Part 18 (1/2)

She had got back on time from her rounds and was praying there wouldn't be an emergency to disrupt their talk about the move next week. She had taken care with her appearance ... more than she would have done for an evening out with David. In the early days of seeing her boyfriend, Kathy had enjoyed curling her hair and using powder and lipstick to please him. Now she did it mostly for pride's sake. She'd liked, too, the sensation of tingling b.u.t.terflies in her stomach as the time approached for him to turn up.

At present, the fluttering inside was caused by thoughts of a different man but her exhilaration was being dampened by doubt. She still knew very little about Nick's background yet had come naturally to trust him. She wasn't sure whether that was a good or a bad thing; he might have lied to her about his home life, or Matilda might have been mistaken in thinking he had children. She knew the only way to find out was to ask him.

Kathy moved the curtain to peer out of the front window at the road, letting it drop back as a black car slowed down outside. She didn't want him to think she was pathetically eager to see him and spying on his arrival, even though it was the truth.

Nervously, she clasped her hands together, frowning at the cups and saucers she'd set ready on the table. Perhaps he'd think her a bit mean offering him tea after work. He might prefer a beer or a nip of whisky and she'd not thought to get any ...

All things considered, a stiff drink was the least he deserved if he agreed to transport Ruby and her family and all their belongings to Islington next week.

Kathy heard the rap on the door and took a quick glance in the over-mantel mirror, smoothing her wavy fair hair before speeding to answer it.

'I hope you won't think it a cheek but ...' Kathy led the way down a narrow hallway and into her small living room, inviting him to take a seat. She nibbled her lower lip, conscious of his cool grey gaze on her as he settled back against gold upholstery. Kathy thought he looked as well groomed and attractive dressed in casual flannels as he did in a business suit. 'My meeting with Mrs Potter went far better than I imagined it would,' she continued in a rush. 'I was worried she'd think it a dreadful cheek that I'd poked my nose in.' A bashful smile followed the admission. 'But Ruby's grateful I did and wants to escape Charlie as quickly as she can. On the spur of the moment I said you'd help us with the move. Will you?'

'Of course.'

'You don't know when it is.'

Nick shrugged, settled a shoe on a knee as he leaned back in the chair. 'I said I'd help and I will, whenever it is.'

'Thanks ...' Kathy said huskily, and took the lid off the teapot, about to offer him tea.

'You'd better tell me when it is.' Nick sounded mildly amused.

'Wednesday afternoon.' Absently, Kathy put the lid back on the pot and paced to and fro. 'Ruby said Charlie's never around much these days so we should be lucky and avoid him completely.' She halted by the hearth, then sank to perch on the edge of an armchair opposite him. 'I doubt the family's got much in the way of possessions but there'll be clothes and household bits and pieces to s.h.i.+ft. I expect the pram folds down ...'

'We'll take as much as fits into the boot. Do two journeys, if necessary, if Charlie's not about.'

'Thanks very much ...' Kathy replied. Her smile soon turned to a frown. 'Ruby had bruises on her arms again and little Pansy had a mark on her face too.'

Nick sat forward, clasped together his hands between his knees. 'I should've clumped Charlie harder when I had the chance that night the boy was born.'

'He's a vile brute.'

'A lot of men whack their kids to chastise them,' Nick stated bluntly.

'Did your father hit you? Sorry ... forgot your dad pa.s.sed away in the war,' she murmured. 'My father used to hit us but only when he thought we deserved it.' Now she knew more about Charlie Potter, she felt guilty mentioning her father in almost the same breath. Eddie Finch had been a brutal man at times, to his wife as well as his children, but he'd never seemed to relish las.h.i.+ng out in the way that Potter did. Kathy could recall the s.a.d.i.s.tic glitter in Ruby's husband's eyes when his fingers had been digging into her chin, dragging her upright all those months ago.

'Your father beat you?'

