Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection

She gave a tiny smile. ‘You know, Jasper, in a peculiar, roundabout way it’s a blessing. You see, I know now that he did love us, more than ever.’ She bowed her head. ‘I only wish he’d told me, so I could have looked after him.’

Jasper chided her for punishing herself like that. ‘It was his wish that you should not see him the way he was. I can imagine he didn’t want to put you through all that pain.’

She nodded. ‘Yes, I can see how he would do something like that,’ she agreed. ‘All the same, I wish I could have been there to comfort him.’

They talked a while longer, and when the mantelpiece clock struck midnight, they went their separate ways. ‘Goodnight, Jasper, and thank you.’ At the top of the landing she gave him a hug. ‘It’s Robbie we have to think about now.’

Weary of heart but glad it was over, the old man threw off his clothes and, putting on his striped pyjamas, climbed into bed. Within minutes he was sound asleep, though his dreams were disturbing.

He couldn’t have been asleep for more than an hour or two when he was woken by a strange sound which at first he couldn’t quite make out.

Then he realised. The sounds were coming from an adjoining bedroom. He recognised the muffled ‘thump thump’ of pacing feet, and the quiet, heart-wrenching sobs. ‘Oh, dearie me!’ He knew it was Liz, and he blamed himself. ‘What have I done?’

Getting out of bed, he sat by the window, listening and hurting, and helpless to do anything that might ease her sorrow.

After what seemed an age the sounds died away – first the pacing, then the sobbing. When silence fell over the house, the old man wasn’t sure whether the sound of her grief wasn’t preferable to that awful, crippling quiet. After a minute or two, he was tempted to knock on her door to see if she was all right. But then he heard the soft patter of her feet against the lino floor, then the window being thrust up on its pulley. And now the same quiet patter of feet as she returned to her bed.

Not long after Maggie’s arrival, Kathy had taken her friend out and headed straight for the fish and chip shop. Afterwards, they sat by the harbour and enjoyed what Maggie described as ‘the best bleedin’ fish an’ chips I’ve ever tasted, gal!’

They walked along the shoreline and sat in the sand, talking and reminiscing, and wanting the day to go on for ever. When it began to grow dusk, they made their way to the bar at the caravan site, and Maggie said she ‘wouldn’t mind one day getting a job here’.

Taking their drinks outside to a table, they watched the sun go down, and Maggie eyed every young man that passed. ‘I could go for that one!’ she whispered, or, ‘Oh, no! I couldn’t fancy that one in a million years!’ and Kathy thought it was just wonderful to have Maggie here by her side, though, with her high heels, wild hair and outlandish clothes, Maggie stood out a mile. But that didn’t matter. It was Maggie, and Maggie was a one-off, something special.

They were sitting companionably together enjoying a second drink when suddenly Tom turned up to join them. From the start, and with a twinkle in her eye, Maggie obviously approved.

The three of them sat and chatted and Maggie made them all laugh, and later, when Maggie said she was ready for her bed, Tom gave her a peck on the cheek and for a while she was unusually quiet.

Kathy and Maggie made their way back to the house, and once or twice Maggie saw Kathy turn to smile at Tom as he strode away, and he, too, had eyes only for her.

‘You’ve found a good ’un there, gal!’ she told Kathy as they entered the house. ‘Hang onto him. Men like him are few and far between.’

Kathy understood. ‘I will,’ she said, and meant it.

‘Cor! It’s been an ’ell of a day!’ Maggie said, falling into the nearest chair. ‘I don’t mind tellin’ yer, gal, I’m whacked!’ Looking sheepish, she asked, ‘Would you think me a selfish bugger if I went off to bed?’

Kathy assured her she would think no such thing, and Maggie followed her up the stairs to her bed. ‘Thanks, gal,’ she said, giving her a crushing bear hug. ‘I’m glad I came.’

‘So am I,’ Kathy told her, and quietly closed the door.

Not long after, Kathy went to bed. For a while she lay there, thinking of Maggie and the fun they’d had. And Tom too. Never a night went by when she didn’t go to sleep thinking of him.

Finally she dropped off, content and happy.

Lying there, wondering how the boy would cope when he was told about his father, Jasper closed his eyes time and again, but there was no sleep in him. He heard the downstairs mantel-clock strike every hour between two and five, before he finally sank into the pillow and succumbed to the weariness which suddenly lapped over him.

