‘Whoa, Nev, what happened to you?’ Bill couldn’t believe the state of his friend’s face. ‘Who’ve you been picking on? You got a proper shiner there.’
Neville shrugged, embarrassed. He knew it would be spotted as soon as he unwound his scarf once he got to work. He’d checked himself in the mirror this morning just in case he’d got away with it and it didn’t show, but it was there for all to see, deep red and purple. He’d just have to come up with a story and stick to it.
‘You know we’ve not long moved into our flat,’ he said. ‘I ain’t quite got the lay of the land yet and I was in a bit of a hurry, caught my foot, and tripped over a chair. That was that.’
‘Aha, in a hurry to get to the lovely Hazel, were we?’ Bill raised his eyebrows. ‘Running to sweep her off her feet? Can’t say I blame you.’
‘Something like that.’ There was no way Neville was going to tell them what had really happened. He was too ashamed. But he blamed himself for not keeping Hazel satisfied and this was just part of the punishment. He truly felt he deserved it, not being able to please her in bed. He wasn’t a real man. It wasn’t in his nature to argue back and he thought she had every right to be furious with him. He’d always known she had a fiery temper so he couldn’t pretend it was news to him, even though she’d never gone this far before.
‘Course, if it was Dennis, we’d all know why he might have a black eye,’ Bill went on, as Dennis and Nobby came in and began getting their outdoor coats off and factory overalls on.
‘Not more trouble with the ladies, Dennis?’ Frank had arrived. ‘Don’t you ever learn? I can’t believe you’re still out on the town, collecting angry fathers as you go. You’ll grow up one day.’
‘Some of us have it, some of us don’t.’ Dennis shrugged. ‘It’s not my fault if the birds can’t leave me alone.’
‘I take it you’re not interested in night shifts, then,’ said Frank. ‘We’re short on tomorrow’s, but I wouldn’t want to cramp your style. Sounds as if you got enough enemies after you as it is.’
Neville brightened up. He hadn’t gone back to extra late shifts since the wedding but this would be an ideal way to bring in more money and stay out of Hazel’s way until she calmed down. ‘I don’t mind, Frank,’ he said. ‘Put me down for it if you like.’
‘You sure, Nev?’ Frank looked dubious. ‘Thought you were just doing lates to pay for your wedding, and a slap-up do it was and all. Won’t Hazel mind?’
‘Yeah, we don’t want to get in the way of love’s young dream,’ said Bill. ‘I’d think twice about working nights if I had her waiting for me at home.’
Neville forced himself to smile and play along. ‘No, Hazel will be round at her mum’s until late tomorrow anyway,’ he said. ‘Been arranged for ages. She’ll hardly notice I’m not there.’
Nobby stuck his miserable oar in. ‘Well, that’s all right then. We don’t want you annoying Hazel, do we? As long as it’s all right with Hazel, you’re allowed to come out.’
Bill turned on him. ‘Don’t be like that, Nobby. Stands to reason that the newlyweds will want to be together of an evening. Nev’s giving up his gorgeous bird’s company to put up with ours.’
‘Maybe she don’t want him indoors with a face like that,’ muttered Nobby, who’d always been jealous of Neville’s good looks. ‘Maybe she’s glad to see the back of him. Maybe it puts her right off.’
Frank glanced at the big clock over the door, wondering what had happened to make his balding colleague so surly and why he always seemed to have it in for Neville, who wouldn’t hurt a fly. If the lad really did want to work extra shifts he thought he should get credit for it. ‘Right, time to make a start,’ he said. ‘Any more for the late shift? Neville, I’ll put your name down and thank Hazel from me. It’s good of you to make the effort. Meanwhile, get in there and get stuck in. And enough of the gossip. You’re like a load of old women.’
Cora had just got rid of the paperboys for the morning when the message came.
‘Baby boy born last night. Both he and mother safe and well at home. Regards, Fred.’
The lad who had brought the piece of paper stood around hoping for a tip but he was out of luck. Cora wasn’t going to waste a precious coin on him and sent him packing. She wondered what would be the best thing to do. She wasn’t particularly anxious about Alison, now that it appeared she had every comfort lavished upon her, and newborn babies all looked alike to her. But she wanted to do the right thing, and to be seen to be doing the right thing, keeping in with Fred and anyone else who might have heard the news.
It didn’t take long for the word to get round. Within the hour, Marian Dalby, Jill Parrot and Winnie Jewell had all stopped by to congratulate her and ask her to pass on their good wishes to Alison. Winnie had to draw attention to the speedy arrival of the baby.
‘Well, yes, he’s come earlier than we expected,’ said Cora, refusing to back down.
‘I should say so.’ Winnie straightened her shoulders. ‘Five months earlier if my maths is correct. Still, as long as he’s healthy and his mum’s all right then who am I to pick holes?’
‘Exactly,’ said Cora. ‘I’ll be going out to get him a little something at lunchtime. My first grandson, you know. Don’t suppose you got any grandchildren on the way yet, Winnie?’
‘Good lord, no.’ Winnie pretended to be horrified. ‘My Vera’s got far too good a job to consider such things. I expect she could get you a bit of a discount at Arding and Hobbs if you was to go there for his little present.’
