Blood Brothers Read online

  ‘Yes, there is, and I mean to keep it to myself.’

  ‘I won’t let you, Grandma. I’ll follow you everywhere, and keep nagging, until you tell me what it is you don’t like.’ When pushed hard enough, Alice had a real stubborn streak in her.

  Tricia took a moment, but she knew Alice well enough to realise she would keep her word. ‘All right, bossy boots!’ Tricia lowered her voice to a shameful whisper. ‘If I’m honest I think I would rather have seen you in a simpler gown. Something nearer Pauline’s, less fluffy and ornate.’

  When her husband glared at her, she realised the gravity of her thoughtless comment. ‘Oh, Alice, I’m terrible!’ She gasped with embarrassment. ‘I should never have said anything.’

  Mortified, she grabbed Alice by the hands. ‘I’m just a silly old woman who should know better! Here it is, your wedding day, and I’m complaining about your dress.’ She made a sorry face. ‘I expect you’ll hate me forever now, won’t you?’

  Alice laughed. ‘Course I won’t, Grandma!’ she assured her with a fond smile, ‘I would never hate you, and anyway…’ Alice leaned forward and whispered, ‘I agree with everything you say. Y’see, Mother chose my dress and I had no say in it. Mandy thought the same as you, so without Mother knowing, we fiddled with it here and there, trying to flatten the skirt, making it less like a blown-up balloon.’ She giggled. ‘We did our best, but after what you just said, I think we failed.’

  Tricia was greatly relieved. ‘Oh, Alice, I’ve always cherished the fact that you and me could always talk straight with each other, but today was not the day to poke my nose in. In any case, to be honest, the dress does not matter one jot, because you would still look lovely covered in a brown paper bag. It’s you Alice! You that shines out. Not what you wear.’

  ‘Quite right!’ Grandfather Joshua totally agreed. ‘You’re like a breath of fresh air,’ he said. ‘You’re a natural and lovely person without airs and graces, and you don’t give a stuff for money or possessions. I for one find that to be most endearing, especially in this material world we live in.’

  Just then, Frank stumbled up to them. ‘Alice is not like me,’ he hiccuped. ‘I want the world, and I’m prepared to work for it.’ He steadied himself. ‘I learn quick, I do. I’m…ambitious.’

  Afraid that Frank might be making a nuisance of himself, Tom hurried over to apologise. ‘Sorry about this, Joshua…Tricia.’ Taking control of Frank, he promised, ‘He’s had a few too many, but I expect he’ll suffer for it in the morning.’

  Joshua assured him, ‘It’s his wedding night. Most bride-grooms are put to bed legless on occasions like this. Don’t worry, Tom, we’ve all seen it before.’

  ‘Well, I certainly have!’ Tricia revealed with a sideways glance at her husband. ‘On our wedding night, you were out of it, well before the last waltz. I’ve never really forgiven you for that!’

  Frank laughed out loud. ‘Oh! So he m…barrassed ye, did ‘e? Like I’m…m…barrassing my poor ol’ dad!’

  Grandfather Joshua wisely changed the subject. ‘Tom, do you need a hand with him?’

  Tom graciously brushed his offer aside. ‘No, but thanks all the same. You enjoy what’s left of the evening. I’ll make sure Frank and Alice get home safely.’

  Alice kissed her grandparents. ‘Is your room booked and everything?’ she asked worriedly.

  Tricia assured her it was. ‘Grandad thought it would be more sensible to stay here than suffer the three hour drive home to Blackburn, and I agree.’

  ‘So, what time are you leaving tomorrow?’

  ‘Not before midday,’ Grandad interrupted. ‘That way, we get a lie-in. I know you’re newly wed, but I hope we might be able to see you before we leave.’

  Grandma Tricia reminded him, ‘We only visited the cottage once before, and now we’re not really sure how to get there.’ Having worked with Ronald to secure the cottage they felt proud.

  Tom put their minds at rest. ‘It’s a devil of a road…just a little lane really. The thing is, they all look the same at the best of times, and the signs are non-existent. Look, I’ll come and fetch you,’ he promised. ‘You can follow me there. Midday is it?’

  ‘Thank you, Tom, yes…midday. We’ll be waiting for you.’

  While Tricia said her goodbyes to Alice, Joshua went in search of his son, Ronald, all the while an overwhelming sense of disappointment tormenting him.

