‘No, I had to move,’ Jenny told him. ‘The council said the house was too big for me after my mum died.’
‘Oh, yeah, I heard about that,’ said Mark, vaguely remembering Steve having had a go at him for being so abrupt with her when they had walked in here on the night of the funeral. ‘How’ve you been doing?’
‘Okay.’ Jenny shrugged.
‘Bit shit taking your house off you at a time like that, though,’ Mark said sympathetically.
‘Actually, it’s been easier since I moved,’ said Jenny. ‘Too many memories back there.’
‘Suppose so,’ Mark agreed. ‘So where are you now?’
‘Whalley Road. I’ve got the upstairs flat in a converted house. It was done up before I moved in, so I haven’t had to do anything. And my downstairs neighbour is old, so he doesn’t make a lot of noise, or anything.’
‘Sounds good.’
‘Suits me.’
They fell silent again. Jenny licked her lips, trying to summon up the courage to tell him that he was welcome to call round if he was ever passing. But the door opened before she had a chance, and her heart sank when Katie and Fiona walked in. She flashed Mark a look of desperation, willing him to say something – anything – to indicate that he was interested in carrying on their conversation, in which case she would happily tell the girls to get lost. But he just smiled again and said, ‘Well, it was nice talking to you. See you around sometime.’
‘Hope so,’ Jenny murmured when he reached out to open the door. ‘It’s number forty-seven,’ she blurted out. But, as the door swung shut behind him, she wasn’t sure he’d heard.
As soon as he was gone, Katie grabbed her arm. ‘Was that who I think it was?’ she gasped, her owlish glasses sliding down her nose in her excitement.
‘Yes, it was!’ confirmed Fiona. ‘O . . . M . . . Gee! Mark Taylor – your first love!’
‘Shut up,’ Jenny hissed, glancing around in case anybody was listening. They were such a pair of losers, it was embarrassing to be seen with them.
‘Sorry,’ Fiona twittered. ‘But it’s so exciting. Did he mention that night?’
Her last words were mouthed, not spoken, and Jenny couldn’t help but smile. As much as the girls irritated her, they were the only people she had ever told about her and Mark sleeping together.
‘Yeah, we talked about it,’ she lied. ‘He said he’s thought about me a lot over the last five years, and then he asked if I’d like to go out with him sometime. But you turned up before I had a chance to answer.’
‘Really?’ Katie’s eyes were on stalks. ‘What about you know who?’
‘Oh, he doesn’t care about her.’ Jenny flapped her hand in a dismissive gesture. ‘He’s only with her because of the kids.’
‘Be careful,’ Fiona cautioned, following as Jenny set off towards the bar. ‘I remember what Amy was like at school, and she won’t be happy if she finds out.’
‘She doesn’t scare me,’ Jenny scoffed, waving to attract the barmaid’s attention.
Fiona and Katie exchanged hooded glances behind her back. They had always known that she had a thing for Mark, but none of them had ever had a serious boyfriend – or any kind of boyfriend – so they had never really believed her story about sleeping with him. They’d thought it unlikely that any man would do something like that on his wedding day, especially with someone who hadn’t even been invited but was only there to help out on the bar. But now, after seeing the way Mark had been looking at Jenny when they walked in, they weren’t so sure. And that unsettled them. Not only because he was a married man but because Jenny was vulnerable right now, and they didn’t want her to get hurt.
‘We know you’re still grieving for your mum,’ Fiona said when they had got their drinks and found a table. ‘And you probably think you need someone to fill the void. But you know you’ve got us, don’t you?’
‘We’ll always be here for you,’ Katie chipped in. ‘Best friends for life.’
Both girls stuck out their little fingers and waited for Jenny to add hers to do the pinkie friendship pledge. But Jenny just smiled secretively and reached for her glass.
‘You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big girl now.’
And you two are even more stupid than you look if you think I’m going to carry on hanging around with you after tonight.
Mark Taylor was the only one who could fill the so-called void in her life. And now that she had reconnected with him, the girls were as good as dead to her.
The house was dark when Mark let himself in, and he hoped that Amy had given up on him and gone to bed. But she was huddled on the couch when he walked into the living room, and he felt guilty when he heard her sniffing softly. He reached out to switch the light on and felt like the world’s biggest bastard when she said, ‘Don’t bother. The electric’s gone.’
