Pop Goes the Weasel

37

Violet Robinson viewed her son-in-law with suspicion. She never doubted his love for Nicola, but she doubted his dedication. He was a man, and men were careless of the details and prone to take short cuts. Nicola was certainly comfortable at home and her basic needs were always catered for by Tony or by Anna if he was working, but Nicola was more than basic. She was a beautiful, intelligent and spirited young woman. Like her mother, Nicola had always taken great pride in her appearance, never leaving the house without make-up on, careful to ensure that not a hair was out of place. Too often Violet had had to take matters into her own hands, distressed by her daughter’s pallor, by the stray hairs, by the lack of make-up. Tony didn’t really know what to do in this area and Anna, well, Anna was a plain girl who clearly felt it was what you were like on the inside that mattered.

‘How long will you be gone for?’ she asked Tony.

They were standing together in the living room, out of earshot of Nicola’s bedroom.

‘I won’t be gone,’ Tony replied, choosing his words and tone carefully. ‘I will be here during the day – probably more than usual in fact – it’s just the nights. Anna has said she’s happy to do the lion’s share of the night work, but if there’s any way you could -’

‘I’ve already said I’ll help, Tony. I’m happy to do it. Best to have family round her.’

Tony nodded and smiled, but Violet could tell he didn’t agree. He liked Anna better than her and if Anna was up to doing seven nights straight, no doubt he would have paid her to do that, rather than corralling his mother-in-law to help.

‘How long will this… night work go on for?’

‘Not long, I hope.’

Another evasive answer.

‘Well, I’m happy to help for as long as is necessary, but you know how I feel about it. I hate the idea of Nicola waking up and finding a stranger at her bedside.’

Violet’s voice faltered, her underlying sense of loss suddenly ambushing her. Tony nodded sympathetically, but would never engage on this point. Had he given up on Nicola? Violet strongly suspected he had. Did he have other women? Violet suddenly wasn’t sure and it hurt her.

‘Is it dangerous? What you’re doing?’

A longer pause this time, and then an unnecessarily long reassurance. So it was dangerous. Was she being unfair, hating him for being so cavalier? He was a policeman and had a job to do – she understood that. But couldn’t he have got moved off the front line to something safer? What if something happened to him? Violet’s own husband – useless bastard that he was – had scarpered years ago. He was now living with his second wife and three children in Maidstone and never visited them. If anything happened to Tony, it would just be Nicola and Violet, locked together, waiting and hoping.

Suddenly Violet found herself crossing the room. She laid her hand on Tony’s arm and, softening her tone, said:

‘Well, take care, Tony. Take care of yourself.’

And for once, he seemed to understand. This was a difficult moment for both of them – a shift in the status quo away from intensive care to a more expansive life for Tony – and for once they were in accord.

‘You get on, Tony. Nicola and I will be fine here.’

‘Thank you, Violet.’

Tony left the room to continue his preparations, leaving Violet alone with her daughter. Pulling her lipstick from her handbag, Violet applied it to Nicola’s lips. It cheered her momentarily, but inside her nerves were still jangling. She had a nasty feeling that forces beyond her control were gathering and preparing to shake her world.