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Pearl didn’t speak until the bedroom door closed. ‘Kevin, have you ever heard Johnny in the night?’
‘No,’ he said shortly, plumping up his pillow.
‘Don’t you think it’s a bit strange that neither of us have heard him crying?’
‘Let it rest, Pearl. I want some sleep.’
‘I can’t. Your mother came to take Johnny, but he wasn’t making a sound. I think she’s being doing it every night.’
He turned onto his back, yawning widely. ‘Yeah, you could be right.’
‘Kevin, don’t you see what this means? She’s been accusing me of being an awful mother, but I’m not,’ Pearl cried, her voice high with indignation. ‘I didn’t hear Johnny because he wasn’t in his cot.’
‘Yeah, and I’m sorry, love. I don’t know what my mother’s game is, but I should have listened to you before. Well, we know what she’s up to now, and don’t worry – we’ll be out of here soon.’
Pearl smiled as she flung back the blankets, hurrying to the cot. Despite the noise, Johnny remained undisturbed and it seemed a shame to wake him. Sure now that she would hear him if he cried, Pearl climbed back into bed. ‘Oh, I can’t wait for us to have a place of our own,’ she whispered as she flung an arm round Kevin, only to find that he had already gone back to sleep.
It didn’t matter, Kevin was on her side now, and for once she felt him an ally against her mother-in-law’s games.
Johnny had woken once during the rest of the night and Pearl was immediately roused. Her eyes were bleary as she fed him, changed him, and then settled him down again. She wanted to confront Dolly, but fear still held her back. Kevin had assured her that they’d be in their own home soon and, dreading a face-to-face argument with her formidable mother-in-law, she decided it would be best to say nothing.
Pearl climbed wearily back into bed, relieved that it was Sunday and she didn’t have to get up early. Kevin turned over and, though asleep, his arms enfolded her. She smiled softly, enjoying the closeness as she snuggled in. With Dolly around, she was still tense, and Kevin had given up trying to make love to her. She didn’t blame him, but things would be different in their own home. They’d have a normal love life – a normal marriage – and she couldn’t wait.
Warm and snug, Pearl closed her eyes, immediately drifting off to sleep and was surprised to find when she woke again that it was after seven.
She went to the cot but Johnny was still asleep, one little hand tucked under his chin. Kevin moaned softly, stretched his arms and then pushed himself up on to one elbow. His hair was tousled, his face relaxed and she couldn’t miss the growing resemblance. ‘Do you know, Johnny is getting more and more like you.’
‘Is he? Then he must be a handsome little devil.’
‘Oh, he is,’ Pearl said, adding with a smile, ‘but his head isn’t as big as yours.’
Kevin grinned and Pearl’s heart swelled with love. Johnny stirred and she picked him up, placing him in Kevin’s arms. He gazed at their son, his affection obvious, and once again Pearl’s heart soared. He was a good father, and now their future together looked rosy.
‘Yuk, he’s bloody soaking.’
‘Well, you’d better change his nappy then. I’m off to make his bottle.’
‘Leave it out, Pearl. That’s women’s work.’
She shook her head, feigning exasperation. Some things would never change and sorting out their son’s nappy was always going to be down to her.
After changing Johnny, Pearl went to the kitchen, relieved to find that her in-laws weren’t up. She made the baby’s bottle and a cup of tea, returning to the bedroom with everything balanced on a tray.
Johnny was squalling and Kevin held him out. ‘He wants his grub.’
Pearl placed the tray on the chest of drawers and, perching on the side of the bed, she gave the baby his bottle, watching as he pulled on the teat.
‘Kevin, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll pop over to see Bessie later.’
‘Why you bother with that old ragbag is beyond me, but I’m going out too so please yourself.’
‘Bessie’s been good to me and I’m fond of her. Where are you going?’
‘I’ve got someone to see – a bit of business to sort out.’
‘Oh, is it to do with a job?’
‘Yeah, you could say that,’ Kevin said, smiling enigmatically as he threw back the blankets, heading for the bathroom.
Johnny finished his feed, and after Pearl had winded him he contentedly drifted off to sleep. She gently placed him in the cot, smiling down at him for a moment before leaving to rinse out his bottle. Dolly was in the kitchen now, making a fresh brew, but she totally ignored Pearl. The atmosphere was awful, tense, and when Kevin finally showed his face, he received the same treatment.
Dolly continued to bang around, slamming doors, driving them out of the kitchen and, soon after, the house, earlier than they’d anticipated.
‘We might be in for a bit of a rough ride,’ Kevin said as they left the café. ‘My mother can sulk for England, but she can stew in her own juice as far as I’m concerned.’
Pearl grinned. ‘Any more metaphors before we part company?’
‘You cheeky bitch,’ Kevin said, but his smile took the sting out of his words. He leaned over to give her a swift kiss on the cheek, gave Johnny the same, calling, ‘See you later,’ as he sauntered off.
Pearl pushed the pram across the road, feeling that something had shifted in their relationship. Kevin seemed warmer, more relaxed, his nerves completely gone and a swagger back in his step.
‘Hello, ducks,’ Bessie said as she opened the door. ‘Come on in.’
Pearl lifted Johnny from his pram and followed the old woman upstairs, but her nose wrinkled as she walked into the living room.
‘Get that sour look off your face,’ Bessie said. ‘I know the place is a mess, but after running the shop all week, I’m too knackered on my day off to worry about housework.’
Pearl took at good look at the old woman and didn’t like what she saw. Bessie looked pasty, her eyes hooded with tiredness. ‘You look awful.’
‘Thanks and it’s nice to see you too,’ she retorted, flopping onto a chair and holding out her arms. ‘Blimey, he gets bigger every time I see him.’
When Pearl laid Johnny in Bessie’s arms, the old woman tickled him under the chin, but he remained undisturbed, sleeping soundly. ‘He sure likes his kip.’
‘Yes, he’s a contented baby,’ Pearl replied before turning on her heels to head for the scullery. ‘I’ll make us a drink.’
The room was in an awful state, dishes piled in the sink, all her work when she had lived with Bessie undone. She shook her head and set to, but it was some time before she returned to the living room.
‘Here,’ she said, placing a cup of tea beside Bessie.
‘Blimey, it’s about time. What have you been doing out there?’ Before Pearl had time to reply she sailed on, ‘Huh, I can guess. You’ve been cleaning up. It’s good of you, but I’d have got round to it eventually.’
‘You said you’re worn out, and I think a rest is more important.’ She took Johnny from