‘Sorry.’ He shuffled his feet and gave her a hangdog look from the shadows.
‘Your dinner’s in the oven,’ she murmured. ‘It might still be a bit warm, if you’re lucky.’
‘Don’t worry about it – I’m not hungry.’ He sat beside her and held out his arms. ‘Hug?’
Amy hesitated for a moment. Then, sighing, she leaned towards him.
‘Sorry for kicking off,’ Mark said softly, kissing her hair. ‘I was wound up, but I shouldn’t have took it out on you.’
‘I didn’t mean to make you feel worse.’ Amy laid her head on his chest. ‘I’m just worried how we’re going to manage without your wages.’
‘We’ll be all right,’ he assured her. ‘I’ve been thinking about it, and I reckon Stan might give me my job back if I go and talk to him.’
Amy shook her head. ‘He won’t. He rang after you went out, said your P45’s in the post.’
Mark’s immediate response was anger at Stan for being so unreasonable. But it quickly changed to acceptance, and he gave a resigned shrug. ‘Oh, well, I never liked it there anyhow. I’ll just find another job, with better hours and pay.’
‘What if you can’t?’ Amy gazed up at him. ‘The electric’s already gone, and I’ve got no money to put on the card. The rent’s due on Monday, and I was expecting to do a big shop next week so I let the freezer run down. And I’ve got the phone bill to pay, and Sky, and the gas bill will be in any day.’
‘I’ll look for another job first thing,’ Mark promised. ‘And if I can’t get one I’ll sign on.’ He raised her chin with his finger now and gazed down into her tearful eyes. ‘I said I’d look after you, and I will.’
Amy squeezed her eyes shut and held onto him. She knew that he meant what he was saying, but she doubted it was going to be as easy as that. It had been hard enough for him to get this job after having been sacked so many times before, and she didn’t hold out much hope of anyone giving him another chance now that it had happened again. It wouldn’t even be easy to sign on, because there would be a whole load of forms to fill out and hoops to jump through before they saw any money. And what was she supposed to do in the meantime? The child benefit might just about cover their food, but there was no way it would cover the rent, or the other bills that were stacking up. And that was without the kids’ school dinners, and all the other day-to-day expenses they incurred.
As he held her, Mark stared worriedly off into the darkness. He’d really blown it this time, and he didn’t know how he was going to make it right. But Amy and the kids were depending on him, so he would have to try.
5
Steve cursed when he nicked his face with the razor, and splashed cold water onto the cut to wash away the blood. He was meeting his new girlfriend’s parents for the first time tonight and he was already nervous, so the last thing he needed was to greet them with little bits of toilet paper stuck to his face.
Almost taking another chunk out of himself when somebody knocked on the door and made him jump, he tossed the razor into the sink, grabbed his shirt and ran out into the hall.
Fully expecting to see Layla when he opened the door, he was
shocked to find Mark on the step. It had been over a month since their argument, and Steve had missed him. It would have been hard not to, considering they had been best mates since primary school and had done everything together for as long as he could remember. Like any good mates, they’d had loads of arguments over the years and it was always Steve who’d had to back down. But this time he had decided to give Mark a taste of his own medicine and wait it out – and it had taken the stubborn bastard a lot longer to come round than he’d anticipated.
‘All right, mate?’ Mark gave him a sheepish smile. ‘Can I come in?’
‘If you want.’ Determined to play it cool, Steve stepped back.
In the hall, Mark shuffled his feet as Steve pulled the shirt on and buttoned it up. ‘Going out?’
‘Yep.’
‘Sorry, I should have rung. I’ll get off and leave you to it.’
Steve picked up on his friend’s miserable tone and sighed. ‘Come here, you dickhead.’ He pulled him into a hug.
‘Get off, you wuss,’ Mark protested.
Laughing, Steve let him go and led him into the living room. ‘How’s it going? Amy and the kids all right?’
‘Yeah, it’s all good,’ Mark lied, sitting on the couch and looking around. ‘That new?’ He nodded towards a stack hi-fi system that he’d never seen before on the shelf in the corner.
