‘All right, all right. Times were hard. Lots of families suffered back then.’
‘Yes, but in our case, there was no need for anyone to suffer. You had a good job but you spent all of your wages at the bookies or the racetrack. You sold, or pawned everything we ever owned to fund your habit. You lost our house. You made our lives a living hell, never knowing what depths you would stoop to in order to put your next bet on.’
Bill reached out a hand. ‘Come on, Jess, it wasn’t all bad. You had some good times too. Didn’t you?’
‘All my good times were spent here with Nana.’ Jess felt a lump in her throat, so sipped at her tea to hide it.
‘I wasn’t the best father, or husband, Jess, I admit that, but I did want the best for you. That’s why I was always chasing the impossible dream. To enable us to have nice things.’
‘You were an addict, Dad. There’s no getting away from it. I was lying in bed last night thinking about it all.’
‘Forgive and forget, eh, Jess? A lot of water—’
‘The bridge flooded, Dad. then it collapsed under the torrent.’
‘Jess.’
‘Last night, I remembered something I had buried so deep I hoped I’d never get a hint of it ever again.’
‘Don’t…’
‘You tried to get my mother to go on the game just to raise a few quid for a bet on the three-thirty.’ Jess almost spat out the words.
‘Now, that’s not true, Jess.’
‘I remembered it like it happened yesterday. I had to come to your bedroom door, pretending to be sick or you were going to take her out onto the streets.’
Bill’s head fell.
‘I wasn’t in a good place then, Jess.’
‘You’re not in a much better place now by the sounds of it. How much do you actually owe?’
Bill shrugged.
‘How much are you asking me to raise, Dad?’
‘Forty thousand.’
‘FORTY THOU—’
‘I was going to buy into a card school, Jess. A big one, with big gamblers. It would have been a regular event. My share would have been twenty percent of the deposits every night. Punters had to pay us to take part. I couldn’t lose.’
‘But you managed to drag victory into the gaping jaws of defeat, yet again. You really are the world’s biggest loser, aren’t you?’
‘It really wasn’t my fault this time, Jess, honestly. I borrowed the money for my stake, but, the night before I was due to hand it over, there was a dummy run, with some of the prospective clients. I sat in… The whole thing was rigged, Jess. I was set up.’
Jess looked away and shook her head.
‘You stupid fool.’
‘I know, I wasn’t thinking straight, Jess. They screwed me good and proper, but the thing is. I owe them now, they want their money, and these aren’t people you can say no to.’
‘I can say no, and I’m going to. Sorry, Dad, but you made your bed, now you can lie in it.’
‘Jess. Please. I’m begging you.’ Bill’s eyes became liquid pools.
‘No. Even if I could get the money from the trust, I wouldn’t. What the hell would I say to the other trustees?’
‘Make something up. Say you want to invest in a business venture I’m setting up. You’ll think of something.’
Jess walked into the lounge with her father in pursuit.
‘Goodbye, Dad.’
‘Don’t you dare treat me like this, after all I’ve…’
‘After all you’ve done for me? My God, that’s rich.’ Jess walked down the hall and yanked open the front door. ‘OUT!’ she commanded.
Bill walked slowly out of the house. On the bottom step he stopped and turned.
‘Jess, I know you think I’m trying to save my own skin, but I’m worried about your welfare too.’
‘Why? These people have no idea who am I and where I live.’
Bill pulled a face. ‘That’s not quite true, Jess. To buy some time I had to tell them about your good fortune. They know all about you.’
Jess scowled. ‘I thought you couldn’t get any lower than trying to force your wife into prostitution, but you’ve managed it. You’ve handed your daughter over to gangsters.’ Jess stepped back into the house and slammed the door, then leaning against it, she began to sob.
Chapter 19
Jess walked slowly through to the lounge and plonked herself down onto the old sofa.
‘Oh, Nana, I didn’t know it was going to be this difficult,’ she said softly.
She curled up her feet and wriggled her bottom in an effort to get comfortable but the saggy cloth and bent springs in the sofa made it impossible.
