by Kitty Neale
Bernie was impressed. Kevin had not only refused to take any money, he also talked a lot of sense. ‘All right, son, as long as you’re sure, but as for our wills my mind is made up and we’ll change them in your favour.’
‘I’d rather you didn’t. As I’ve said before, I trust in God to provide all I need.’
Bernie just smiled. It didn’t matter how much Kevin protested. He was now determined to make his son his heir.
Though Kevin had managed to sound pious, even calm, when told that his son didn’t want to see him, his stomach had been churning with anger until his dad had brought up the subject of inheritance.
John had been a baby when Kevin had been sent to prison, and he hadn’t wanted him to grow up seeing his father behind bars. He’d told Pearl to get John away from his mother and then stepped away, agreeing to a divorce and not contesting it when Pearl was given full custody. After all, he could hardly be a father to his son while in jail; but he’d been sure that when released he’d have no trouble becoming part of John’s life again. Pearl knew that he would never harm his son so there was no reason for her to object. He might have missed the boy’s childhood, yet he would see him grow into a man.
But now Pearl was trying to put a stop to that and Kevin began to inwardly fume again. It didn’t matter that he’d hardly spared his son a thought since his release, not even realising it was John’s birthday, although he had covered the fact well in front of his parents. What mattered was that Pearl had turned his son against him. He’d make her sorry, he’d sort her out, but not now, he had other things on his mind now.
Dolly’s voice broke into his musing. ‘Kevin, you haven’t touched your sandwich.’
‘I was just about to,’ he said, hardly tasting a thing as he bit into it. He’d been tempted when his father had talked about giving him some money, but something, a sort of sixth sense that it might be some sort of test, had made him turn it down. Their wills were more important, and he’d expected to use months of subtle persuasion to get his parents to change them, but that wasn’t necessary now.
Of course it was too soon to carry out the rest of his plan. If it came to light that they’d died just after changing their wills in his favour, he’d be the obvious suspect, and after just getting out after serving thirteen years, there was no way he was going back inside again.
For now he’d have to be patient, but at the thought of the rewards in store, Kevin knew it wouldn’t be easy. What he needed was a diversion – and as he still had to deal with Vincent Chase, working out a way to get his revenge would keep him happily occupied.
Chapter Fifteen
Lucy had spent most of the same day trying her hand at tie-dyeing some plain white T-shirts that she’d got for next to nothing from Eddie White, a stallholder who couldn’t shift them. She had used money that she could ill afford, earned from a complicated alteration, but desperate times called for desperate measures, and she hoped to make a decent profit.
With a deft hand, Lucy took the centre of the fabric and twisted it into a spiral, securing it with elastic bands before immersing the garment in red dye. If they turned out all right, Lucy knew that she would need an outlet, somewhere to display them, but as she had known Eddie White since her childhood, she was hoping to persuade him to either buy them back, or to sell them for her with a share of the profit. Eddie was all right, though he was a bit of a womaniser who flirted with every female customer. Mind you, he was funny, she had to give him that, and nobody left his stall without a smile on their face.
‘Mummy, you look like you’ve got red gloves on,’ said Clive.
‘Oh dear, you’re right,’ she said, holding them up. ‘I should have worn rubber ones, but it’s too late now.’
‘Will you help me with this jigsaw puzzle?’
‘Not now, pet,’ she said. ‘It’s nearly time to make dinner, but I’ll rinse this batch out first.’
It was less then half an hour later, and Lucy was pleased as she held up the T-shirts. They looked great, each one a little different and good enough to sell, she was sure. She’d done enough for today, but tomorrow she’d try the blue dye. ‘I’ll just hang these up to dry,’ she said to Clive, but then the doorbell rang.
Her eyes widened when she saw who it was.
‘The landlord asked me to give you this,’ the agent said without preamble.
‘What is it?’
‘Two weeks’ notice to leave the flat.’
‘But I paid the arrears and I’m up to date with the rent!’
‘I know, but he’s selling this place and he wants you out. You’ll have to find another flat, or try the borough council.’
‘I have. I’ve been on their housing list for years.’
