Chapter 75 - MR BATES' INTEGRITY
The Bates Cottage
Anna opened the door for Dr Clarkson who was accompanied by another man. "Have you come to check on me, Dr Clarkson?"
"Not today, Mrs Bates. I received an urgent call from Miss Childs about Mr Barrow. She said Mr Bates was bringing him here."
"Mr Barrow is in the bedroom."
"This is Dunne. He's an attendant at the hospital. I brought him in case I need assistance."
Anna permitted the two men to enter the cottage, and the doctor and Bates exchanged greetings. The doctor caught sight of the sofa that Anna had made up for Thomas. "You have a cosy home here. Is this where you intended to have Mr Barrow sleep?"
"Yes," replied Anna. "The ceiling in the attic is too low for a man as tall as Mr Barrow."
"Mr Barrow won't have to worry about low ceilings at the hospital."
"Mr Barrow won't be going to the hospital," asserted Bates.
"Mr Bates, I can appreciate that you want to help the man who saved your life, but you don't have the necessary expertise. We'll take good care of him at the hospital."
"At the hospital or at an asylum? I tell you, he's not going!"
"I won't pretend that an asylum isn't a possibility. I also won't pretend that you have any legal right to keep him here, Mr Bates."
"Don't I? I may be only his half-brother, but I believe that's enough to give me the right, Dr Clarkson."
"What game is this? You're not his brother."
"My husband does not play games, Doctor," Anna interjected sharply. "Mr Barrow and my husband have the same mother."
"That's preposterous! I've known them both for years and have never heard mention of them being brothers."
"We kept it a secret," replied Bates. "We didn't want to be accused of favouritism. It hardly mattered. We didn't get along when I first came to the Abbey. I know it was petty of me, but I was jealous that my mother left my family to begin another. Divorce was unheard of in those days."
"Hold on a moment. Mr Barrow told me that his mother died when he was a boy. Didn't your mother die during the war?"
"That was my husband's stepmother, Dr Clarkson! She was a darling woman and treated my husband as her own child. Frankly, Doctor, I'm insulted that you came here to question my husband's integrity!"
"I beg your pardon, Mrs Bates! I came here out of concern for Mr Barrow, and I insist on speaking directly to him!"
Thomas pressed his ear to the door. He could hear the conversation in the parlour but could not make out the words. The words sounded polite at first but then swelled and hardened. They banged against the bedroom door like stones. Thomas backed into the corner and held his bag against his chest. He looked about the bedroom for an avenue of escape. The wall opposite the door had two high windows, both of which were open. He stepped around the bed to take a closer look. The windows were small ... perhaps too small. He reached up to get a handhold when he heard the bedroom door open.
"What are you doing?" Bates asked softly. "Come here, little brother."
"No!"
"I need you, Pooh."
Thomas let go of the window and cautiously approached Bates who embraced him gently. Bates whispered in his ear, "You're my brother, Pooh. You must never forget that you're my brother. Now, you say it."
Silence.
Bates released Thomas and took a step back. He clasped Thomas' shoulders and leaned his head forward until their foreheads touched. "Say it, Pooh. Say you're my brother."
"Brother."
"Good." Bates smoothed Thomas' hair and opened the door. "You first."
Thomas stepped through the door and saw Dr Clarkson sitting opposite him at the table. A stocky man with bright red hair was standing at the doctor's side. Thomas turned back to the bedroom, but Bates blocked him. "It'll be all right, little brother. I promise."
Thomas turned back to the doctor, who smiled congenially. "Good afternoon, Mr Barrow. I understand you've been having some difficulties."
Silence.
"Mr Barrow, what is your relationship to Mr Bates?"
Bates protested, "Do you think it's reasonable to ask him, Dr Clarkson? He's confused."
"Mr Bates, please let him answer. Now, Mr Barrow ... your relationship to Mr Bates?"
Bates interrupted again. "He calls me Bonnie John, and I call him Terrible Thomas."
"Please, Mr Bates, allow Mr Barrow to speak."
Thomas turned to Bates, who smiled. "I'm ... I'm ..."
"Kindly look at me, Mr Barrow."
Bates nodded. "Go ahead, Terrible Thomas, answer the doctor."
Thomas turned to Dr Clarkson. "I'm ... his ... noisy little brother."
Dr Clarkson sat back in his chair and shook his head. "I hope you know what you're doing, Mr Bates. As Mr Barrow's half-brother, you have the legal right to keep him here. If he should harm himself, or anyone else for that matter, then it will be your responsibility."
"I understand, Dr Clarkson."
"Dunne please wait for me by the car."
The redheaded man turned to leave, and Thomas could see that he was holding something behind his back, a peculiar garment of some sort. A long sleeve with a strap at the end fell to the floor and dragged behind the man. Thomas gripped the back of a chair. He felt Bates' arm around his shoulders. "Stay calm, Pooh. Everything's all right."
Dr Clarkson gazed first at Thomas and then at Bates. "I never would have guessed. You're the same height, and you have the same colouring, but you look nothing alike."
"My little brother was blessed with our mother's good looks. I wasn't so fortunate," replied Bates.
Thomas tried to follow the conversation, but it was making his head spin. He was confused by Bates' intimate behaviour in front of Dr Clarkson. Why was he using their private names? "I'm tired."
"I know, Pooh. Be patient."
"Mr Barrow, do I have your permission to discuss the details of your case with your brother?"
"Go home!"
"Thomas!" scolded Anna. "Dr Clarkson has been kind enough to allow you to stay. Please be kind enough to answer him."
"Do I have your permission, Mr Barrow?"
Thomas nodded and backed up until he felt Bates against his shoulder. He slipped his hand behind his back but could not find Bates' pocket flap.
