A Family’s Heartbreak. Kitty Neale

the stairs. Silly really, just missed my footing,’ Jenny said. She didn’t like telling him lies but couldn’t bring herself to reveal the awful truth. ‘I fractured a couple of ribs and I’ve been in bed since I was sent home. I’m a lot better now though and this is my first day up.’

      ‘That sounds painful, Jenny, but I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better. Your gran will be pleased to know that it wasn’t your father again.’

      ‘What?’

      ‘Shit, sorry, I wasn’t meant to say anything. Edith was worried, she told me about your dad.’

      ‘Oh, I see. Well, she shouldn’t have, and as it happens, the accident had nothing to do with my father,’ Jenny replied, and lowered her eyes. She was embarrassed and didn’t want Craig to see that she’d been untruthful.

      ‘She didn’t mean any harm, but Jenny, does this mean that when you’ve fully recovered I can take you out again?’

      Jenny wanted to shout yes please! – there was nothing she would like more. Instead she shyly nodded her head.

      ‘Great, well, when you’re ready, I’ll take you out to dinner.’

      When Pamela came downstairs, Jenny turned to her and said, ‘Give Gran my love and tell her I’ll call in to see her as soon as I can.’

      ‘Yeah, all right,’ Pam agreed.

      ‘See you soon, Jenny,’ Craig husked, smiling softly.

      She felt her cheeks flush, and before closing the door, stammered, ‘Y-yes, see you.’

      As they walked back along the hall, Gloria smiled and said, ‘He really fancies you.’

      ‘Stop it, we’re just friends.’

      ‘Pull the other leg, it’s got bells on it. I only got the tail end of what was said when I came downstairs with Pam, but from what I heard it sounds like you’ve arranged another date?’

      ‘Yes, we have, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea.’

      ‘Why on earth not?’

      ‘If Dad does this to me again, I’m not sure how Craig would react. It’s not fair to involve him in my problems.’

      ‘Your problem is that you think too much. Just go out with the man and enjoy yourself.’

      ‘Maybe, but I can’t think about it now. I’m tired, Gloria, and I’m going to bed.’

      ‘Righto, nighty night.’

      Jenny wearily climbed the stairs to her room. She wished Gloria had called in to see their gran when she’d been asked to, but at least Pamela would be with her now. She undid the buttons on her dress and allowed it to fall to the floor then stepped into her winceyette nightclothes. It was easier to pull the nightdress up than put it over her head.

      She slowly climbed into bed, with thoughts of Craig flying around her mind. It had thrilled her to see him again, and though it was against her better judgement, she liked the idea of going to dinner with him. Maybe she should take Gloria’s advice to just go out with the man and enjoy it. As long as she kept Craig and her father apart, surely it would be all right?

      Even though it was almost dark, Pamela would have preferred to walk alone to her gran’s flat. She felt awkward with Craig and hoped he wouldn’t talk to her. Jenny had already told her to make sure he could see her lips, so he’d be able to understand what she was saying, but she still didn’t feel comfortable.

      ‘How old are you, Pamela?’ Craig asked.

      Oh no, she thought, he’d gone and asked her a question. She turned her face to look at him, then answered, ‘Thirteen.’

      ‘Thirteen, a ripe old age. Do you know what you want to do when you leave school?’

      ‘I dunno. Work in a factory, I suppose, like my sister.’

      ‘A factory, eh? Have you ever thought about doing anything else?’

      This wasn’t as bad as Pamela had thought it was going to be. Craig understood everything she said. ‘I did think about hairdressing, but I really want to be a fashion designer, like Mary Quant. Fat chance though. Things like that don’t happen to girls like me.’

      ‘Don’t say that, you never know what the future holds. Who’s Mary Quant? I’ve never heard of her.’

      ‘It doesn’t matter,’ Pamela said, smiling.

      She found herself warming to Craig and decided she quite liked him. They were soon at her gran’s, and she was pleased to see the old woman was mostly unharmed from her ordeal. ‘Can I get you anything, Gran?’

      ‘Yes, love, a cup of hot milk and a couple of aspirins. It might help me to sleep.’

      Pamela scuttled off to the kitchen, but she could still hear what was being said in the living room.

      ‘How was Jenny?’ her gran asked.

      ‘She’s as bad as you, Edith. She’s taken a tumble down the stairs and that’s why she hasn’t been to see you for a while.’

      ‘Stairs, my arse! Is that what she told you?’

      ‘Yes, why, don’t you believe her?’

      ‘No, I bloody don’t! You can bet your last farthing that her old man has given her what for. I’m telling you, Craig, if I was younger and fitter I’d skin that man alive.’

      As soon as Pamela returned to the lounge, her gran asked pointedly, ‘Did Jenny hurt herself badly when she “fell down the stairs”?’

      Pamela hated having to fib, but she’d promised her sister she wouldn’t tell anyone what really happened, though from what she’d just overheard they’d worked it out for themselves. ‘Yes, it was pretty bad. We had to get an ambulance for her. She wasn’t awake for a while … and … and it was really scary.’

      ‘Oh, sweetheart, it must have been terrifying for you all, especially Jenny. Was your dad at home? Did he call the ambulance?’

      Pamela suddenly felt she was being interrogated and hoped she wouldn’t crack under pressure. ‘Yes, er, no … he … er … he was out,’ she stuttered nervously.

      Her gran seemed to be scrutinising her, then asked, ‘Did he go out before or after Jenny fell down the stairs?’

      ‘I … I think it was before.’

      ‘Are you trying to hide something from me, young lady? I don’t know who you think you’re protecting, but I know when you’re fibbing to me.’

      Her gran’s voice was unusually stern, and Pamela could feel herself beginning to crumple. ‘Oh, Gran,’ she blurted and felt a sob catch in her throat. It was as if all the fear and sadness she’d bottled up for weeks were suddenly unleashed. ‘I thought he was going to kill her … I thought he was going to kill us all!’

      Pamela ran to Edith, dropped to her knees and then cried into her gran’s lap.

      Edith softly stroked her hair, and soothed, ‘It’s all right, love, you’re safe here.’

      Pamela wished she could stay in her gran’s flat forever, away from her father’s aggression and the pain he caused. It wasn’t possible, though: there was no room, and anyway, they all needed to escape, not just her.

      With her head still in the old woman’s lap, Pamela didn’t see her gran look up at Craig and silently mouth, ‘I’d like to kill the bastard.’

       Chapter 6

      Jenny hadn’t slept well. It wasn’t just the discomfort of her ribs that had kept her awake; she hadn’t been able to shift thoughts of Craig from her head. She managed