‘This has to go, Nana,’ she said aloud and grabbing her laptop she began to search for a new sofa. She had only looked at a couple when her phone rang. She ignored it, thinking it was her father trying to put pressure on her again, but when the phone stopped ringing then started again, she picked it up, glanced at the screen and held it to her ear.
‘Hello, Grandma.’
‘Jessica. I’m just checking that you’re all right.’
‘I’m fine, Grandma.’
‘He didn’t turn up with a grasping bookie in tow then?’
‘No, he came alone… Look, Grandma, I didn’t promise to give him money. I haven’t got any to give him.’
‘Good. He’s a nasty piece of work. I’ll never know what Nicola saw in him.’
Jessica’s voice softened. ‘He might not have been like he is now when he was younger… though, I can never remember him being any different.’
‘He was a charmer when he was young. Your mother fell for it. He knew which of her buttons to press. Take care, Jessica. Men are like that.’
Jess thought about how her relationship with Calvin had deteriorated and nodded without replying.
Martha’s tone suddenly sweetened. ‘When you agreed to sit down and talk to your father, it made me think that it’s about time you and I had a private chat. There always seems to be someone else around when we meet.’
‘That would be nice, Grandma, but it won’t change anything.’
‘We don’t have to talk about money all the time, Jessica. We seem to have drifted apart over the last few years and I regret that.’
‘I’d like a nice cosy chat. I wish we could have done it when Nana was still here.’
‘It was never going to happen when my mother was around,’ replied Martha. ‘We never saw eye to eye over anything, she was—’
‘Don’t, Grandma, please.’
‘We do have to discuss her sometimes, Jessica. You only ever heard one side of the story.’
‘I’d like to hear about your life, Grandma, I hardly know anything about it really.’
‘There’s a lot more to it than you could ever imagine. Mother had no idea what sort of life I had after I left home.’
Jessica was sympathetic. ‘That’s a shame, I think she would have been interested had you given her a chance.’
‘We never got on. She didn’t like me, even as a child, and the feeling was mutual.’
‘I think you’d be surprised, Grandma. You ought to read some of her memoirs. She worried about your relationship and did what she could to try to improve it.’
Martha was having none of it. ‘Miriam brought me up. My mother was hardly ever around.’
‘She had the farm to run, Grandma. That took up most of her day. She gave you as much time as she could, I promise you.’
Martha snorted. ‘I’d like to see what excuses she used to cover her guilty conscience.’
Jessica sighed. ‘Look, I’ve got to get ready to go out. Can we meet up in the week?’
‘Come to see me on Tuesday afternoon. I’ll send Marjorie on an errand for an hour, though she’ll almost certainly get lost.’
‘I’ll pick you up at eleven and drive you over here, Grandma. Marjorie can’t get lost if she’s left at home, maybe you could bring her with you? It would be nice to see you both.’
‘It would be better if she’s left out of it. She’d only get confused. She isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.’
‘Oh, Grandma. Don’t be like that. Aunt Marjorie is lovely.’
Jessica heard her grandmother sigh.
‘Goodness knows what sort of life she’d have led if I hadn’t been there to look after her. You might think I’m harsh, but she needs a firm hand. She’d be lost without me.’
‘I don’t know much about Aunt Marjorie’s life either. Maybe I should have a sit down with her one day.’
‘Bring a pillow and a mug of Ovaltine with you when you do. She hasn’t lived the most exciting of lives.’
‘I’m sure there’s more to it than you’re letting on, Grandma… Look, I have to go, I have to get ready.’
‘Ready? Are you out on a date or something?’
‘I’m going out for lunch with Bradley Wilson.’
‘That solicitor fellow?’
‘Yep. We’re having a drive out to a country pub for a meal.’
‘Hmm, I can see the attraction, he is a professional man and not bad looking. You could do a lot worse.’
Jessica laughed. ‘I’m not out to marry him, Grandma. It’s only lunch.’
‘Well, he seems a better prospect than that worm of a boyfriend you just got rid of.’
