know what to say to me’
‘You’re okay with it all though? I’ve been worried. I know it’s what you wanted, show her up for what she really is but…I was worried about you. How you would cope. That’s not why you’re here?’
‘No…honestly’ Kester smiles ‘I feel good. I can’t really explain it but…..’
‘Revenge is sweet?’ Marie suggests with a quirk of one eyebrow.
‘No…that’s not it at all’ he shakes his head, his expression showing confused amusement. ‘And that surprises me. It’s what I thought but it’s not. It’s more that I’ve let go. It’s out there, people know and I don’t have to deal with it any more’ He smiles again.
‘I’m glad’
‘Right…no more talk about me, it’s you I came to see. Helen tells me congratulations are in order?’
‘Not officially’ Marie holds out her left hand and wiggles her fingers ‘but I have got a ring….a sort of friendship one’
‘So she said’ Kester holds her hand, bending it at the knuckles to see. ‘Pretty’ he smiles and bends to kiss her cheek ‘I’m really pleased for you, relieved everything turned out well’
‘Yeah’ Marie sighs ‘Mostly’ She lifts her eyes.
‘Don’t say ‘if only’’ Kester says gently ‘It does no good at all. You’re together now, that’s what really matters’
‘I know’ she whispers, nodding her head slowly and rubbing her thumb over the ring. ‘That’s what Marcus said, almost word for word’
‘Two understanding men in your life, what more could you ask for?’ He grins and ruffles her hair.
‘A job for Marcus if he comes over here and pots of money…otherwise, not a lot’ Marie grins back.
‘He’s not a plumber by any chance, is he?’
‘Unfortunately not! Helen was telling me how busy you are….and that’s why you shouldn’t even be here’
‘It’s okay, I’ve thereabouts finished for the day. Change a faulty valve on a radiator and I’m done’ Kester shrugs.
Marie puts her hands on her hips. ‘Then go and do it and go home!’
‘Yes, ma’am!’ he salutes.
‘And take Helen out for a meal or something’
‘Too knackered’ Kester excuses with a grimace. ‘My turn to cook as well. Think I’ll take fish and chips in’
‘Kester!’ Marie says exasperatedly.
‘What?’ he looks at her blankly.
‘Oh, nothing’ she sighs.
‘Come on…what?’
‘Fish and chips? Don’t you think it would be nice to take Helen out?’
‘I KNOW it would…but honestly, Marie, I’m bushed!’ Kester paces sulkily to the window, his hands thrust in his pockets. ‘All I want to do when I get home is shower, eat, sleep…’ he says and turns round ‘And not always in that order. I’ve been working flat out’
‘And that’s an excuse?’
‘For what?’
Marie groans. ‘How long have you been married? Where’s the romance, Kester! Don’t you think Helen might be missing you a bit?’
‘I can’t help that right now’ he excuses with grunt of annoyance.
‘Yes, you bloody well can!’ she retorts.
‘I can’t! If I’ve got to work, I’ve got to work. The lads are putting in all the hours God sends too, there’s no let up. It’s not just The Manor, we’ve got contracts coming out of our ears and our regular bread and butter stuff as well. You can’t let those people down’
‘But, what about when you are home?’
‘Eat and sleep’ he repeats.
‘And where’s Helen in all this?’
‘Marie…if you’ve got something to say, come right out and say it!’ Kester’s cheeks burn.
‘Okay’ Marie sets her chin ‘I will! You know I wouldn’t normally interfere but Helen’s been really good to me lately. It was just something she said, that’s all…when I went to see her about taking time off’
‘What?’ he frowns.
‘Nothing too personal, don’t worry but I know she feels a bit…’
‘Yes?’ he prompts as Marie searches for the right words.
‘Probably as though she’s been married for donkey’s years, I should think. You haven’t been together five minutes and already she’s thinking the romance has gone’
‘She is?’ Kester looks taken aback.
‘That’s the impression I got. She knows you’re really busy, she realises that…and what with everything else as well…but it’s no excuse, is it?…Not really. Do something about it for goodness sake!’
‘I’m just so bloody tired all the time’ he mutters
‘You can be incredibly thick, you know that?’ Marie sighs a smile ‘For someone who rated himself as a bit of a ladies man, you haven’t really got a clue, have you?’
‘Meaning?’ Kester scowls.
‘That romance isn’t about big gestures and ‘doing something’, going out or spending money… it’s the little things. I expect she just wants to know you still care, that’s all’
‘Of course I bloody care! What sort of stupid thing is that to say?’
Marie touches a soothing hand to his arm. ‘I know you’re all wound up in other things and I can see you’re tired…but…’ she laughs self-consciously ‘Listen to me, anyone would think I’m some sort of expert….but can’t you try and leave all that at the front door when you go in?’
‘I can’t do anything about being knackered’ Kester grumbles.
‘No…maybe not…but nobody’s that tired they can’t spend a few seconds being romantic’
‘Right’ he rolls his eyes. ‘A few seconds is about my mark right now’
‘Not sex!’ Marie groans ‘You know what I mean, I know you do’
‘Yeah’ Kester sighs, looking down.
‘So go home and do something about it, okay?’
‘Just as soon as I’ve sorted this bloody valve out’ he sighs ‘Thanks, Marie’ he says, hugging her.
‘Now this’ Marie comments dryly ‘Is what you should be doing with Helen’
‘Point taken’ Kester chucks her chin and turns for the door.
