The Journey (37 page)

Over the next few days, Barney’s hitherto good name deteriorated further. “Cheating on his good wife,” people tutted. “Carrying on wi’ all kinds, and drinking himself into a stupor every chance he gets.”

“I hear he stayed out all night a while back.” Even on the bus they tittle-tattled about him. “Lord knows what that family’s going through, and them supposed to be leaving for America any day now.”

Seated behind the two gossiping women, Lucy could not wait to get off at her stop; though as she passed them she commented loudly on “folks who can’t help but gossip, even when they don’t have a clue what they’re talking about!”

As she hurried home, she wondered where it would all end.

Bridget was alone. “The girls have gone on another one of these ‘business’ appointments,” she said proudly. “Sure, haven’t we gone up in the world, don’t you think?”

“Mmm.” Seating herself at the table, Lucy recalled what the women on the bus had said. “I hear that Barney stayed out all night a while back. How on earth do folks find out so much so soon?”

Bridget plonked a cup of tea down at the table. “What exactly are we talking about?”

Lucy told her about the two women and the conversation they were having. “What on earth are we going to do about Barney?” she asked. “I’m at my wit’s end.” She gave Bridget a wary look. “What if Joanne ever finds out he was here the night he went missing?”

“I won’t tell if you won’t,” Bridget replied. “What was I supposed to do when he turned up, soaking wet and looking to come inside? He only slept the drink off while I dried his clothes, that’s all.” With big eyes she chided Lucy. “Should I have turned him away—is that what you’re saying?”

Lucy shook her head. “No, of course it’s not.” All the same, she felt as though she was betraying Joanne by not telling her, and she told that to Bridget now.

Bridget was angry with her. “Now look here, young lady! Sure the man himself pleaded with you not to tell where he was for most of the night. You did right not to say anything, and besides, didn’t they have the holiest of rows and didn’t she get angry and lock the door against him?”

“So I’m told, yes.”

“There y’are, then! Even if he’d gone home, he wouldn’t have been able to get in. He’ll have had to sleep on the garden bench, so he would!”

Once Bridget was in full sail there was no stopping her. “I gave him a bed for the night and there’s nothing to be ashamed of in that. You and I both know how hard I’m trying to get this house respectable. It may well have been a house of pleasure a while back, but things are changing.”

She bristled with pride. “You’ll notice I’m more of a businesswoman now, so ye will. What’s more, little Tillie has taken to her new job of bookkeeper like a duck to water.” She gave a short whistle. “I never knew she was so good at keeping proper accounts! And she’s delighted with the shorter hours and the bigger wage-packet.”

Lucy had to smile. “You always were ambitious,” she said fondly. “And happen you’re right about giving Barney a bed for the night. If he had upset Joanne so much that she locked the door against him, she might have done worse if he’d gone banging on the door in the middle of the night.”

Bridget beamed. “Well, there y’are then. Sure, isn’t that what I’ve been saying all along?” She had a question. “Did ye manage to have a quiet word with him … about the womanizing and the drinking?”

Lucy shook her head. “I’ve tried time and again to get him on his own, but he always manages to dodge me.” This time she was determined. “I’ve spoken with Arthur. He’s worried sick about Barney, but even he hasn’t been able to talk any sense into him. Joanne and the boys will be up at Leonard Maitland’s tonight. Apparently he’s concerned about Barney and unsure about what’s happening. He’s asked the family to come and talk it through, so tonight, Barney will be on his own.”

Bridget was doubtful. “Will Barney stay in, d’ye think? Or will he be off out with his floozy?”

Lucy tapped her nose by way of a confidence. “It’s all been arranged. Barney’s agreed to see Arthur, and being as he’s let Arthur down twice before, we’re hoping that this time he’ll keep his word and be at home when his old pal arrives.”

Bridget got the picture. “But it won’t be Arthur who turns up, will it? It’ll be you, is that right?”

Lucy confirmed that was the idea. “Seeing as he keeps avoiding me, this seems to be the only way.”

