A Family Christmas (31 page)

As usual the arrival of the car on Top Row sent all the youngsters out into the street. Fortunately most of them had already finished their special dinner, otherwise the mothers would have given Tom Johnson what for. Lucy wouldn’t have noticed; all she cared about was that with the arrival of Nellie her family was now complete. ‘Oh, Nellie, why didn’t you come in time for dinner?’

‘It’s all right, we’ve eaten at the manor. But I’d love a cup of tea.’ Jane rushed to make one and John handed Tom a glass and a bottle of stout. The kitchen was almost bursting at the seams as the men abandoned their cards on the front room table and left their game of Crib unfinished to greet the unexpected guests.

It wasn’t until Robbie took Bernard to feed the flock of recently acquired hens that Nellie asked ‘Where’s Prudence?’

‘Oh!’ Lucy realised that nobody had thought to tell Nellie what had happened and a hasty explanation was given. It wasn’t until later that John gave Tom all the details and told Tom how worried they all were about the situation his brother now found himself in. ‘He needs to divorce her, but how to go about it is beyond me. Actually none of us know anyone who’s ever been divorced.’

‘If you wish I’ll have a word with a friend of mine who’s a lawyer.’

‘Paul Tomlinson?’

Tom was surprised. ‘Yes.’

‘I met him at your wedding; he gave me his card. I’d forgotten all about it.’

‘Would you like me to seek his advice?’

‘I would if you don’t mind. Our Robbie can’t go on like this for ever.’

Young Bernard was still fascinated with the egg he had brought back from the allotments. ‘Look what I’ve got; it came out of Mrs Hen’s bottom.’

Tom laughed and turned to John. ‘Leave it with me. I’ll do my best.’ He took a notebook from his pocket and made a few notes. At that point Ben struck up on the melodion and the party began in earnest. Only Mary refused to join in the singing, but no one took much notice of her, not even Jacob.

Chapter Nineteen

ENID SLATER WAS
worried about Lucy. She had never known anyone so big at only seven months gone. She begged the lass to pay Dr Sellars a visit, but Lucy was adamant she was perfectly well. Mrs Cadman was keeping an eye on Bernard and Rosie – who was so placid she hardly needed any looking after at all. Oh well, there wasn’t much she could do if Lucy refused to seek medical advice, except give her a hand with the washing and cleaning. The washing was the biggest problem, with three strapping men and two little ones to be washing and ironing for. Not so much the washing but the drying, which usually had to be done indoors in the month of January.

Today for a change had begun as a good drying day, bright and cold with a light wind. But now storm clouds were rolling across the sky from the direction of Cragstone and the wind had risen so that it was wrapping the washing around the clothes line and tangling a sheet round the clothes prop. Enid thought it could blow in some rain later or even some snow, but by then the washing would no doubt be dry. She noticed little Bernard playing on Mrs Cadman’s doorstep. If only Evelyn could
see
him now with his rosy cheeks and ready smile. Enid felt at the washing and unknotted the driest garments off the line. She would get them ironed before taking them in to Lucy’s. Like her old mother used to say, a little help’s worth a lot of pity. It was a pity Mary Gabbitas – as was – didn’t think that way. A right sister that one had turned out to be.

She had finished the pillow cases and started on the shirts when she heard Mrs Cadman calling out, ‘Bernard, where are you, lovey?’ Enid got to the door in time to see her neighbour hurry into Lucy’s and rush out again with Lucy following. ‘He was here not a minute since, riding ’is bike,’ Enid called. ‘Perhaps he’s gone into the Murphys’.’ All the children liked Mrs Murphy – the house was so untidy she never bothered what they got up to, but Bernard wasn’t there. By this time other neighbours had come out onto the street, Mr Marshall, pulling his cap down over his ears waiting to go on afternoon shift, followed by Lewis.

‘What’s up?’ Lewis was by Lucy’s side.

‘Our Bernard’s disappeared.’ Lucy was trembling as she went to search the midden and the passage to the lavatories. Her heart almost stopped when she found the tricycle abandoned on its side in the passage. Something abnormal must have happened for him to leave his precious toy behind.

‘I’ll go up the allotments.’ Lewis set off at a run. His father went hurrying down to Next Row.

