Family Betrayal by Kitty Neale Read Free Book Online

to see Robby hunkered down beside the rabbit, his eyes wide and innocent as he looked at them. ‘He's all right, Ollie,’ Robby said. ‘Oliver!’ Norma automatically corrected as she too crouched down. She hated the diminutive use of her son's name and refused to let anyone use it. Shaker was indeed alive, but lay on his side, trembling as she stroked him.
    ‘You shouldn't have thrown him like that,’ Oliver accused as he pushed Robby aside.
    ‘I didn't mean to hurt him. I thought he could fly.’
    ‘Don't tell lies, you nasty little boy,’ Norma snapped.
    ‘Hold on, Norma, there's no need to talk to Robby like that. He's only six,’ Sue protested.
    ‘I told him, Mummy,’ cried Paul. ‘I told him that rabbits can't fly.’
    Norma looked up at Sue. ‘See, out of the mouth of babes – and your Paul's only four.’
    Shaker became alert, up on all fours now, his nose twitching. ‘Look at that,’ said Sue. ‘He's all right now so I don't know what all the fuss is about.’
    Norma struggled to hold her temper. Robby looked like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, butshe knew what he was capable of and wasn't fooled. The boy might be only six years old, but he had a nasty, malicious streak, and Sue must be blind if she couldn't see it.
    ‘Put Shaker in his pen, Oliver,’ she said, ‘and you, Robby, I would prefer it if you come inside where we can keep an eye on you.’
    ‘Can I stay out here, Auntie Norma?’ Paul asked.
    ‘Of course you can.’
    ‘I want to stay in the yard too,’ Robby whined.
    ‘He didn't mean any harm, Norma. It won't be fair to drag him inside.’
    Norma's lips tightened. She hated Sue's weakness, the way she pandered to the boy. ‘Every time you bring Robby to see us there's a problem. Until he learns to behave himself, he must remain where I can see him. In fact, I would rather you kept him away from my son.’
    ‘Sod you then,’ Sue snapped. ‘Come on, Robby, you too, Paul. We're going home and we won't bother to come round here again.’
    ‘But, Mummy,’ cried Paul, ‘I want to play with Oliver.’
    ‘Tough! Now come on,’ Sue demanded, grabbing their hands before marching off.
    Norma walked inside just in time to hear her front door slam. She was used to Sue's volatile temper. They had fallen out over Robby before, but her sister-in-law had a short memory. No doubt she'd be aroundagain in no time, but Norma just wished that she'd leave Robby behind. If the Drapers weren't so feared, Oliver could find friends outside of the alley, but as it was there was only Sue or Ivy's boys to play with. She wasn't keen on Bob's cousin, Ivy, the woman always trying to cause trouble, but she preferred her older son, Ernie, as a playmate for Oliver.
    It was only a few minutes later when Oliver came in, his bony knees grubby, and a piece of hay from the rabbit's hutch stuck in his floppy fringe. Norma's eyes softened as she gently removed it. Like his father, Oliver was thin, with light brown hair, but thankfully he was a robust child. At nine years old he was Dan and Joan's first grandchild, but Joan had little time for the boy. Dan had tried to prevent her from naming him Oliver, saying it was no name for a Draper, but she had stood her ground. After all, she wasn't common like her in-laws. She came from a better family, her father an electrical store manager and their home in Wandsworth far superior to this.
    Norma hung her head, thinking back to when she had met Maurice. She'd been lonely, had craved love, but she was so plain that she expected to remain a spinster. When Maurice came along he was the first man to show her any attention, but, afraid of losing him, she had stupidly let him go too far. The question arose again, one that plagued her. If she hadn't been pregnant, would she have married Maurice?
    ‘Can I have a glass of orange juice, please, Mummy?’
    ‘Of course you can, darling.’
    As she poured Oliver's drink, Norma knew it was stupid to keep questioning her decision,