The Charmer

by Mandasue Heller

  ‘He lives with his bird over the back of the school,’ Lin said. ‘They’ve got three little ones so they don’t notice if I slip mine in. And they love their Uncle Frank – don’t you, Keels?’ Grinning, she gave the little girl a rough shake.

  Tired eyes riveted on Maria, Keely nodded.

  ‘He’s dead good with them,’ Lin went on proudly. ‘Better dad to ’em than their proper ones were, anyhow. And he’s belting round the house, an’ all – always cleaning, and fixing stuff. The lazy bitch he’s shacked up with don’t deserve him. I keep telling him he needs someone like me, who’s a bit more appreciative.’

  ‘Uh huh,’ Maria murmured, wondering if she’d somehow landed on Mars by mistake.

  She’d grown up with these breeders, but she couldn’t be more different from them if she tried. And it wasn’t just that Lin sounded like she had the hots for her own brother that was making her uneasy, it was the thought of all the kids they had produced between them. She couldn’t imagine having one child at this point in her life, never mind two, three or – God forbid! – four. Christ, she hadn’t even had four serious boyfriends yet.

  ‘So, are you gonna go and see her, or what?’

  ‘Sorry?’ Snapping out of her thoughts, Maria frowned. ‘Oh, you mean Vicky? Well, yeah, I guess so.’

  ‘Right, well, it’s number thirty-seven,’ Lin said. ‘But don’t tell her you saw me, yeah?’

  ‘I won’t,’ Maria assured her, folding her arms. ‘Say hello to your Frankie for me.’

  ‘I will.’ Lin looked her over again, storing up the details to pass on to her brother. ‘Anyhow, I’d best go before he pisses off out. See you again sometime.’

  ‘Yeah, bye,’ Maria said, not wanting to delay her any further. Lin’s carping tone was grating on her nerves, and the little girl staring at her like that was freaking her out. ‘Take care,’ she added, keeping her arms firmly crossed in case Lin expected a hug. ‘It was nice seeing you.’

  Waving until they had disappeared from view, Maria sighed with relief. She just thanked God that Lin hadn’t asked for her number, because she definitely would have had to lie.

  Checking the time, she was surprised to see that it was still only a quarter to eleven. It felt as if she’d been trapped with Lin for much, much longer than the twenty minutes or so that it had probably been.

  She had plenty of time before she had to go and sign those papers, so it wouldn’t be a problem to call in on Vicky for a quick visit. Trouble was, now that she had seen Lin, she wasn’t sure she wanted to. If Vicky had turned out even half as rough, it would be horrible.

  But could she really come all this way without at least saying hello? It had been a long time since they’d last seen each other, but they had been best mates.

  And if it didn’t work out – so what? She’d be going home in a few hours. She’d never have to see her again.

  7

  Vicky switched the iron off and stuffed the board into its slot between the cooker and the fridge. That was the only problem with this flat – lack of space. Apart from that, and the fact that the kids were rapidly outgrowing their shared bedrooms, she had no complaints.

  Heaping the pressed clothes onto the couch ready to put away when she’d finished, she pushed her sleeves up and started on the washing-up. Almost immediately, a loud repetitive banging started up in the boys’ bedroom down the hall. Tyrell was obviously awake and looking for mischief. Drying her hands, Vicky went to see what he was doing. He was only one, but boy could he cause havoc when he got started.

  Tyrell was standing up in the cot with a huge toothy grin on his face, whacking his brother’s Walkman against the wooden bars with a pudgy little hand. Luke had obviously left it on the window ledge again – more fool him. He’d been warned that Ty could reach it, but it looked like he was going to have to learn the hard way.

  ‘Give me that, you little bugger,’ Vicky said, rescuing the Walkman and putting it out of reach on top of the wardrobe. Getting another grin from Tyrell, she couldn’t help but smile. He was going to be a real heartbreaker, this one. Scooping him up, she gave him a big noisy kiss.

  ‘Bic bic!’ he demanded, wrapping his arms around her neck.

  ‘In a minute.’ Hoisting him onto her hip, Vicky opened the wardrobe. ‘Let’s get you dressed first.’

  The melodic bing-bong of the doorbell sounded loudly in the uncarpeted hallway behind them.

  ‘Dada!’ Tyrell kicked his legs excitedly.

