Blood Sisters(92)

‘Don’t you want to see the card? She made it herself.’ Friday Mum’s voice had a bit of a wobble. ‘They do that sort of thing in there, apparently.’

In where?

The picture showed a pink flower. Just one. Sitting in the middle of a field. It was quite pretty. Kitty traced the outline with a finger from her good hand. She used to paint once. She could remember that now. But Half a Sister hadn’t. She’d been the swot. Since when did Alison get all bloody arty?

‘Con … grat … ul … ations,’ said the card. ‘Love fr … om Ali … son.’

If she broke down the words into bits, she could read them in her head. Even if she couldn’t speak them.

‘Kitty!’ Friday Mum gasped as Kitty rolled up the card into a ball with her good hand and then threw it. ‘That’s not very nice.’

Nice? Kitty began to laugh. A big dribbly laugh that made saliva run down the sides of her mouth. What did ‘nice’ have to do with any of this?

‘Kitty, love.’ This was Friday Mum again.

‘We’ve got to leave the hospital soon. They’ve had us for as long as they can. The home hasn’t got the facilities to look after the two of you.’ There’s a sigh. ‘I did find another place but it was really expensive and the insurance didn’t meet it. It was also some way off which meant I couldn’t visit every day. So Johnny’s parents have kindly loaned us some money and I’ve had my little cottage adapted and you’re both going to come back to me. That will be nice, won’t it?’

The last bit was said in a way that sounded as though Friday Mum was trying to convince herself.

‘How do I fucking know?’

‘I wish I knew what you were saying, love. It would be so much easier. That picture board isn’t great. I thought we were getting somewhere with the cards at one point …’

Her voice trailed off but Kitty knew what she was talking about. Soon after the baby name episode, the nurses had tried to help her communicate by pointing to letters on the alphabet board. Oh Tee had done the same in the home but without much success. It was all right for short words like ‘yes’ and ‘no’. But it took ages to get longer stuff out. And anyway, Kitty wasn’t sure she wanted to. Otherwise they might realize she’d got her memory back.

And that wouldn’t be a good idea at all.

‘There’s something else too.’ Friday Mum was speaking in the kind of voice that meant this wasn’t particularly good news. ‘Johnny’s mum wants to come and see us here before we go. She’s got something to tell you.’ A tear rolled down her face. ‘I’m so sorry, Kitty. On top of what happened to your sister, we’ve now got this …’

Call Me Jeannie smelt just the same. Roses. Powder blue. The last bit was her dress. She should try wearing another colour, Kitty thought. But then again, it did suit her.

‘She’s so beautiful.’

‘Thank you,’ said Kitty, beaming. Then she realized Call Me Jeannie was bending over the hospital cot by her bed.

‘I would have come earlier but I … well … under the circumstances I thought that …’

Call Me Jeannie was speaking to Friday Mum now. ‘I’m so sorry about all this, Lilian. I really am. Have you told her?’

Her? Kitty had thought Call Me Jeannie knew better.

‘That’s your job. Not mine.’

‘Oh dear.’ Call Me Jeannie gave a little shake. ‘Do you think I could pick up the baby first?’

‘She’s called Vanessa. And she’s asleep.’

Kitty had never heard Friday Mum sound so harsh before.

‘Right then.’ Call Me Jeannie looked at her. Kitty could see her taking a deep breath. ‘I’m afraid that Johnny …’

She stopped.

Suddenly Kitty felt a terrible fear clutching her throat. Ever since she’d caught Johnny with that girl, she’d told herself that she was better off without him. Who wanted a cheat? That’s what the girls were always saying in EastEnders. But even though she’d tried to put her husband out of her mind, he kept coming back. Like the memories she’d forgotten and which had now returned.

‘Has something happened to him?’ she babbled.

‘I’m afraid something has happened.’ Johnny’s mother tapped her beautiful fingers on her powder-blue knee.

‘Just bloody get on with it.’

Then her mother-in-law reached into her bag and brought out several sheets of paper. ‘My son wants a divorce.’

A divorce?

Friday Mum had her arm around her. ‘I’m sorry, love. But he’s not worth it anyway.’

‘Hang on a minute, Lilian …’

‘Well, he’s not.’ Friday Mum’s face was red. ‘What kind of a boy marries a girl and then dumps her – especially when she needs special care?’

‘He wouldn’t have married her at all if she hadn’t got pregnant.’

‘And whose fault was that?’

The other mothers in the ward were staring. It made Kitty feel rather special.

‘I don’t fucking care. If it’s that bitch I saw him snogging, she’s welcome to him.’

It wasn’t quite true, of course. But it made her feel better to say it.