‘It was a couple of weeks ago. I got in a bit early and found Eddie snooping about. He was the worse for drink and digging about in the pantry. I thought he was looking for some grub and told him I’d cook something, as it was nearly teatime and you’d all soon be home and hungry. He didn’t expect to hear me, and almost jumped out of his skin and dropped the tin. He stuffed a couple of notes in his pocket and chucked the tin back into the pantry. I guessed he was up to no good – and when I took a look at the tin, I recognized it as being your dad’s tobacco tin I gave you when you was a kiddie. You always used it to keep your precious bits and pieces; a button, a shiny piece of glass, even the odd coin. I guessed you’d been using it to hide away your savings. I tackled Eddie, but he denied taking anything that wasn’t his. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to tell you, as you’d brightened up such a lot since being poorly. Instead I put what money I had in the tin and hoped it was enough. To be on the safe side, I did a couple of cleaning shifts in the pub while you was at work. I pawned the ring your dad gave me and put some of the money in there. I kept checking the tin, and until today, the money had stayed in the tin. God knows why he tried to pinch it now, while I was in the house and you was out in the garden. Any one of us could’ve caught him – and I did just now. So I’ve taken the money and hidden it.’
‘I’ll bloody kill him!’ Ruby cried as she ran to the bottom of the stairs. ‘Eddie, if you’re up there, come down right now. We need to have a word!’ She heard him shuffling about in the bedroom and yelled again. ‘I said, get down here – now!’ Returning to the table she sat down and buried her head in her hands. Too angry to weep, she heaved a big sigh. ‘I’m sorry, Mum, I shouldn’t have blamed you.’
‘You wasn’t to know, love,’ Milly said as Eddie came downstairs, placing a bundle of clothes on the floor in the hall. ‘I assume you’re taking the coward’s way out,’ she snarled at her son-in-law.
Eddie slunk into the room and sat down in the chair Ruby had pulled out from the table. ‘Were you really going to leave without saying goodbye to me or your son? I assume your sudden change of heart is because of what you heard our neighbour say? Why did you have to steal? You had a decent job, and they might even have taken you on full-time. Not only have you brought shame on this family, but you’ve also blackened your name for any future employment in the town.’
‘I was doing it for the family,’ he mumbled. ‘At least you’ll all keep warm during the winter.’
‘But why, Eddie? You were earning and could have paid for it yourself. I take it all your wages have gone on beer and gambling, so you took to stealing instead?’
Eddie had the shame to nod his head. ‘You’re better off without me. I’ll tell Cedric that you won’t be able to afford the rent on your own and will be out of the house by next week. That will give you time to look for somewhere else to live. It won’t be as fancy as this place, as all you’ll need is a room for you, your mother, and the nipper,’ he said, getting to his feet.
‘Oh no you don’t, Eddie Caselton,’ Ruby said, barring his way. ‘You don’t drop your family in all this mess and then walk away. I have enough money to pay the rent from what I brought home in my pay packet . . .’
‘And I’ve got the rest of the money I hid so you didn’t get your filthy hands on it,’ Milly spat at him.
Eddie looked down at his feet.
‘Oh no, Eddie, you haven’t . . .’ Ruby cried, rushing to where she had left her bag on the floor. Pulling out her purse, she discovered the pay packet missing. ‘How could you?’ she sobbed.
‘I’ve got my own debts to pay, you’ve got no idea . . .’ he said, looking sad.
‘Don’t take any notice of him,’ Milly shouted.
‘And as the head of this household, I say what happens to the money,’ he snapped, digging deep for some bravery, although he still could not meet Ruby’s eyes or tell her the truth. He couldn’t do that to her.
Milly swore loudly and picked up the brown earthenware teapot, which was sitting in the middle of the table among dirty cups and saucers. ‘I used to think you was a decent sort, but now I know I was wrong. No one does this to a daughter of mine,’ she shouted before swinging the teapot high and bringing it down on the side of his head. With a grunt, Eddie slumped into the chair before rolling onto the floor, his head covered in cold tea stained with blood. Around him, chunks of broken teapot were scattered on Ruby’s best rag rug.
‘Oh, God – I think I’ve killed him!’ Milly cried, before falling into a dead faint beside her son-in-law.
5
Ruby froze, staring down at her mother and husband lying on the floor, struggling to absorb what had just happened. ‘Mum? Eddie?’ she whispered, putting her hands to her face to hide the scene in front of her. She would have to do something – but what? Before she could take a step towards them there was a loud banging on the front door, followed by