  ‘Not unless he’s lost his keys again,’ Vicky said, grabbing a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. ‘Shall we go and see if silly Daddy’s lost his keys?’

  Smiling in anticipation of seeing her boyfriend when she opened the front door, Vicky’s jaw dropped when she saw who it was.

  ‘Oh my God! Maria! Where the hell did you spring from?’

  Tears of relief sprang to Maria’s eyes. She’d been so nervous coming up the stairs, worrying that Vicky wouldn’t remember her. But Vicky not only recognised her, she seemed genuinely pleased to see her. And, unlike Lin, whom time had battered and abused, Vicky looked exactly the same as ever. Same thick black hair, pretty snub nose, and wide smile – just ten years more wisdom in her lovely hazel eyes.

  ‘You look fantastic,’ Maria said, meaning it.

  ‘Gee, thanks!’ Vicky retorted amusedly. ‘But you don’t have to sound quite so surprised.’

  ‘I didn’t mean it like that,’ Maria countered quickly. ‘It’s just that when I heard you had four kids, I kind of presumed—’

  ‘That I was a fat old slapper?’ Vicky interrupted, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. ‘Yeah, well, as you can see, I’m not. And neither are you,’ she said, looking Maria over with approval. ‘Check you out, girl! You’re gorgeous.’

  ‘Don’t be daft,’ Maria murmured, blushing.

  ‘Aw, you know you’re a babe,’ Vicky teased, dismissing the modesty with a flap of her hand. ‘God, I can’t believe you’re here. How did you find me?’

  ‘I bumped into Lin,’ Maria admitted guiltily. ‘Only she sort of said not to mention that I’d seen her.’

  ‘I bet she did,’ Vicky grunted. ‘I lent the cheeky bitch thirty quid a couple of weeks back and I haven’t seen her since. But never mind. She’ll be round soon enough when she needs me again – and see if I give her a thing till she’s paid me back! Anyway, never mind her . . .’ Another dismissive flap of the hand. ‘Let me get a proper look at you.’

  Stepping back, Vicky reached out with her free arm when Maria came in and hugged her. Leading her into the lounge, she put Tyrell into his playpen in the corner and scooped the clothes up off the couch.

  ‘Sorry it’s such a tip, but I was just getting started on the cleaning when trouble woke up. Not that it makes any difference. It doesn’t matter how many times you put things away, the kids just bring it straight back out. Anyway, just give me a minute and I’ll make a brew.’

  Taking her jacket off, Maria laid it over the back of the couch and sat down. Looking around, she saw a mess of dolls and books and jigsaw pieces strewn around the floor, but the rest of the room was quite clean and tidy – which she found amusing, considering how messy Vicky’s bedroom had always been when they were kids.

  Spotting several framed photographs vying for space between some potted plants on a wall unit next to the playpen, she couldn’t resist going over for a closer look. They were mostly shots of four children of various ages: two girls, and two boys – the youngest being the baby in the playpen. Apart from the older boy, who had blond hair and Vicky’s hazel eyes, they all appeared to be mixed-race.

  Jumping when something hit the back of her leg, Maria turned around and saw a little stuffed dog lying on the floor behind her. Tyrell was staring up at her, an expectant grin on his chubby face.

  ‘Did you do that?’ she asked, squatting down until their faces were level.

  He had the biggest, blackest eyes she’d ever seen, with long glossy lashes that curled up almost to his eyebrows, and his hair was
arranged in a series of silky-soft bump-plaits around his head.

  Picking up the dog, she handed it back to him. ‘Cheeky,’ she said when he immediately threw it back at her. Holding it out to him again, she pulled it back when he reached for it, sending him into a fit of giggles.

  Coming back, Vicky smiled at them as she went through to the small kitchen to fill the kettle.

  ‘He likes you,’ she called back. ‘I could hear him laughing from the bedroom – and that’s an honour, let me tell you, ’cos he can be a right stuck-up little so-and-so when he wants to be. I never knew a baby who could give out such wicked looks.’

  ‘He’s adorable.’ Handing the dog to Tyrell, Maria stood up. ‘You must be really proud.’

  ‘I am.’ Vicky smiled back over her shoulder. ‘Tea okay?’

  ‘Fine, thanks.’ Maria came into the doorway and leaned against the frame. The kitchen was spotless, and really bright and homely. Nothing like her own dismal dump. ‘Where are the others?’ she asked, not wanting to think about home just now.

