the first page. Many had taken her away from her unhappiness at home to another place and sometimes to another time. When would she hear about the interview? Would she be successful? But then Jenny’s bubble burst. A local library, the careers adviser had said, and she now saw the job slipping away. Tina wanted to move out of this area and she’d agreed. Oh, but to work in a library! For a moment Jenny wondered if she should change her mind, stay at home, at least until she’d completed her training.
It didn’t take Jenny long to dismiss the idea. It wasn’t just that she wanted to get away from her mother, there was Tina to consider too. Her friend needed her and she couldn’t let her down.
‘Right, I’m done. Let’s go,’ Tina said.
‘How did you get on?’
‘I was offered a job in a department store and pretended I was keen. What about you?’
‘A trainee librarian.’
‘Blimey, I wouldn’t fancy that. Talk about boring. With your posh voice and typing speeds I’m surprised you weren’t offered something in an office.’
‘It doesn’t matter. We’ll be moving from this area and finding our own jobs.’
‘I know, and I can’t wait,’ Tina said, smiling happily as they left the building.
Jenny felt the same. She knew what would be waiting for her when she arrived home, but the thought of leaving gave her courage. She was sick of being punished for no reason, of being treated like a servant, and now all the years of hurt, of degradation, culminated in Jenny’s mind.
She wouldn’t be meek any more, and her mother was soon going to find that out.
When his mother came in, Robin saw that she was upset, surreptitiously wiping tears from her eyes.
‘Mother, what’s wrong?’
‘Nothing, it’s nothing,’ Delia said.
Robin saw that her hands were shaking, her nerves obviously playing up again, and asked, ‘Has something upset you?’
‘Yes, but it doesn’t matter.’
‘You’re crying, so of course it matters.’
‘Please, Robin, just let it go. You wouldn’t believe me anyway.’
‘Of course I would.’
‘It…it was Jennifer’s behaviour. She was so rude to me and caused a dreadful scene at the careers office.’
‘Jenny! I can’t believe it.’
‘I knew you’d say that,’ Delia cried, tears filling her eyes again.
‘Mother, I’ve never heard Jenny being rude to you.’
‘Of course you haven’t and Jennifer has made sure of that. What with the clubs you joined and now your studies, you’re hardly around to see or hear anything, but let me tell you that since childhood Jennifer had been jealous of you, of my feelings for you. You see me as hard, cold towards her, but to maintain control I’ve had to be.’
‘If that’s the case, why haven’t you said anything before?’
‘I tried to tell your father, but he’d have none of it. In the end I gave up and you were my compensation, but it almost broke my heart when you turned on me too and threatened to leave home.’
Tears fell in earnest now and Robin rushed to his mother’s side, placing an arm around her. He had never seen her as bad as this; her whole body was shaking as she turned into him, sobbing.
‘Take no notice of my threat,’ he said quickly. ‘Of course I’m not leaving home. Well, not until I go to university, but then I’ll be back every weekend.’
‘I can’t tell you how much that means to me…I should be used to Jennifer’s behaviour by now. It…it just became a bit too much for me today, and I feel as though I’m losing control of her. Don’t worry, I…I’m all right now.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, I’m fine,’ Delia said with a brave little smile.
His mother looked so vulnerable and Robin felt awful for threatening to leave home. At least he’d put her mind at rest, yet he was still worried. When his mother had come to his room that morning she’d been a bit tearful, but it had been nothing in comparison to the emotional distress he’d just witnessed.
Robin now began to wonder if she could cope with running a business, with the stress it could cause her, and chewed worriedly on his lower lip. Not only that, he was still unable to believe the things she had said about Jenny. He’d never seen his sister behaving badly, yet something must have caused his mother to break down like this. Usually it happened only when his father was home, the rows affecting her nerves. Maybe that was it – perhaps she was still upset from his latest visit, and that was causing her to magnify things out of all proportion.
Thankfully Robin saw that his mother was looking a little calmer now, but he knew he’d have to keep an eye on her to ensure that she wasn’t unnecessarily distressed. He’d have a word with Jenny when she arrived home, explain things, but if his mother got in such a dreadful state again, perhaps he should persuade her to see a doctor.
Delia moved away from Robin, pleased that things had gone so well. He had looked shocked to see her in such a state, and she was glad of her acting abilities. As a child her own mother had called her a drama queen, saying she was destined for the stage, though of course if Delia had suggested actually ever going to a stage school, both her parents would have been scandalised.
She had loved her calm, staid father, and been heartbroken when he had died suddenly of a heart attack at just fifty. She had been thirteen at the time and her older sister, Beatrice, seventeen. Though Delia had wanted to cling to both her mother and sister, emotions were never displayed and tears never shown in public. They had set her a wonderful example and she had grown up emulating their proud upright and dignified manner.
At twenty, Beatrice had married well to a diplomat who was posted abroad. It had been heartbreaking to see her sister leave, especially when just three years later her mother, also young at forty-six, had become seriously ill. Before her mother had died, she’d encouraged Delia to emulate Beatrice in marrying well. With her sister able to return from abroad only for the funeral, Delia had been left feeling totally alone.
He may not have been perfect, but Delia had married the first man who asked her – Edward. That side of marriage had shocked her, however. She wasn’t used to being held or kissed, and on her wedding night, when things had gone further, she had been horrified. She didn’t like it, found it messy, distasteful, and though she had never wanted to adopt Jennifer, it had at least given her the perfect ammunition to stop much further sexual activity. That, along with her nerves, had ensured that she always managed to get her own way, which was no more than Edward deserved.
Delia expected Jennifer home soon and now turned her mind to her plans. By being rude, by defying her, the stupid girl had played right into her hands. All she had to do now was to lay a trap – and in such a way that it would arouse the same response from Jennifer
