Page 34 of Forgive Me Not
She shrugged. ‘As good as can be expected after everything that happened.’
‘I hope it works out for you. I’m sorry about how things have turned out for Gail.’
This was more like the Ted she used to know – yet he’d been so harsh towards Stig.
His fingers tightened around a bundle of papers. ‘This is the petition to get the council to move the rough sleepers on. So far I’ve got over sixty signatures. Phil said you’re friends with that chap outside. Can’t you have a word? That way we can avoid any nastiness.’
‘A petition? I’m glad you’re going to do it properly then, Ted, instead of threatening people that you’ll lie about their dog.’
He flushed.
‘These people have nowhere to go,’ she continued quietly. ‘They’ve been chased out of the city for appearances’ sake. When that international art festival is over, they’ll go back. Their presence here won’t last forever.’
‘And I’m not unsympathetic, but them being here is a risk to everything we value. Healdbury’s crime rate is low. It’s safe to walk the streets at any time of night. All that will change if more of them appear, and I can’t hold on for them to leave of their own accord. My livelihood will suffer.’
‘What – because of a handful of homeless people? They aren’t even near your shop.’
‘But it looks bad. I’ve got a potential investor coming over next week and I don’t want him thinking this is a rough area where businesses might be broken into.’
‘Have any of them caused trouble so far?’ she said calmly.
‘No, but who knows how many more will turn up? Increasing numbers will bring down house prices, and what about drugs? There will be an increase in petty crime and—’
‘Drug addicts won’t move here, it’s too rural,’ said Emma. ‘They’ll stay near their dealers.’
‘Ted’s done his research,’ said Phil. ‘One council takes this matter very seriously and has brought in fines to stop the homeless sleeping in doorways. The last thing customers want is to have to step over a tramp. With rising prices it’s challenging enough to make ends meet as it is.’
‘Have a word, Emma – and give up your idea of a soup run,’ said Ted. ‘We’re a fair-minded community, you know that, and I don’t want to get the authorities here unless we have to.’
She pursed her lips.
‘What?’ said Phil. ‘It’s easy for you to take the moral high ground, but you haven’t got a mortgage or a family to support.’
‘That’s the whole point,’ she said.
Ted raised his eyebrows.
‘It’s ironic. A good number of the people I got to know on the streets were just like you two once.’ She gazed from one man to the other. ‘I used to eat in a soup kitchen with a man called Tony. He’d often set up by the black bin outside Debenhams, in Market Street. He had a good job and used to do charity work with the Round Table. But then his wife died of cancer and he subsequently lost everything, because he couldn’t cope. Tony represents a lot of professional people who due to debt or redundancy or mental health issues have ended up on the streets. There isn’t as big a gap as you might think between you and them.’
Neither of them replied.
‘We all used to be friends. You saw how easily someone’s life can spiral out of control when they aren’t happy,’ said Emma. ‘Haven’t you ever had a double shot to ease the stress of a long day? And Stig outside isn’t addicted to anything apart from books.’
The men looked at each other.
‘I’m grateful for your welcoming words, Ted. Really I am. But how can you appreciate that I’ve changed yet not give the homeless out there a chance? Don’t they deserve our help? Even the government has finally recognised their plight and set targets to deal with—’
Ted’s lips formed a firm line. ‘I am glad to see you back, Emma, but you caused a lot of damage before you left. Should we tolerate such reckless behaviour from these people? No, because the village is suffering a difficult enough time as it is. The kind of help they need is available in Manchester and Stockport. We pay our taxes to provide that. There’s nothing for them here and they don’t need you setting up some sort of lifeline that will mean they never return to where they came from. I have to think of my family – the local community. It’s a big enough job looking after the people who’ve grown up here at the moment, let alone anyone else.’ He looked at Phil. ‘I’ll let you know when the meeting is.’ He nodded to Emma and left.
‘Meeting?’ said Emma.
‘To discuss our plan of action. Some villagers, like you, are giving these people handouts. They need to know this will only exacerbate the problem.’
Emma sighed.
Phil delved into his pocket and pushed a key across the counter. ‘From now on you can use the private entrance out the back.’
Emma picked up the key. ‘I’ve just got one condition.’ Clearly this was a day for asking favours. Andrea had agreed to Emma using spare produce. Perhaps this request would be granted too. ‘No drink in the house.’ For her own good, and also because she was worried about Phil himself.