‘I’m not looking for a new boyfriend either,’ Jess replied. ‘I’m still trying to work out how I let Calvin get away with what he did for so long.’
Martha was silent for a moment. When she spoke again her voice was almost conspiratorial.
‘Listen, Jessica. See if you can get him to find a way out of this trust thing. I’m sure—’
‘Goodbye, Grandma. I’ll see you on Tuesday.’
Jess hit the red button on the screen to end the call and leaned back on the sofa. Shaking her head at Martha’s attitude, she picked up her laptop again and began to surf for sofas.
Twenty minutes later, Jess had chosen, ordered and paid for a sofa. She checked her banking app and realised with a shock how much she had spent recently. She would have to bring up the subject of money with Bradley after all. Some of her annual allowance was urgently needed. Her credit card bill had arrived that morning too.
Standing at the door of the kitchen, Jess stared across the room trying to imagine the new sofa in situ.
‘Sorry, Nana, but it had to be done,’ she said aloud. Her eyes were drawn to the big, expensive, hospital bed that Alice had slept in for the last twelve months of her life. She had decided to offer it to Nana’s carer, Gwen to see if she could find a use for it, but had forgotten to call her. She picked up her phone and hit her contact number. Gwen answered after three rings.
‘Hello, Jessica, is anything wrong?’
‘Hi, Gwen, no, nothing at all. I’ve been meaning to call you all week. I’m living at Nana’s house now.’
‘So I heard, Lovely, there are no secrets in this town you know.’
Jess laughed.
‘The thing is, Gwen. I’d like to catch up, there are one or two things I’d like to talk to you about. The main one being this bed of Nana’s. Do you think you could find a place for it? I’d much rather it goes to one of your clients than have it picked up by a charity.’
‘OOOH! That’s very kind of you, Jessica. I took a new client on when Alice passed. She’s another Alice, Alice Scrimshaw and she really could do with something like that. She’s a bit heavy for me and those buttons and switches that raise and lower the bed would be a big help.’
‘Then, it’s yours,’ said Jess. ‘When do you think you could arrange to have it picked up. Do you need a man with a van? I can organise that.’
‘No, Lovely. Alice’s grandson has a big van, he does removals. I’m sure he’d be happy to pick it up. How much do you want for it?’
‘I don’t want a penny, Gwen, it’s yours to do with as you see fit.’
Jess could visualise Gwen’s astonished face. She never could understand why anyone would want to reward her.
‘I’ll tell Alec that it’s not theirs to keep of course. It was far too expensive to just give away. Alice has a few month’s yet, but after that, old Mr Parfitt will be needing one. He’s starting to struggle now, even with the stairlift.’
‘I’m sure you’ll use it wisely, Gwen, and I’m happy it’s going to someone who will appreciate it.’
‘You said there are a couple of things you want to talk to me about,’ said Gwen with a worried tone in her voice.
‘Oh, it’s nothing important, Gwen. Just the odd thing or two about Nana. She seems to have torn some pages out of one of her memoirs and I can’t find them. They were there when I brought them down from the loft.
‘I don’t know anything about those, Lovely. Alice never mentioned them to me.’
‘Not to worry,’ said Jess. ‘As I said, it’s not important. Give me a call when Alec has an hour free. We can have a coffee and a chat while he loads it onto the van. I think he’ll need assistance though. It will be a bit awkward for one.’
‘Alec has two sons. They’ll help I’m sure.’
‘Great. All right, Gwen, take care now. I’ll see you when you come over.’
‘Bye bye, Jessica, and thank you again.’
After the call, Jessica picked up her laptop and carried it upstairs. Putting it on the dressing table she had another look at the new sofa she had ordered. The blue light problem seemed to have fixed itself so, relieved at not having to raid her dwindling finances again, she closed the laptop lid, patted it for luck and walked through to the bathroom to shower.
She dressed in newish, light blue jeans, a white blouse with a pink, floral embroidery above the right breast and black, low heeled shoes. She kept her phone at the side of her as she brushed her hair and applied the minimum of makeup, as she couldn’t remember if Bradley had said he’d call when he was on his way.
