The Goldsworth Series Box Set

by Davie J Toothill

The door opened, distracting Zoe from her thoughts, though her stomach continued to ache.

  “I’ve done it,” Aurora said, closing the door behind her. “Now I’ve just got to wait.”

  “The blue plus sign will appear if you are,” Zoe said, picking up the instructions. “If it’s just a single line then you’re not.”

  “Okay,” Aurora said. She sat on Shaniqua’s bed and she looked worried.

  Zoe stood in the middle of the room awkwardly. She knew she should sit beside Aurora and reassure her, but Shaniqua’s accusing eyes peered down at her from all sides, reminding her that she was a liar and a traitor.

  “You okay?” Zoe asked.

  Aurora didn’t reply, so Zoe walked hesitantly over to her and sat beside her.

  “It’ll be okay, you know. Whatever the result is.”

  “Yeah,” Aurora said.

  The two minutes passed painfully slow and Zoe was reminded of her own waiting-game. Brandy had been there, frustrated because she needed to get ready for one of Troy’s parties. When the plus sign had appeared, Zoe had nearly fainted.

  “It’s been two minutes,” Zoe said, checking on her mobile. “You can look now.”

  Aurora’s hand fumbled with the thin white testing kit. She turned it over in her hands and sighed. Zoe looked down and saw the blue plus sign looking back up at her.

  Aurora was pregnant.

  “How you feeling?”

  She looked up at Aurora’s face and was surprised to see her cheeks were shining with tears.

  “It’s not that bad,” Zoe quickly began. “I mean, look at me. There’s loads of -”

  “I know,” Aurora interrupted, wiping at her eyes. “I’m not crying because I’m sad. I’m crying because I’m happy.”

  “That’s the spirit.”

  “I’m really happy. I didn’t think I would be, but I am.”

  Aurora threw her arms around her, and Zoe hugged her back, smiling herself at Aurora’s happiness.

  “Congratulations,” Zoe whispered in her ear, and hugged her tighter.

  * * *

  Troy dialled Clint’s number and was relieved when somebody picked up. The last few times he’d tried ringing there had been no answer and Troy had been irked, wondering whether he was being ignored.

  “Hey, Clint,” Troy called down the phone, “You all right? What’s taken you so long to answer?”

  “I’ve been a little busy,” Clint replied. “What’s up?”

  A little busy, Troy thought. That must mean that he’d been with Aurora. His pulse quickened and he fought to keep his voice normal as he answered.

  “Just wondering if you’re coming around sometime. I ain’t seen you since the party and that was like two days ago, mate.”

  There was a pause and a deep breath from the other end of the line.

  “I know, I’ve just been real busy,” Clint replied apologetically. “I can’t come over today, either, but I’ll give you a ring when I’m going out.”

  “Why aren’t you coming out then?” Troy asked.

  “I’m just busy at the mo.”

  “Let me guess, Aurora’s round your place is she?”

  “Nah, she left a while back,” Clint laughed. “I’m real sorry, mate.”

  “No worries, see you later.”

  “Later.”

  There was a click as Clint hung up and Troy dropped his mobile onto his bed and began pacing his bedroom.

  Clint had time to see Aurora but he was too busy to come round and spend some time with him. Fair enough if he’d been getting his end away, Troy thought, he could have dealt with that. After all, he’d ditched Clint and the others enough times when he’d been about to get his leg over. But this was different. Clint had admitted he wasn’t with Aurora and yet he’d still not been game for coming over for a few beers. That was just pure disrespect.

  Troy glanced out the window as it began to rain.

  His mood darkened further as his thoughts remained on Clint’s disrespect. Everybody else was giving him respect, more than he’d ever had before. After he’d left the hospital yesterday, he’d done exactly as Tyrese had asked and visited the other guys who worked for him and relayed his message.

  They had seemed excited, now that something was finally being done. They’d shaken Troy’s hand and offered him beers and drugs, and Troy knew that it was because of his rapidly growing reputation.

  Yet Clint obviously thought himself above him. Even though it was he, Troy, a fully-fledged gang member now, with three kills under his belt who had rang him, Clint still thought of himself as better than he was.

