Unspoken: A story of secrets, love and revenge T. Belshaw (good books to read for beginners txt) 📖

Norman. After the introductions were over, he took us to a garage where the contents of the auction had been set out. The pram was beautiful, the coachwork was navy blue, as was the hood. It had a long silver handle and silver wheels, with white tyres. It was love at first sight. The cot was nice, the mattress was spotless and the three sets of bedding that went with it were freshly laundered. The rocking horse had seen better days, but it didn’t make a noise when rocked, and any child would love it.

But the thing that bought the biggest smile to my face, was the gas cooker. In my mind, I could see Miriam dancing around the kitchen with delight, as I looked at it.

I decided straight away not to try to barter over prices. I wanted the stuff, and I wasn’t going to mess them around. Godfrey had been so kind to think about me, and I wasn’t going to show him up.

‘How much do you want for the cooker, pram, cot and rocking horse?’ I asked.

‘Would seven pounds, ten shillings be all right?’ Norman asked.

I nearly choked. The cooker itself was worth a fiver, and the pram was in tip top condition, so that was probably worth the same. I was getting the bargain of the year.

‘I’ll make sure you’ll get the money tomorrow,’ I said, my voice shaking with excitement.

‘Give it to Godfrey,’ Norman said. ‘He’s already paid me.’

‘I’ll get someone to pick it all up in the truck this afternoon,’ I said. I couldn’t wait to show Amy the pram.

‘I’ll have them put on the forecourt in front of the garage,’ said Norman.

I walked back to the car with Godfrey, still so excited about the pram. It could easily be passed off as new. ‘Thank you so much for making sure I got everything I wanted, Godfrey. I really don’t know what to say.’

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. I let the kiss linger much longer than I had intended to, but he didn’t pull away. When I finally did, I heard the sound of a horn being pressed repeatedly. I looked around to see our farm truck parked at the end of the drive.

Chapter 66

June 1938

Frank said nothing when I reached the truck. I thought maybe he’d just pulled up and not seen me kissing my gangster, but if that was the case, how did he find us? I decided to brazen it out.

‘Frank, good timing. I’ve just bought a pram, a cooker and a cot. Can you pull down to the garage so we can load it on.’

‘I will, if lover boy there will get out of the way,’ he replied.

I rushed back to Godfrey and asked him to move the Alvis, so that Frank could get the truck down the drive.

‘Did he see?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know, I don’t see how he could have missed it. I’m so sorry, it was my doing.’

‘Nonsense. I enjoyed it,’ he winked at me and looked at his watch. ‘I’d better get back to the office. Miss Johnston will think we’ve eloped.’

I waved him off, and Frank backed up so that Godfrey could get out onto the main road. When he pulled up to the garage, Norman’s gardener was there to help Frank load up my purchases. Frank lashed them down on the back of the truck and covered them with the old tarp, then he turned the lorry around in the spacious forecourt, and waited for me to jump in. I hesitated, having spotted Norman waving to me from inside the house. When he came out, he was holding a rag doll.

‘This was for my daughter, but, well, it wasn’t to be, she died with my wife while she was giving birth.’

I immediately thought about my mother, and realised how close a call it was for both of us too.

‘There are some baby clothes as well if you’d like them? I don’t intend to marry again, let alone have more kids.’

This time, I thought about my father’s devotion to one woman. I almost advised him to stay off the drink, but decided against. I’d only have to explain.

‘I’d love to have the clothes,’ I said. ‘My baby is only a couple of days old.’

Norman nipped back to the house and returned with a cardboard box full of baby clothes in pink and blue, most of which were brand new.

‘I’ll have to pay for these, they’re beautiful.’

Norman smiled a sad, smile. ‘It’s my gift to you. I’m glad they’re going to a good home. My wife would have approved, I’m sure.’

I felt a tear ready to fall, so to hide it, I leaned forward, hugged Norman, and kissed him on the cheek.

‘Take care, and I hope the move goes well,’ I said.

I jumped in next to Frank, and waved to Norman out of the wound-down, window, Frank put the truck into gear and we set off for home. We had only been on the main road for a few hundred yards when his temper exploded.

‘No wonder you got tarted up like that. Trying so hard to impress the posh boy, or should I say man, he’s old enough to be your father for Christ’s sake.’

‘So are you, pretty much,’ I spat. ‘Talk about double standards, Frank.’

He wasn’t expecting me to hit back like that, and he didn’t know how to respond.

‘If nothing is going on, why did you kiss him like that?’

‘Like what, Frank? I was thanking him for setting me up with all this stuff, dirt cheap.’ I waved towards the back of the truck. ‘Do you know how much that lot would have cost, new, or even second hand if I’d bought them from a shop. I got the lot for seven pounds ten. The cooker alone is worth that.’

‘That doesn’t explain why—’

‘That was a mistake, I’ll admit that. I was just so excited about getting a pram and a cot.’ I looked over at him