The man just shrugged and walked away, while Lucy stood frozen on the doorstep.
‘Mum, what’s wrong?’
At the sound of Clive’s voice, Lucy fixed a smile on her face. ‘Nothing, darling,’ she said, turning to face him. Somehow she had to hide her worries from Clive, but finding somewhere else to live in just two weeks seemed an impossible task.
Vincent Chase didn’t have to worry about money. He’d come a long way and his clubs were highly profitable, but one thing he’d learned was to never take chances. He wasn’t really worried, but just in case Dolby had connections, he’d sent one of his boys to check him out.
‘He may have been inside for thirteen years, boss, but there are plenty of people in Battersea who remember him and were willing to dish the dirt. He hasn’t got any backup. He’s just a small-time thief who got done for robbery with violence.’
‘What about his family? Any connections there?’
‘None,’ Stan replied. ‘He was married with a kid, but they’re well out of the picture now, and apparently his mother went into a nut house.’
‘Did you hear that, Adrianna? No wonder your fancy man had the nerve to take me on. Insanity must run in his family.’
‘He isn’t my fancy man.’
Vince chuckled. ‘He was pretty, I’ll give you that – at least he was before the boys got hold of him. I doubt they did his face any favours.’
‘Can I go now?’ Adrianna asked, appearing disinterested.
Vince agreed and as the door closed behind her, he said, ‘I was a bit heavy-handed with her, but I don’t think she knew Dolby. Still, it served as a warning in case she gets any ideas in the future.’
‘Yeah,’ Stan agreed, ‘and for Dolby too. I don’t think we’ll be seeing his face again.’
‘We’d better not,’ he said. Adrianna was his star stripper, her performances guaranteed to pull in the punters, and he’d groomed her to his tastes in bed too. Nobody, connected or not, was getting their hands on his property.
Adrianna sat in Vince’s room, one she was forced to share, hating it; the plush red velvet decor, the mirror above the bed, but most of all, hating the man who owned it – who owned her.
She didn’t care that the bloke who’d hung about outside the club had been given a hiding. Because of him she’d got a slap too. All she cared about was finding a way to escape from Vince, but he hardly let her out of his sight and she didn’t have any money. He had eyes and ears everywhere, and her only hope would be to get well away from here, but without funds it was impossible. Vince bought all her clothes, make-up and anything else she needed, giving her just a paltry few bob as pocket money. Any jewellery he had given her he insisted on keeping in his safe, and it was only brought out when he decided she should wear it.
Vince walked into the room and, seething with hate, Adrianna avoided looking at him. When they first met she had known that he was a powerful man, and though old enough to be her father, his age didn’t seem to matter. He’d been so charismatic, so caring, and had showered her with gifts. Within a month she was working the top spot in one of his clubs and within three she had agreed to move into his house. The luxurious lifestyle he led had stunned her, blinding her to the early clues – the way he controlled her, his jealousy, but
once the scales had dropped from her eyes, she had seen that she was living with a monster.
‘Still sulking I see,’ he said.
‘I’m not sulking.’
‘Prove it.’
Bile rose in Adrianna’s throat. She knew what that meant and, feeling sick, she began to undress. Vince watched her, his eyes dark with lust, and when he began to slobber all over her body she willed her mind to another place. Thankfully, it was over quickly, it always was, and rolling away, Vince put his clothes back on. He then took a box from his jacket pocket and threw it onto the bed. ‘Just a little something I thought you might like. You’ve earned it.’
Adrianna opened the box, and as she looked at the diamond-encrusted bracelet she felt nothing but self-loathing. She was an exotic dancer, not a tart, but this felt more like a payment.
Soho was far from Winchester and while Adrianna was just finishing her act, Pearl was tossing and turning, unable to sleep. This was the last night they would spend in her mother’s house, and though they would still see lots of her, it was going to be so hard to say goodbye in the morning.
Pearl plumped up her pillows, but sleep was still impossible and irritably she got out of bed. Maybe a mug of hot milk would help. It was her own fault she was feeling like this. She had made the decision to return to Battersea, but nevertheless it felt forced upon her.
