The Nothing Girl Part 19

'h.e.l.lo. Are you busy?

'I have to turn Boxer out, and then Im not.

We led Boxer into his terror-infested field. He bade Marilyn a fond farewell and she went off to see if the water trough had suddenly become edible. Boxer flew off down the field, tail kinked over his back. 'Shaking the tickles out of his feet, Kevin said fondly, watching him go.

I looked at Kevin. He wasnt the same boy wed found that night. Even in this short time, hed filled out. And, thanks to an almost non-stop food intake, hed grown some more. He was going to be a big lad. With his bruises gone and his smart new haircut, he looked comparatively normal for someone living someone at Frogmorton, I mean.

He was still very quiet, still unsure of himself and us, almost as if he was afraid to relax in case he was kicked out again. He was so pathetically eager it was heart-breaking. He threw himself at everything, desperate for acceptance and approval. He kept his little room spotless, as I noticed when I took him clean sheets. Russell said he wouldnt shouldnt stay for ever, but we could offer him a breathing s.p.a.ce while he worked out what to do with his life.

It often amazed me that Russell could be so perceptive in some areas and so b.l.o.o.d.y stupid in others.

Anyway, this morning, I was a woman on a mission.

'Kevin, I said when he joined me again. 'What do you know about gardening?

He hesitated. I could see he wanted to say, 'Lots, because that was the answer I wanted, but he was an honest lad.

'Nothing.

'Me neither. Come with me.

We let ourselves through the wonky garden door and into the walled jungle I could see from the living room. There were no leaves at this time of year, but some bulbs were beginning to poke through the tangled undergrowth. Overgrown was not the word to describe it.

'No, said Thomas. 'It pa.s.sed overgrown about ten years ago. Are you insane? This is a lifetimes work.

'Exactly, I said, nodding towards Kevin who was extricating himself from something th.o.r.n.y.

'Ah, I see.

We worked our way up to one of the French windows and turned back to survey the garden. It was a bit daunting. I seriously wondered about getting some people in one of those motorway gangs would be my first choice, together with half a dozen JCBs and a good supply of Agent Orange. But no, that wasnt the point.

Kevin was kicking his foot into the ground. 'Theres stone under here. Probably some sort of terrace that would have run along the back of the house and probably there would be sets of steps. Yes, look, ripping away something dead and brown. 'Theres a bit of stone bal.u.s.trade here, underneath all this stuff. And I think these ouch yes, theres roses growing ouch round the doors. Ow! Arent they supposed to be pruned? Im sure my dad ... Ouch!

'OK, I said. 'Find ... gardening tools and stuff. And something thick to wear. Meet here in ten minutes.

He disappeared and I went to look up rose-pruning on the Internet.

When he reappeared with a wheelbarrow stuffed full of dangerous and unfamiliar implements, I spread three sheets of paper on the ground and we studied them carefully.

'Well, these are either climbers or ramblers, he said slowly. 'We should be looking for outward facing buds. Oh, look, theres one. And take out the dead wood. No, dont put your arm in there, Mrs Checkland, Ill do it.

We made a start. We were a little tentative at first, and then got bolder. Huge swathes of p.r.i.c.kly stems fell down on our heads.

Thomas retreated to a safe distance. 'I can see why princesses surround themselves with this stuff, he said. ' Except in this instance, its the princess herself hacking down the brambles.

We kept at it and, after half an hour, we reckoned we could get the door open. I ran round the house into the living room and fumbled with the key. It wouldnt move. Kevin mouthed something at me and disappeared, reappearing behind me with a can of something a few minutes later and frightening me to death.

We squirted, he strained, we squirted again, the key turned, and the door opened. We cheered. You had to be there.

We walked in and out half a dozen times, just because we could.

'Shall we do the next one? he asked and I nodded.

Another half an hour and there was ten times more rose bush lying on the ground than growing up the walls. Kevin started pitchforking it into the wheelbarrow.

'Now, he said enthusiastically. 'We need a bonfire.

I was enthusiastic too. Id never had a bonfire before.

We lugged it all round the back to the old buildings where Russell parked his Land Rover. Within minutes, it was crackling merrily away, enveloping us in clouds of smoke.

We fought our way out, coughing and waving our arms. I stared at him. He was grimy, mud-streaked, leaking blood from half a dozen not-very-serious scratches, and reeked of wood smoke.

'Hes not the only one. The two of you look like prisoners on a chain gang.

Mrs Crisp appeared.

'Mrs Kingdom is here to see you.

'Oh, said Thomas.

'And Miss Kingdom as well.

'Oh, s.h.i.+t, said Thomas.

My happy afternoon vanished into the smoke of the bonfire. I could only stare at her. What? Where? Aunt Julia here? Now?

Kevin melted away.

She was sympathetic. 'Im sorry, but theyve already seen you from the road. They know youre here.

First things first. 'Wheres Russell?

'Still in the village.

This was Mrs Crisp speak for 'Still in the pub. I didnt want to face them alone, but if he came back plastered then he could be a bit of a double-edged weapon.

