Sins of the Father Read Online Free Page A

we could take them on.’
    ‘Take them on! What do you mean? Surely you’re not talking about adoption?’
    ‘Well, not right away, but maybe later, if they settle with us.’
    ‘No!’ he said emphatically. ‘I don’t fancy taking on another bloke’s kids.’
    ‘Please, Cyril.’
    ‘No, and that’s final!’
    At his tone, her expression became a contrived one of despair.
    ‘Alice, don’t look at me like that. Surely youdon’t seriously expect me to take on Tom’s little brats?’
    ‘They aren’t brats!’ Alice cried, jumping to her feet. ‘They’re lovely little boys who need love, attention, and a stable home. We can give them that!’
    Cyril voice hardened. ‘Pack it in, Alice. Doing your nut ain’t gonna make any difference. I said no, and that’s that.’
    Alice flopped back onto her chair and, throwing up her apron to cover her face, she began to cry, sobs shaking her shoulders. She should have known he wouldn’t agree, but as minutes passed, a hand touched her shoulder.
    ‘Come on, don’t take on so. Surely it doesn’t mean
that
much to you?’
    ‘Oh, Cyril, you have no idea how much I’ve longed for a baby, ached to hold our son or daughter in my arms. It’s never going to be, but whilst looking after the boys I really have come to love them. Archie is like a little monkey, and likes nothing better than to be cuddled. He used to latch on to Dick, but now that the boy’s working, he’s turned to me. James is cheeky, but not in a bad way, and he’s gorgeous, with his blond hair and grey eyes.’
    ‘Dick! Working? This is the first I’ve heard of it.’
    Alice mopped her eyes. ‘He was fifteen in Marchand has got himself a job on the market, working on Charlie Roper’s stall.’
    ‘Has he now? Well, he’ll do all right with Charlie, but the lad would have been better off learning a trade.’
    ‘Yes, maybe, but as an apprentice he’d only be paid peanuts, and though he doesn’t earn a great deal on the stall, it’s been a godsend. They couldn’t cope without it.’
    Cyril returned to his chair, his expression thoughtful, and Alice knew to keep her mouth shut. She sat quietly, her breath held and fingers secretly crossed as she watched his face.
    At last he sighed and their eyes met. ‘All right, Alice. If it means that much to you, we’ll give it a go with the kids. Mind you, don’t count your chickens yet. I can’t see Tom wanting to give them up just like that.’
    Once again she jumped to her feet, kissing Cyril on the cheek. ‘The pub isn’t open yet, so he’s sure to be in. I’ll go and have a word with him now.’
    ‘You do that, but as I said, don’t count your…’
    But the door had already slammed shut, Alice not hearing the rest of her husband’s warning as she hurried upstairs.
    Tom couldn’t stand the noise and had chucked the kids out. At last the room was quiet. Only Emma remained, perched on a low wooden stool,her face set in concentration as she endeavoured to sew a patch onto a pair of trousers. He glanced at her and the pain of his loss was like a blow to his stomach. Christ, she was so like her mother, with the same golden blonde hair and vivid blue eyes. As if sensing his scrutiny, Emma raised her head, lips curling in distaste as her cold gaze met his. He seethed. She should show him some bloody respect, but instead she hardly spoke to him, her hatred like a living thing, that filled the room and tainted the air.
    Tom looked away from Emma, tempted to give her a good hiding, but he knew it would only make things worse. She wasn’t a child now, she was seventeen, and if the girl took it into her head to walk out, he’d be in a right old fix. Christ, he needed to get out of there–he needed a drink, but with little money left this week he could afford only a pint. He sank back in the chair, berating his life, thoughts drifting.
    They’d been happy once, him and Myra, but then the war had started and he’d been called up. As his mind took him to