I reckon an early night after all this emotional upset, don’t you? No, don’t panic, Betty love, your virtue is quite safe. I’m sure our Jake won’t mind sharing with his old dad. Time we got to know each other again, isn’t it, son?’
Chapter Twelve
They did indeed enjoy a ‘nice’ walk on the sands to ‘blow the cobwebs away’. Jonty, Leo and Helen walked in uneasy silence for what seemed like miles before returning home to partake of the tinned salmon and cucumber salad which Dulcie had prepared, as usual, for their evening meal; her son’s bouquet of carnations and lilies on proud display in the centre of the table so that no one could quite see over or around it.
After the peaches and Nestle’s milk had been enjoyed and the washing up done, Helen endured a long dull evening listening to an orchestral recital on the Third Programme, twiddling her thumbs while the two men talked business and Dulcie crocheted, fingers flying as she hummed softly to herself.
When she could bear no more and grew tired of listening to Jonty verbally batter her husband with Dulcie acting as occasional referee, Helen escaped to bed. Not that there was much hope of any hanky-panky sleeping in the narrow twin beds with their pink eiderdowns and matching candlewick bedspreads.
Helen was aware of the moment her mother-in-law retired as she paused to tap softly on the bedroom door. ‘Goodnight dear, sleep tight.’
Of course she could see the light on under her door since Helen was reading, but it irritated her all the same. Helen chose not to reply.
Later she heard voices raised in argument coming from the living room. Jonty claiming that Leo allowed people to take advantage of his good nature, that he was weak and useless, which he vehemently refuted. Helen listened for a while, itching to go in and do battle for her husband. How anyone, particularly his own father, could accuse Leo of being weak was quite beyond her. He was kind and loving and affectionate, certainly, but nobody could deny that Leo wasn’t a strong, capable man.
He radiated high levels of energy, was bold and daring, yet was decent and honourable. He’d been a fighter pilot during the war, joining at just eighteen in nineteen-forty so no one could ever call him a coward either. Her husband possessed admirable qualities, gave his all to the business, often to the detriment of their personal life together since he was so determined to take the distribution business into the modern world.
The only problem was that Leo was too attractive for his own good, and positively drew predatory women to his side. Helen never felt quite able to trust him. How could she? Even her own father had strayed once or twice. Men did that, it was in their nature. Hadn’t her mother told her so a thousand times. To be fair to Leo, Helen guessed she was the only woman whom he truly loved, and she was certainly the only one who could manipulate him.
But she needed to be the only woman in his life , not simply the one he cared for the most. Although whatever rules she applied to Leo, did not necessarily apply to herself.
Jonty’s voice intruded into her thoughts, loud and clear. ‘You’ll damage your cash flow if you allow creditors too much leeway. Never mind thirty days, I never gave them thirty minutes. Cash on the nail, that’s the best way.’
‘That’s not how business is conducted these days, Pa.’
‘Stuff and nonsense. Don’t be dictated to by idiots, make up your own rules . . .’
And so it continued. Drat this bungalow, far too small for comfort. Pulling the covers over her head, Helen snapped off the lamp and tried to get some sleep.
Helen was woken by the sound of a door banging, of voices shouting out in panic, and of running feet. A light snapped on, momentarily blinding her and then everything was mayhem. Dulcie was sobbing, Leo was leaping from his bed and charging about in his pyjamas, one moment making frantic telephone calls the next
Chapter Twelve
They did indeed enjoy a ‘nice’ walk on the sands to ‘blow the cobwebs away’. Jonty, Leo and Helen walked in uneasy silence for what seemed like miles before returning home to partake of the tinned salmon and cucumber salad which Dulcie had prepared, as usual, for their evening meal; her son’s bouquet of carnations and lilies on proud display in the centre of the table so that no one could quite see over or around it.
After the peaches and Nestle’s milk had been enjoyed and the washing up done, Helen endured a long dull evening listening to an orchestral recital on the Third Programme, twiddling her thumbs while the two men talked business and Dulcie crocheted, fingers flying as she hummed softly to herself.
When she could bear no more and grew tired of listening to Jonty verbally batter her husband with Dulcie acting as occasional referee, Helen escaped to bed. Not that there was much hope of any hanky-panky sleeping in the narrow twin beds with their pink eiderdowns and matching candlewick bedspreads.
Helen was aware of the moment her mother-in-law retired as she paused to tap softly on the bedroom door. ‘Goodnight dear, sleep tight.’
Of course she could see the light on under her door since Helen was reading, but it irritated her all the same. Helen chose not to reply.
Later she heard voices raised in argument coming from the living room. Jonty claiming that Leo allowed people to take advantage of his good nature, that he was weak and useless, which he vehemently refuted. Helen listened for a while, itching to go in and do battle for her husband. How anyone, particularly his own father, could accuse Leo of being weak was quite beyond her. He was kind and loving and affectionate, certainly, but nobody could deny that Leo wasn’t a strong, capable man.
He radiated high levels of energy, was bold and daring, yet was decent and honourable. He’d been a fighter pilot during the war, joining at just eighteen in nineteen-forty so no one could ever call him a coward either. Her husband possessed admirable qualities, gave his all to the business, often to the detriment of their personal life together since he was so determined to take the distribution business into the modern world.
The only problem was that Leo was too attractive for his own good, and positively drew predatory women to his side. Helen never felt quite able to trust him. How could she? Even her own father had strayed once or twice. Men did that, it was in their nature. Hadn’t her mother told her so a thousand times. To be fair to Leo, Helen guessed she was the only woman whom he truly loved, and she was certainly the only one who could manipulate him.
But she needed to be the only woman in his life , not simply the one he cared for the most. Although whatever rules she applied to Leo, did not necessarily apply to herself.
Jonty’s voice intruded into her thoughts, loud and clear. ‘You’ll damage your cash flow if you allow creditors too much leeway. Never mind thirty days, I never gave them thirty minutes. Cash on the nail, that’s the best way.’
‘That’s not how business is conducted these days, Pa.’
‘Stuff and nonsense. Don’t be dictated to by idiots, make up your own rules . . .’
And so it continued. Drat this bungalow, far too small for comfort. Pulling the covers over her head, Helen snapped off the lamp and tried to get some sleep.
Helen was woken by the sound of a door banging, of voices shouting out in panic, and of running feet. A light snapped on, momentarily blinding her and then everything was mayhem. Dulcie was sobbing, Leo was leaping from his bed and charging about in his pyjamas, one moment making frantic telephone calls the next
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