“Well, I hope it works, because somebody needs to talk some sense into that foolhardy head of his,” Bridget declared. “Sure, if anybody can do it, you can.”

Just then the girls came in, dressed in their new outfits and looking like a million dollars. “I’ve just spent a whole afternoon in one of the best hotels in Manchester.” Brenda’s tall, willowy figure was wrapped in the most expensive coat with fur collar and deep fur-trimmed pockets.

“And I’ve been to the races.” Shorter and perfectly formed, Lynette was better suited to the small-brimmed hat and brown silk two-piece.

“I hope you both behaved like ladies?” Raising her eyebrows, Bridget gave them a warning glance.

On hearing how they had been paid handsomely for their escort duties, Bridget congratulated them. “Sure if we keep on like this, we’ll have to move to posher premises,” she joked. “Now off upstairs wit’ ye, and out of those expensive clothes. You’ll need them again, I hope, so make sure you hang them up nice and neatly.”

Shortly after the girls had departed, Lucy excused herself. “I’d best get ready,” she told Bridget.

“Off ye go then, and I wish ye well.” Her friend was concerned. “It’s a crying shame to see how Barney’s hurting that poor family of his. If he doesn’t come to his senses soon, there’ll be no America for him, and no family to speak of neither.”

With all that preying on her mind, Lucy got washed and changed and made herself ready to meet Arthur. Having lately acquired a little black Ford, he was to run her up to the end of the lane and wait there until she came out again.

She didn’t have to wait long before the little car drew up outside number 23. “What d’you think to it?” he asked proudly. “Cost me an arm and a leg, but it was worth it.”

Lucy told him she thought it was handsome, and smiling from ear to ear he helped her climb on the running board and then get inside, before taking the starting handle and thrusting it into the front of the car. Perspiring from the effort, Arthur drove up the street erratically, with the car lurching and bumping. “I’m not quite used to it yet,” he apologized sheepishly. “But I’ll get us there—don’t you worry about that.”

When they reached the end of the lane leading to Overhill Farm, they sat awhile. “Have the family gone out yet, d’you think?” Arthur was on pins.

“I’m not sure.” Lucy, too, was nervous. If she did get to see Barney on his own, what would she say? How could she convince him that what he was doing was tearing the family apart? What about the future? What about America, and the family so looking forward to it now?
And why was he doing this?
That was the main thing.

While they waited and watched, Lucy spoke her mind to Arthur. “I don’t understand why Barney’s suddenly started behaving like this,” she said. “He’s an intelligent man, compassionate and caring, and yet here he is, wantonly throwing away everything he cherishes.”

Arthur had an idea, but he could not give her the answer. “It’s the strangest thing,” he said thoughtfully. “I’ve known him a very long time, but I can never recall him acting the way he is now, hurting the ones he loves and seemingly hellbent on destroying himself. One minute he’s all fired up at going to America, and now it’s as though he has to destroy every chance they’ve got of starting a new life. I’ve tried to reason with him, but he just walks away. He won’t listen to me.”

Reaching out, he took Lucy’s hand into his. “Happen he’ll talk to you,” he said, patting the back of her hand. “Happen
you’ll
get through to him where I can’t.” In the half-light he smiled on her, trying not to show the love he felt. She was his good friend, and he was not prepared to spoil that by speaking his heart.

Suspecting nothing of his true feelings, Lucy gave him a nudge. “Here they are now,” she said. The family emerged from the house; Joanne and Susie first, then the two sons. Huddled together, they set off on foot in the other direction, along the lane and on toward Leonard Maitland’s house, The Manse. “We’ll give it another minute or so and then you’d best go in,” Arthur said. “D’you think he’ll open the door to you?”

Lucy smiled secretly. Reaching into her handbag, she drew out the key to Overhill farmhouse. “I never thought to give this back after I stayed there once,” she told him. “I knew it would be more polite to knock, but like you say, he might see me out of the window and be gone through the back door. So I shall just let myself in.” She did not like the idea of doing it, but saw no other way.

Climbing out of the car, Lucy softly closed the door and approached the house. She could see Barney through the window; slouched in his chair he was leaning forward, deep in thought and looking lost.

