‘That’s how we get to her.’
Jess was all ears now. Suddenly interested, she snatched the newspaper off him and scanned the page.
‘You want revenge? Well, I reckon that this,’ he pointed to the child, ‘is worth far more to Nancy Byrne than a measly ten grand, don’t you? I reckon we could rinse her dry. Get to her by using her kid. Hit her where it hurts the most,’ Kyle said with a huge smug grin.
He had her now, hook, line and sinker.
He could see it in Jess’s face, that look of determination in her eyes as she took in what he’d told her.
This was their shot.
A real shot.
They could fleece this Nancy Byrne for everything she had.
‘See, told you I’d come right for you, babe; now are you going to let me in or what? My kecks are soaked through, and I’m freezing my nuts off out here. Literally.’
Eighteen
Taking a seat on the bench just inside Richmond Park playground, Michael sat watching as little Scarlett Byrne ran from the roundabout to the climbing frame, positively in her element at being out with her great-grandad.
The child loved the freedom of the park. Being outdoors, in the fresh air, just as Michael did. He could sit here all day just watching her.
Though sometimes his heart was in his mouth at the way she swung herself off the apparatus so fearlessly.
‘Careful how you go, Scarlett!’ Michael warned with a giggle as he watched Scarlett take the steps to the climbing platform two at a time, before sitting down on her bottom at the top of the slide. Raising her arms above her, high in the air, she squealed with delight as she hurtled down the slide with speed.
‘Look at me, Grandaddy. Did you seen how fast I could go?’
‘I did, darling. You’re like a little pocket rocket.’ Michael beamed. Opening his newspaper, he was also in his element here at the park. He loved his little outings with his great-granddaughter. The child was a real tonic.
Who’d have thought it, after years of being an awful father, and not really having any bond with his own son, Jimmy? Michael adored little Scarlett.
His great-grandchild was the light of his life. Until she’d come along, Michael had never known a love like it. Not even with Joanie if he was being honest. The love between him and Scarlett was really something else. A true bond. And the really amazing thing of all was that the child simply adored him too.
Smiling, he watched Scarlett wave at him before running back up the steps to have another go on the slide. She was already playing with another little girl about the same age as her. The two of them chasing one another around the playground. Giggling in unison. Michael couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride inside him.
‘That’s my girlie!’ Michael laughed, placing his newspaper down on the bench beside him, as he continued to watch the child in awe.
Scarlett coming along really had changed everything, for them all.
These days, even Joanie was almost back to her old self. That alone was a huge weight off Michael’s mind. Suffering a breakdown just before Scarlett was born, there had been a time when Michael had truly believed that his wife would never be the same again.
Oh, she was back now. Though there was a definite softness about her that he’d never seen before. Especially when it came to Scarlett.
Still bolshy and over-opinionated, mind, she hadn’t completely changed personality and, in all honesty, Michael wouldn’t have it any other way.
Things were easier between them these days and it helped that they both had something to share that they loved and adored.
Oh how they both doted on their great-granddaughter.
Colleen did too, in her own way.
Though lately the woman was acting resentful towards them both. Michael had noticed it, though he was keeping his own counsel about the matter for now. Observing Colleen, he could see that she was somewhat obsessed with the child.
He could understand that, though, he guessed, seeing as Colleen had opted to move out of the family home just after Scarlett had been born.
Strange, that the time when Nancy would have needed her around more than ever, the woman had decided to leave. And no amount of persuasion could change her mind; lord knows, Michael had tried. Only Colleen had been determined to go, to live on her own. Insisting that she’d visit Scarlett daily.
Though, she hadn’t stuck to her word, and lately when she did visit the child she seemed angered and bitter. But Michael couldn’t understand why.
This had all been her own doing. Stepping back from Scarlett, just as she had done with Nancy and Daniel. Missing out on their upbringing too.
Though, of course, back then there had been much more to it.
He knew that deep down. How it must have been hard for Colleen.
Lately he could see it all starting again. His wife and his daughter-in-law constantly competing with each other for the child’s time and attention. It was like Nancy and Daniel all over again. Like all those years ago, when Colleen was caught up in her own little world of pills and booze, allowing Joanie to actively push the woman out. It was as if history was repeating itself, without the medication and drink this time. Just the two women in some kind of power struggle.
Not that Scarlett seemed to notice.
These days the child had them all running about after her, vying for her time and attention and, because of that, Scarlett didn’t want for anything.
Except maybe her mother, Michael thought sadly to himself.
Colleen was right about some things.
Aware as they all were at how little time Nancy spent with her daughter.
Though they were all too scared to voice that to her, of course. Too worried that if they said anything she’d see it as them poking their noses in, or figure that looking after Scarlett was a burden to them.
Of course, she was anything but.
Michael and Joanie didn’t mind mucking in and doing their bit. In fact, if anything, having so much involvement in raising their grandchild was a privilege.
‘Beautiful day!’
