Chapter 2

Sharlene finished her morning session in the Centre school and made her way upstairs for lunch. Perhaps the best descriptor of her emotional state was ‘agitated’. Nervous, perhaps, excited, maybe. Certainly ... uncertain. That woman who was so nice to her? Would she still be ... nice? She didn’t have much of an appetite, even though the meal was good and the others were tucking in with enthusiasm. She managed a small helping of apple pie and custard. At length, Su Shelby appeared.

“Well, Sharlene. Are you ready to go?”

“I just need to fetch my bag, ma’am.”

The older woman looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “Worried? I can understand that. But you’re going to be fine. Fetch your bag and meet me in the entrance hall.”

She did as she was told and when Su Shelby appeared, was led out of the Unit to the car-park, and to a somewhat battered, three-year-old Ford Fiesta. Sharlene didn’t say anything, but her expression must have betrayed what she was thinking.

“Sharlene, I have to go and park in places where it would be silly to leave a good car. Every dent, every scratch, has been inflicted by persons unknown while I’ve been visiting families professionally. The car is mechanically in perfect condition and has an excellent immobiliser, so at least it’s never been stolen. I’ve had windows smashed, but at least the vandals have never got anything of value. It serves. For carrying more people, we’ve got the minibus, but that doesn’t make sense for just the two of us.”

So saying, she unlocked the vehicle. “Put your case in the back and hop in.”

Sharlene did as she was told and buckled up.

Su Shelby chose to take the A134 south from Bury to Sudbury, then the A131 to Braintree, turning off on the A1018 to Whitham then Maldon. It’s a slower, but slightly more direct route and avoids the A12 with its heavy traffic to and from London. It took a little over an hour, but was more interesting than the main road.

They pulled up by the apartment complex at about half-past three. Su, after some consideration, drove through an archway into a paved space, obviously intended for parking. She ignored signs warning non-residents of the possibility of clamping, and led Sharlene to the main entrance.

Su used the intercom, there was a buzz, and Su pushed the door open.

The Billings’ flat was upstairs towards the back of the building. The door opened as they got to it. Geoffrey Billings stood there, holding the door open. “Missus Shelby,” he smiled, “Good to see you again. And Miss Smith. Come in!” They entered and he shut the door after them. “Helen’s in the lounge,” he told them. “You can imagine, she’s not that mobile these days.”

“Skipper,” Su interrupted, “I’m still Su, and I’m sure Sharlene would rather be Sharlene than Miss Smith.” She glanced at Sharlene, as did Geoff, and the girl nodded.

“Uh huh.”

“Okay. So I’m Geoff, or Skipper,” he said, “that’s for you, too, Sharlene. Anyway, welcome to our home. Like a drink?”

“Not for me, Skipper,” Su smiled. “I’ll make sure Sharlene’s okay and get off home, if that’s okay with you.”

Geoff opened the lounge door and waved them in. “They’re here, Sweetheart.”

They entered the room to see Helen. “Come in, Sharlene, Su. I suppose Geoff’s offered refreshment, Su?”

“He did, but I need to leave as soon as everyone’s happy. You must be nearly ready to ‘pop’?”

“Oh, yes. I can hardly wait.”

“I can imagine. Been through it twice. Worth it, though.”

“Yes. This last month, though...”

“I know! Look, Sharlene needs to be back at the unit by nine o’clock on Monday. She can come back any time after four in the afternoon on Sunday. Do you need for me to collect her?”

Helen looked at her husband. “If Sharlene doesn’t mind riding with me, I’ll bring her Monday morning.”

“On that bike of yours?” Su raised her eyebrows.

“I don’t think so. Not at this time of year. And luggage might be a problem.”

“I’ve never been on a motorbike,” Sharlene put in, “but everything I’ve brought with me can stay here ... as long as you don’t decide I’m too much for you to cope with?” Her eyes returned to Helen, her expression worried.

