Part 14 (1/2)

The rest of the short journey to Victoria Park pa.s.sed in silence but Kathy was glad her candid remark hadn't turned him narky. The atmosphere between them remained mild and she relaxed further into the seat when he started to whistle.

'Do you have children?'

Nick turned his head. 'No ... no kids.'

He'd been leaning forward, elbows on knees while they sat quietly on a park bench, by the lake. They'd arrived in the park just a few minutes ago and had sat down, each occupied with a.s.sembling his or her thoughts ready to air them. Now, Nick sat back, looking reflective.

'No need to be downhearted; sometimes it takes a while for babies to come along,' Kathy blurted, unconsciously slipping into her professional mode. 'A patient of mine is overjoyed to be expecting at thirty-six,' she rattled on. 'Not that I think your wife looks that old, of course.'

'How old does she look?'

'Close to your age, I suppose,' Kathy answered, wis.h.i.+ng she'd not started this conversation.

'Yep ... about right ...' Nick said.

'I saw you together,' Kathy owned up a touch defiantly. 'You were both standing by your car, outside the Goldsteins' shop.'

He nodded, said nothing, frowning at the water.

Kathy felt her temper rising. The least he could do was attempt an explanation or an apology. If he realised she had him down as a liar and a cheat he gave no outward sign of it bothering him.

'Is that why you can't stay out long? Because you saw me with my wife and think I'm lying to you about getting divorced?'

'I can't stay out because I have a lot to do ... notes to write ...' Kathy retorted, flus.h.i.+ng guiltily; all her work was up to date.

'So let's talk about Ruby and her kids and then I'll take you home to get stuck in. I'm guessing you want my help, so what are you expecting me to do about it all?'

His hardening att.i.tude made her equally snappy in response. 'What can you do about it? What can any of us do?'

'Hasn't Ruby got a family to lend a hand?'

'Her mother was a widow and pa.s.sed away a few years ago. She never talks about any brothers or sisters, so if she has some they can't be close.' Kathy frowned. 'Perhaps her in-laws might be decent folk. If they don't know what Charlie's like they'd be horrified to find out.'

'They know what he's like,' Nick said drily. 'Vi Potter's probably been in more fights than that particular son of hers. She had a houseful of them and they're all villains. She won't lend a sympathetic ear.'

Kathy sighed in disappointment. 'I really could shake Ruby sometimes,' she burst out. 'She ought to up and scoot. I've told her so before. Her answer's always the same: no money and nowhere to go.'

'She'd rather suffer Charlie than the Public a.s.sistance Inst.i.tution.'

'She's frightened the authorities will get involved and she'll lose the kids.'

'Yep ...'

Kathy felt tears of frustration stinging her eyes and turned her face from his searching gaze. 'It's not fair,' she said huskily, blinking into the distance.

'Hard life, ain't it, for a lot of people,' Nick stated, matter of fact.

'I'm going to speak to Mrs Keiver.' Kathy sprang to her feet, pacing to and fro in front of the bench. 'Matilda will know if any rooms are going in Campbell Road. Ruby can take the kids there; the rent's dirt-cheap. It'll be safer than staying where they are.'

'Even desperate people avoid the Bunk if they can.' Nick sounded dubious.

'She is desperate and so long as it's a dwelling, and it keeps her and her kids away from that husband of hers, it'll do, I'm sure of it.' Kathy sat down again. 'Ruby might relish moving from the East End. She's got no friends or family that she speaks about. I don't even think she has much to do with her neighbours.' Kathy felt exhilarated by her brainwave. 'I should of thought of it sooner. Matilda always knows of somebody who needs a char. They might be a rough lot but some of the women in the street can be kind souls when they want to be. I'm sure they'd help with the kids while Ruby earned a little bit ...'

Nick stroked a long cool finger down her flushed cheek. 'You're getting too involved, and too optimistic, Kathy. You can't make up Ruby's mind for her. Even if she agrees to the move, there's a lot of sorting out to do.'

'Will you help? If Charlie follows her to the Bunk, would you sort him out? You made him leave your mother alone.'

'It's not quite the same thing, is it? Ruby's his missus and I imagine two of the kids are Charlie's ... could be wrong, though ...' Nick added ruefully.

Kathy knew he was presenting sensible arguments, yet she felt disappointed that Nick hadn't immediately agreed to protect the Potter family from Charlie's brutality. Other practicalities began eroding her enthusiasm for the solution she'd found. Peter might want to stay close to his school friends in the East End. If he chose to remain with his father Ruby might not leave either.

'I'd better call in and speak to Ruby soon,' Kathy said. 'She might tell me I'm poking my nose in where it's not wanted.'

She kept her eyes averted, feeling bashful for having been overeager. In the cold light of day there was only a limited chance of Ruby agreeing to her suggestion. The woman might, understandably, consider moving to the worst street in north London as jumping from the frying pan to the fire.

'If the Bunk turns out to be no good for her, I'll find Ruby somewhere local to stay, if that's what she wants. And I'll explain things to Charlie if he comes after her.'

'Somewhere to stay?' Kathy parroted. 'What do you mean by that?'

'I've got a couple of spare rooms in a house,' he said, vaguely amused.

'I don't think she should move in with you,' Kathy choked. 'What would your wife say?'

Nick threw back his head, cursing softly at the clear blue sky. 'There are times, Kathy Finch, when I wish I'd never met you. I can remember being reasonably content.'

'I don't see what's so funny ...' Kathy retorted, averting her pink cheeks.

'Me neither. I've an empty house. Ruby can move into a couple of rooms. As for my wife, it won't inconvenience her or be any of her d.a.m.n business because I separated from her over three years ago and, like I told you, soon we'll be divorced. She's not happy about it ...' He shrugged. 'I am.'

'You sound very callous,' Kathy said after a lengthy quiet.

'Do I?' He turned his head, stared at her. 'That's because you don't know all that went before, do you? And don't bother telling me you're not interested in hearing about it, 'cos I already get the message.'

Kathy flinched from the hard grey eyes on her profile.

'Has Charlie ever manhandled you when you've been at his place?'

His abrupt change of subject took Kathy by surprise. She hoped guilt didn't show in her eyes when she eventually answered with a shake of the head. She'd had several scratches on her chin after Potter grabbed her for threatening to set the law on him for beating Ruby.

'Right ...' Nick said. 'Better see what Ruby has to say about a move to Islington then.'

'It's good of you to offer her shelter ... thank you ...' Kathy said.

Nick stood up and started walking back towards the path that led to the entrance gate where his car was parked.

Kathy felt rather churlish. She expected that was his intention, but nevertheless said something conciliatory.