'Sometimes ... but I got off lightly, so did Tom. Jennifer wasn't so lucky because she used to drive him mad. I can understand why he lost control.' Kathy's laugh was humourless. 'She drives me mad and I often feel like thumping her to knock some sense into her.' She paused, sensing he was waiting for her to elaborate on her twin's infuriating ways. But Kathy felt unable to tell him anything about her alcoholic drug-addled prost.i.tute of a twin sister who was now carrying the baby of one of her clients because she hadn't managed to abort it.

'Mum would box our ears too when we were naughty,' Kathy resumed, breaking the silence. 'I know she had a lot to put up with. She always seemed unhappy ... she still does ...' Her voice faded, then sprang again into life. 'Did you drive Lottie mad?'

'Yeah ...' Nick chuckled. 'My poor old mum was always chasing me up the road to clip me ear for something or other I'd done. Bleedin' kids, eh? Who'd have 'em?'

'You?' Kathy blurted.

'Don't have any ... told you that.'

'Yes ... you did say that.'

'You don't believe me?'

'I do believe you,' Kathy said quickly, and stood up. 'Like some tea? I'll put the kettle on ...'

'Why d'you believe me, Kathy? Because you want my help s.h.i.+fting Ruby Potter out of harm's way?'

Kathy swung about by the table, her stare challenging his sarcastic expression. 'Are you lying then?'

'No.'

Kathy knew he was waiting for her to spit out what was on her mind. She knew too he wasn't going to make things easy for her by contributing any facts on the subject.

'Somebody just mentioned to me they thought you were a father.' Kathy let the comment flow over her shoulder as she walked away.

A small kitchenette adjoined the living room and Kathy entered it, twisting the tap to fill the kettle. She closed her eyes, praying there wouldn't be any awkward silences between them now. She should have kept her mouth shut, she told herself, at least until after the Potters had moved to Campbell Road.

'Who told you I'd got kids?' Nick had stationed himself against the doorjamb, watching her at the sink.

'Matilda. She remembered once seeing you in the pub with her nephews. One of them said your wife was pregnant. That's all I heard.'

'Blanche was pregnant. That's why I married her. She lost the baby at about five months, not long after the wedding. I expect you come across miscarriages in your job so know it happens.'

Kathy felt as though she'd shrivelled to half her size. He sounded calm and polite but she knew she'd just been reprimanded, and with good cause. 'I'm sorry to hear about it,' she murmured stiltedly, and struck a match to light the gas stove.

'I was too at the time. But it's all over now ... water under the bridge ...'

'Would you like something to eat?' Kathy was desperate to change the subject. 'I've got ...' She opened a pantry cupboard to hunt amongst the few groceries for something to put in a sandwich, hoping to find a tin of corned beef. But there didn't seem to be much other than a few ripe tomatoes and Bird's custard powder. 'I can pop out and get something,' she offered brightly. 'I need shopping and it's only on the corner ...'

'Don't worry, it's fine ... we can go out to dinner, if you like.'

Kathy felt relieved he wasn't about to disappear because the atmosphere between them had cooled. She knew she would like to go out with him but a sense of uneasiness was niggling at the back of her mind, holding back her answer. It was only fair to tell David it was over between them before accepting dinner invitations from another man. She owed him some loyalty.

'If you turn me down, I'll still take Ruby to Islington. Don't feel obliged to do anything you don't want to.'

Kathy swung about but he'd gone back into the living room and was standing by the mantel gazing into an empty grate, his hands plunged into his trouser pockets.

'I'd like to go out with you, but I just want to speak to David first. We've grown apart, so I'm sure it'll be a relief for him too when I tell him it's over. But I owe it to him to be honest.'

'Do you?' Nick said, sounding sarcastic.

'Why d'you say it like that?' Kathy frowned.

He shook his head, turning away. 'No reason ... just being a prat ...' Nick had bitten his tongue on telling Kathy that the man she was desperate to protect had been cheating on her with her own sister. He raised his eyes to her face, gave her a rueful half-smile, knowing he'd do anything rather than hurt her. 'You're a good girl, Kathy ... too decent for me, or him ... I reckon.'

'I am not!' For some reason, Kathy felt she'd been d.a.m.ned with faint praise. 'Don't make me out to be a prissy madam just because I'm a nurse, or because I don't think it's right to two-time somebody.'