‘I’ll go down Side Row.’ Mrs Slater’s mind was
working
overtime. What if Bernard’s father had got him? As far as anyone knew he hadn’t yet been arrested. Her heart seemed to be thumping in her ears; she was getting too old for scares like this. She called out to everyone she saw, ‘Have yer seen little Bernard? You ’aven’t seen any strange men down ’ere, ’ave yer?’ Nobody had. One woman said she had seen a strange woman who she thought was a gypsy but she had hurried inside, knowing what some of them gypsies were like; if yer didn’t buy any pegs off ’em they were likely to put a curse on yer.

Lucy went back into the house and upstairs, then back down again and called down the cellar; of course he wouldn’t have gone down there in the dark. Oh God, where was he? She thought she was going to faint and sat down to prevent herself from falling. Mrs Cadman ran in, her chest heaving and tears streaming down her face. ‘Oh, Lucy, I swear I only took my eyes off him for a minute to knock back my dough and put it to rise again.’ She noticed the pallor of Lucy’s face. ‘Are you all right?’

‘Yes, I just felt faint but I’m all right now, if you can just pass me a drink of water.’

Mrs Cadman did so. ‘Oh, where can he be? I’m going down to the clock; he might have gone in the gardens.’

‘I don’t think so. He’s never been down there before.’

‘Well I’ll look anyway and then I’ll go down on
the
main road.’ She was off before Lucy could answer. Lucy tried to stay calm – she had her baby to consider, and who was looking after Rosie? The little girl was perfectly safe, having been dumped on Mrs Murphy’s knee. The woman was jigging her up and down to Rosie’s delight and singing ‘Soldiers go gallop, gallop, gallop’.

‘Shall I take her now?’ Lucy enquired.

‘Nay lass, leave her be, yer’ve enough on yer plate at moment.’

Lucy didn’t know where to look next. She saw Lewis slithering down the bank side. Bernard wasn’t with him. Lucy felt as though the blood was rushing to her head and then the ground was coming up to meet her. After that she knew nothing until she came round on the sofa, with Lewis, pale and concerned, keeping watch over the girl he would worship till his dying day. ‘Lucy? Oh love, are yer feeling better?’

‘A bit.’ Then she remembered. ‘Have you found him?’

Lewis shook his head. ‘No but we will, don’t fret.’ Lucy attempted to stand but the room began to swim again. ‘Stay where you are. Me dad’s gone for’t doctor.’

‘But I have to go and look for him.’

‘They’ll find him. There’s everybody and their grandmothers out searching; he can’t be far away.’

‘Has anyone gone to our Mary’s?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Oh, Lewis, if she’s taken him I’ll kill her.’

‘Nay, love, she wouldn’t do that. I mean, what could she gain by it? She knows you’d fetch ’im back.’

‘Will you go and see? Please, Lewis.’ He would have preferred to stay by Lucy’s side until John came home from morning shift, but he knew she wouldn’t rest if he didn’t do as she asked. As soon as his mother came back he hurried off down the hill, not thinking for a moment that Mary would have taken Bernard and wondering how best to broach the subject. Mary was emptying the dirty water from the tub and brushing it into the flags with the yard brush.

‘Lewis, what brings you here? It’s not our Lucy, is it?’

‘Well, aye, it is in a way. Bernard’s gone missing and she’s taking it badly. Me dad’s gone for the doctor and we’ve searched everywhere. I thought I’d better let yer know.’

Mary had already taken her apron off and removed the daft-looking mobcap from her head. She disappeared into the house and scribbled a note for Jacob, to come back seconds later in her coat with the fur collar and black felt hat. Lewis wondered at the change in Mary. At one time all the young lads had fancied her as well as Nellie, but now she had let herself go and resembled an old granny. However, she was striding out and even he had all on to match her steps. ‘How long’s he
been
gone?’ she wanted to know, and ‘Have yer looked up the allotments?’

‘We’ve looked everywhere but there’s no sign of ’im.’

‘Has anyone fetched the constable?’

‘I don’t know. They might have by now.’

‘If they haven’t you can go for him.’

Lewis had always thought Mary was rather bossy; it probably stemmed from her being the eldest. Perhaps it was what Lucy needed at a time like this: somebody to take charge. He prayed as they hurried up past the clock that Bernard was back home safe and well, but on this occasion God didn’t seem to be listening and the little boy was still nowhere to be found.

Dr Sellars insisted Lucy take to her bed. Lucy protested, ‘I can’t; I have to find Bernard.’

