collared her. She’ll keep her ages, boring her to death about her new grandson, so I’m safe for a bit.’
Bertha bustled off. Aidy spotted Arch coming in from the kitchen then, carrying clean glasses which several benevolent neighbours had washed up and dried. He didn’t see her at first but she made sure he did by catching his arm. ‘Arch, can you make sure your father leaves some beer for the other men, please?’ she whispered. ‘He’s standing guard over the barrel like a sentry. Not that I’m watching him, but he’s had five glasses to my knowledge … and it’s anyone’s guess how many he’s had not to my knowledge.’
‘I’ll go and have a quiet word with him.’ Not that he’ll take any notice of me, thought Arch. ‘It’s been a good turn-out, hasn’t it, love?’ he asked her.
‘Yes, it has, but I won’t be sorry to see them go.’ Arch made to continue on his way, when Aidy stalled him by asking. ‘Oh, have your parents had a windfall?’
He looked surprised. ‘Not to my knowledge. But then, if they had, they wouldn’t tell me or my brothers in case we demanded back some of the money they’ve fleeced us of over the years. What makes you think they have?’
‘Just something your mam said about getting home soon to do the packing.’
‘Oh! That’s not packing for a holiday …’
‘Packing for what then?’ He seemed reluctant to tell her but it was obvious to Aidy he knew what for. ‘Arch?’ she urged him.
He swallowed hard. ‘I haven’t had a chance to tell you. I haven’t found the right time, with all that’s been going on.’
He looked mortally uncomfortable and she very strongly suspected that whatever he’d not had a chance to tell her, she wasn’t going to like. ‘Tell me what, Arch?’ she demanded.
He gulped again. ‘Well … er … they’re packing to … er … move in here.’
Aidy’s jaw dropped. Astounded, she blurted out, ‘Your mother and father are moving in with us!’ Her face then darkened thunderously as she hissed, ‘They do that over my dead body! I can just about stomach your mother in small doses, but as for living with us …! Same goes for Gran and the kids. I’m not sure where me and you are going to sleep yet. If your parents have been evicted for whatever reason, then they’ll have to go cap in hand to one of your brothers ’cos they ain’t coming here to sponge off us, not even for a few days, and that’s final, Arch.’
‘Ah, but, Aidy …’
‘No, Arch.’
She made to walk away from him but he thrust the glasses he was holding on a mourner by him, asking him to deliver them to the drinks table, then caught Aidy’s arm, pulling her back to him. ‘My mother’s only thinking of us. She’s trying to help, so we can carry on with our own lives.’
Aidy was staring wild eyed at him. Pat Nelson didn’t think of anyone else but herself. Whatever her reasons were for moving in with them, they were for her own benefit and no one else’s. Grabbing Arch’s arm, Aidy dragged him through the throng and outside into the backyard, hopefully out of earshot of any eavesdroppers. Letting go of his arm, she fixed him with her eyes and demanded, ‘Your mother is thinking of us in what way, Arch?’
He eyed her hesitantly. ‘Well, it’s a huge responsibility we’re taking on, looking after your gran and the kids, so that’s why Mam’s kindly offered to move in, so her and Dad can take care of them instead and we can go back to living our own lives.’
Aidy looked blankly at him for a moment, then the real truth behind Pat’s offer struck her and she gave a scoffing laugh. ‘Your mother must think I’m doolally not to know what her true aim is! She’s always hankered after this house. She was always passing snide comments to my mam, such as it didn’t seem fair she had a house like this when she’d no man supporting her, and insinuating Mam must have had something underhand going on with the landlord and that was how she could afford the rent. She never gave my mam any credit for hard work and determination in keeping a decent roof over our heads.
‘This offer is your mother’s sneaky way of getting her hands on this house. She’s well aware that within weeks … no, I’m being generous … days or hours