‘What’s the matter?’ Derek mumbled.
‘Nothing. Go back to sleep,’ she said. Pearl knew it was unreasonable, but she was irritable with him too. He was happy that they were returning to Battersea, whereas she just couldn’t feel the same.
Quietly she left the room and padded softly to the kitchen, only to find a light on when she opened the door.
‘Mum, I didn’t expect to find you up.’
‘It seems that neither of us could sleep. I can’t say the same for Nora. The door to the conservatory is closed, yet I can still hear her snoring like a trooper.’
‘At least you’ll have your conservatory back tomorrow.’
‘It’s already tomorrow,’ Emily said, nodding towards the kitchen clock.
Tears gathered and Pearl blinked rapidly. ‘Mum, you could change your mind. Come with us. With four bedrooms there’s plenty of room.’
‘Darling, at my age I don’t think I’d find another teaching job, and to be honest, I love the one I have. We’ll still see each other regularly, and during school holidays I could come to stay.’
‘That’s something, but it won’t be the same. Oh, why did I make that promise to Bessie? If it wasn’t for Nora … if I could just bring myself to put her in an institution, but …’
‘Pearl, I know you,’ Emily interrupted. ‘If you did that you’d never forgive yourself.
‘If only we didn’t have to live in Battersea … and what am I doing to John, dragging him away from Winchester, his school, his friends?’
‘Pearl, we’ve been through this. He’s young, he’ll adapt to a new school and when he comes to stay with me he’ll see his friends.’
‘Mum, I thought you were against us moving, but now you sound like Derek.’
‘I was being selfish in thinking of myself instead of you. It was wrong of me to expect you to give up the chance of your own home and a business which I’m sure you can improve.’
‘But I’m going to miss you so much,’ Pearl choked, her heart heavy at the thought of leaving her mother, and Winchester, a town she loved so much.
‘Come here,’ Emily said as she stood up and opened her arms.
Pearl clung to her as though she were a life raft. ‘I don’t think I can bear to leave you.’
‘Darling, I’ll only be a drive away and I’ll always be here if you need me.’
‘Oh, Mum,’ Pearl choked, a little comforted by her words.
‘Now, come on, chin up,’ Emily said, gently drawing away. ‘You’ve got an early start and I think it might be a good idea if you try to get some sleep.’
Pearl saw the sense of her mother’s words. ‘Yes, all right. Good night, Mum.’
‘Good night, darling.’
When Pearl climbed into bed again, she doubted that sleep would be possible. She was wrong. For a while she lay listening to the sound of Derek’s rhythmic breathing, but then her eyes closed.
Yet Pearl’s last thought before sleep overtook her was that her life was never going to be the same again.
Chapter Sixteen
It was quiet in Battersea High Street, the shops and market stalls closed. This was just what Pearl wanted and why she had chosen a Sunday to move. There were no prying eyes as she opened the door of the shop, though a musty smell greeted them as they trooped inside.
John was the first to complain. ‘It stinks, Mum.’
‘The shop just needs a good airing, but it can wait for now,’ Pearl told him as they walked through to the back stairs. There was an entirely different aroma as they went up to the flat and Pearl frowned, wondering how it could possibly smell of fresh paint.
‘Derek,’ she gasped when they reached the first landing to see that new wallpaper had been hung, and the yellowing paintwork caused by years of accumulated nicotine was now sparkling white.
Derek grinned. ‘I know I told you I had a job on, a bit of decorating for an old couple, but I was really coming here. I thought it would be a nice surprise.’
Pearl flung open the living room door, her eyes wide as she scanned the room. It was beautifully decorated too, with no sign of Bessie’s old, worn furniture or sagging sofa. Everything was new – the cream three-piece suite, the cabinet, side tables, and picking up a peach cushion that matched the curtains, she said, ‘Oh, Derek, this is just the style and colour I’d have chosen. How did you know?’
‘I can’t take the credit. I took sample swatches to your mother and she chose everything. I’ve decorated the whole flat, Pearl, but the colour scheme is your mother’s. If you don’t like anything,’ he said with a smile, ‘blame her, not me.’
