Read Online Diamonds in the Dust by Beryl Matthews - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Beryl Matthews
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don’t tell Win about this or I’ll never hear the last of it.’
Stan grimaced. ‘Neither will I.’
Two plates were put in front of them, piled high with food. ‘You need another brandy, Stan?’
‘No thanks, Len. A good strong cup of tea would go down well, though.’
‘Coming right up.’
They ate in silence, and Stan was glad of the quiet as it was giving him the time to recover.
When they’d finished eating, they lit cigarettes and relaxed.
‘Feel up to telling me what you found out?’
Stan drew deeply on the cigarette, and then told Reg about his visit to the jeweller’s. When he’d finished his brother-in-law swore fluently. ‘You impersonated a police officer?’
‘I didn’t think they’d talk to me otherwise.’
‘You were lucky they didn’t ask you for proof.’
‘Wasn’t I.’ Stan grinned, feeling much better now. ‘Anyway, what do you think about the necklace?’
‘Oh, it can’t be real. We’d have to borrow it if we wanted to get it verified, and I don’t want to do that at the moment, because I don’t think it’s going to help us find Mrs Bentley. Don’t say anything to Dora. We’d better forget about it for the time being.’
‘I agree. Had any luck with your enquiries so far?’
Reg shook his head. ‘We’re still waiting to hear from some area stations. And I must get back.’
Stan propped himself up on his crutches and followed Reg, who stopped suddenly in the middle of the road.
‘Your bus stop is on the other side of the road.’
‘I know, but I’m coming with you to see if there’s any news.’
Giving a gusty sigh, Reg glared at him. ‘You need to go home and rest. Any good me arguing?’
‘None at all.’
Chapter Seven
It was after six o’clock, and Dora stood by the window watching anxiously for Stan to return home. When she saw him making his way along the road, it made her gasp in shock. He looked dreadfully ill, and in so much difficulty she expected him to topple over before he reached his gate.
‘Tom, look after Lily for me. Stan’s just arrived and he needs help.’
Dora rushed out of the house and reached Stan’s gate just before him. She held it open, waited while he opened the front door, and followed him into the front room. He didn’t say a word as he collapsed into an armchair, the crutches clattering to the floor.
Dora picked them up and stood them against the wall within his reach. Then she stooped down in front of him,deeply concerned. ‘Do you want me to get a doctor for you, or ask your sister to come?’
‘No, I don’t! And what the hell are you doing here?’ he growled.
Although she was taken aback by his sharpness, she chose to ignore it. ‘I came to help,’ she said gently. ‘You rest and I’ll get you something to eat.’
‘Go away, Dora!’ He laid his head back and closed his eyes.
Inside Dora there was a stubborn streak. It didn’t often surface, but now it did. Finding a stool in the corner of the room, she put it by his feet and carefully lifted his leg to rest on it. ‘There, that will be more comfortable for you. I’ll make a pot of tea.’
‘I told you to clear off!’ His eyes were now open, and furious. ‘I don’t want your help, so just mind your own bloody business.’
That was it as far as Dora was concerned. She cried out, ‘Don’t you talk to me like that! You’re worn out, and whether you like it or not, you need help. That’s what I came to do, and don’t you dare throw it back in my face. I understand that you don’t want people to see you like this. You’re hurt and frustrated because you can’t do what you used to. I wish I could change that for you, but I can’t! I wish I could change what’s happening to my family, but I can’t! However much we dislike the situation we’re both in, we’re stuck with it! What’s done is done! But it’s clear to me now that we shouldn’t have come to you for help. It’s obviously too much for you, and I’m sorry we’ve
Stan grimaced. ‘Neither will I.’
Two plates were put in front of them, piled high with food. ‘You need another brandy, Stan?’
‘No thanks, Len. A good strong cup of tea would go down well, though.’
‘Coming right up.’
They ate in silence, and Stan was glad of the quiet as it was giving him the time to recover.
When they’d finished eating, they lit cigarettes and relaxed.
‘Feel up to telling me what you found out?’
Stan drew deeply on the cigarette, and then told Reg about his visit to the jeweller’s. When he’d finished his brother-in-law swore fluently. ‘You impersonated a police officer?’
‘I didn’t think they’d talk to me otherwise.’
‘You were lucky they didn’t ask you for proof.’
‘Wasn’t I.’ Stan grinned, feeling much better now. ‘Anyway, what do you think about the necklace?’
‘Oh, it can’t be real. We’d have to borrow it if we wanted to get it verified, and I don’t want to do that at the moment, because I don’t think it’s going to help us find Mrs Bentley. Don’t say anything to Dora. We’d better forget about it for the time being.’
‘I agree. Had any luck with your enquiries so far?’
Reg shook his head. ‘We’re still waiting to hear from some area stations. And I must get back.’
Stan propped himself up on his crutches and followed Reg, who stopped suddenly in the middle of the road.
‘Your bus stop is on the other side of the road.’
‘I know, but I’m coming with you to see if there’s any news.’
Giving a gusty sigh, Reg glared at him. ‘You need to go home and rest. Any good me arguing?’
‘None at all.’
Chapter Seven
It was after six o’clock, and Dora stood by the window watching anxiously for Stan to return home. When she saw him making his way along the road, it made her gasp in shock. He looked dreadfully ill, and in so much difficulty she expected him to topple over before he reached his gate.
‘Tom, look after Lily for me. Stan’s just arrived and he needs help.’
Dora rushed out of the house and reached Stan’s gate just before him. She held it open, waited while he opened the front door, and followed him into the front room. He didn’t say a word as he collapsed into an armchair, the crutches clattering to the floor.
Dora picked them up and stood them against the wall within his reach. Then she stooped down in front of him,deeply concerned. ‘Do you want me to get a doctor for you, or ask your sister to come?’
‘No, I don’t! And what the hell are you doing here?’ he growled.
Although she was taken aback by his sharpness, she chose to ignore it. ‘I came to help,’ she said gently. ‘You rest and I’ll get you something to eat.’
‘Go away, Dora!’ He laid his head back and closed his eyes.
Inside Dora there was a stubborn streak. It didn’t often surface, but now it did. Finding a stool in the corner of the room, she put it by his feet and carefully lifted his leg to rest on it. ‘There, that will be more comfortable for you. I’ll make a pot of tea.’
‘I told you to clear off!’ His eyes were now open, and furious. ‘I don’t want your help, so just mind your own bloody business.’
That was it as far as Dora was concerned. She cried out, ‘Don’t you talk to me like that! You’re worn out, and whether you like it or not, you need help. That’s what I came to do, and don’t you dare throw it back in my face. I understand that you don’t want people to see you like this. You’re hurt and frustrated because you can’t do what you used to. I wish I could change that for you, but I can’t! I wish I could change what’s happening to my family, but I can’t! However much we dislike the situation we’re both in, we’re stuck with it! What’s done is done! But it’s clear to me now that we shouldn’t have come to you for help. It’s obviously too much for you, and I’m sorry we’ve
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