  Well, fuck him, Troy thought. What did he need people like that for anyway? There were plenty of people who would show him respect, people who would give anything to be invited round for a few beers by him, he didn’t Clint anymore.

  * * *

  “To you and Clint,” Zoe said, smiling, raising her glass of fizzy white wine, “And the baby.”

  Aurora dutifully raised her own glass and there was a soft clink as the glasses touched. Zoe took a long drink, but Aurora merely sipped her own.

  “I shouldn’t really be drinking this, should I?” Aurora asked, putting her glass of wine down on the kitchen table.

  Zoe shrugged, “They say you shouldn’t, but I drank all the time and Sienna’s fine. Still, it’s up to you.”

  “Should I go to the doctor or something?” Aurora asked. “Do I need to tell them I’m pregnant, or should I wait?”

  The questions were building in her mind. They had left Aurora’s flat, not wanting to wake Marlena, who had fallen asleep on the sofa. On the short walk to Zoe’s flat, Aurora had barely heard a word of Zoe’s, her mind buzzing with questions and thoughts about the pregnancy. She was happy. Yet there was a part of her that was doubtful. Only her and Zoe knew so far. There was still her mother to tell, and Aurora knew that she would be furious and disappointed at the news. Then there was Clint, the only person whose opinion really mattered to her. How would he take the news? She knew she should tell him, yet her heart fluttered whenever she thought of what she would actually say to him.

  As if reading her thoughts, Zoe answered her.

  “You can tell the doctor if you want, but you don’t have to do it straight away. But you should tell Clint.”

  “I know,” Aurora sighed. “Did you tell Sienna’s dad when you found out?”

  Zoe flushed.

  “Actually, no, I didn’t say anything. I slept with a few people, and I didn’t think he’d believe me. Anyway, he wouldn’t have been interested. Not exactly father material, you know?”

  Aurora nodded, her mind still on Clint.

  “Not like Clint,” Zoe continued. “He’ll be a great dad. You’re lucky.”

  “I know I am. I’m just nervous.”

  “Who wouldn’t be? It’s big news, and he’ll probably be a bit shocked, but once he’s got over it you’ll live happily ever after, I just know it.”

  “What if he doesn’t get over the shock though?” Aurora asked, finally voicing her darkest fears. “What if he doesn’t want anything to do with me?”

  “Don’t be silly, of course he will.”

  “How can you be sure?”

  “Because he loves you,” Zoe said simply. “That’s obvious. And he’ll love you just the same, baby or no baby. You just need to get it over with.”

  “You think?”

  Zoe nodded. “Guys don’t like being the last to find out anything, especially something like this. This is big, and he deserves to know. Don’t you think?”

  Aurora knew that Zoe was right. Clint was the father, he had just as much right to know as she did. She would have to tell him sooner rather than later.

  “I’ll tell him tomorrow,” Aurora said decisively. “You’re right, he’s got a right to know.”

  Zoe clutched her hand and smiled.

  “You two are the sweetest couple I’ve ever met,” she said. “If anyone deserves a beautiful baby, it’s you two.”
/>   Aurora smiled back at her, feeling her chest swelling. The doubts were slowly melting away. Zoe was right. Clint loved her and she loved him. They would both love their baby and they would be a happy family. Nobody could stop that.

  A loud rapping on the door stirred her. Zoe rose to her feet and trudged down the hallway to the front door. She returned a moment later, and Aurora hadn’t heard her open the front door.

  “Who was it?” she asked as Zoe sat down at the kitchen table and took a gulp of wine.

  “Nobody.”

  Aurora raised her eyebrow suspiciously, and Zoe grinned mischievously as she poured herself another drink.

  “Well, it is somebody. It’s Brandy.”

  “Oh, right.”

  “I’m not answering it,” she explained. “I just don’t have time for her anymore. She didn’t have time for anyone else when she missed Sasha’s funeral. Why should I make time for her now? And anyway, she’s been a right grumpy twat lately. Who needs more misery?”

  Aurora shrugged, “Maybe she’s upset over Sasha.”

  “Nah, it’s something else. She’s made her choice. She chose Troy over her mates, and she can live with that now.”

