Unspoken: A story of secrets, love and revenge by T. Belshaw (best reads of all time .TXT) 📗

had a look on his face that clearly said, watch this space.

The vehemence of my statement went a long way to convincing Barney.

‘I won’t say a word about this, Missis, it’s a personal matter after all. I’m more concerned with how Frank will fit in here.’

‘He’ll fit in with you and the lads, if you give him a chance. I don’t want to hear tittle tattle, accusations of favouritism, or made up stories about his performance. You will be the arbiter of all that sort of thing, his judge and jury. If he slacks, or if he’s a shirker, come to me and he’ll be out of work as quickly as he found it. You have my word.’

Barney gave me a half smile, just as the door to the front room opened and the wretched, rake-like figure of my father shuffled into the kitchen. When he spoke his voice was slurred, his eyes were like black slits.

‘Barney?’ he said. ‘Is it you? I heard a voice…’

‘It’s me, Master,’ replied Barney, his eyes welling up. ‘It’s so good to see you.’

‘Who’s this?’ My father looked at Frank. He staggered as he did so, and fell against the wall.

I rushed across before he went over completely, Barney was only a footstep behind.

‘This is Frank,’ I said. ‘He works for us now.’

‘Hello, Frank,’ said my father. ‘Welcome to the family.’

I was sure he meant our farm-family, but Frank beamed. As Barney helped my father straighten up, he threw his arms around him.

‘Barney,’ he half whispered, half hissed. ‘Look after her, she’ll make mistakes, but she’ll learn.’

Barney touched his forelock, gave my father another big hug, nodded to me, and left the house.

Two minutes later the farmyard erupted in a cheer that was followed by a rousing chorus of, ‘for he’s a jolly good fellow.’

I helped my father back into the front room just as Miriam stepped through the back door.

‘What are they all cheering about? I was going to join in,’ she said.

‘They’re cheering Dad,’ I told her. ‘But I’d hold back on the cheering if I were you. There’s a pair of piss-stained trousers that need changing, and my stomach isn’t up to it today.’

I walked back outside, holding my hands across my stomach, the way pregnant women do. I hastily adjusted my stance when I realised what I’d done, and clasped them in front of me instead.

‘Well, lads,’ I said, feeling a lot more confident. ‘Is the meeting over, or are there any more concerns that need airing?’

‘I’ve got one, Missis,’ said Alfie Brown. A few moments ago, I was Girl.

‘What’s that, Alfie?’ I smiled now the tension between us had dissipated.

‘Could we have a hot brew before we start? I’m frozen to the marrow.’

I leaned back inside the door and instructed Miriam to boil the urn when she’d finished changing my father’s clothes, then I turned to Frank.

‘Here’s your chance to integrate, Frank. Fill those two large, aluminium tea pots, grab a dozen of the big metal mugs, and pour them a drink. You’ll be their best mate by lunchtime.’

I thought he was going to argue the point at first, but in open view of the workforce, he touched his forelock, pulled on his flat cap and went to help Miriam with the tea.

Chapter 31

Alice

‘I didn’t realise you went to bed so early, Nana.’ Jess slipped her voice recorder into the pocket of her cardigan and settled back in her chair.

‘Six-thirty, at the latest,’ replied Alice. ‘It’s a bit silly really but that’s when Gwen goes home. I could stay up a bit later if I paid for another carer to come around to tuck me in, but I don’t see the point. I may as well be in bed propped up on the pillows as in my chair propped up with cushions. I watch TV for a while, or I’ll get Gwen to bring the radio over to my bedside and listen to that. I read… It’s pretty much the same as in the day really.’

‘It does seem rather early though, Nana. How about we stay up late tonight? Shall I get you ready about nine-ish?’

‘You can make it midnight for me,’ replied Alice. ‘Where are you sleeping?’

‘Gwen has made a bed up for me in your old room,’ said Jess.

‘Watch out for the lumpy mattress,’ warned Alice. ‘I’ve been meaning to get a new one for years, but, well, it’s one of those things you never get round to doing. I don’t need a new one now anyway.’ She pointed to the single, hospital style bed in the corner of the lounge. ‘I’ve got that beast of a bed, now. There are so many buttons on the controller thingy, I’m sure it would stand on one end if I pressed the wrong one.’

Jess laughed. ‘I don’t think they tilt quite that far, Nana.’

Alice shrugged. ‘I only use two or three of the buttons anyway. God knows what the rest do. There’s even an alarm you know? A panic button, thingy. Not that there’s anyone else to hear it. I pressed it once to see what it would do, it beeped right through the night until Gwen switched it off when she got here in the morning. I had to wear ear plugs all night. Good job I had some in the bedside drawer.’

Jess shook her head. ‘Honestly, Nana.’

‘Would you like some more of the story this evening?’ Alice asked suddenly.

‘Are you sure you’re up to it?’ asked Jess.

‘It’s only talking, I’m not doing the fifty-yard dash,’ replied Alice.

Jess took the voice recorder out of her pocket, pressed the on switch and went through her cataloguing routine.

Alice stared at the far wall and began.

‘Frank settled in quickly enough in the end…’

Chapter 32

1938

We didn’t get the expected bad weather in February. It was the mildest one any of us could remember. There were no bad frosts and not a lot of rain, so much of the work that would have been done in March was done