Widows

Dolly looked at Shirley. She did say some stupid things, but Dolly loved her for that. ‘No, darlin’. That one’s just fine. Thank you for looking after him for me. I could never have buried him.’

‘That’s OK.’ After a moment, Shirley asked, ‘I couldn’t have a bath, could I? I’m a bit smelly and dirty after all that diggin’.’

By 9 p.m., they were both exhausted. After her bath, Shirley changed into a nightdress and dressing gown Dolly had loaned her. She looked out of the Dolly’s bedroom window through a small crack in the curtains, checking the street.

Dolly came out of her en suite bathroom and crossed to the bed. ‘Everywhere locked up?’

Shirley nodded. ‘I’ve bolted every door and window. And made your milk.’ She pointed to the bedside cabinet. Dolly picked up the glass, got a sleeping pill from the bottle in the top drawer and swallowed it.

‘Want one?’ she asked. ‘It’ll help you sleep with that bad ankle.’

‘Yes...’ Shirley tailed off, still looking out of the window. ‘Dolly — this is the third time I’ve looked out of the window since you got back and each time that BMW has been there with two men in it, but now there’s just one. It’s too far away to see their faces properly. You think it’s the police or...’ Dolly joined Shirley at the window.

‘It’ll be the police,’ Dolly said reassuringly. ‘The man from earlier isn’t coming back, love. Not with the coppers right outside.’ She didn’t want to panic Shirley, but even though she couldn’t see the driver’s face, she knew the car they were looking at wasn’t the usual unmarked police car. ‘Right. Sleep,’ she went on as she crawled into her bed. ‘If I don’t sleep, I’m finished. Take your tablet and forget about everything till morning.’

Shirley sat on the edge of Dolly’s bed and took the sleeping pill with some of Dolly’s warm milk. She noticed a picture of Harry and Dolly on the bedside table. They looked such a happy, loving couple: Dolly in a beautiful designer dress and Harry handsome in a smart, very expensive suit. Better times.

‘You done well today,’ Dolly said, smiling up at Shirley. ‘Brave and strong. I’m very proud of you. Now go on, off to bed and get some sleep.’

Shirley held the milk up for Dolly to take if she wanted more, but she shook her head and closed her eyes. As Shirley sipped she looked at Dolly. It was as if the day’s events had aged her ten years; she looked so tired and haggard. Touching Dolly’s hand lightly, Shirley whispered, ‘God bless.’ For a second, Dolly gripped Shirley’s hand tight, so tight it hurt, and then she released it.

Shirley took the rest of the milk through to the spare room and placed it on her bedside cabinet. The room was bigger than her bedroom at home and beautifully decorated with pictures of Dolly and Harry on holidays, at parties and with friends. As she finished the milk she walked round the room. ‘What a life Dolly’s led...’ she thought to herself. Suddenly she stopped, caught by a photograph on the dressing table. She grabbed it, heart pounding, and ran back through to Dolly’s bedroom.

‘Wake up!’ she said urgently, flicking the bedside light on and shaking Dolly.

Dolly didn’t rouse quickly, but when she did open her eyes and saw the look of panic on Shirley’s face, she was immediately awake.

‘Who’s this man in the middle with his arms round you and Harry? Who is he, Dolly?’ Shirley was trembling as she held out the photograph.

Dolly rubbed her eyes and waited a second or two for them to focus. ‘That’s Eddie,’ she said. ‘Eddie Rawlins, Harry’s cousin, why?’

‘It was him, Dolly! He was the man who broke in, the one who attacked me and Wolf.’

Dolly sat up and grabbed the photo from Shirley. ‘Are you sure?’

‘I’m not making it up, Dolly — I swear it was him! I know it was him. Wolf acted as if he knew him at first — and of course Wolf did know him. What if that’s him in the car outside? What if he’s coming back?’

Dolly grabbed Shirley by the hand. ‘He wouldn’t come back here; not after what you did to him. The money is safe. We’re safe. It’s the police outside, like I said. Trust me Shirl. You trust me, don’t you?’

Shirley nodded. She trusted Dolly with her life.

Dolly took Shirley back into the spare room and tucked her up in bed. ‘I’m going to look after you, darlin’. You, Linda and Bella. Please don’t worry so much. I know this is all very new to you, but I’ve lived on my nerves for years, so trust me when I say that everything’s going to be OK.’ And switching off the bedside lamp, she sat with Shirley till she fell asleep.