Constance had been surprised that she’d found the courage to speak up to Dora, even going so far as to call her narrow-minded, but now, after a week of her mother-in-law being in a mood, she regretted it. It was fine when Dora was at work during the day, but the evenings were miserable, with the woman sitting in stony silence. Living in this house was like living on a roller coaster. Just a short time ago, Dora was being nice to her, but now she had turned again.
This weekend was hell, her only escape taking William for a walk. On Sunday afternoon, dreading going home, Constance came to the end of her tether. She was in the park, sitting on what she now thought of as Melvin’s bench, when he turned up and sat down beside her.
‘Hello, Connie.’
‘Hello, Melvin,’ she said, dashing tears from her cheeks.
‘Why are you crying?’
‘You don’t want to hear all my woes.’
‘Talking about them might help.’
Constance found herself spilling it all out, her unhappy marriage, her desperate need to escape, but how, with nowhere else to go, she felt so alone and stuck where she was.
‘I wish I could help,’ Melvin said sympathetically.
‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have burdened you with all this. I think I’ll go to see my father. He hasn’t seen his grandson yet and it might just soften him enough to allow me to move back in with him.’
‘He would have to be a very hard man to turn you down.’
‘He can be implacable. Once he’s made his mind up, he rarely changes it.’
‘My mother is the same.’
With something else to focus on, Constance’s tears had dried and she asked, ‘Is she still refusing to let Penny keep her baby?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so. I feel sorry for my sister. I feel that if she had some means of supporting herself and the baby, she’d leave home.’
‘She seems to be in the same position as me.’
‘Yes, you’re right, she does, though of course Penny isn’t married.’
‘I hope to get my marriage annulled.’
‘Annulled? Do you mean a divorce?’
‘If a marriage hasn’t been consummated you can be granted an annulment,’ Constance said, and then flushed. She felt so at ease and relaxed in Melvin’s company, but she shouldn’t have told him that.
‘I see,’ he said quietly with raised eyebrows.
Constance stood up and said hurriedly, ‘Thanks for listening, but I really should go now.’
‘Are you going to see your father now?’
‘No, I’ll go tomorrow.’
‘Good luck,’ Melvin said.
Constance knew she would have to go back to Kibble Street for now, but inwardly prayed it wouldn’t be for long.
Albie kept out of sight until Constance had left, and then walked up to the bench to sit beside Melvin. ‘We meet again,’ he said.
‘You might have seen Connie here a few minutes ago but I told you, there’s nothing going on between us.’
‘It’s all right. I’m not here to talk about that. I … I … erm … thought nobody knew about my other life, but it seems you do.’
‘Yes, I’ve known about it for some time.’
‘How did you find out?’
‘If you hadn’t been so promiscuous, it might never have come to light.’
‘I’m not sure I understand.’
‘I met someone you’d dropped, who was looking for a shoulder to cry on.’
‘Don’t tell me they turned to you. I can’t believe that.’
‘Just because I haven’t got your looks, it doesn’t mean I can’t be with someone.’
‘I’d never have known,’ Albie said, raising his eyebrows in surprise. ‘You come over as a bit of a recluse.’
‘Unlike you, I don’t put myself out there much, and if you don’t want anyone else to find out about what you get up to, maybe it’s about time you reined it in too.’
‘I have. I’ve settled down now.’
‘With Connie? You surprise me.’
‘No, not with her. I’ve met someone else.’
‘Connie deserves better,’ Melvin said, shaking his head. ‘You should never have married her.’
‘I know but she was carrying my child. And I had other reasons.’
‘I can guess what they are, but I feel sorry for her. She seems very unhappy.’
‘Look, my marriage is none of your business. Anyway, now that we’ve had this little chat I know you’re going to keep your mouth shut, so I’m off. See ya,’ Albie said, nonchalantly walking away. Like him, Melvin wouldn’t want his trips to Soho to come to light, and who’d have thought that ugly git would get his left-overs. He’d never have believed it, but Melvin was welcome to them.
While Connie had been out walking, Dora had been deep in thought and had come to realise that she’d been behaving badly. It had stung her when Connie had called her narrow-minded, but maybe she deserved it. After all, she had jumped to the wrong conclusion. Deep down she knew that Connie wasn’t the type of girl to have an affair. But again, deep down, she knew that if Connie had been seeing someone else, Albie deserved it. She was fully aware of how badly he treated Connie. Her son was hardly at home, and when he was he never showed the girl any affection. He’d only married Connie to get his hands on her father’s money, and that was the only reason he didn’t want her to leave. He didn’t care about William, her grandchild, and that hurt the most.
Dora still feared that Connie would leave Albie, taking the baby with her, but instead of supporting the girl she had stirred things up with her accusations. She shook her head ruefully. She was her own worst enemy, and now she would have to back-pedal to put things right between her and Connie.
‘Hello, love, did you have a nice walk?’ she asked as soon as Connie walked in.
Connie looked surprised, but answered civilly, ‘Yes, thanks. I went to the park, and before you ask, though it wasn’t arranged, I saw Melvin there too.’
Dora frowned. Connie seemed different, more assured and ready to stand up for herself if she had to. ‘Look,’ she said placatingly, ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been suspicious. It was daft.’
‘I happen to like Melvin and find him easy to talk to. However, that doesn’t mean we’re having an affair.’
‘Yeah, I know, and as I said, I’m sorry. How about we bury the hatchet and make a fresh start.’
‘Another one,’ Connie said with a hint of sarcasm.
‘I know I’m not always the easiest to get on with,’ Dora told her. ‘And I admit I misjudged you.’
‘I don’t think you have any idea of how unhappy I am. Albie is mostly to blame, but you’ve also contributed to my longing to get out of this marriage and this house. The only solace I get is when I go to see your mother. She’s the only person who shows me any affection and kindness. Even as a child I used to run to her, yet you and Albie begrudge me those visits and at one time tried to stop them.’
Dora was shocked. Connie had never spoken so openly about her feelings before, and she felt ashamed that between them she and Albie had caused her so much unhappiness. ‘I can’t forgive my mother, but I think I can understand why you’re so fond of her. I can’t change my mind about her, but can we at least put this all behind us and start again?’
After a moment, Connie answered, ‘Yes, I suppose so.’
Dora felt that Connie’s voice lacked conviction, but at least she’d agreed to a fresh start. She’d make a real effort to be kinder to her, and have a talk with Albie too. It was about time he behaved like a proper husband and father.