Concentrating on what she was doing, she slipped the key into the lock, opened the door and went inside; and because she did not want to alarm him, she deliberately made a noise as she came toward the sitting room.

“Who’s there?” Barney’s voice sailed through the house. “Joanne! Is that you?”

When suddenly he was standing before her, his face fell with astonishment. “Lucy! What the devil are you doing here? How did you get in?”

“Sorry if I frightened you.” When Lucy now took a step forward, Barney took a step back. “Please, Barney. We need to talk.”

“I don’t want to talk. Go away, and leave me be.” Seeing her there and knowing how, like the rest of his beloved family, she was worried out of her mind, he so much wanted to take her in his arms and open his heart to her. But if he did, then all of this would have been for nothing. “How did you get in? Did Joanne let you in, is that it? Did she think you might get me to tell you things I can’t tell her?” His eyes bright with tears, he lowered his sorry gaze to the floor.

“Joanne doesn’t know I’m here,” she told him. “Look! I still have my key.” She laid it on the coat-stand. “There. I’ve returned it now.”

As she walked toward him, he barred her path, his shoulders squared tall and his face blank, with no expression. “I don’t need you here. I want you to go.”

Now, as Lucy stared him in the eye, he looked away, as though he could not bear to see the pain and anxiety in her face. “I said I want you to leave. Now!”

Lucy refused. “You’ll have to throw me out, Barney.”

The man was in anguish; he wanted to tell her the truth, but he daren’t. He
couldn’t.

“Talk to me, Barney.” Laying her hand on his arm, she thrilled at his nearness, but for now all she wanted was to make him at peace, to let him know that he was not on his own. “Why are you doing all of this?” Her voice was like silk to his ears. “You were always such a kind and loving man, concerned about other people’s feelings. You’re not a drunk, or a bad man. You’re a worker and a fighter. You risked your own life to save my baby and you were my strength afterward. Was it that night, Barney? Was it because of what happened to little Jamie?” Her voice broke. “You said it yourself—there was nothing we could have done. It was too late, Barney … all too late.”

When she paused, choking back the pain of remembering, Barney looked up. He was so ashamed. “How are you now, Lucy?” His voice was merely a whisper, but it came from the heart.

Looking up with bright eyes and a sorry smile, she told him, “I’m coping, Barney. But I’m so worried about you … we all are. What is it? What’s wrong? You have to let me help. You have to let
us all
help.”

She could sense that he was weakening, when suddenly the front door was pushed open and in walked a woman, tall and attractive, with wild hair and a ruddy complexion, and the smell of booze about her. “You shouldn’t leave your door open of a night-time,” she quipped. “And who might this be, Barney? I know it’s not your wife because you told me she’d be out with the family.”

“Jesus!” Thrusting Lucy aside he took hold of the woman by the arm. “What the hell are you doing here, and drunk into the bargain!”

She smiled. “I remembered you saying your family were going out and that I should come and pay a call on you if ever I was passing. Well, I might not have been passing, but I’m here now, and I’ve brought us some cheer.” Holding up a bottle of sherry, she taunted him with it. “If you don’t want to stay here, we can always go to my place. I’ve got a car outside.” Staggering sideways, she almost lost her balance. “The driver is an old friend of mine …” she gave a wink “… if you know what I mean?”

About to throw her out into the night, Barney stopped himself. No! This might be his best chance. Just now, Lucy had almost got him to confide in her, and if his unwelcome visitor hadn’t turned up, he might well have said things he regretted. And that would have been a disaster.

“She’s the woman I saw you with in Liverpool.” Lucy was shocked and angry. “Ask her to leave, Barney. She’s tainting Joanne’s lovely home.”

Enraged, the woman made a grab for her. Barney stepped between them. Turning on Lucy he sounded like a stranger. “Good night, Lucy. I don’t want to see you again. You can leave now.”

Lucy was taken aback. “You don’t mean that?”

He gave a slow, affirmative nod. “Thank you for coming here tonight, but I don’t need your help.”