‘Second-hand off eBay,’ said Steve, reaching for his cigarettes and tossing one to Mark. ‘But I wish I’d kept the old one, to be honest. One of the tweeters is fucked and it’ll cost more to replace than I paid for the whole thing.’ He lit up now and sat back. ‘So, what’s been happening with you? Found a new job yet?’
Mark was too busy sucking on the cigarette to answer immediately. It was his first smoke in three hours, and he’d been desperate for the nicotine. Exhaling slowly, he shook his head. ‘Nah. I’ve tried, but there’s nothing going.’
‘Don’t give up,’ Steve said sympathetically. ‘You’re bound to find something eventually.’
‘Yeah, I guess.’ Mark shrugged as if he wasn’t concerned, but Steve could see from his expression that he was already losing hope. ‘Anyhow, never mind me,’ he said more brightly. ‘Where you off to tonight? Seeing a bird?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Anyone I know?’
‘No, I only met her a couple of weeks back. Went to Zenith for Lippy’s stag do, and Layla and her mates were sitting at the next table. We got chatting and just sort of clicked.’
‘Cool,’ Mark muttered, struggling to squash the envy that was clawing at his gut at the thought of Steve living it up at the nightclubs while he was so broke that he couldn’t even afford a half at the pub.
‘It’s her twenty-first today and her folks are taking her out for a meal, so she asked if I could come,’ Steve went on. ‘Not really looking forward to meeting them, but me and Layla are coming back here straight after so I’ll get through it.’ He paused and took another pull on his smoke before saying, ‘Want me to ask if you can come?’
Mark wrinkled his nose. ‘Nah, you’re all right. Not really into them family dinners, always feel like I’ve got to be on my best behaviour. Anyhow, you don’t want me tagging along if you’re bringing her back here.’
Steve tried to look suitably disappointed but he was secretly relieved that Mark had turned him down. He’d asked out of politeness – pity, even – but it wasn’t really his place to invite anyone, and Layla’s mum and dad would probably have thought he was taking the piss.
‘So what’s she like?’ Mark wanted to know.
‘Gorgeous.’ Steve grinned. ‘Long black hair, big brown eyes, and a really great figure. Bit like Amy Winehouse.’
‘Amy Winehouse ain’t gorgeous. What you on, man?’
‘Come off it. She was well fit when she wasn’t out of her head.’
‘Fit, me arse,’ Mark snorted, enjoying the banter, because he had missed Steve every bit as much as Steve had missed him. ‘Now, Sharon Stone – that’s fit.’
‘Maybe twenty years ago,’ Steve shot back. ‘But it’d be like shagging your nan nowadays. Anyhow, I like them dark. You’re the one who likes blondes. And gingers,’ he added slyly.
‘Fuck off!’ Mark snorted, taking the dig in good humour. Then, ‘Subject of ginger, I bumped into that Jenny the other week.’
‘Yeah, I know, I was there,’ Steve reminded him. ‘At The Junny, after her mam’s funeral. You said you didn’t remember her, but I reckon you were just ashamed.’
‘No, it was after that,’ Mark told him. ‘This was the day me and you fell out. She’s gone dark now. Looked pretty fit.’
‘You having a laugh?’ Steve gave him a disbelieving look.
‘Nah, serious.’ Mark shook his head and sucked on his cigarette.
A car horn tooted down below. Steve pulled the curtain back and waved before standing up. ‘Sorry, mate, got to go.’
Mark was already on his feet. ‘Have a good ’un. And don’t do anything I wouldn’t.’
‘So, basically, anything goes, then?’ Steve quipped, grinning as they headed out into the hall.
He slipped his jacket on and checked his hair in the mirror before picking up the slim gift-wrapped package from the table. But, just as he was about to open the door, Mark said, ‘Don’t suppose you’ve got a few quid to lend us, have you?’
‘Sorry, I haven’t,’ Steve told him regretfully. ‘Layla’s present cost an arm and a leg. Only got enough left for a cab back from town.’
‘No worries.’ Mark stepped out onto the landing. ‘Forget I said anything.’
Steve felt terrible. Mark would never have asked if he wasn’t desperate and, even though he’d brought it on himself, Steve wished he could help.