'Youre not alone, said Thomas. ' Now wash your face and hands, give them a quick cup of tea, and get rid of them before he gets back.

'Francesca is here. What does she want?

'Well, at a rough guess she wants the master of the house to see what hes missing. Come on.

I followed Mrs Crisp back through the mudroom.

'Theyre in the living room, Mrs Checkland, she said, gesturing. 'Ill bring in some tea.

I washed my hands under the tap, wiped them on my jeans, and, wis.h.i.+ng I had the firm tread of the acknowledged lady of the house, tiptoed into the living room.

They sat side by side on the sofa. Aunt Julia was wearing her 'Maybe if I dont touch anything then I wont catch anything, expression. Francesca was dressed for country visiting with her hair piled casually on top of her head and tumbling carelessly down her back. She wore a close-fitting black top, skinny jeans, and killer heels.

I was wearing half a rose bush, a little mud across one cheekbone, and essence of wood-smoke. Id kicked off my wellies and my socks were odd.

Aunt Julia rose slowly. She hadnt taken off her coat.

'Great! Shes not stopping, said Thomas. 'Shove some tea down her throat and get rid of her.

'Thomas, shes my aunt. Shes looked after me for twenty years. Well give them a biscuit first and then chuck them out.

'h.e.l.lo, Aunt Julia, was as much as I could manage. I ignored Francesca. This was my house. I hadnt asked her here and I saw no reason to acknowledge her presence. Maybe shed take the hint and go away.

'You wish, said Thomas.

Aunt Julia was staring at me in horror. 'Jenny, what have you been doing?

'Gardening, I said, cheerfully.

In Aunt Julias world, gardening was a supervisory activity. She pointed other people dug.

'But youre bleeding. What has he done to you?

'Nothing. Roses are p.r.i.c.kly.

'But why are you doing it?

'I like it.

Her chest heaved and her ma.s.sive restraint only emphasised her anger.

'Where is Russell Checkland?

'Oops, said Thomas. '"Down the pub" may not be the best answer.

As always, in times of crisis, words packed it in for the day.

At that moment, for better or for worse, the back door slammed. The villain was back.

He slouched in, cheerful but not completely inebriated. The sight of Francesca on his sofa wiped the smile off his face. Staring at her, he missed Aunt Julia and me completely. But then, he never saw anyone else if Francesca was in the room.

Aunt Julia, however, had no difficulty identifying her target. I retreated to the window. They could get on with it without me.

'Good move, said Thomas. 'Let them slug it out and well just deal with the last man standing. Whoever that may be.

Francesca had risen at his entrance. For an endless time they looked at each other. He didnt bother with a greeting. 'Why are you here?

'Weve come to visit the newly-weds.

Was there a mocking note there?

She wafted towards him. He stepped back warily. 'I wouldnt if I were you. Im covered in donkey slather.

'That stopped her dead, said Thomas.

'Yes, he said with alcohol-induced cheerfulness. 'We have a sick donkey. She leaks from every orifice. Speaking of which, how are you, Julia?

She went straight into attack mode.

'Better than poor Jenny, by the looks of things, Russell.

'Oh G.o.d, were not back to "poor Jenny" again, are we? Whats the matter now?

'Are you blind? Look at the state of her.

'Julia, its only odd socks. No need to have a cow.

She swelled again. 'I can only a.s.sume you are being deliberately provocative. I visit my niece and shes bleeding.

He barely glanced at me. 'Roses get you, did they? Vicious little b.u.g.g.e.rs. Ill lend you my motor cycle helmet. It has a visor. Problem solved, Julia.

'No, its not, said Thomas.

'No, its not, she said. 'She looks so tired and unhappy. What have you been doing to her?

'Well, she didnt look tired and unhappy when I left a couple of hours ago so what have you been doing to her?

'What have I been doing to her?

'I just said that. Try to keep up, Julia. Have the two of you been drinking?

'You do not divert me from questioning your treatment of my niece. I demand to know whats going on here and I dont leave until I do.

'Oh, for G.o.ds sake, Jenny, tell her will you? Otherwise sh.e.l.l be here until Christmas.

'I dont know what all the fuss is about, said Francesca, annoyed at being overlooked for so long. 'Its not as if its a real marriage, is it? Russ only did it to make me jealous and she did it because shes desperate.

That shut everyone up.

I got up quietly and walked out. Mrs Crisp, standing helplessly with the tea trolley, held the door open for me.

I put on my wellies, walked across the yard, through the garden, and back to the bonfire. There was a whole garden and several walls between them and me and I could still hear the shouting.

I found a stick and poked the smouldering bonfire, because you cant help poking a bonfire. The ashes dimmed. It began to get dark.

Somewhere a door slammed and a car started. Even the engine sounded angry.

But not as angry as me. Not as hurt as me. Or as humiliated as me. Or as stupid as me. I poked and poked and the fire began to go out.

'Jenny, said Thomas gently. 'Just why are you so upset?