A Family’s Heartbreak. Kitty Neale

Pamela, yes,’ Jenny told her. ‘Craig can’t hear, but as you just saw for yourself, it doesn’t hold him back.’

      ‘Where’s he taking you?’

      ‘To the cinema,’ Jenny replied coyly.

      ‘That’s nice. What are you going to see? What will you wear? Do you want me to help you with your hair?’

      ‘Whoa, slow down, Pamela,’ Edith urged. ‘Give your sister a chance to breathe! But you’re right about her needing some help with her hair.’

      Jenny patted her frizzy ginger curls. Her hair was unruly and could do with some taming, but the hot blower or curling tongs could do nothing to style it. Instead they made it look even wilder than normal, so now Jenny normally tied it back. She doubted her thirteen-year-old sister could do anything with it either, but it was nice to see her looking animated and, for now, not looking nervous.

      ‘I don’t know where you get that red hair from,’ Edith mused. ‘Must be from your father’s side.’

      On many occasions, Jenny had heard her dad ask her mother the same question. She’d overheard his accusations and wondered if that was the reason he always seemed to beat her so severely. He didn’t believe he was really her father. And on days like today, when her head still pounded from the force of his fists, she wished he wasn’t.

       Chapter 3

      The following week, Craig looked out of the window and caught a glimpse of Jenny arriving at her gran’s. He thought she looked stunning and quickly checked his own reflection. ‘Who are you trying to kid?’ he asked himself. ‘A woman like her would never be interested in a bloke like you.’

      Though Craig thought Jenny was accompanying him to the cinema out of sympathy, he still intended to make the most of the evening. It was only the second occasion he’d taken a woman out and he cringed at the memory of the first time. It had ended in disaster when he’d misread her words so when she’d said she played the guitar, he’d thought she said she peed in a jar. When he’d realised his mistake, he had roared with laughter, but unfortunately his date didn’t seem to have a sense of humour or the patience to understand the limitations of lip-reading.

      Craig hoped this evening would go more smoothly. He’d been looking forward to this all week, but once again he reminded himself not to get his hopes up. Jenny could have the pick of blokes in Balham so was unlikely to choose him. He’d discovered that once women found out about his inability to hear, they normally did a runner. Granted, Jenny already knew he was deaf and had still agreed to go out with him, but he had to admit to himself that she hadn’t seemed very enthusiastic and he guessed she’d only said yes because she felt sorry for him. Still, it was nice to have someone to go to the cinema with for a change. At least he wouldn’t be sitting there alone, surrounded by couples. In fact, he’d have the best-looking girl on his arm, and even if they just became friends, it was better than being lonely.

      ‘Oh, Jen, you look a picture,’ Edith said when Jenny walked in.

      ‘Pamela helped with my hair. I’m amazed at how she’s styled it. Perhaps she could get a job as an apprentice hairdresser when she leaves school.’

      ‘You scrub up smashing. It’s nice to see you dolled up for a change. Are you looking forward to tonight?’

      ‘To be honest, Gran, I’ve been having second thoughts,’ Jenny answered, omitting that her stomach was in knots with nerves and she’d hardly slept because of worrying about it.

      ‘Why? Craig’s ever so nice. Yes, he’s deaf but you could do a lot worse, you know!’

      ‘It’s not him. I’m sure he’s great.’

      ‘So, what is it then? First date nerves?’

      ‘I suppose so. I’m not very good at talking to men.’

      ‘Don’t worry, sweetheart, everyone gets butterflies at first. You’ll soon relax, and then I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time. I reckon Craig will be feeling just as nervous.’

      ‘Do you think so? I wasn’t even sure he really wanted to take me out.’

      ‘Oh, he’s keen on you, I could tell. He couldn’t take his eyes off you and when I suggested the dance, he was quick to invite you to the cinema instead. Now stop worrying and just enjoy yourself.’

      Jenny heard a light tap on the front door and her stomach flipped.

      ‘Go and answer it then,’ her gran urged.

      She took a deep breath to compose herself but could feel her cheeks burning. Her pale skin made blushes really stand out, and she guessed her neck and chest would be red too. She opened the door but could hardly bring herself to look at Craig.

      His voice upbeat, he said, ‘Hiya, Jenny. You look fantastic. Are you going somewhere nice?’

      Jenny panicked. Had he forgotten about their date? She looked at him now, her eyes wide.

      ‘Only kidding,’ he said, grinning. ‘You do look fantastic though.’

      ‘Thanks,’ she muttered. ‘Come in.’

      Craig followed her through to the lounge and stood by her side as he said hello to Edith.

      ‘Well, I say,’ her gran said proudly as she eyed them, ‘don’t you make a handsome couple.’

      Jenny’s cheeks were already flushed and the last thing she needed was her gran making remarks like that. ‘We’d better go. We don’t want to be late,’ she said, trying to get them out of the door before her gran said anything else to embarrass her.

      ‘Righto. See you later, Edith. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Jenny and make sure she’s home at a sensible time.’

      ‘I’m sure you will, young man,’ Edith called, though Jenny knew Craig couldn’t have heard her.

      Lizzie shoved her arm through Roy’s and reached up to kiss him on the cheek.

      ‘What was that for?’ Roy asked.

      ‘Do you really want to see this poxy film? I could think of better things to do than queuing up outside the Ritz.’

      ‘Oh yeah, like what?’

      Lizzie stood on tiptoes and whispered in his ear, ‘Let’s go back home and I’ll show you. We can have an early night.’

      ‘You saucy little minx,’ Roy said, beaming. ‘Come on then.’

      Lizzie knew how to twist Roy around her little finger, and the suggestion of going to bed always worked when she wanted to get her own way. She wasn’t interested in seeing a film about a girls’ school. It sounded daft to her, so with an arm still hooked through Roy’s, they left the queue. To Lizzie’s horror, she spotted a familiar face in the line of people, and her eldest daughter had seen her too.

      ‘Mum, hello. I … I didn’t expect to see you here.’

      Lizzie flashed a quick look at Roy. The man looked confused, but it wasn’t any wonder considering she still hadn’t mentioned any of her five children.

      ‘We’re not stopping. Gotta dash, see ya. Hope you enjoy the film,’ Lizzie said quickly and pulled on Roy’s arm, dragging him down the street and away from the awkward situation.

      ‘Did she just call you Mum?’ he asked, clearly perplexed.

      ‘Yes, but it’s not what you think,’ Lizzie answered, trying to buy some time to think of a good get-out.

      ‘So, she’s not your daughter?’

      ‘Well … she is … but—’ she stammered, unusually lost for words.

      Roy tugged himself away from her grip, then angrily