‘Get a cab to your mum’s, Maria. I’ll be there as soon as I can, I promise.’
‘Whatever,’ she said, as she slammed the phone down.
Freddie tried to ring Lucy to make sure she was all right, but got no answer.
‘When is your brother’s baby actually due, James?’
James shook his head. ‘I dunno. He ain’t had much interest in it; he’s never spoken about when it’s due.’
Freddie spotted the ambulance as he pulled into the turning.
‘Thank fuck they’re here! I had visions of me and you delivering the kid.’
As they leaped out of the car, they couldn’t help but hear Lucy’s screams.
‘You go in first,’ Freddie told James, pushing him up the path.
‘Fuck off, I don’t wanna see her with her legs in the air,’ James replied.
‘You’re family, just fuckin’ go in first, will yer?’
A nervous James poked his head around the open door. ‘Are you OK, Lucy?’
He was ushered out of the room by a paramedic, who told him, ‘Just wait outside.’
Freddie and James glanced at one another. Neither of them was Einstein, but it was obvious that something was very wrong.
As Lucy was taken from the house on a stretcher, a paramedic approached them.
‘Which one of you is James?’
‘I am.’
Leading him away from Freddie, the paramedic spoke to him. ‘I know you’re a relative. I take it Lucy is your sister-in-law?’
James nodded. ‘Yeah, she’s me brother’s bird.’
‘I’m very sorry, but the news isn’t good. Your sister-in-law had already given birth by the time we arrived. Unfortunately, the baby was premature and stillborn. We did our utmost, but we couldn’t revive her.’
James felt himself go cold. ‘Did you see her? Was the baby a girl?’
The paramedic nodded. ‘Your sister-in-law wants you to look after your nephew – he’s next door, at number fourteen.’
James thanked the paramedic and watched him walk away. He was dreading telling his mum. No one had known the sex of the baby, and his mum had been rambling on for months about having a granddaughter.
‘Too many men in this family,’ she’d joked. ‘We need a little girl to dress up and spoil.’
Freddie walked towards him. ‘I take it the baby’s dead?’
Tears pricked James’s eyes. ‘Not only have I gotta tell me mum, but I’m gonna have to find Tommy and tell him as well.’
Freddie kicked the wall in temper. He was dreading telling Sarah; her and Lucy were best buddies. ‘Don’t worry about Tommy, this is all his fuckin’ fault, James. It’s the stress of him treating her like shit and not comin’ home for days on end that’s caused this to happen. He may be my best pal, but the geezer’s a cunt. He never wanted this kid and now he’s got his fuckin’ wish.’
James walked up the path of number fourteen and knocked at the door. Thanking the neighbour for her help, he took Alfie by the hand.
‘Where’s Mummy and the baby gone?’
James didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t good in this type of situation.
‘They’ve gone to the hospital in the ambulance.’
Smiling, Alfie skipped along happily. ‘Have I got a brother or a sister?’
James glanced at Freddie. ‘I don’t know, Alfie. I tell you what, we’ll go and see Nanny Maureen, she’ll know more than me and she can tell you everything.’
THIRTY-THREE
As the blonde bird nuzzled away at his ear, Tommy did another juicy fat line and offered the straw to Mustapha.
He’d spent the last few days at his pal’s luxurious Docklands apartment. To say they’d had a party was an understatement; a drug-induced orgy was a better description. Tommy had lost count of the number of birds he and Mustapha had rumped, but was sure they’d made it into double figures.
Pushing the bird away from him, he sat up and put his head in his hands. All of a sudden he felt ill, really fucking ill.
‘I’ve lost track of time. What day is it?’ he asked.
Mustapha laughed. ‘It’s Saturday, you prick.’
‘I need to get home and sort meself out,’ Tommy moaned.
The blonde girl knelt down in front of him, pushed his legs astride and took his limp dick into her mouth.
‘Just get off me, will yer?’ he said, kicking her as hard as he could.
He was fucked and couldn’t raise another gallop if his life depended on it.
As he gingerly got dressed and searched for his keys, Mustapha couldn’t stop laughing.
‘You are fucking lightweight, Tommy Hutton.’
