lasts for the first three months. How about a couple of dry biscuits? That usually helps a bit.’
‘I'll try anything. I was hoping to pop round to my mum's, but if this sickness doesn't pass I won't get to the end of the alley before throwing up again.’
Ivy bustled into the kitchen and found a few cream crackers, which she put on a plate. With a pot of tea made she poured two cups, placing the lot on a plastic tray to carry back into the small living room.
‘Here, get that down you,’ she urged. ‘How is it going with George? Is he still unhappy about the baby?’
Linda sighed as she picked up a cracker, taking a tentative nibble before laying it down again. ‘Things are no better and this morning sickness doesn't help. I was so bad this morning that he had to leave without any breakfast.’
‘Oh dear, poor George,’ Ivy drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ‘He ain't a cripple and could have made himself a couple of bits of toast.’
‘George never does anything in the kitchen. He says cooking and cleaning are woman's work.’
‘Most men are the same, but if I'm feeling rough, Steve will muck in. He'll even have a go at cooking something simple. Anyway, changing the subject, do you know what this meeting at the yard's about?’
‘No, in fact I didn't know there was a meeting. George never discusses the business with me.’
‘If you ask me, there's something in the wind. I reckon they're planning a job. It's been ages since they've done one.’
Linda blanched. ‘A job! What do you mean?’
‘Surely you're not
that
naïve. You must know what sort of family you've married into.’
‘Well, I heard rumours, but George told me that nowadays they're just builders' merchants.’
‘Really? So you think the business makes enough to pay the wages for six households, do you?’
Linda's brow creased. ‘I … I hadn't given it a lot of thought, but it's a big yard, so yes.’
‘It might be big, but you can't tell me it takes seven men to run it. My Steve does most of the shifts and I'd give my right arm to know where the others disappear to every day. I've tried asking Steve, but he won't tell me anything. Why don't you see what you can get out of George?’
‘Oh, no, I couldn't do that! George would go mad if I start asking questions.’
Ivy didn't envy Linda her husband. She'd heard the rows next door, and suspected that George wasn't slow in giving Linda a slap or two. ‘Yeah, I've heard him doing his nut.’
‘George was lovely when we first got married, but lately, he … he's given me a few clouts. I'm scared for my baby, Ivy, and I don't know what to do.’
‘Sort him out. Nip it in the bud.’
‘I wish I could, but I don't know how.’
‘It's simple. If George tries to hit you again, pick up the nearest heavy object, such as a frying pan, and bash him over the head with it.’
‘Oh, no, Ivy, I couldn't do that. I'm not strong like you.’
‘You don't need strength to bash him with a fryingpan. Men who hit women are bullies. The only way to deal with George is to give him a dose of his own medicine. Once he knows you'll fight back, he'll soon back off.’
‘Do you really think so?’
‘Take my word for it, love. Now come on, cheer up. Things will look up once you've sorted George out, and you'll soon be over this morning sickness.’
For the first time Linda smiled. She picked up the cracker again, and finished it in no time, washing it down with a gulp of tea. ‘My goodness, I've managed to keep it down,’ she said.
‘That's the ticket. You should be able to pay your mum a visit now.’
With a little colour in her cheeks at last, Linda rose to her feet. ‘Thanks, Ivy. I think I'll go and tidy myself up and then I'll do just that. It feels like ages since I've seen my mum and I really miss her. My dad too.’
Linda wasn't the only one, Ivy thought, as she showed the girl out. She missed her parents too. Her father had been Uncle Dan's younger brother, but he'd
‘I'll try anything. I was hoping to pop round to my mum's, but if this sickness doesn't pass I won't get to the end of the alley before throwing up again.’
Ivy bustled into the kitchen and found a few cream crackers, which she put on a plate. With a pot of tea made she poured two cups, placing the lot on a plastic tray to carry back into the small living room.
‘Here, get that down you,’ she urged. ‘How is it going with George? Is he still unhappy about the baby?’
Linda sighed as she picked up a cracker, taking a tentative nibble before laying it down again. ‘Things are no better and this morning sickness doesn't help. I was so bad this morning that he had to leave without any breakfast.’
‘Oh dear, poor George,’ Ivy drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ‘He ain't a cripple and could have made himself a couple of bits of toast.’
‘George never does anything in the kitchen. He says cooking and cleaning are woman's work.’
‘Most men are the same, but if I'm feeling rough, Steve will muck in. He'll even have a go at cooking something simple. Anyway, changing the subject, do you know what this meeting at the yard's about?’
‘No, in fact I didn't know there was a meeting. George never discusses the business with me.’
‘If you ask me, there's something in the wind. I reckon they're planning a job. It's been ages since they've done one.’
Linda blanched. ‘A job! What do you mean?’
‘Surely you're not
that
naïve. You must know what sort of family you've married into.’
‘Well, I heard rumours, but George told me that nowadays they're just builders' merchants.’
‘Really? So you think the business makes enough to pay the wages for six households, do you?’
Linda's brow creased. ‘I … I hadn't given it a lot of thought, but it's a big yard, so yes.’
‘It might be big, but you can't tell me it takes seven men to run it. My Steve does most of the shifts and I'd give my right arm to know where the others disappear to every day. I've tried asking Steve, but he won't tell me anything. Why don't you see what you can get out of George?’
‘Oh, no, I couldn't do that! George would go mad if I start asking questions.’
Ivy didn't envy Linda her husband. She'd heard the rows next door, and suspected that George wasn't slow in giving Linda a slap or two. ‘Yeah, I've heard him doing his nut.’
‘George was lovely when we first got married, but lately, he … he's given me a few clouts. I'm scared for my baby, Ivy, and I don't know what to do.’
‘Sort him out. Nip it in the bud.’
‘I wish I could, but I don't know how.’
‘It's simple. If George tries to hit you again, pick up the nearest heavy object, such as a frying pan, and bash him over the head with it.’
‘Oh, no, Ivy, I couldn't do that. I'm not strong like you.’
‘You don't need strength to bash him with a fryingpan. Men who hit women are bullies. The only way to deal with George is to give him a dose of his own medicine. Once he knows you'll fight back, he'll soon back off.’
‘Do you really think so?’
‘Take my word for it, love. Now come on, cheer up. Things will look up once you've sorted George out, and you'll soon be over this morning sickness.’
For the first time Linda smiled. She picked up the cracker again, and finished it in no time, washing it down with a gulp of tea. ‘My goodness, I've managed to keep it down,’ she said.
‘That's the ticket. You should be able to pay your mum a visit now.’
With a little colour in her cheeks at last, Linda rose to her feet. ‘Thanks, Ivy. I think I'll go and tidy myself up and then I'll do just that. It feels like ages since I've seen my mum and I really miss her. My dad too.’
Linda wasn't the only one, Ivy thought, as she showed the girl out. She missed her parents too. Her father had been Uncle Dan's younger brother, but he'd
Similar Books
