Free Facing the World by Grace Thompson Page B

Sally a searching look then asked, ‘All right, are you? You and your poor little fatherless child?’
    Sally ignored her but Milly’s sharp eyes noticed something Rhys had not. ‘You’re never expecting again! Don’t deny it. I can see from your face that I’m right! Haven’t you got any shame? Pity help that poor little girl being brought up by a mother who takes men to her bed without a thought for anyone else.’
    Sally began to protest, longing to explain, but she knew she couldn’t. Her promise to Rhys must be kept. Instead she hotly denied it and dared Milly to repeat her lies. Milly watched as Sally, red-faced and distressed, hurried away. ‘Mrs Falconer first, I think,’ she muttered.
     
    Amy and Rick were still appearing at the Waterstones’ house during the evenings and on Sundays. The house was beginning to look readyfor residents again after the upheavals and Jimmy began to be a regular visitor. He helped with some of the chores and was rewarded by a few hours of their attention. Not being a capable reader had made Rick believe he had some problems but his ability with the game of chess changed his mind. He was a quick learner and after a dozen lessons, going through the game explaining his moves, Rick found him a capable player. One Sunday at the end of September, he was presented with his own chess set. ‘Perhaps you can teach your father,’ Amy suggested.
    Jimmy only laughed, but when he went home, proud of his new ability, he did show the figures to his father, explaining what they were and the moves they could make. That night he heard his parents quarrelling.
    He stepped out on to the landing and heard the gruff voice of his father. ‘Turning the boy’s head!’ he was shouting. ‘Giving him games he can’t play. Chess isn’t for the likes of us and it’s stupid to think he can learn.’
    ‘Glad you should be that someone’s taking an interest. That’s more than you’ve ever done, Walter Prosser! You never wanted him.’
    ‘You’re right there. I didn’t! The boy’s useless. Gets on my nerves.’
    Jimmy slapped his hands over his ears and hid under the covers. Why did his father hate him so much? What was wrong with chess? When he woke the following morning he looked for the beautiful chess pieces and board and found them thrown into the ash bin.
     
    Aware that her new baby was soon to be a new chapter in the local gossip, Sally left Sadie with Mrs Glover and went to tell Valmai and Gwilym. Thanks to Milly, Valmai already knew. Gwilym was angry, not with Sally but with his son.
    You’ll have to come here and be looked after by us,’ Valmai said, but Sally shook her head.
    ‘I’ve coped for more than two years and I want to leave things as they are,’ she said. ‘I agreed to this and I made up my mind that I’d deal with everything that happened without involving anyone else.’
    ‘We aren’t just everyone else, Sally, love. We’re Sadie’s grandparents and I don’t mind who knows it.’
    ‘I do.’ Sally smiled to make the words sound less harsh. ‘It was my decision to help him and I want to see it through till the end. It can’tbe any worse than the last time and I don’t want you involved in the gossip. When the explanations come there’ll be a few red faces around here.’
    Valmai couldn’t see why. An unmarried mother of two – how could anyone be less critical once Rhys admitted to being the father? He’d left Sally to deal with it alone. Hardly a praiseworthy act. She said nothing more. Sally needed help and help she would get.
    Sally went back to her two rooms after picking up Sadie from Mrs Glover, smiling happily. Any day now she would hear from Rhys and this awful period in her life would end. She felt strong and capable, restless with unspent energy. Mrs Falconer was out and to surprise her she swept the yard then hosed it, the water rising in the air to amuse her daughter, catching the sun and falling like diamonds. Sadie shrieked with delight and