  ‘School,’ Vicky said, taking two cups out of the cupboard.

  Maria raised an eyebrow. ‘You must have started young if they’re at school already.’

  ‘I was fifteen – more fool me.’ Squeezing past her, Vicky reached for one of the photos of all four kids together. ‘That’s my eldest, Luke,’ she said, pointing at the blond boy. ‘He’s six, so he’s full-time now. Siobhan’s four, and Demi’s three – they’re both at nursery, but Vonny’s going up to proper school next year. Tyrell’s just turned one. He’s at playgroup, but it’s only a couple of times a week at the moment. I love him to bits,’ she added quietly, as if not to offend him. ‘But I can’t wait till he’s full-time like the rest.’

  ‘I don’t know how you do it,’ Maria murmured respectfully. ‘I’d crack up if I had one.’

  ‘You just get on with it. Not much else you can do once they’re there.’ Shrugging, Vicky put the photo back and went to finish making the tea.

  ‘I must admit I was surprised when I heard you had four,’ Maria said. ‘You always said you didn’t want any.’

  ‘I didn’t,’ Vicky confirmed with a wry smile.

  ‘So how come you didn’t take precautions?’ Immediately the words were out of her mouth, Maria wanted to kick herself. ‘I’m sorry,’ she spluttered. ‘That’s none of my business.’

  ‘I was on the pill,’ Vicky told her, not seeming to mind. ‘I’m one of the unlucky ones that it doesn’t work on, only nobody bothered telling me that could happen until I got caught with Ty. They said I’d have to have my tubes tied to stop it happening again. That, or quit having sex – and, honey, there ain’t no way I’m going without dick!’ Giving a dirty chuckle, she handed a cup to Maria. ‘So, I got myself done, and now I can shag my brains out whenever I want without worrying about getting caught. Wish I’d done it years ago.’

  Maria smiled shyly. The girls back home talked about their boyfriends, but never about the sex part of it – and certainly not as bluntly as Vicky just had.

  Going back into the living room, they sat together on the couch. Putting her cup down on the table, Vicky started looking for her cigarettes.

  ‘So, what’s been happening since they took you away?’ she asked, slotting her hand down the side of the couch arm. ‘We were so worried when we found out what had happened. No one could believe it. It was like – shit! Maria’s mum? No way!’

  ‘I couldn’t believe it either,’ Maria murmured, moving her leg so that Vicky could look under the cushion.

  ‘My mum tried to adopt you, you know.’

  ‘What?’ Maria’s eyebrows puckered together. ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Oh, yeah.’ Vicky nodded, swiping her hair back when it fell across her eyes. ‘They told her to get stuffed, of course, but she was on the case for ages – which is kind of funny, considering what a shit job she did with me and our Davy. But it takes all sorts, doesn’t it?’

  Finding the cigarettes, she tossed one to Maria without bothering to ask if she still smoked. Lighting her own, she blew the smoke towards the open window – her concession to Tyrell being in the room.

  ‘We wrote to you for a while,’ Vicky went on, reaching for her drink now. ‘My mum used to send the letters to that social worker woman who took you away that day. She said she passed them on, so when we didn’t hear back from you we figured you’d decided to make a clean break of it. I was a bit pissed off, though, I must admit,’ she added in an accusing tone. ‘I could understand you dropping everyone else, but you could have kept in touch with me. We were supposed to be besties.’

  ‘I didn’t even know you’d written,’ Maria said quietly. ‘Nobody told me.’

  And it was true. Her social worker had never mentioned it, not even when she’d had Maria transferred to Devon. She must have deliberately withheld the letters and cards, denying Maria the comfort they would have brought her at that terrible time. So much for wanting to help Maria. She had decided that Maria needed a clean break, but she hadn’t thought to discuss it with her. That was so unfair.

  ‘So, where did they take you after they sent me and our kid packing that day?’ Vicky was asking.

  Forcing the thoughts of betrayal to the back of her mind, Maria said, ‘To a children’s home in Stockport. They had to keep me close by while they checked if I had any family to send me to.’

  ‘You didn’t, though, did you?’

  ‘No. Not that I knew of at the time.’

  ‘So, you’ve been in Stockport all along?’ Vicky frowned, wondering why it had taken her so long to get in touch if she’d been living so close.

