Page 72 of Waiting for a Bright New Future

Jayne’s face was large in Stuart’s mind. He had obligations now. He was going to be a married man.

“What about Jim?”

“I don’t love Jim anymore.” She stared straight at him. “If I go back there, it gives both him and the children false hope.”

Stuart needed someone to tell him what to do. He wanted Florence and the children to stay. He wanted them to stay more than was right for a man who should be in the first flush of engagement to another woman.

Sandra was silent on the issue, drowned out in his mind by Jayne. Jayne didn’t lack compassion or love; he’d seen both those emotions in her. But Jayne wasn’t fond of Florence. Stuart didn’t understand why but she wouldn’t be happy if Florence stayed. Robert and George wouldn’t approve of children tearing round the house — they had the potential to cause more damage than Tibby.

“Shayne and Eunice will be good. I promise.”

Stuart looked at his watch. Nearly five o’clock. They wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else to stay today and he was due at William’s.

“You can stay tonight. But after that . . . I’m not sure.”

Florence nodded. Stuart fetched two camp beds from the loft. They hadn’t been used since his nephews were small. He left Florence wrestling with them in the limited space of the smallest bedroom, the one that had been his father’s study. He went to give William his tea.

Chapter Thirty-Four

William was dozing again when he arrived. Stuart felt a stab of unease; this wasn’t usual. Television, radio or a book were usual. He gently woke the old man, wondering if he should call a doctor. He picked up a book that had slipped from William’s lap to the floor. Then he stood back for a moment and judged the older man’s pale face.

“What you staring at?” The words came out as a loud whisper. William coughed and then spoke in a louder, stronger voice. “Nothing wrong with me that caffeine and sugar won’t fix.”

He was right. A mug of coffee and a chocolate biscuit seemed to revive the old man and he looked more alert.

“Shall I get the doctor to call?”

“No. Don’t bother anyone. I’m not ill, just a bit tired. We all have bad days, don’t we? Tell me about you. What have you been doing this afternoon?”

Had everything that had happened with Jayne and Florence been since his midday visit to William?

“Spit it out. Has the delectable Florence returned?”

“Yes.” Stuart paused. “And there’s other news.”

William rubbed the palms of his hands together as if looking forward to a big revelation. Stuart poured two more mugs of coffee and related the afternoon’s events.

“Your life’s never dull, is it?”

“Jayne’s over the moon and she deserves that excitement. But, for some reason, she sees Florence as a rival. So, should I let Florence and her grandchildren stay? I don’t want Jayne upset.”

William drained his mug. Stuart waited for wise words. None came. “I can’t make Florence and her grandchildren homeless.”

“What does Sandra say?”

Stuart looked down, wishing he’d never revealed the dead sister who talked to him. Now he didn’t know whether her voice was an actual phenomenon or the imagination of a lonely boy and a friendless man. Either way, Sandra wouldn’t speak. “She hasn’t commented on this situation.”

“Sandra’s realised that you’ve grown up enough in the last few months to make your own decisions. Make them wisely.”

Stuart floundered. He didn’t like decisions—usually, somewhere along the line, someone got hurt. “I don’t want to rock the boat. Jayne and I are comfortable together. When I asked Jayne to marry me, she was ecstatic.”

“And Florence?”

“It’s a business relationship. She needs somewhere to live and I need the money.”

“And she’s offering to pay more for the children to stay on camp beds in the spare room?”

“Yes.”

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