At twelve on the dot, Jess heard the toot of a car horn, and grabbing a navy jacket and her shoulder bag she let herself out of the front door to see Bradley standing proudly at the side of a vintage, Alvis car.
‘Oh, Wow!’ Jess exclaimed. She had read all about what Alice had called the Gangster Car but she had no idea it was still on the road after all these years. She stood for a few moments as she admired the beautiful, shiny, black automobile. There didn’t seem to be a mark on it.
Jess looked up to the skies and smiled.
‘I have a Gangster Lawyer too now, Nana.’ She grinned at Bradley as he walked around the front of the car and opened the passenger door for her.
‘All that’s missing is the hat,’ she said with a laugh.
Bradley looked puzzled. ‘The hat?’
‘Godfrey always wore one. That’s why Alice called him her Gangster Lawyer. With his pin striped suits, hat and that car, he looked like he’d just stepped out of a James Cagney movie.’
‘Ah, I see,’ said Bradley with a grin. ‘Sorry, no hat.’
Jess climbed into the car and sat down. She reached over her shoulder for the seat belt, but not finding one, looked at Bradley with a puzzled look on her face.
‘Cars of this vintage aren’t required to have them fitted,’ said Bradley as he started the engine and put the Alvis in reverse.
‘Are you sure?’ Jess felt a bit uncomfortable without the reassuring strap over her shoulder.
‘Trust me, I’m a lawyer,’ grinned Bradley. ‘It feels a bit odd doesn’t it? But don’t worry. I’ll be careful.’
Jess looked over her shoulder towards the back seats and suddenly remembered what Alice and Godfrey had got up to in the car all those years ago. The day Alice had got dressed in such a hurry that she forgot to put on her underwear. She quickly turned her head to the front, but the vision in her mind wouldn’t go away. She could feel herself beginning to flush.
‘Are you all right?’ said Bradley taking a sideways glance. ‘You look a bit hot. I’m afraid there’s no air con.’
‘I’m fine,’ said Jess, reaching to her righ
t and winding down the window. ‘I was in a bit of a rush, that’s all.’
They drove through the winding back lanes of the town until they hit what used to be one of the main routes to Gravesend. They followed that for a few miles before turning off again and pulling up at a riverside pub in a pretty little village with picture postcard thatched cottages and a Norman church.
The Lobster Pot had a beer garden and boasted a mainly seafood menu, although, thankfully for Jess, who was struggling to become a vegetarian, the pub provided a sparse vegan menu as well.
Jess found Bradley refreshingly interesting after the narrow mindedness of Calvin. He genuinely seemed to be sympathetic to her views. He listened intently as she told him about her life at Uni and some of the scrapes she had got herself into on the anti this, and that, marches.
She looked across the table at him as he ate during a short lull in the conversation. He was handsome, there was no getting away from it. He had an easy manner about him, and refreshingly, unlike Calvin, he seemed willing to discuss subjects that he wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about. Calvin was only interested in promoting himself or his own ideas and frequently talked over Jess when they were out with friends. Bradley had hardly mentioned his own life and seemed much more interested in finding out more about her.
As she was studying him, she suddenly heard Alice’s voice in her head.
‘Beware men who never talk about themselves, Jessica. You will invariably find that they have something to hide.’
She put the thought to one side. While she didn’t know Bradley very well, he had been honest enough to offer up the information about his previous, short lived marriage, and Alice liked him enough to trust him with her financial and legal affairs, much like she had with his great grandfather, Godfrey, though ‘affair’ had other connotations as far as he was concerned.
Bradley looked up from his plate as if he had heard Alice’s words. He noticed that Jess had been studying him with corners of her lips turned up in a soft smile.
‘What?’ he said, smiling himself.
‘Oh, nothing,’ Jess replied. ‘I was just thinking of something that Nana had said.’
‘I liked Alice. Want to share?’
The Legacy: Trouble Comes Disguised As Family (Unspoken Book 2) Page 12