  ‘Father!’ On hearing Ronald calling, Joshua spun round. ‘Ah, Ronald! Just the man I need.’

  ‘Why? What’s wrong, where’s Mother?’

  ‘Your mother’s saying goodbye to Alice and Tom’s helping take Frank back to the car…he’s drunk.’

  Moving nearer, Ronald confided in a quiet voice, ‘Between you and me, Father, I’m still not sure we’ve done the right thing in letting Alice marry a man like that.’

  Joshua was concerned. ‘Really? And why is that?’

  ‘Well for one thing, just look at the state of him…drunk as a Lord, without a thought for his new wife.’

  ‘If that’s all you’ve got against him, it’s as well you weren’t there to see me on my wedding night.’

  Ronald admitted, ‘It isn’t just that,’ he said. ‘It’s the rumours I’ve been hearing this past few days…about Frank Arnold having beaten some fellow to a pulp. He’s also been seen brawling in the village. Apparently he can’t be reasoned with.’

  ‘Did you know this before you agreed to the marriage?’

  Ronald felt the need to defend himself. ‘I had heard that he was quick-tempered when he thought he was in the right, but I didn’t pay much heed. I mean…any man can be awkward if he believes he’s in the right…you and me included.’

  The older man agreed. He recalled a heated board meeting not so long ago, when he found himself in a bitter confrontation with a newly appointed colleague. The young upstart had the gall to ridicule a well-devised plan, which Joshua and a colleague had painstakingly put together. At one stage, Joshua thought he could happily have smacked the other man to the floor.

  ‘What other rumours have you heard, and is there any truth in them?’ Joshua asked.

  Ronald relayed what he knew, ‘There’s nothing else, but the trouble is, how do you track down a rumour? How can you get to the source of it? I’ve asked discreet questions, and come up with nothing substantial. I thought about tackling Frank with what I’d heard, but I have no proof.’

  Joshua gave it some thought. ‘You were probably right not to say anything,’ he told his son. ‘Sometimes rumours are spread by envious people, or someone who has a grudge, or even just for the sheer pleasure of causing pain.’

  Ronald had another reason why he did not vigorously pursue the rumours. ‘Alice has never been happier,’ he said, ‘I don’t think she would take it kindly if I was to wrongly accuse her husband of fighting and brawling in the streets.

  ‘I know Alice thinks the world of him, but to tell the truth I’ve never really been in favour of her marrying Frank Arnold. But Alice is old and wise enough to make her own choices. She chose Frank Arnold. We either accept that, or we lose her, and I’m afraid that’s the way of it.’

  The older man considered for a moment, before telling his son, ‘They do say there’s no smoke without fire, so it might be wise to just keep an eye on things. Make sure Alice is well taken care of, and that she’s content. Oh, and it wouldn’t hurt to keep your ear to the ground with regards to her husband.’

  He added, ‘I think it might be best if you did not say anything about this to your mother.’

  Joshua then touched on another matter. ‘Oh, and I need a word…’

  Ronald groaned. ‘Oh, look Father, if it’s that warehouse down by the river, I’m already dealing with it. I’ve got two quotes already, and I’m expecting to have the final one…’

  ‘No, no!’ Joshua put up his hand. ‘It has nothing to do with that. You had a query about that land. You asked my advice and I gave it, so now it’s up to you.’

  Visibly r
elieved, Ronald wanted to know, ‘If it wasn’t that, what’s so urgent we need to discuss it right now?’

  ‘Your mother…and your wife, that’s what!’

  ‘Oh, not that again!’

  ‘Look, son, I really am sorry about this ridiculous rift between Maureen, and your mother. I thought maybe between the two of us, we could knock some sense into their heads, what do you think?’

  Ronald tutted. ‘Damned ridiculous if you ask me!’

  ‘Nobody’s asking you…either of you!’ Tricia had come up behind them and heard enough to know what they were discussing. ‘If it’s about me and Maureen, I think you should leave that to us!’

  Ronald pleaded with her. ‘Look, Mother…I know Maureen can be uncompromising,’ he admitted, ‘…but I wish the two of you would put your differences aside, if only for Alice’s sake.’

  Having spent the past ten minutes or so searching for her father, Alice hurried across the room towards them. ‘I’ve been looking everywhere for you,’ she told Ronald. ‘I’ve already said goodnight to Mother, and I have to go now.’

