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ill, but happy.’

      ‘Is that all?’

      ‘Yes, but I have a feeling she’ll come into your life.’

      Pearl rubbed a hand across her forehead. Why would a strange woman be happy to see her? ‘Maybe I’ll meet her when I move out of this area?’

      ‘Have you any money, Pearl?’

      ‘No.’

      ‘So how do you think you can move away? You’d need to find a home, a job, and you can’t work with a baby to look after.’

      Pearl knew Bessie was right. She’d been stupid, living in a dream world, and now she was facing reality, tears stung her eyes.

      ‘Don’t get upset, love. Why don’t you come back here? I know it’s only a stone’s throw from Dolly, but it’s a start.’

      ‘I can’t expect you to keep me.’

      ‘Keep you! Leave it out. There’s work for you in the shop and it’ll be nice to put me feet up for a while.’

      Pearl’s heart surged with gratitude. This lovely old lady was offering her a way out, and she grabbed it. ‘All right, Bessie, I’ll come back, and thank you.’

      Things didn’t work out as Pearl expected, her happiness short-lived. During her absence Dolly had collapsed and Pearl returned to find Bernie in a dreadful state.

      ‘She’s hardly said a word since seeing Kevin yesterday and when you went out she just sort of folded. It was weird, Pearl, and she won’t stop crying.’

      ‘Have you called the doctor?’

      ‘Yes, and he should be here shortly, but what happened to bring this on?’

      She told him that Kevin had said he didn’t want to see his mother again, blaming her for all that had happened. Her face reddened, too embarrassed to tell Bernie the bit about Dolly being sick and making sex a dirty word.

      ‘I can’t believe that he doesn’t want to see his mother again, and no wonder she’s upset.’ There was a knock on the door. ‘That’ll be the doctor,’ Bernie said. ‘Would you let him in, Pearl?’

      She went downstairs, returning to wait with Bernie whilst the doctor examined Dolly.

      Bernie scratched his head. ‘I reckon that, like Dolly, Kevin is looking for a scapegoat. He’s done wrong, but it’s easier to blame someone else than face his own actions. Dolly spoiled him rotten, but that doesn’t mean she’s responsible for what he did.’

      Before Pearl could respond, the doctor emerged, Bernie jumping to his feet. ‘Is she all right?’

      ‘I think your wife is suffering from nervous exhaustion.’

      ‘What the hell is that?’

      ‘It’s caused by stress. Has she been sleeping?’

      ‘No, not really, but she’s a strong woman and always has been.’

      ‘Everyone has a breaking point, Mr Dolby, and I think your wife has reached hers. I’ve given her a sedative, and if you keep her free of any further worries, I’m sure she’ll be fine.’

      ‘Gawd, how am I supposed to do that? She still has our son’s trial to face.’

      ‘Don’t let her go. Keep her at home.’

      ‘Huh, if she wants to go there’ll be no stopping her.’

      The doctor sighed. ‘You can tell her it’s against my advice, and until then keep her as quiet as possible. Call me if you have any worries.’

      When the man left, Bernie went in to see Dolly, but he soon returned. ‘She’s asleep, but what about when she wakes up? I don’t know how I’m going to cope with her, Pearl.’

      Bernie looked sick with worry and, with a sinking heart, Pearl realised she’d have to remain. Bernie had always shown her kindness and she was fond of her father-in-law. She couldn’t abandon him now. She’d stay for a while, just until Dolly recovered, and then she’d be out of there like a shot.

      Dolly was up in less than a week, but she still looked awful and hardly spoke. Bernie seemed lost, creeping around his wife as though she was made of china. However, later that morning both he and Pearl were surprised when she suddenly surged to her feet, her voice strong and assertive again.

      ‘I’m going to see Kevin.’

      ‘You’re not up to it, love,’ Bernie protested.

      ‘I have to see him. He’s my son.’

      ‘All right, if it means so much to you, I’ll come along.’

      ‘No, Bernie, I want to see him on my own.’

      Nothing Bernie could say would prevent her, and when she left they felt as if they were holding their breath until she returned.

      One look at Dolly’s face was enough for them to realise her visit had been a mistake. She looked almost on the point of collapse, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

      ‘What happened, love?’ Bernie asked.

      ‘Kevin agreed to see me, but said it was for the last time.’

      ‘He said what?’

      ‘Oh, Bernie, he still blames me for everything and I … I think he’s right.’

      ‘Don’t be daft, Dolly. He tried to rob that jeweller – not you.’

      ‘Yes, but he only did it to get away from me.’

      ‘He’s just making excuses. If he wanted money to move out there was nothing to stop him from getting a job.’

      ‘Maybe, but he said I’m a dominant and interfering mother.’

      ‘Well, you certainly ain’t mouselike,’ Bernie chuckled, trying to inject a bit of humour.

      Dolly didn’t smile; instead her voice rose. ‘Kevin’s right then. I drove him to it!’

      ‘Leave it out, Dolly. You weren’t that bad and, if anything, you spoiled the lad.’

      ‘Didn’t I do anything right?’ she cried, running from the room.

      Bernie looked at Pearl, shaking his head in bewilderment. ‘I seem to be making a habit of putting my foot in it. I’ll go and see if she’s all right.’

      It wasn’t long before he came back. ‘She’s in a right old state and I think I’ll have to call the doctor again.’

      Pearl nodded, but her heart was heavy. She had hoped that Dolly was getting better, but now the woman had taken a step backwards. Oh, if only she could move out, but she still couldn’t bring herself to abandon her father-in-law.

       Chapter Thirty-Five

      It was mid-September and Pearl still hadn’t moved in with Bessie. She had no love for Dolly, but Bernie seemed incapable of looking after her. The doctor had put Dolly on medication and mostly she just sat, seeming to draw great comfort from just holding Johnny in her arms. Strangely, though, she always asked permission now before picking him up, and with all the housework, the washing, ironing and cooking to do, Pearl was sometimes pleased to hand him over to her mother-in-law. She had watched carefully, but hadn’t seen anything to make sense of Kevin’s accusations. Nevertheless, she remained vigilant, making sure that Bernie was always around before leaving Johnny in her mother-in-law’s care.

      Then, after all the waiting, Kevin was at last brought to trial, Dolly insisting that she was going to attend. As though it had brought her a new lease of life, she bustled around getting ready, only stopping her preparation when Bernie spoke.

      ‘The

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