Yorkshire Lady

Yorkshire Lady Part 17

Part 17

John stood up and glared at his brother.  He held  out a hand to pull him to his feet.

He called  Jim and Stewart over.   'Best get him to casualty to get him  checked over'.   He turned to Greg.  'If I see you anywhere near this house again then I'll  be informing the police about  breaking and entering and indecent assault'.

With that he turned on his heels and walked off down the drive.

Jim took Greg to his car, while Stewart told Caroline where they were going.

'Where's John ?'   She asked in alarm.  'Is he alright?'  

'Just a few cut's and bruises love'.   Stewart told her gently.  'Greg told him some news and it was a bl**dy great shock.   He's just walked off down the drive'.

Caroline dropped onto the bottom step of the stairs.  ' He's gone and done it.  The rotten b****d's gone and told him about his Dad'.  She looked up at Stewart.  'Did he say that I knew some of it ?'    Stewart nodded  ''Fraid so love.  In fact he made it sound like you know the lot'.

Caroline drew in a long agonised breath,  'You'd best get him to casualty, before I injure him  even worse'.

She spent a desperate hour  trying to ring John on his mobile but he wouldn't answer.

John had walked down to the Duck and Drake again.   Tim was shocked.  'What the hell's happened to you?'

In between Tim serving other customers and himself drinking another 2 pints  John told him about the evening's incident.  His mobile rang several   times and he just  ignored it.

' Look'.   Tim spoke firmly but gently.  Caroline must be going frantic with worry about you.

I'll bet that's been her every time your phone's rung.  You've only got the word of your a**e hole  brother about this.    Why not give Caroline time to give her side.   Chances are it's all perfectly innocent.   The woman loves you for crying out loud.   Get her rung'. 

John went outside and dialled  the Manor.   Caroline must have been on top of the phone.  It was answered after barely 2 rings.    ' John ?!   Oh thank God'  ( she meant this literally.  She'd been on her knees praying).   John let her babble incoherently for a minute before cutting in.  'I'm in the pub.   I just needed to get my head around what Greg told me and I thought you knew and were keeping it from me.  I was angry and hurt.'

'If I come down there for you.  You will come back with me won't you ?'    Her voice was quivering with fear and tears.    John's heart overflowed with love for her.  'Of course I will'.

When Caroline's car pulled up, John was standing out side the pub waiting.   Caroline flew to him.  Apologies and words of consolation pouring out in torrents.

'I don't know who your real Dad is.  Honest I don't'.  She told him earnestly.  'I asked your Grandma why she and Ralph hate you and she just told me Ralph isn't your Dad.   I asked her to tell me who is your father but she refused point blank.  She said it isn't any business of mine because we're not married.

I've been pondering ever since Easter about whether or not to tell you.   In the end I thought it could be Pandora's box or a can of worms.   Your real Dad might be worse than Ralph.

They should have told you years ago but they didn't and I didn't think it would be any benefit to you now.     I just wanted to protect you',  she said  her tone deeply vulnerable.  I got it wrong. I'm so sorry'.

She looked at John's face.  It was wet with tears as he pulled her close.  'You didn't'.  He told her softly. 'I'm so lucky to have you'. 

 He now told her what Greg  had claimed about Bob Sowerby and his mother.  This would have to be checked out before he would believe it fully.

  His face was sore where he had been punched but he had never enjoyed kissing her more than he did now,   brushing gently but passionately against her top lip.   The soft warmth of her body against his comforting and very  appealling.

' Let's go home' he whispered into her ear.

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Jim and Stewart were back Greg had needed some stitches but  had not been badly hurt, any more than John had been.   It looked far worse than it was.

John lay back with Caroline in a warm scented  bath surrounded by flickering candles. They had washed each other and were now relaxing together.

John closed his eyes.  It was so good to be home again.

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They sat in the kitchen eating breakfast contemplating the day ahead.  'I can't wait to see the boys later'.   Caroline was positively bouncing with anticipation.   John relished her love for her children and theirs for her.  He was proud as punch of the fact that they had become so fond of him too.   'I've enjoyed having you all to myself for 2 weeks', he admitted, ' but I've seriously missed those little men.   Mornings just aren't the same when they don't start off with a good jumping on  by small children'.    They both laughed at  the prospect of this particular morning delight beginning again.

John became serious again now.   'I'll need to  go and see Bob Sowerby today.  I've got to know if what our Greg said was true.'   He touched Caroline's cheek.  'Regardless of what the answer is, it's best if we keep this as our secret.   Rick and his Mum mustn't know and it's no one else's business'.

Caroline snuggled against his arm.  She hadn't wanted to see him faced with this situation.  At least she could see now that her decision not to tell John what she knew had been the right one.

At morning break time  John went to do some errands. En route he went to the Sowerby Garden Centre.   He found Bob in his office and  asked him to come for a cup of tea at the centre's coffee shop.

Over a pot of tea between them John asked his question.  ' I'm really sorry to have to ask you this Bob.  Our Greg's told me that Ralph isn't really my Dad.  He also told me that you had an affair with our Mum and that's how she came to be pregnant with me.....................I just need to know if it's true'.

Bob sighed and then nodded. ' Yes lad it's true, he said.

He told John the story.

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'Your  mum, Ralph, my  Vanessa and me were at school together.   I'd be lying if I said me and Ralph were friends but we got on well enough.

I went out with your mum for a few months but then  I decided it was Vanessa I wanted.

Your Mum started seeing Ralph.   No one thought they'd last long  because he was a swine to her but after a year she found out she was pregnant.   Both their parents said they had to get married.     Your Mum was net happy but she tried to make it work for little Greg. 

   Then when the lad was 2  Ralph found himself in prison for 6 months.

I met your Mum in town shopping.   She was on her own, so I asked her to come for a   coffee.  We got talking, she started crying on my shoulder and one thing sort of led to another.

We called a halt to our affair when Ralph was due out.   I only found out about her having  had another child when I heard she'd died.    I did a bit of working out and knew it was just possible you were mine.

                    ************************************************

He looked at John with a very worried expression.   John saw it and hastened to reassure him.   'This doesn't need to change any thing Bob'.  He said quietly.  'I just wanted to know the truth that's all.   You've always been a good friend to me and I won't ask for anything else.

Rick and Vanessa don't need to know anything and I've  agreed with Caroline that whatever the truth it would stay a secret'.  

He held out a hand to Bob.  'Still friends ?'  He asked.   Bob took the proffered hand and shook it warmly.  'You're a good lad John, yes friends'.

TBC