Nick stared at the scene in front of him feeling as though he’d stumbled into bedlam. An ashen-faced boy appeared, struggling with a heavy pail of water slopping about. For some reason, the expression of terror on the lad’s face galvanised Nick into action and he took the bucket from him. ‘Fuck’s sake!’ he growled.
Kathy swivelled on her knees, for some reason infuriated by hearing him say that. ‘Yeah … precisely!’ she forced through her gritting teeth before again urging Ruby to grip her hand and push.
Nick didn’t know much about newborn babies. He’d never seen the tiny girl his wife had lost. It had all been done and dusted by the time he got home from work. He remembered thinking that Blanche had seemed to get over it quickly.
He did know that they all seemed to come out with their faces screwed up. He’d seen his cousin’s triplets when they were a few days old. He glanced over the young nurse’s shoulder as she gently tended the swaddled infant, laying it in a drawer that had been whipped out of the chest in the bedroom to serve as a makeshift crib.
He glanced at the grey-faced mother, then at the baby. The light was bad but Nick knew the kid didn’t resemble Charlie either, squashed face or not. The tiny boy looked foreign. Thinking of Charlie made Nick realise he ought to check on him. He could still be unconscious; on the other hand, the weasel could’ve come to and done a runner rather than get drawn into this chaos. Nick had felt like doing the same thing, but then he wasn’t the kid’s father and shouldn’t be here at all. He took another glance at the baby’s sallow skin and almond-shaped eyes. Charlie wasn’t the kid’s father either, which meant the poor cow recovering on the bed had a bad time in front of her …
Kathy was aware of him leaving and turned her head to say thanks. She realised in all the commotion she’d not even asked him his name. But he’d moved too fast and had disappeared so the words withered on her lips. She wiped the poor little mite’s mouth of vernix. He was small; perhaps about four pounds, although she’d not yet weighed him.
Once she was satisfied that the baby was settled, Kathy turned her attention back to Ruby. ‘Nearly all done, Mrs Potter,’ she encouraged. ‘You’ve done the hard part, just the afterbirth to deal with now.’
‘She all right?’
Kathy jumped at the masculine voice behind. ‘I thought you’d gone.’ She herded him towards the door to give Ruby some privacy. At close quarters, and having the time for a proper look at him in the lamplight, she noted he was far younger than Charlie Potter. He was a good-looking man, too, she realised.
She twisted him an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry for shouting at you earlier, and thanks for helping.’ She was aware he was watching her steadily. ‘Are you a neighbour?’ Kathy didn’t think he could be: he looked too wholesome to be a local resident. But then you never knew who might have bad luck and end up renting a cheap place to doss until they got back on their feet. She’d grown up in a family who’d known its fair share of hard times.
‘I’m acquainted with Charlie.’ Nick’s smile was barely there.
‘Do you know where he is? His wife has been asking after him.’
They had whispered but Ruby had heard her husband mentioned and hauled her exhausted shoulders off the pillow.
‘You’ve seen Charlie? Where is he?’
Nick shifted sideways to avoid two pairs of eyes. ‘He’s just outside. When he comes round, I’ll bring him in.’
‘He’s been outside all this time?’ Kathy demanded in astonishment, glancing at Ruby, who was grimacing in pain. Kathy knew the afterbirth was on its way and soon Ruby’s labour would thankfully be over. ‘Is he drunk?’ she hissed.
‘He’s out like a light, all right,’ Nick said, his eyes drawing to the half-empty pail by the sink. His lips twitched as he picked it up.
A moment later, he was back, dragging a dripping wet and dazed Charlie Potter by the arm. ‘Say hello to the new arrival,’ Nick muttered, shoving him towards the bed. He went out again, closing the door after him this time.
Nick wasn’t sure why he was hanging around. He felt drained and hungry and ready for an hour or so’s kip. Yet still he sat in his stationary car, smoking, an eye on the Potters’ doorway. As his gaze travelled up over rooftops to a pale pink streak spanning the sky, he guessed it must be after five o’clock. Dawn was breaking on a new day but for a poor little kid and its mother there was nothing but trouble on the horizon.
She came out at last, carrying a small instrument case, closing the door carefully behind her. Nick got out of the car, striking a match and putting it to another cigarette.
‘Want a lift anywhere?’ She looked fit to drop but, exhausted or not, she was pretty, no doubt about it, and young. ‘You old enough to be doing a job like that?’
Kathy gave him a quizzical look but felt too spent to come back at him that she’d qualified a good six months ago as a midwife, and as an SRN before that, thank you very much. She chose to ignore his remark.
He’d been a great help, she realised, had done everything she’d asked and stayed discreetly out of the way when not needed. ‘Didn’t think you’d still be hanging around.’ She glanced past at his big car parked at the kerb. And she’d thought he might be down on his luck!
Nick noticed the direction of her gaze. ‘Can I give you a lift?’ he asked again.
‘I’ve got a bike, thanks.’
‘How did Charlie take it all?’ Nick asked casually, blowing smoke arrow straight into the air.
Kathy shrugged, just as evasive. She knew they were both skirting around the obvious in not mentioning that the child had Oriental features. Charlie hadn’t said anything either. Once he’d digested the news that his wife had had her baby, the pig hadn’t even glanced at the tiny boy for more than a second. He’d simply stomped off to sleep with the children in the other room. Kathy had wanted to stay with Ruby to protect her. But Ruby wanted her gone and had told her so. Besides, Kathy now felt too weary to be of any more practical help. But she’d impressed on Ruby that after a rest she’d be back in the afternoon to check on her and the new arrival. She’d spoken loudly enough to ensure that Mr Potter heard every word of it through the wall.
While Charlie had been drying off his wet face with savage arm swipes, Kathy had noticed blood on his cheek, even if his wife had not. Or perhaps Ruby had grown used to her husband coming in looking as though he’d been in a fight. A thought occurred to Kathy and she glanced up into the handsome face beside her. She couldn’t spot anything other than it needed a razor.
‘Did you bring Mr Potter back home? He looked as though he’d been in the wars.’
‘Yeah, I brought him,’ Nick said. For some reason, he didn’t want this sweet little thing to know he’d whacked Charlie. ‘If you’re all right for getting home, I’ll be off meself …’
Kathy suddenly frowned. While she’d been standing there, talking to him, cogitating on the night’s events, she’d taken a look about for her bike. Now she swivelled agitatedly on the spot. ‘My bike …’ She pointed to the wall. ‘I’m sure I left it just there.’
Nick grunted a laugh. ‘And you expected