  “I’ll drink to that,” Aurora smiled and raised her glass.

  It seemed Zoe was finally out from under Brandy’s control and Aurora could see the invisible weight already lifting from Zoe’s shoulders.

  Zoe grinned and raised her own glass.

  * * *

  Half an hour later, Aurora let herself into her flat and crept towards her bedroom door. There were no sounds within the flat and Aurora guessed that her mother was still asleep on the sofa. She peered around the doorframe and surveyed the lounge. The sofa was empty. Aurora was nearly at her bedroom door when Marlena’s voice called out from the kitchen.

  “Can you come in here a minute?”

  Aurora froze but retraced her footsteps back down the hallway and went into the kitchen. The countertops were devoid of empty bottles now, and Aurora wondered whether her mother had finally taken some of the rubbish out to the chute.

  The light bulb flickered ominously and a cold breeze from the slightly-open window caused the blinds to swing forwards and backwards with a creaking noise.

  Marlena was sitting at the kitchen table, a glass of what looked like cider in front of her. Her arms were crossed and she was eyeing Aurora suspiciously.

  Aurora stood in the doorway, her pulse quickening.

  “You wanted something?”

  “Sit down,” Marlena said. Her voice was level, but Aurora could tell that she’d been drinking as the words slurred together a little.

  Aurora reluctantly dropped her bag onto the kitchen table and sat down in the chair opposite her mother.

  “What is this?” Aurora spoke, breaking the silence. “I’m tired, I just want to get to bed.”

  “I took the rubbish out earlier,” Marlena said.

  “Good for you.”

  “The bags split on the way to the chute, but I picked it all up and threw it all out anyway. Was a right nightmare, but I did it.”

  “Do you want a prize or something?” Aurora asked, wondering how drunk her mother actually was, if she wanted to discuss the rubbish.

  “No, but it was such a pain when the bag split,” Marlena continued. “Rubbish everywhere. I started picking everything up, and you’ll never guess what I found.”

  “An empty vodka bottle?”

  Marlena shook her head, “Something much more interesting. A pregnancy test.”

  Aurora froze. She had thrown the pregnancy test into the bin in the bathroom and covered it with some wet wipes, hoping that they would disguise the little green box. She had not counted on the bag splitting and revealing her secrets to her mother.

  Marlena was watching her closely and Aurora tried to keep her face composed.

  “And? It wasn’t mine, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Aurora said, hoping she sounded outraged.

  “Really? Then how did it come to be in our rubbish bag?”

  “I don’t know,” Aurora shrugged. “Maybe it was a neighbour or something.”

  “Well, whoever it was must be over the moon. The test was positive.”

  “Aww, that’s nice then,” Aurora said. “For whoever the test belonged to.”

  Marlena was still watching her, eyes narrowed, and Aurora felt a bead of sweat on her forehead but didn’t dare wipe it off.

  They remained in silence for a whole minute, before Marlena spoke.

  “I know it was yours, Aurora. You might think you’ve got me fooled, but you forget that I’ve known you your whole life. Hell, I carried you round for nine months before that too. I’ve seen you lie a thousand and one times in your life, and you’ve never had me fooled, not once, even though you might think you have.”

  “Mum, you’re just jumping to conclusions, you’re not even listening -”

  “To more lies?” Marlena interrupted. “You’re right, I refuse to. I know exactly whose test that belonged to and I know exactly who the father is. It’s that Jackson boy, isn’t it?”

  Aurora was silent, thoughts racing through her mind. Her mother was clearly convinced that it was her who was pregnant, and rightly so, and it seemed stupid, and futile, not to come clean and get it over with. Just as Zoe had said, the worst part was getting it over and done with.

  “Yes,” Aurora said.

  Marlena sighed.

  “Does he know?”

  “No, I only found out this afternoon,” Aurora admitted.

  “Are you going to tell him?”

  “Of course.”

  “Are you keeping it?”

  “Yes,” Aurora said, outraged.