Helen smiled. “Sharlene, I can’t do much right now, as you see. If you don’t mind helping around the house, and aren’t intending to give us any trouble, I’m sure we’ll do fine. Once this one...” she stroked her swollen abdomen, “is born, well, I expect I’ll still need a lot of help.”

“Oh, I don’t mind helping. I can wash up, and do laundry. I’m not much of a cook yet, though.”

“Oh, I think you’ll be fine. Su, if you need to be off? I’m sure we’ll manage well.”

Su smiled and took her leave, being shown out by Geoff. “Seriously, Geoff, there’s people on duty over the weekend. Any problem, anything at all, call us, okay?”

“Thanks, Su.”

When he returned to the lounge, Sharlene was helping Helen out of the chair she’d been occupying. He looked at Helen with a raised eyebrow, but she smiled and winked.

“One of the problems with being pregnant, especially in the latter stages, Sharlene,” Helen was saying, “is pressure on one’s bladder. So one’s running to the loo every half hour or so. At least, that’s what it feels like.”

“I never thought about it. I mean, I suppose, I expected to be a mum at some point. I just didn’t want to get there before being married. Settled. I knew I wasn’t going to just have sex for the sake of it. And I definitely wasn’t going to do it with my step-father. Willingly, anyway.” They were on their way to the toilet as she spoke.

“Good for you,” Helen smiled, as she entered the room and closed the door after her.

Sharlene wondered what was expected of her and stood for a moment in the short hall, before making her way to the kitchen.

“Hey, Sharlene,” Geoff smiled at her as she entered, then turned his attention back to the onion he was chopping. “D’you want to give me a hand?”

“Sure. What shall I do?”

“Can you deal with those carrots?”

“Sure.”

The meal went off well, with Sharlene still uncertain, but seemed to be settling down. She helped to clear the table and washed up while Geoff busied himself around the kitchen.

“Er, Geoff?”

“Yes, Sharlene?”

“I know you’re a barge skipper, but you’re young, aren’t you?” She hesitated. “And, Helen, she’s older?”

“That’s right. But we met and, well, we just seemed to click. I don’t think of Helen as old, exactly, but yes. Quite a lot older than me. But you don’t need to worry about me; I love her, you see.”

Sharlene blushed. “I didn’t think...”

“Not consciously, I’m sure. But with your experience you must have been uneasy. Seriously, I think very few men are likely to be a threat to you. I think you’ll learn that some will make you uncomfortable and you need to avoid them. Staying with us, you can spend your time with Helen, if you like, or when I go out, you can come along. I do the shopping at the moment, and need to spend some time working on the barges; they, and Helen, are my life. But you don’t have to be a part of that. You have school work to do. There’s a good library, and various interesting places to visit.”

“Thanks.”

“Do you have any experience with babies?”

“Not really. I mean, some friends have little brothers and sisters, but I never had much to do with them.”

“Just so. Well, I don’t, either, so we’ll be learning on the job, so to speak.” He pointed out the cupboards for the crockery which Sharlene had dried to make room on the rack. “I expect we’ll start using the dishwasher. Most of the time we just wash up by hand since there isn’t much to do for two people.”

“Oh, I don’t mind. Besides, I’m told that dishwashers aren’t very environmentally friendly.”

“That’s true enough. The stuff they use to clean tends to block drains, too.”

“Really? I didn’t know that. Why do people use them, then?”

“Because it’s much easier to load a dishwasher and just leave it, especially if you’re very busy.”

“Oh.” Sharlene frowned.

“We’re all done here, if you want to go to Helen. We usually have some music on until bed-time, or sometimes a film.”

“I’ve got some reading to do.”

“Well, you can do that in your room, or with us, if you don’t mind music.”

“I think I’d like to try sitting with you and Helen.”

“That’s great! But if you can’t concentrate, we won’t be offended if you leave.”

Sharlene was unused to classical music, in fact anything but what was broadcast as popular music. Her hands and the book dropped until it they were resting in her lap. She closed her eyes and let the sounds flow over her. Gradually the tension left her muscles and she relaxed back in the chair, letting it do the work of supporting her. She slept.