On a cold Monday morning in December, a fire blazing in her grate, Mabel stared at the woman in horror. ‘But you can’t take Peter away from us now. He’s so excited about Christmas and … and he helped me to decorate the tree. I … I’ve got all his Christmas presents too.’
‘Mrs Povis, it won’t be immediate, but I did warn you that the placing would be temporary.’
‘I know you did, but as he came to us when his mother died, I didn’t think he had anyone else.’
‘We’ve managed to trace Peter’s father and he’s applied for custody.’
‘But he’s never said anything about his dad. He’s only ever talked about his mum.’
‘Peter hasn’t seen him since he was two years old.’
‘That means it’ll be like handing the poor kid over to a stranger.’
‘That’s one of the things I’ve come to discuss. We feel that it would make the transition easier for Peter if his father comes here just to visit him at first, perhaps on a regular basis for a few weeks. It will give Peter a chance to get to know him before he goes permanently into his custody.’
‘I’m not sure about that. You’re asking me to let a strange man who I know nothing about into my house.’
‘He won’t be alone. Myself, or one of my colleagues will be with him.’
Mabel’s head sank down. She knew on applying to become a foster parent that this would happen, but this was her first time and it was heart-wrenching. With no other choice, Mabel knew she would have to let Peter go, and knowing he’d be upset too, she had to somehow make it easier for him. ‘All right then, his dad can come here,’ she agreed.
With a smile of approval the woman said, ‘I’ll make the arrangements and be in touch.’
As the social worker left, Mabel felt some consolation in knowing that Peter would still be with them for Christmas, yet tears flooded her eyes at the thought of losing him soon afterwards. Alone now, she let them flow.
Amy and Carol were sitting in a café on the King’s Road. Carol always had Mondays off and they often met up for a chat.
‘What are you doing for Christmas?’ Amy asked.
‘We’ll just be staying at home, but my boyfriend will be joining us.’
Amy smiled, glad that Carol had met someone and said, ‘It sounds like things are getting serious with Eddy.’
‘It’s early days yet, but yes, I think they are. Eddy passed muster with the boys and my mum likes him too.’
‘How’s your mum these days?’ Amy asked.
‘She’s as happy as a lark. She works in Sloane Square now, in Peter Jones, the department store.’
‘What about your gran? Is she spending Christmas with you?’
‘No, thank goodness,’ Carol replied. ‘Mum goes to see her every Sunday, but I mostly keep away. She’s such a miserable old cow and all she does is moan.’
‘I can’t believe Christmas is less than two weeks away. We’re going to Rose’s with my parents, though Tommy had to placate his mother by saying we’d spend Boxing Day with her. I’m not looking forward to that.’
‘I suppose that’s because Jeremy will be there.’
‘Yes, and as much as I try to avoid him, Jeremy makes it impossible. He’s in our house at least two evenings a week and it’s driving me mad. You’re the only person who knows the truth and if I hadn’t found the courage to confide in you, I think I’d have gone out of my mind.’
‘That’s what friends are for.’
‘I know that I can trust you, but sometimes I wish I’d had the courage now to have an abortion.’
‘I’m glad you didn’t,’ Carol said. ‘Mine was botched and I could have died.’
‘But look at the size of me! I’m so huge my mum thinks I might be having twins. Oh Carol, how am I going to explain it when I give birth in January instead of February?’
‘Stop worrying. It’s rare to have a baby at the given date. Some come a bit early and others late.’
‘How do you know that?’ Amy asked.
‘This hairdresser’s no different to the last – you’d be surprised what I overhear when women are having their hair done.’
‘This baby needs to be born late, yet even that won’t be enough to convince Jeremy that he isn’t the father.’
‘When I met him at your wedding, good looking or not, I didn’t like him. He was too full of himself, but in this case I still don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about. Think about it. Jeremy can’t claim the baby is his. If he does he’d have to admit to raping you.’
‘Jeremy would never do that. He’s more likely to say that I threw myself at him, that it was consensual, and sometimes I still wonder if it was.’
‘Amy, we’ve been over and over this, and I’ve lost count of the times I’ve told you that it wasn’t. Just because you gave up fighting, it doesn’t mean you wanted it to happen. He overpowered you and I know what that’s like because the same thing happened to me.’
‘We grew up together, went to school together, but it still seems unbelievable that we’ve both been raped.’
‘I know. It angers me sometimes that Roy got away with it, but if I don’t let it go it will be like he’s beaten me, ruined the rest of my life and I’m not going to let him do that. You’ve got to put it behind you too and instead think about that gorgeous baby you’re going to have.’
‘But what if I can’t love it, Carol?’
‘The baby will be a part of you, and my biggest regret is that I had an abortion. I know that had it been born I’d have loved my baby, and you will too.’
Amy cupped her stomach, hoping and praying that Carol was right.
Celia was Christmas shopping, and looking at baby clothes. Since the day she had been told that Amy was pregnant, she’d felt left out. Of course with Phyllis living next door to Amy, she had a hand in everything, and anyone would think she was the only grandmother to be. Huffily she continued to look at baby clothes and when a white woollen pram set caught her eye, Celia decided to buy it.
‘Celia, my dear. How are you?’
‘Oh hello, Libby,’ Celia said, faking a warm smile. ‘I’m very well thank you.’
‘I see you’re buying baby clothes.’
Celia tried to avoid Libby as much as possible nowadays, and living next door to her remained a trial. However, the smile remained fixed on her face as she said, ‘Yes, it’s rather fun shopping for one’s coming grandchild.’
‘It must be nice to have Thomas and his wife living so close, even if they are at the bottom of the Rise.’
The inference was there, but Celia managed not to bite. ‘It’s only a temporary measure. Thomas ploughed all our profits back into the business for expansion and we employ a large workforce now. As we’ve made such huge profits this year Thomas will soon be buying a property, and of course, in a far superior area.’
‘How nice,’ Libby said, ‘but I must get on. I’ve still got so many presents to buy. Goodbye, my dear.’
Celia nodded a goodbye in return. Thomas wasn’t going to buy a house, but because Libby had got her back up she’d wanted to wipe the sanctimonious smile off her face. Now though, if Thomas remained at the bottom of the Rise she’d be made to look a fool, and in due course no doubt Libby would find great satisfaction in rubbing that fact in her face.
‘Everything’s on track to move into the larger unit,’ Tom said. ‘We certainly need the extra capacity, and talking about size, Amy is absolutely blooming.’
‘When did you say the baby is due?’ Jeremy asked, though he’d already worked it out.
‘Amy said around mid-February and then I’ll be a dad,’ Tom said, grinning.
She’s clever, Jeremy thought. Amy had already knocked off about a week, but he knew the baby would arrive a lot earlier than that. Amy had denied it, but Jeremy was sure he was right. Amy was carrying his child, but he’d have no claim on it.
‘I hope it’s a boy, but on the other hand, a daughter might be nice,’ Tom mused. ‘I keep swinging from one to the other.’
‘Can we get back to this quote now?’ Jeremy said impatiently.
‘You’re in a bit of a mood this morning. What’s up?’
‘Nothing,’ Jeremy said, but in truth when Tom was looking as chuffed with life as he was now, Jeremy hated it.
The baby was his; Amy should be his – but Tom had it all.