  She apologised. ‘Frank’s had a bit too much to drink and now he’s snoring his head off in the back of Tom’s car. Tom’s already taken Nancy home, and now he’s taking me and Frank, and I mustn’t keep him waiting.’

  She had overheard their conversation and it saddened her. ‘Don’t worry about Mother and Grandma,’ she gently chided her father. ‘You know they’ll make up soon enough anyway.’ Alice looked at her grandmother. ‘One minute you hate each other, and the next you’re off shopping for new hats.’

  Tricia laughed. ‘You’re right,’ she told Alice. ‘We should be ashamed. Look, all of you, I’m willing to try and put our differences aside. But only if Maureen is prepared to meet me halfway.’

  ‘I’ll try and make her see sense!’ Ronald promised before bidding them goodnight. ‘See you tomorrow.’

  As he went away, he muttered under his breath, ‘Women! Huh! They cause more trouble than an army of men put together!’

  Alice gave them each a goodnight kiss. ‘I’d best go.’ Raising the hem of her gown she took off at a run. ‘Tom will be wondering where I’ve gone.’ Almost out of earshot, she called out, ‘See you all tomorrow.’

  ‘Goodnight!’ they shouted in unison, with Ronald promising, ‘I’ll make sure someone gets a vehicle to you, so it’s there in the morning if you need it!’ He then wished his parents goodnight, and headed back to the bar.

  Left alone, Joshua and Tricia returned to the question of Alice’s mother. ‘You know very well I’ve tried several times to make the peace with Maureen, but she won’t hear of it. Like I said, I’m willing to bury the hatchet, but I refuse to go capin-hand to such a hard-hearted creature. I ask you! What would she know about being thrown out of her home because her husband’s lost his job and they can’t pay the rent.’

  Tricia stopped when she saw the frustrated look on his face, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Josh. I know I get passionate about my commitments, but it irritates me that Maureen can be so hard-hearted.’

  She let him into her confidence. ‘I know she’s our daughter-in-law, and I know I shouldn’t say this, but to be honest Joshua, I can’t stand the woman!’

  Joshua was not surprised. ‘You will try and make the peace though, won’t you?’

  ‘Yes, but like I said, she has to meet me halfway.’

  ‘Well, in that case let’s hope our son has inherited the same powers of persuasion as his father.’

  That made her smile. ‘Come on husband,’ she linked her arm with his, ‘I’m ready for my bed. We’re not teenagers any more, just two old codgers, not used to staying up this late.’

  Off they went, arm in arm; happy as the day they first met, some fifty-odd years ago. Still friends. Still watching out for each other.

  CHAPTER SIX

  AFTER THE TWO of them had struggled getting Frank up the narrow stairway and into bed, Alice offered Tom a hot drink before he made his way home.

  Tom thanked her but declined. ‘As you know, I had to take Nancy home after she got one of her headaches. She’s bound to be wondering where I am.’ He gave her a hug. ‘You’re a fine young woman,’ he told her softly. ‘I’m proud to see you and Frank get wed, and it’s a real pleasure to have you in the family.’

  Deeply moved, Alice planted a fleeting kiss on his ruddy red cheek. ‘Love you, Tom,’ she said; and from the look on his face, it seemed he already knew that.

  Alice followed him to the front door, where he stood a moment gazing about at the cottage, all newly renovated and furnished with the finest that money could buy. There was a sturdy floral chesterfield under the pretty bay window, a small red sofa with matching cushions by the fireside, and a walnut sideboard with curves and niches, and here and there, a couple of smaller pieces of furniture in the same beautiful wood. ‘By!’ Taking off his flat cap, Tom scratched his head in wonderment. ‘This place puts our present to shame!’

  He seemed genuinely upset. ‘Your family give you all this, and from me and Nancy you get a bedspread!’

  ‘Don’t say it like that!’ Alice chided, ‘Your present was one of my very favourites. All those beautiful patches of bright-coloured material, and that exquisite silk border. It’s a lovely present, Tom.’

  Alice could only imagine how long it had taken her mother-in-law to match up each piece. ‘It must have taken Nancy weeks and months to sew it all together,’ she said. ‘It really is the most beautiful thing, and the fact that it was all sewn and finished with love, only makes it all that more special.’