  Guessing what she was thinking, Maria shook her head. ‘They only kept me there a few months, then they sent me to Devon. I’m still there, but I’ve got my own flat now.’

  ‘Devon?’ Vicky repeated enviously. ‘All right for some. It’s supposed to be really nice there, isn’t it?’

  ‘Gorgeous, depending which part you’re in,’ Maria told her. ‘There’s some rough bits, but it’s all right where I am.’

  ‘Do you live near the sea? Bet you get loads of gorgeous lads coming in on their holidays?’

  ‘Not really, no. We’re a couple of miles out of the proper tourist area, so we tend to get the older couples who want a bit of peace and quiet. But that suits me, ’cos it’s awful on the next Bay in summer – gangs of idiots drinking and fighting.’

  ‘Sounds better than pensioners mooching about dribbling ice cream all over themselves,’ Vicky griped, pulling a face. ‘What’s the point of living at the seaside if you don’t get any action?’

  ‘It’s really nice,’ Maria insisted. ‘The beach is at the end of my road, and there’s always something going on in summer – surfing competitions, and sand parties, and stuff. My old school used to take us horse-riding on the dunes as well, which was brilliant, ’cos we had—’

  ‘You what?’ Vicky interrupted, her eyebrows puckering with disbelief. ‘You went horse-riding with school? You are joking?’

  ‘No.’ Smiling, Maria shook her head and sipped her tea.

  ‘Bloody hell! It sounds like one of those poncey boarding-school books we used to read – all jolly hockey sticks and midnight feasts. And there was us feeling sorry for you! Shit, I wish my mum had died and they’d sent me—’ Catching herself mid-sentence, Vicky’s hand flew up to her mouth. ‘Oh, Christ, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.’

  ‘It’s all right,’ Maria assured her. ‘I’m pretty good at not letting it get to me. There’s no point wishing for what you can’t have, is there?’

  ‘Suppose not,’ Vicky agreed. Then, changing the subject: ‘So, are you working, or dossing?’

  ‘I’m a teacher,’ Maria said, sipping her tea.

  ‘No way!’

  ‘Mmmm.’ Nodding, Maria gave a modest shrug. ‘It’s only part-time at the local primary, but it’s been all right. I’m thinking of taking a bit of time out now, though – to think about what I really want to do.’ />
  ‘Oh, I see.’ Vicky gave a knowing smirk. ‘Found ourself a sugar daddy, have we?’

  ‘No, I haven’t!’ Maria replied indignantly. ‘I’d never go out with a man for money.’

  ‘I was joking,’ Vicky said, surprised by the strength of her reaction. She’d obviously hit a raw nerve.

  ‘Sorry,’ Maria muttered. ‘But that’s what growing up in care does to you. You get a bit defensive when everyone’s always looking down on you, waiting for you to mess up. Girls are the worst – calling you a slag if you so much as look at a lad for too long.’

  ‘Girls are like that whether you’re in care or not,’ Vicky reminded her calmly. ‘But if you react like that every time they get bitchy you’re just playing into their hands. You’ve got to learn to shrug it off as if you don’t give a toss what they think.’

  ‘I suppose so,’ Maria murmured, thinking it was all right for her to talk when she didn’t know what it felt like.

  ‘You should have heard the shit I got when I got caught with Luke,’ Vicky said, letting her know that she knew exactly how it felt. ‘And not just off the other kids; my own mother called me all the little tarts under the sun! And then she said I’d best get myself a job, because there was no way she was keeping me and a baby – not when she’d just got rid of the one she was having with Keith.’

  ‘Keith?’ Maria gave her a quizzical look. ‘What happened to Brian?’

  ‘That dirty bastard,’ Vicky sneered. ‘She got rid of him after she caught him sneaking into my room with his dick in his hand. He was so busy trying to remember if I had a hole he hadn’t tried yet, he didn’t hear her coming home early from the pub. She caught him red-handed.’

  ‘Oh, Christ, Vicky. I didn’t realise it was that bad.’

  ‘It wasn’t when you were around. It was a while after you left that he got worse – around the time I got tits, as it happens.’ Lighting another cigarette, Vicky blew the smoke out noisily and tossed the pack to Maria. ‘First time he raped me, I told her, ’cos I knew if I kept quiet like I had about all the other stuff, he’d carry on and something really bad would happen. Know what the bitch did?’ she said, her eyes glittering with an anger that would never completely die. ‘She battered me.’