Mother’s Ruin Read Online Free PDF Page B

they make candles. Now come on, cheer up and see what’s on the telly.’
    Sally forced a smile, pleased that her gran was feeling chatty. ‘When Arthur came home early I hoped he’d take me out, if only to the pictures or something.’
    ‘When was the last time the pair of you had a night out?’
    ‘It was a couple of months ago.’
    ‘No wonder you look a bit fed up. You’re only young and shouldn’t be stuck indoors all the time.’
    Both heads turned as Ruth came into the room, her hair wrapped turban-style in a towel. ‘I’ve used the hot water, Sal. If you want a bath you’ll have to wait an hour for the immersion to heat up again.’
    ‘Sally needs a break, Ruth, not a bath. She’s stuck in all day, every day, looking after Angel and me. Arthur is rarely home before eight and he hardly ever takes her out.’
    Ruth pursed her lips then said, ‘Once married, men seem to think that their wives are happy to stay at home while they go off out to the pub. Still, things have changed and there’s nothing to stop you going out on your own too, Sally. Take now for instance. Angel’s asleep and if she wakes up I’m here to see to her.’
    ‘Where would I go on my own?’
    ‘You used to do a healing service in the hall down the road and as you’ve been keeping your hand in you could go back to it.’
    A silence followed whilst Sally digested her mother’s words. Now that Angel was starting school she’d be in bed early, and if her mother didn’t mind keeping an ear out for her, there was no reason why she couldn’t go out for a couple of evenings a week. ‘I’d like to go back to healing, Mum, but I’ll have to see what Arthur says about it.’
    ‘He won’t mind. It’s not as if you’ll be out all hours. The service is over by ten.’
    ‘Yes, but if he doesn’t arrive home before I leave, what about his dinner?’
    ‘I can sort that out.’
    ‘Are you sure you don’t mind, Mum?’
    ‘I offered, didn’t I?’
    ‘Right, that’s sorted then,’ Sadie said. ‘Now shut up the pair of you and let me watch the telly in peace.’
    Sally settled down for another night in front of the television, yet she hardly saw what was on the screen. Surely Arthur wouldn’t object? No, of course he wouldn’t, yet even as she told herself this, Sally felt a moment of doubt.

Chapter Four
    Tommy Walters saw Angel’s dad leaving his house, and dying to find out what it was like to ride in a car, he begged, ‘Gis us a ride in yer motor, mister.’
    Arthur Jones just shook his head, but then he paused, a funny expression on his face. ‘Have you had any dinner today?’
    ‘I had a bit of bread and dripping,’ Tommy told him, wondering why he was asking. Mr Jones was huge, but there was a sort of softness about him too. Tommy envied Angel her parents who, unlike his, he had never seen drunk.
    ‘Here, go and get yourself a bag of chips or something,’ Mr Jones said, tossing him a coin.
    Tommy caught it deftly, saw it was a tanner and his eyes lit up. ‘Fanks, mister,’ he called, his mouth salivating at the thought of chips smothered in salt and vinegar as he ran off. It didn’t take him long to reach the chip shop and soon he was licking the last remnant of fat from his fingers. He screwed up the paper, chucked it in the gutter, scowling when he turned back into Candle Lane to see his mother on the doorstep.
    ‘Tommy, get in here!’
    ‘Yeah, I’m coming,’ he said, reluctantly following her indoors.
    ‘Here, take this and go and get me a bottle of cider.’
    If anyone else had seen inside the Walters’ house they might have been appalled, but Tommy was used to the grime. His mother was swaying, her breath reeking as she gave him some money. He grimaced. ‘Do I have to? You’re already pissed.’
    ‘You cheeky little bugger,’ his mother said, raising a hand as if to strike him. ‘Do as you’re told.’
    ‘I’m going,’ and with that Tommy snatched the coins and left, used to these regular