Tommy left the flat and clambered into his BMW. He was dreading going home to face Lucy. What he was going to say, God only knew, and his head wasn’t clear enough to think of any feasible excuses. Starting the engine, he headed towards Chingford. It was time to face the fucking music.
Maureen sat her grandchild on her lap and did her best to comfort him.
Unlike Johnny, who was round at hers on a daily basis, Maureen rarely saw Alfie. Their lack of contact didn’t stop her thinking the world of the cheeky little bugger and it broke her heart to see him so upset. The news had been an awful shock to her and Ethel, but they were trying to hold it together for the sake of the child.
Seeing that his tears had now subsided, Maureen smiled at him. ‘Shall Nanny get you a nice bowl of ice cream?’
Alfie nodded. ‘Can I have chocolate?’
Ethel followed her into the kitchen. James had left to go in search of Tommy, but he’d told them the score before he’d gone.
‘No one knows where Tommy is. He’s been on the missing for a few days. Lucy’s been frantic and Freddie reckons that’s why she went into labour so early.’
Ethel closed the door. She didn’t want Alfie to hear what she had to say. ‘That son of yours needs a fucking good doughboy. Surely even you ain’t gonna stick up for him this time?’
Putting the ice cream back in the freezer, Maureen turned to her. ‘We don’t know what’s happened to him yet. Say he’s been arrested, or something?’
Ethel shook her head. ‘Don’t talk bollocks. We’d have heard if he’d been banged up. He’s out enjoying himself, probably with some old scrubber. When are you gonna wake up and admit what he’s really like, Maur?’
Saved by the bell, Maureen answered the door and was shocked to see a dishevelled-looking Susan standing there. Johnny was stood next to her, with two bin liners, one in each hand.
‘What the fuck do you want, Susan? I thought I told you never to darken my door again.’ Selling Johnny’s wedding outfit had been the final straw for Maureen.
‘Mum, I’m in trouble. I owe people money and they’re threatening to hurt Johnny. I need you to take him until it’s sorted. He’ll be safer with you.’
Johnny let out a sob and clung to his nan. As Maureen ushered them inside, she noticed that Susan looked terrible. She couldn’t have weighed more than seven stone, her teeth were beginning to blacken and she had dark rings around her eyes.
‘Go and sit in the kitchen for a minute, while I go and check on Alfie.’
Seeing that Alfie had crashed out, and was sound asleep on the sofa, Maureen put his ice cream on the table beside him and quietly shut the door. ‘Go upstairs and have a bath, Johnny, while I talk to Mummy,’ she ordered.
Ethel explained to Susan what had happened with Tommy’s baby, but she was far too wrapped up in her own problems to be bothered with anyone else’s.
Seeing the lack of interest written across her face, Maureen changed the subject, ‘How much do you owe, Susan? And who do you owe it to?’
Susan looked at the floor. ‘Three hundred pound to a bloke called Frank. I used to buy me gear off him and I ran up a tab.’
Maureen thought long and hard about what she should do. She had about £500 hidden in a tin box under her mattress. It had taken her years to save for a rainy day and maybe that day had j
ust come. She made her decision and turned to face Susan.
‘If I give you the money to clear your debt, I need you to promise me something.’
Susan looked hopeful, ‘I’ll promise you anything, Mum.’
‘I want you to promise me that Johnny lives permanently with me. Tell him whatever you’ve got to tell him, but I don’t want him at your flat no more. It’s not safe for him living in your world. He’s a lovely kid and I can offer him a much better life than you can.’
Susan readily agreed. This was turning out to be much better than she’d expected.
As Maureen left the room to fetch the money, Ethel turned to her granddaughter. ‘Yer might fool her, but yer don’t fool me. There is no debt, is there? You just wanna buy drugs, don’t yer?’
Susan looked her in the eye and shook her head. She’d become that good at lying, she could look God in the eye if she had to. ‘I’m telling the truth, I swear,’ she said.
‘Lying little cunt,’ Ethel spat at her.
Maureen returned and handed her the money. ‘Promise me, Susan, you won’t go back on your word. If you wanna see Johnny, you can visit him here.’
Susan snatched the money and stood up. ‘I promise. He’s all yours, Mum.’