  Tom agreed. ‘I must say, my Nancy is a real perfectionist. Lord only knows how many late nights she sat up patiently stitching away, and more often than not undoing a great chunk of it, when it didn’t satisfy her eagle-eye.’

  ‘And it shows,’ Alice replied. ‘It will always be precious to me and to Frank. Even when we’re old and grey, it will still be keeping us warm in our bed.’

  Tom laughed at that. ‘Old and grey, eh?’ He gave a great sigh. ‘You’d never know it, but me and Nancy were young as you once upon a time.’

  Suddenly, all the long years weighed heavy on him. ‘Well, I’d best be off.’ He turned to leave, ‘Mind you, I’m not altogether happy leaving you like this; what with Frank out like a light.’

  He made a face. ‘I know it’s his wedding night and all that, but it’s your wedding night too! He should have had more sense than to drink himself three sheets to the wind.’

  Alice assured him she would be fine. ‘Thank you for everything, Tom,’ she said.

  Tom nodded. ‘Night then, my dear.’

  ‘Night, Tom. Oh, and can you please tell Nancy I’ll be round in the morning, to see how she is.’

  Tom promised he would tell Nancy, though as he got into the car and drove off, he couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. ‘So you’ll be over in the morning, will yer?’

  He had really enjoyed the day; the wedding, and the gathering afterwards. It did his old heart good to know that his son had taken a wonderful girl for his wife. ‘Alice will do my Frank proud.’ He had no doubts whatsoever about that.

  He chattered to himself as he drove along the darkened lanes, ‘She’s a fine girl with a lovely nature, and she’s loyal into the bargain.’ He could not be more pleased. ‘In time she’ll provide me and Nancy with grandchildren…hopefully mebbe even a boy or two, so as to keep the Arnold line going strong.’

  The idea brought him huge contentment; there was only one thing missing to make their lives complete. He wished Joe would find himself a nice girl to wed. He’d love to see him settle with children running round his feet instead of keeping wandering off like a lost soul.

  Content that Tom was at last on his way, Alice drew the downstairs curtains and climbed the stairs, cautiously, so as not to wake Frank. She was thrilled with the cottage, though her mind was drawn to Joe.

  In the bedroom, she found Frank exactly where she and Tom had left him; half-dressed and sprawled across the
bed, with the eiderdown loosely thrown over him. ‘Sleeping like a baby,’ she whispered, drawing the eiderdown up to his chin.

  For a long moment, she gazed down on him, at the rugged face and the thin-lipped open mouth, now emitting gentle, rhythmic snores. ‘I wonder if we’ll be happy together?’ she murmured. ‘I hope so, Frank, I really hope so. I’ll do all I can to make this marriage work, and I will never again deceive you.’

  Even though she hated herself for the time she had spent with Joe, she still had not been able to rid herself of the powerful and shocking emotions that carried her into his arms that night. Though shameful and forbidden, it was an amazing and wonderful happening, and because of it, she knew her life would never be the same again.

  Determined to put the memory behind her, she told Frank in a whisper, ‘I will be a good wife, you’ll see, and I will never again do anything to damage our future together.’

  After sealing her promise with a kiss, she stood up straight, unfastened the wedding dress and let it slide to the carpet. She then tiptoed to the chest of drawers. On opening it, she reached into the big drawer at the bottom, and pulled out her nightgown and slippers.

  She then slipped on her nightgown and slid her feet into the soft, fluffy slippers; a present from her friend Mandy.

  On her way to the bathroom, she gently closed the door behind her, before having a thorough wash at the sink.

  Taking extra care to wipe the layer of lipstick and rouge from her face, she was astonished to see that the hitherto white hankie was smothered bright-red. ‘Hmm! Looks like Mandy went a bit mad with the make-up box! Somehow I didn’t notice before.’

  Dropping the hankie into the bin, she thought about her dear friend, Mandy. ‘I wonder what she’d say, if she knew about me and Joe and what we did?’

  Not for the first time, shame engulfed her. Hurrying to finish, she returned to the bedroom where she climbed into bed beside her new husband.

  Leaning on one elbow, she reached out with the tip of her finger, tenderly tracing his lips, and brushing back a lock of hair from his forehead. ‘I did a wicked thing, Frank,’ she whispered. ‘You didn’t deserve that, and I’m sorry.’