Seeing the younger, attractive woman approach the bench to sit down, interrupting his thoughts, Michael smiled and moved his newspaper out of the way to make some room.
‘It is indeed.’ He grinned, before turning his attention back to Scarlett as she stood at the top of the climbing frame. ‘Scarlett, darling, hold on to the handrail,’ he shouted, as Scarlett did as she was told and carefully walked along the wobbling bridge.
Michael chuckled then. The child was such a little cherub.
‘Is that your daughter?’ the woman said, following Michael’s gaze to where the little girl sat now, at the top of the slide. Slipping down it, giggling, before racing back up the steps again, in order to have another go.
‘You having a bit of jip with your eyesight, or are you just sweet talking an old man?’ Michael laughed, secretly flattered that the woman thought he might look young enough to have a daughter of barely four years old.
‘She’s my great-granddaughter. Scarlett.’ The pride evident as he spoke.
‘What a beautiful girl.’ The woman smiled, following the child with her eyes as she raced around the playground. ‘She looks like a lively one.’
‘Oh, she certainly is,’ Michael said. ‘Mad as a box of frogs and every bit as hyper! Wouldn’t have her any other way though. How about you? Which one’s yours?’ Happy for the conversation. Especially seeing as it wasn’t every day that he befriended such an attractive-looking lady.
‘Oh, I don’t have any children.’ The woman shifting uncomfortably in her seat at the question. ‘I can’t…’
‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that…’ Michael could see the sadness in her expression as she answered; he’d clearly hit a nerve. Instantly regretting starting a conversation that suddenly went so deep. He wasn’t very good talking about women’s things. Especially with a complete stranger he’d only just met.
And one that looked so close to tears too.
‘No, please. It’s fine. Really. I’m just having a moment.’ The woman shrugged. ‘I know it sounds a bit weird, but sometimes I just sit in the park for a bit, you know, and pretend, I guess. Just watching the children running around and laughing. For a few minutes I get to feel what it could have been like to be a mum…’
Embarrassed now, as she got a tissue from her pocket and wiped her eyes. Looking away from the older man, not wanting to read his thoughts on her.
She smiled then, shaking her head. Trying to lighten the mood.
‘God, I probably sound like a right nutter now, don’t I?’
Michael laughed then too. To be honest, he had been starting to think that.
It was a bit odd. But he could see that the woman was genuinely upset.
Having never been paternal himself, and he’d certainly never been a good parent when Jimmy had been growing up, but now he was a great-grandad, he got it. He understood what it was to have a child in your life.
Something this woman next to him would probably never experience. Who was he to judge her?
In fact, if anything, his heart went out to the poor girl beside him.
‘I tell you what, I was just about to grab myself and Scarlett a nice hot chocolate from the kiosk over there. How about I get you one too?’ Michael Byrne offered. Not wanting to dwell on the conversation and upset the woman anymore.
Then seeing the woman’s reluctance to accept his kind gesture, he added: ‘It’s no trouble. I’m getting one for my great-granddaughter anyway. It’s our tradition. Go on, I’ll even ask for extra marshmallows? They are ever so good.’
The woman grinned then. Grateful of the offer.
‘That’s really kind of you. Thank you, I’d love one.’
Making his way over to the kiosk, Michael Byrne couldn’t help but grin to himself as he carried out his good deed for the day.
Another perk of having such a cute little great-granddaughter, wherever he went, he was never short of attention from the yummy-mummies. Or women in general, even the childless ones, as today had proved.
Seeing a man with a child, seeing that paternal bond, it was like a magnet to women.
If only he’d realised that years ago.
Still, this was all perfectly innocent, he reminded himself. Nothing more than a friendly chat with a lady in the park, as they both drank their hot chocolate.
Nothing more than that, he told himself, looking back at the woman and wondering just how many years stood between them.
The woman was certainly a stunner that was for sure.
Easily thirty years his junior, maybe even forty.
Still, Michael Byrne may be married and well into his seventies but there was plenty of life in the old dog yet.
And who knew, he might be in with a chance?
And there was certainly no harm having a bit of a flirt in the process, was there? In fact from where Michael was standing there was no harm at all.
Nineteen
Slamming down the phone, incensed, Colleen padded her way across the lounge of her small flat and stared out of the window.
That bloody Joanie.
She’d only called today to let them know that she’d be around to see Scarlett, yet the woman had sounded so smug as she’d informed Colleen that, yet again, Michael had taken Scarlett to the park.
There was always something, despite their conversation the other day when she’d told Joanie in no uncertain terms that she wouldn’t allow the woman to keep her away from Scarlett.
Though Joanie obviously hadn’t taken heed of her warning, Colleen thought, as she felt the anger building inside her once more.
The problem was, she didn’t have any of the power. Joanie had all of it, just like always.
She could feel her heart then, thumping loudly inside her chest as she recalled the smugness in the woman’s voice at the other end of the phone line. Joanie hadn’t even attempted to hide the fact that she was laughing at her behind her back, revelling in the fact that she was deliberately trying to hurt her.
That bitch.