Cora was tempted, but the thought of being beholden to that slapper Vera Jewell didn’t appeal. She’d go to the market as usual. If the traders there were going to hear about the baby they’d better do so from her, before they started spreading any more insinuations. ‘That’s very kind of you, Winnie, but I don’t expect I’ll have the time to go all the way up there today,’ she said. ‘Do tell your daughter the good news, though.’
‘Oh, I will,’ smiled Winnie. ‘Tell Alison I was askin’ after her, won’t you? Congratulate her on not hangin’ around.’
Alison woke up to find she hadn’t dreamed it all. The baby was still there. He still looked like Paul. She felt a shiver of revulsion at the tiny face. How was she ever going to love this creature who reminded her of the worst night of her life?
Fred was fussing around, making a pile of nappies and little jackets. ‘Oh good, you’re awake. How are you feeling? Fancy a cup of tea?’
Alison smiled wanly. ‘I’d love one. And I’m still exhausted.’ That was no lie. She couldn’t have moved if she wanted to, her limbs were like lead. Still, it was quite pleasant to feel she had an excuse and to be waited on. That wasn’t something she’d ever had at home even when she’d been ill.
Fred came back in with a mug. ‘Here you are. Do you want to hold him?’
The baby snuffled from where Fred had laid him in his cot on the other side of the room. His horribly familiar face was turned towards her. She could see it through the bars.
‘No, it’s all right.’ She took a sip of the tea. ‘Don’t disturb him.’
Fred settled himself on a chair at the foot of her bed. ‘He slept well, bless him. I got up and gave him a bit of a carry when he cried. You were out cold and I don’t blame you.’ He beamed at her. ‘He settled down again fast enough. I expect he’ll want feeding soon though.’
Alison grimaced. Before the doctor left he’d checked that she knew how to feed him. She didn’t but Fred had read about it in a book and told her what to do. To her great embarrassment the doctor had stayed to make sure she did it right. Exposing herself in front of the two men was mortifying. Now she was going to have to do it again, day after day after day. That creature was going to hang off her and look up at her with Paul’s eyes. She scowled in disgust. ‘Can’t he wait a bit?’
‘He’ll cry when he’s ready I dare say.’ Fred turned to look at the baby, still snuffling but content enough where he was. ‘We ought to think of a name. I didn’t want to talk about it before in case it was bad luck but have you had any ideas? Do you want to call him after your dad? He was John really but we all said Jack.’
Alison had never met her father of course, but everyone spoke of him with such fondness that it was almost like having a good memory of him. Fred would tell her about things they’d done together as boys and she was building up a precious picture of him in her mind. She didn’t want to taint that by associating him with this new creature. ‘No, I don’t think so,’ she said. ‘It would feel odd as I didn’t know him. What about your dad? What was he called?’
‘Clarence. I’d rather we didn’t choose that.’
‘God, no. He’d be laughed at.’ Alison didn’t want that for her child, even if she didn’t love it. She knew all too well what it was like to be mocked. Best not to tempt fate. ‘Have you got any names you like in particular?’
Fred sat back and thought for a while. ‘It’s popular to pick a name from the royal family. What about George? Or Charles?’
‘But they’re such stuffy names,’ said Alison. ‘Can’t we have something more modern?’
‘Do you know what I’ve always liked,’ Fred said suddenly. ‘I really like the name David. I don’t know why. I haven’t got anyone in mind, no friend or relation or anything. I just like it.’
Alison nodded. ‘I like the idea of calling him something for himself, not after anybody. David Chapman. That sounds good to me.’ Better than he deserves, a little voice in her head said.
As if reacting to his new name, the baby began to cry. Fred hurried over to pick him up. ‘There, there. Don’t worry, David. That’s you, that is. Are you hungry? We’ll see if Mummy can do something about that, shall we?’ He held the baby as if he knew what he was doing.
Alison pulled a face as the little mouth latched on to her and began to suck lustily. ‘Ow, that hurts. I’m not sure I’m going to get used to this. Where did you learn to pick up babies like that, Fred? You haven’t got any younger brothers or sisters, have you?’
‘Oh, it’ll get better,’ said Fred breezily. ‘And I had a fair bit to do with babies in the war, you know. Carrying them out of bombed-out buildings, usually.’ He grew quiet. Some of them had lived, some of them hadn’t. One had died in his arms. That was something he had tried to forget, but now the sight of David, so healthy and strong, brought it all back. He coughed. He wasn’t going to tell Alison about it. Why upset her when there was no need?
‘I sent a message to your mum at the paper shop,’ he went on. ‘Did I do right? I didn’t want to wait until we had a name as I wasn’t to know we’d agree so quick.’
Alison shifted to try to get more comfortable but it was impossible. ‘No, that was the right thing to do. She’d be livid if she wasn’t first to know.’
Fred knew that was true and it was partly why he’d done it. ‘I expect she’ll be round to see you,’ he said. ‘To see you both, that is.’
Just what I need, thought Alison. ‘Maybe. She won’t care if I’m all right but she’ll want to make sure she’s seen the baby so she can tell everyone about her grandson. Bet she doesn’t offer to help out though.’ David stopped for a moment and she sighed with relief. ‘Here, have him back, see if he’ll sleep again.’ But she spoke too soon. Before Fred could even get up, the baby started to cry again and only one thing would silence him. Alison turned her head away from those staring, familiar eyes.