When morning came and the watery sun filtered in through his window, he woke with a start. A glance at the bedside clock told him it was already eight o’clock.

‘Good God! I’ve never slept so late in all me life!’ Springing out of bed with as much enthusiasm as his old bones would allow, he quickly washed and dressed and made his way downstairs.

Liz and the boy were already in the kitchen. ‘Sit yourself down, Jasper,’ Liz told him. ‘I’m cooking porridge … how does that sound?’ Turning from the gas-stove, she smiled on him.

‘Aye, lass, that sounds like a right treat.’ He was shocked to see the dark hollows beneath her eyes, and the pale, pinched features, suggesting that – like him – she had spent most of the night lying awake.

Blissfully oblivious to the tension in that tiny room, young Robbie chatted away, excited about an idea he’d dreamt up to entertain the old man before he set off back to West Bay. ‘We can go and see the barges if you like?’

Just then, Liz brought their breakfasts to the table. ‘Not today, Robbie,’ she said cautiously. ‘I think Jasper would prefer to stay round the cottage for today.’ Recruiting the old man’s support, she asked with a smile, ‘That’s right, isn’t it, Jasper? You’d rather stay round the cottage, at least for a while?’

‘Aye, lass, that’s right enough.’ Addressing the boy, he said with a cheeky grin, ‘I bet you that pigeon’s out there, looking for a bite o’ that juicy apple.’

The boy’s eyes shone. ‘Will it?’

‘I’m sure of it, lad. We’d best have us breakfast, then we’ll sit outside, shall we, and keep a lookout?’

They ate their breakfast and while Liz and the old man sat quiet and thoughtful, the boy chattered on.

When breakfast was over, Liz suggested the boy should go and see if the pigeon was there, while she and Jasper had a little chat.

As the boy sped out the door, she turned to Jasper. ‘I don’t know how to tell him.’ Dropping into the nearest chair, she rubbed the palm of her hand over her eyes. ‘Never a day goes by without him asking after his father. He’s been so good, asking so many questions, and never getting any real answers, and now … oh, Jasper! How do I tell him his father is never coming back?’

The old man knew how hard she must be finding it all. ‘Look, would yer like me to tell the lad?’

She shook her head. ‘Oh, no! I couldn’t ask you to do that. It’s my place. I can’t shirk that responsibility.’ Getting out of her chair, she kissed him on the cheek. ‘Thanks all the same.’ Looking out of the window, she saw the boy climbing out of his play-house to shin down the tree-trunk. ‘He’s a treasure,’ she murmured. ‘I don’t know what I would have done without him.’ She looked appealingly at the old man, her voice quivering. ‘Will he ever forgive me, do you think?’

‘Oh, he’ll forgive you all right.’ The old man had few doubts about that. ‘The lad loves yer, and besides, he’ll know it weren’t your fault, any more than it were his.’ Jasper paused. ‘Do folks round here ask … about his father?’

Liz looked down at her left hand, which was bare. She touched her finger and looked back at the old man. ‘I did worry, after we left West Bay. People there were kind to us, tolerant. They never mentioned the fact that Robert and I weren’t married – and it never seemed to matter.’ She sighed. ‘But I knew that in the real world it would be harder. I tell people I’m separated. But now I suppose I should say I’m widowed.’ Her eyes filled with tears.

Jasper awkwardly rose to his feet and patted her shoulder. ‘There, there.’

‘I suppose a part of me always knew, deep down, that Robert was married. All he ever said to me was that he wished he could marry me. But I didn’t care. And neither did anyone else at the time. As long as it isn’t hard for Robbie.’

‘You just tell them whatever you like, lass, whatever makes life better for the pair of yer.’

Liz straightened her shoulders. ‘Will you be there when I tell him … please?’

‘Whatever yer want, lass.’

‘Then let’s get it over with.’

Liz led the way into the garden. While the old man made for the seat, Liz called her son across. ‘Robbie … sweetheart! Can you come here a minute? I’ve got something to tell you.’

Bounding across the garden, Robbie arrived breathless before them. ‘What?’

Patting the seat beside her, she slid an arm round his shoulders. ‘It’s about your daddy.’

‘Oh!’ He began leaping about. ‘He’s coming home! Is he, Mummy?’

When it seemed Liz might lose her composure, the old man’s sober voice cut through the boy’s excitement. ‘Sit down, son. Let your mammy finish.’