  “Are you sure?” Marlena persisted. “There are other options. You don’t have to be tied down to that boy, you know. You don’t have to let him have this hold over you, all because of one stupid mistake -”

  “Mistake? We might not have planned this, mum, but we’re in a loving relationship -”

  “You’re only young, Aurora. You don’t want to let this boy ruin your life! There’s still time to get out, escape before he turns into his father and -”

  “Mum! Enough. For a start, his name is Clint, not ’that boy’. Second, he is nothing like his father, not like him one bit. And he doesn’t have a hold over me. I love him and he loves me. Why can’t you just accept that? Is it so difficult to be happy for us? For me?”

  “No,” Marlena protested, shouting now. “I will not be happy for you, not when you’re throwing your life away on a stupid teenage fling. He’s not good for you, he never will be, and you can’t even see it! Can’t see that he’s damaged goods, he’s a wrong’un -”

  “Shut up! Just shut up!” Aurora shouted, rising to her feet, and glaring down at her mother with fury. “You don’t know anything about Clint, because you’ve never bothered to speak to him before. We are having this baby, whether you like it or not, I don’t care anymore.”

  “Oh well, he’s going to pay for nappies and baby food is he?” Marlena laughed, spit forming in the corners of her mouth. “Makes a lot of money does he? Deals drugs or something?”

  She was on her feet now, too, swaying slightly, her eyes wild and manic.

  “We’ll sort something out,” Aurora snapped. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to bed.”

  “Your own bed or his?” Marlena called after her as she retreated down the corridor.

  Aurora had just reached her bedroom door when she heard shuffling footsteps behind her and realised her mother was following her down the corridor.

  “I’m going to bed, mum,” Aurora said, trying to keep the anger out of her voice. “I think you should do the same.”

  “Giving me orders now are you?” Marlena shouted, spraying Aurora with flecks of spit. “A baby on the way and you already think you’re the bees-knees, eh? Well, love, I’ve got a news flash for you. I’ve popped two of them out myself, you included, and it don’t make you smart or special.”r />
  “Whatever,” Aurora said, going to close the bedroom door behind her, but Marlena stuck her foot in the way, keeping the door open.

  “Hit a nerve did I? Bit of a shock, was it, finding out you’re not some princess just because you’re up the duff? Well, anyone can do it, love, not just you. Take that fat redhead who came around earlier. She managed it, and I doubt she can string two sentences together!”

  “That’s my friend you’re talking about, now let go of the door. I want to go to bed.”

  “Tired are you?” Marlena shrieked, her eyes widening manically. “That’ll be the baby, eh? You’ll be tired all the time now, if you keep it. Tired and fat. You’ll lose that nice figure, you’ll have a nice big layer of flab and huge stretch marks. Your boyfriend won’t like you then, will he? Not when your twenty pounds heavier and aching all over. You won’t be in the mood then, will you? And how long will it take for him to go looking elsewhere, eh?”

  Aurora looked at her mother, too shocked for words. She had never heard her mother speak in such a way before. This was a completely different person speaking, yet Aurora knew that they came from her mother. These were her mother’s thoughts, finally coming to the surface.

  Marlena stopped shrieking and disappeared from sight. Aurora opened the door wider and saw her mother kneeling on the floor. She went to kneel down beside her, make sure her mother was feeling all right, but froze mid-way.

  On the floor, half a dozen round, white pills had scattered from a small plastic bag that had fallen from Marlena’s pocket. She was now frantically picking them up and placing them gently back into the bag.

  “What are they?” Aurora demanded.

  Marlena didn’t answer, too preoccupied with the pills. When she had retrieved them all, she placed the plastic bag into her jeans pocket and turned to face Aurora. Her face looked slack, and her eyes were bloodshot but no longer had the psychotic gleam from a few moment’s ago.

  “What are those pills?” Aurora repeated.

  Marlena looked down at her feet, “Nothing, don’t you worry. Get off to bed.”

  Aurora watched her mother tread slowly back down the corridor to the lounge and disappear. Aurora closed the bedroom door and settled herself down on her bed.

  The pills, at least, explained why her mother had been raving like a lunatic, but this thought didn’t comfort her. It made her feel sick. Her mother had slipped further into depression, she knew that now. She hadn’t supported her as she should have done, yet Aurora had received little support and she hadn’t resorted to drugs to get through the day.