‘Look, why don’t you come round tomorrow?’ he suggested as they walked down the stairs. ‘My wages should have gone into my account by then. I’ll get some beers, and we can watch the footie and have a proper catch-up.’
‘Yeah, that’ll be good.’ Mark smiled. ‘I’ll ring first, though, eh? Give you and your bird time to get dressed.’
‘Cheers, bud.’ Steve reached out and touched fists with him. Then, pulling his cigarettes out of his pocket, he shoved them into Mark’s hand. ‘Here, take these.’
‘You sure?’
‘Yeah, I’ve got another pack in the drawer,’ said Steve, adjusting his cuffs as they emerged from the stairwell.
A bronze Lexus was idling at the kerb, and as they walked out onto the path a pretty girl in a long black dress stepped out of its back door.
‘Wow.’ Mark whistled through his teeth.
‘Told you,’ Steve said proudly.
‘You look nice,’ the girl said, her eyes gleaming as she reached up to kiss Steve on the cheek.
‘So do you,’ he murmured, conscious of her dad staring out at him from the driver’s seat. ‘This is Mark, my best mate,’ he said as he introduced them. ‘Mark, this is Layla, my . . .’
‘Girlfriend,’ said Layla when he trailed off.
‘Pleased to meet you.’ Mark grinned. ‘And happy birthday.’
Layla thanked him and waved her hand at the occupants of the car.
‘This is my mum and dad,’ she said when they stepped out. ‘Mum, Dad . . . this is Steve.’
Layla’s father was a good foot shorter than Steve, but he had the brooding intensity and stocky physique of a pro boxer, and Steve was conscious of his knees knocking as he held out his hand.
‘Pleased to meet you, Mr . . .’ He realised he didn’t know their surname and gave Layla a helpless look.
‘It’s Gerry.’ The man grasped his hand and pumped it. ‘And it’s nice to meet you, too, son. Good to finally put a face to the lad who’s had my girl mooning around like a lost puppy all week.’
‘Dad!’ Layla hissed. ‘You’re embarrassing me.’
‘That’s my job,’ Gerry chuckled. ‘You should be used to it by now.’
‘Behave,’ his wife scolded, stepping forward and giving Steve the
once-over. ‘I’m Janice – mother of the bride.’
‘Oh, my God!’ squealed Layla, a look of mortification on her face.
‘Hi.’ Smiling, Steve offered his hand to Janice. But she was having none of that.
‘It’s so lovely to meet you at last,’ she gushed, pulling him into a hug. ‘Layla’s told me all about you.’
‘All good, I hope?’
‘Do you think I’d be hugging you if it wasn’t? I’d be setting Gerry on you.’
Mark smirked as he watched his friend being sucked into the family like a long-lost relative. Poor sod didn’t know what he was letting himself in for. The dad looked like he’d stepped straight off the set of The Sopranos and the mum was like a middle-aged Barbie, all fake tan, peroxide hair and killer boobs. Layla was very pretty, though, he’d give Steve that.
‘Right, we’d best get moving before they give our table away,’ said Gerry. ‘Nice to meet you.’ He gave Mark a nod before climbing back into the car.
Janice smiled and walked back round to her side, while Steve held the back door open for Layla – giving Mark a look of terror before climbing in beside her.
Mark maintained his smile as he watched the car drive away, but his heart felt like a lump of lead in his chest. It had taken a lot for him to swallow his pride and come begging to Steve. But he’d promised Amy that he would get some money and none of his other mates had any, so he’d had no choice.
He lit one of the cigarettes that Steve had given him and started walking slowly home. It was the last place he wanted to go, because he and Amy had been tearing lumps out of each other all day and he’d had a gutful of it. He’d already admitted that he’d fucked up by getting the sack, and he was trying his best to rectify it. Hell, he’d been down to the job centre so many times in the last month that he was surprised they hadn’t set up a bed for him. But that wasn’t good enough for Amy. According to her, he was useless . . . useless husband, useless dad, useless excuse for a man.
As he mentally replayed the argument they’d been having just before he walked out, Mark’s anger began to resurface. Amy had never had a job in her life, and yet she had the cheek to call him a loser just because he was temporarily out of work. Well, she’d better watch out, because his luck was bound to change before too long. And when it did and she came running to him for money, he was going to tell her right where to shove it.
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