As she left the house, Ethel looked at Maureen in amazement. ‘You’re so gullible, she ain’t in no trouble. She’ll inject that three hundred quid by tomorrow, you mark my words. If she was a daughter of mine, I’d knock her into next week.’
Maureen shrugged. ‘The money’s a small price to pay if it means Johnny can live here. At least he’ll be looked after and safe with me.’
Ethel shook her head. ‘What type of mother sells her own son for three hundred quid? It makes me wonder what we’ve raised between us, Maur. Susan and Tommy are both fuckin’ wrong ’uns. All I can say is, thank God for James.’
Susan ran towards home with a massive grin on her face. It had been Dave Taylor’s idea to spin the yarn about the debt. She’d known that her mother would take the boy, but she’d never expected to get the money out of her as well. She couldn’t wait to tell Dave – he’d be over the moon. What a result!
As Tommy opened the front door, he was shocked to be greeted by silence. ‘Lucy! Alfie!’ he shouted.
Maybe she’d had a gutful of him staying out and left him. He was such a bastard to her sometimes, he wouldn’t blame her if she had.
Running upstairs, he checked the wardrobe. All her clothes were still there, so she hadn’t gone far. Checking Alfie’s room, he was relieved to see that all his stuff was still intact. He went back downstairs, took a beer out of the fridge and walked into the lounge. As he saw the stain on the carpet, he froze. It was blood, he was sure of it. Guessing that Alfie had had an accident, he frantically searched for his phone. Locating it in his jacket pocket, he stuck it on charge. The bastard thing had been dead for days and he was annoyed with himself for not charging it at Mustapha’s. He hadn’t bothered at the time, as he knew Lucy would be on his case.
Downing his beer, he immediately opened another. He was desperate to mellow himself out, he still felt out of his head. Overcome by paranoia, he feared the worst. If Alfie was critically ill or dead, he’d never forgive himself.
Hearing the doorbell go, he ran to answer it. ‘All right, Jimmy boy? What you doin’ here? Do yer know where Lucy and Alfie are?’
Clocking the state of his brother, James pushed him into the hallway. His pupils were dilated and he stank of a mixture of booze and sweat. ‘Do I know where Lucy and Alfie are? You having a laugh, you cunt? Shall I tell you where they are? Shall I?’
Tommy nodded. He’d never seen James so angry before.
‘Your son’s at Mum’s house. The poor little fucker had no one to look after him, and Lucy’s in hospital. The worry of you goin’ missing sent her into an early labour and she gave birth on the carpet in the living room.’
Tommy sank to his knees. ‘What did she have? Is the baby OK?’
James glared at him. ‘She had a little girl and she died, and do you know what? It’s all your fuckin’ fault, Tommy. Look at the state of you. You’ve got a lovely family and you’ve fucked things up this time, big style.’
Tommy stood up. It wasn’t his fucking fault that the baby had arrived prematurely and died. How the fuck could it be? Fuming that James was speaking to him like a mug, he punched his fist against the wall. ‘What hospital’s she been taken to?’
‘Whipps Cross, and don’t ask me to come with you ’cause I can’t. I was meant to pick Maria up hours ago. It’s her mum’s birthday and we were supposed to celebrate it with her. As usual, my life’s put on hold while I run around like a blue-arsed fly, covering up all your mistakes.’
Seeing red, Tommy grabbed him by the neck, shoved him against the wall and head-butted him. ‘Who do you think you’re fuckin’ talkin’ to? My kid’s just died, remember? Go on, fuck off and enjoy your meal, go and spend your evening with that slag, Maria.’
The sound of Maria being called a slag made James feel physically stronger than ever before. His nose might be throbbing and pouring with blood, but for once he didn’t give a shit. Lifting his leg, he kneed Tommy as hard as he could in the bollocks, and followed up with a swift right-hander.
As Tommy hit the deck, he stood over him with a look of contempt. ‘Don’t ever speak about my Maria like that again. Do you hear me?’
Tommy laughed. It wasn’t a pleasant laugh, it was false and vindictive.
James opened the front door. He had to get away before he lost it completely.
‘Ask darling Maria what sex with me was like. You think you’re so clever, Jimmy boy. I took her virginity, you mug. I stuck my big cock right up that tight little pussy of hers.’