‘We’ll find him, but come on, do as the doctor tells you. You’re going up to bed if I have carry you up there myself.’ Mary had taken charge on entering the house. To her, Lucy was once more the little girl who could be bossed about, and Mary was the best one to do it. Her sister needed her and as long as she did Mary would be there for her. She was sorry for the upset she had caused everybody, and realised now that this was where Bernard belonged. She had been wicked to try and break up the family; she had acted beyond all reason. Indeed she wondered if she had lost her mind for a time. Well, this was her chance to make amends and when
Bernard
was safely back she would be happy for them. Oh God, what if he didn’t come back? She tucked Lucy up with some hot sweet tea and fetched Rosie from Mrs Murphy’s.

‘I’ll call again tomorrow.’ Dr Sellars was worried about Lucy. ‘The shock can’t be good for her at this stage and the swelling of her ankles isn’t normal. You must insist she stays in bed both for her and her baby’s sake.’

‘Don’t worry. I will, even if I’ve to chain her to the bed posts.’

‘Good.’ Dr Sellars frowned as she descended the stairs. What a terrible thing to happen, a child missing. Still, she was glad the sister was here; by the look of her she would lay down the law and keep Lucy off her feet.

By the time John returned from the morning shift Bernard was still missing and a search party had been organised. John, still in his pit clothes, went straight out to join the men in the search for his son. When he’d got back, eager to comfort Lucy, Constable Jones was waiting to question him. ‘Now then Mr Grey, is there anything you can tell us what might throw some light on where the little boy might be? For instance, is there anybody you can think on who might ’ave taken ’im?’

John’s stomach seemed to turn over as he thought of the child’s father out there somewhere. Had he found out about his son’s existence? Had he decided to risk his freedom in order to gain possession of
his
son? If the police couldn’t find a murderer what chance had they of finding a child-snatcher? John decided to withhold the fact that Bernard was the son of the murdered woman, for the time being. It would be disastrous for the story to reach the newspapers. Of course, if he didn’t turn up soon they would need the publicity, but for today at least he would wait and see. He left the constable to get on with his job and set off along the row.

In another hour it would be dark. Surely Bernard couldn’t have walked far, but there was no knowing which direction he would have taken. He set off up the hill towards Greenwood’s. Robbie had taken him up there sometimes; maybe he had just taken it into his head to go by himself.

Lucy was distraught. ‘Oh Mary, it’s all my fault. If I’d let you have him he’d be safe now. You were right, I couldn’t give him as much attention as you could have done.’

‘Now, Lucy, that’s not true; I was wrong to say that. Nobody could love the child more than you and John, neither could they have been better parents. There isn’t a happier little boy on God’s earth, so just you stop saying silly things. I’m sorry for acting the way I did. I hope you’ll forgive me and let’s be back to normal. I don’t think I have been normal for a time, but I realise now how fortunate I am to have Jacob and a loving family. If I can’t have children then so be it, and I’ve still got a nephew and niece and another on the way.’

‘But what if we don’t get him back, Mary?’

‘We shall. Now try and sleep a bit, or at least close your eyes and rest. I’m going to feed Primrose and cook something for John. The lad’s done a shift down’t pit and he’ll be needing some nourishment; so will Bernard when he comes home.’ Mary knew her sister wouldn’t sleep, neither would John eat until her nephew was back safe and sound, but she had to pretend things would soon be back to normal. The alternative didn’t bear thinking about.

‘Our Will brought some mussels from the market. They’re steeping in a bucket of oatmeal water on the cellar steps; they’ll only need rinsing and standing on the fire.’

‘I know what to do with a few mussels, Lucy.’ Mary went downstairs and cut a pile of bread, holding the loaf against her breast the way her mother used to do. She was rinsing the mussels in the enamel washing-up bowl, making such a clatter that she never heard the door open.

She spun round when she heard a little voice say, ‘Look what I’ve got, Auntie Mary.’

There was Bernard, high on the shoulders of a grinning Dan the birdman. Dan lowered the red-cheeked little boy to the ground. In his other arm was a piece of old sacking wrapped around a black and white puppy dog, not much bigger than Dan’s hand.

Mary grabbed Bernard and hugged him close. ‘Where on earth have you been?’

‘To fetch my baby dog.’

‘Did you take him, Dan Higgins?’ Mary almost spat the words at the gentle giant, who stood looking too large for the small kitchen.

Dan’s lip quivered and his eyes filled with tears in the manner of a small boy. ‘Will said.’