Colleen took a deep breath. Holding on to the window frame, she stared down onto the busy Upper Richmond Road. Desperately trying to focus. Anything to try and distract her from wanting to scream out loud and bang her head against the bloody glass in rage.
The road was already bustling with shoppers, as expected for lunch time on a Monday afternoon, she thought, as she eyed the long queue of traffic that stood at gridlock. The only movement for miles were the bicycles that dipped in and out of the vehicles that they passed, and the hordes of people blocking up the pathways.
Colleen watched then. Noting to herself all the yummy-mummies that were out in their usual force, milling through the designer boutique shops and fancy overpriced delicatessens. Remembering how the estate agent who had first shown her this flat had told her that East Sheen was so up and coming. That with the excellent schools nearby and touch of celebrity status associated with this part of Richmond how the property wouldn’t be available for long.
Colleen had snapped it up. Though, not for any of those reasons, of course.
Her school run days were long over and she’d had more than her fill of the celebrity lifestyle after being the candy on Jimmy Byrne’s arm for her entire marriage.
That life meant nothing to her. It was all fake.
The lifestyle, the status. None of it was real. Not really.
What Colleen wanted now was anonymity. To blend in to the background unnoticed.
The flat may have been pokey, but it was ample size for her to rattle about in, and it was in the right location too. The estate agent had been spot on about that.
Only a ten-minute walk from the house.
From her Scarlett.
Modern and nicely decorated, affordable too, not that money mattered to her. As Jimmy’s widow, she’d never have to worry about money again.
That was the only thing that her Jimmy had got right. Ever the fucking righteous, of course he’d seen his wife was well provided for. It made him look good, even dead.
And the lying, cheating bastard owed her this much at the very least.
The mortgage all paid for. A nice lump sum in her account so that she needn’t worry about finances.
That had been a huge relief, though for her it had never been about the material things. This was all about convenience. This flat and the money just meant two less things to worry about.
Colleen gazed down at a mother below, dressed to the nines and tottering down the high street in her designer outfit and skyscraping heels. Her perfectly blow-dried hair bouncing off her shoulders as she walked. A young child in the pushchair.
Colleen bit her lip. They were picture-perfect, as if the woman had just stepped out of a magazine.
Though, Colleen could see, even from up here that the young child in the pushchair was crying. His little face bright red, big fat tears streaming down his cheeks. Yet the woman seemed totally oblivious. Not even bothering to so much as offer the child any words of comfort; she was far too busy admiring her own reflection in a nearby shop window.
Colleen pursed her mouth and looked away.
Some people really didn’t deserve the kids that were born to them.
She clenched her fists. Feeling fractious once again, as her thoughts turned to Nancy. Her daughter was not much better than that woman down there. Though she may not be obsessed with her appearance, she was obsessed with work and it was little Scarlett that paid the price for that. Always being left up at the house, in the care of Joanie and Michael, while Nancy busied herself, working all the hours that God sent. And Jack wasn’t much better. A DI at the Metropolitan Police, but more bent than a corkscrew.
His hands had never been clean either. Between the pair of them, they really were a shit show. What with Nancy running whore houses, and bringing drugs into the country – all underneath the pretence of being a successful businesswoman.
It made Colleen sick to her stomach th
at her daughter couldn’t see what was right in front of her eyes. That instead of spending time with her child that she’d been so blessed with, she chose to spend her time in a seedy brothel, pimping out young women.
Nancy was no better than Jimmy.
For the pair of them, it had only ever been about money and notoriety.
Christ knows, Colleen had tried to talk some sense into the girl. To make her realise that she would deeply regret her actions one day, when it was too late and Scarlett had suddenly grown up. That’s when she’d realise the damage she’d done, all the important things she’d missed out on by putting work first. Like tucking her child in at night and reading her bedtime stories, or taking her to the park.
What had her daughter done when Colleen had tried to help?
Shunned her, that’s what.
Nancy had told Colleen in no uncertain terms that she would be the last person in the world that Nancy would ever take parenting advice from.
She’d meant it too.
Her words cutting Colleen deeply.
Colleen hadn’t pushed it after that. Stung and hurting, she’d only been trying to help.
Their relationship these days had become just as distant and awkward as always; but at least Nancy had never stopped her from seeing Scarlett.
That was something, she supposed.
Colleen wasn’t going to jeopardise that, not when her daughter was finally including her. Even if her efforts were only for Scarlett’s sake, Colleen was eternally grateful that Nancy had let her in at all.
She loved the very bones of her granddaughter and, what’s more, Scarlett loved her back. Colleen could feel it.
Only lately there was a distance starting to form between them all.
Colleen could feel that too.
This was all Joanie’s doing. That woman!
She was turning Scarlett against her. Colleen was sure of it.
‘Shit!’ she said, slamming her hand against the windowpane before turning and marching back across the lounge into the open-plan kitchen.
Finally giving in.
She needed a drink.
The Forgotten_An absolutely gripping, gritty thriller novel Page 15