‘I go see my room,’ Nora said, looking worried as she bustled off.
Nora’s room was on this floor and Pearl said, ‘She doesn’t like change, Derek. I hope she isn’t going to be upset.’
‘Don’t worry, I haven’t done anything major, just enough to freshen it up. It’s the same with the other rooms. Other than Nora’s, I got rid of the beds, but for now we’ll have to put up with Bessie’s old bedroom furniture.’
‘I’ll get Ginger out of his box,’ John said.
‘He’s can’t go out yet, so make sure you set up his litter box,’ Derek advised.
John opened the carrier and Ginger slunk out nervously, body low as his eyes scanned the room. John murmured reassurances, and it wasn’t long before Ginger couldn’t resist the urge to explore.
‘He’ll soon settle,’ Pearl said.
‘Where’s my room?’ John asked.
‘It’s on the top floor, next to ours,’ Derek told him. ‘Now that sounds like Tommy Harris with the van. I know you didn’t get much of a chance to chat to him while we were loading, but he used to have a stall close to mine on the market and he’s still a good mate. Come on, he’ll need a hand.’
When they both left, Pearl stood alone in the living room, touched by Derek’s thoughtfulness. Though it looked entirely different, she felt that the essence of Bessie would always remain, that echoes of the past were impregnated in the walls.
‘I likes my room,’ Nora said, looking happier than Pearl had seen her in ages. ‘We stay here, Pearl?’
‘Yes, we’ll all be living here,’ she said, thinking that they were divided into pairs: Derek and Nora happy to be back in Battersea, while she and John would have preferred to stay in Winchester.
‘Not go away again?’
‘No, this is our home now.’
‘Bessie pleased,’ Nora said smiling.
Pearl felt a shiver of goose bumps and rubbed her arms, but then heard the thump of footsteps on the stairs, the funny feeling leaving her as she said, ‘No doubt Derek and
Tommy will be looking for cups of tea.’
‘I make it,’ Nora offered.
‘Take this then,’ Pearl said, handing her the shopping bag containing tea, sugar and milk that she’d had the forethought to keep separate from their other things.
As Pearl stood alone in her new home, she was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. This might all be hers now, this flat, the shop, a wonderful inheritance people would say, but with the conditions of Bessie’s will, Pearl felt that she would be trapped in Battersea for many, many years.
It won’t be that bad. Pull yourself together, girl, and get on with it.
Pearl spun around, but saw only an empty room. She was sure that someone had spoken to her, yet she must have imagined it, the voice in her mind. Nora had spooked her, that was all, and she had to pull herself together.
It was five minutes later when Derek called from upstairs, ‘Pearl, where do you want our bed?’
She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and with renewed determination she strode up to the next landing. It was going to be strange sleeping in what had been Bessie’s bedroom, but with the furniture moved around a bit, surely she’d get used to it. ‘Put it over there,’ she said, ‘and would you mind shifting that wardrobe?’
‘It’s a big double, but I’m game,’ said Tommy.
‘Pearl, it’s still full of Bessie’s clothes and I wasn’t sure what you wanted to do with them. I managed to shuffle it forward to wallpaper behind it, but it’s heavy. It might help if you empty it.’
‘Yes, all right.’
‘While you’re doing that, we’ll bring John’s bed up.’
As they left the room, Pearl opened the wardrobe door. Derek was right, it was full of clothes from a bygone era, but Bessie had been a hoarder so she wasn’t surprised. There were hats and handbags on the top shelf, but as the wardrobe was so tall, she couldn’t reach them.
Pearl lifted out as many clothes as she could and took them across to the stockroom, but as she walked in, her eyes widened. Derek had cleared it and it was now a spare bedroom, decorated in lemon and blue, her mother’s favourite colour combination. It had obviously been designated for her when she came to stay, and Pearl’s eyes moistened with gratitude at Derek’s thoughtfulness. Thankfully there were still a couple of racks, and Pearl was able to hang Bessie’s clothes on them for now.