James stood transfixed. Tommy was lying – he had to be. Knowing he had to get out of the house before he hurt Tommy badly, James forced his legs to walk away.
‘Ask the fuckin’ slag, go on, ask her!’ he heard his brother screaming.
Breaking into a run, James reached the car. Unable to think straight, he started the engine and drove off like a maniac.
Susan took a lug of the crack pipe and handed it over to the man who had brought the sunshine back into her life. After Kevin had left her, she never thought she’d find love again but, thankfully, with Dave she had, and she was willing to do absolutely anything to keep him. He’d been thrilled earlier when she’d taken him in the kitchen and waved the £300 in his face.
‘Keep it schtum,’ he told her.
Within minutes, he’d slung all of their friends out of the flat. ‘Me and Susan wanna spend some time on our own,’ he lied. The truth was all of their mates were skint and he didn’t want to share their windfall with them.
As soon as they left, he lifted Susan up and swung her around. ‘You’re a top bird, you are. Do you know that?’
He then went off to stock up on all their favourite goodies. ‘Don’t spend it all, Dave. Hold fifty quid back for emergencies,’ she told him.
He didn’t listen, but then again, he never did.
As he handed the pipe back to her, she smiled at him. ‘Now I’ve got rid of Johnny, will you move in with me properly?’
Dave nodded. His mother had chucked him out last week and he was at a loose end anyway.
Susan threw her arms around his neck. Their relationship had always been turbulent because of Johnny and, now he’d gone, they could really make a go of it.
‘I love you, Dave,’ she said.
Dave Taylor smiled, but said nothing. Susan wasn’t really his type, but she’d do for now. As soon as something better came along, he’d be off like a shot.
Maureen carried Alfie upstairs and put him to bed. Johnny kept firing questions at her about Susan and she was glad of some breathing space. Should she tell him the truth or shouldn’t she? Maybe it was time to come clean. She smiled as she walked back into the living room and saw Ethel plonked on the floor playing snakes and ladders with him. As usual, she had little decorum and sa
t with her legs wide open, showing all her clout.
‘Mum, for goodness’ sake. You’re showing Johnny what you’ve had for dinner.’
Ethel roared. Not used to much laughter indoors, Johnny quickly joined in. ‘Nanny’s got white knickers, Nanny’s got white knickers,’ he sang.
‘I can’t bleedin’ help it. It’s me arthritis and I can’t sit any other way,’ Ethel said, defending herself.
Maureen was glad to see that Johnny had cheered up a bit. He’d been very downcast earlier and she hated seeing him like that, as he was usually so bubbly.
‘I can’t fuckin’ get up. Help me up, Maur.’
Maureen laughed as she struggled to help her mother-in-law move her fat arse off the carpet. ‘I’m bleedin’ knackered. I’m gonna love yer and leave yer now,’ she said.
‘Night, Nanny Ethel,’ Johnny said, kissing her.
Maureen saw her to the door and watched her go across the road. ‘Night, Mum.’
Ethel opened her front door and waved.
Maureen went back into the lounge and sat next to her grandson. ‘There’s something I’ve got to tell you, Johnny. I had a chat with Mummy earlier and we’ve both decided that it’s best if you come and live with me.’
Johnny shook his head. ‘I have to live with Mum. She gets ill when I’m not there and she’ll have no one to put her to bed. Dave Taylor’s horrible – he won’t help her when she gets sick.’
Maureen felt a lump in her throat as she looked at his genuine little face. ‘You shouldn’t have to put her to bed, Johnny. She’s the adult, you’re the child, she should be looking after you, but unfortunately, she’s not capable.’
‘But I love her.’
Maureen ruffled his hair. ‘I know you do, darling, and you’ll still see her. She’ll come and visit you ’ere.’
Johnny looked at her pleadingly. ‘If I ask you something, Nan, will you tell me the truth?’
Maureen nodded. ‘Of course I will, darling.’
‘Mum doesn’t love me and doesn’t want me, does she?’
Maureen was choked as she looked at him. She’d lied for her daughter for years and now she had to be cruel to be kind. ‘No, darling, she doesn’t,’ she replied honestly.
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