Now, with no other distractions coming to mind, Charley made her way down the street towards her block of flats. She had thought about what her mother’s reaction would be, but had eventually given up and tried to push it to the back of her mind. Her mother was too unpredictable to forecast and the best she could do was to hope that she was in a good mood.
At the entrance to the building, Charley fumbled in her bag and pulled out her keys. A gold key-ring of a love heart caught her eye and she smiled. It had been a birthday present from Bolton and it reminded her of the love they shared, even when they were apart.
She unlocked the front door and stepped aside to let two boys out. They eyed her up and down and one of them winked, but Charley ignored them, closing the door firmly behind her as she stepped into the brightly lit entrance hall.
She walked past the lift, knowing that the floor would be sticky with urine and God knew what else, and climbed the stairs. At the third floor she blinked as the dark corridor was illuminated as the automatic light flickered into life.
Before she’d inserted the key into the lock for Flat 35, the front door was thrown open. Torey stood in the doorway, looking at Charley in surprise.
“Didn’t expect you to show your face,” she said, still eyeing Charley suspiciously. “After everything you done, I thought you’d be long gone.”
Charley looked at her younger sister. At thirteen, Torey was already well developed and her braided hair swung around her shoulders as she moved her head. Her leopard print top was low-cut and her short skirt showed-off short and stubby legs.
Charley forced herself to smile.
“Right, well, I’m not going anywhere. Not yet, at least.”
Torey shrugged.
“Whatever. I’ve got a party tonight so don’t get mum mad or she’ll make me come home early.”
Charley stepped aside and let Torey pass her. As she strutted down the hallway, heels clicking on the dirty linoleum, she paused and turned around.
“I borrowed your shoes,” she said. “I didn’t think you’d be back.”
Charley shrugged and watched Torey push through the door to the stairs and disappear. The sound of the television came from inside the flat.
Taking a deep breath, Charley stepped inside and closed the front door behind her.
“Is that you back already Torey?” Toni’s voice called from the living room. “I told you I don’t want you out late. I hear that door open once more, and you’ll be grounded for –”
Toni froze, mouth open mid-speech. Charley stood in the doorway, looking at her mother ensconced in her armchair. Her feet were resting on the footstool and she was in her faded nightdress, her wig discarded on the end table beside her. Dry tufts of dark hair stood on end on top of her head, having escaped the tight knot at the back of her head.
Charley began to wonder whether she had made a mistake coming home. She was sure that Leigh-Ann would have let her stay at hers for a few more nights, or at least until the tension from last night’s argument had faded.
Toni observed her daughter through narrowed eyes. She had expected her back, but taking in Charley’s appearance she couldn’t make out the tell-tale signs of heartbreak. Charley’s eyes were dry and her make-up was still intact, untouched by tears.
Charley shifted her weight from one foot to another. She knew that her mother would be the one to have the first word. It was how her mother functioned. She had to set the tone of the conversation; it was her way of controlling a situation. Although Charley longed to break the silence, she knew it would be a mistake to antagonize her mother this early on in negotiations.
“You’re back then,” Toni said, folding her arms against her chest but not moving from her armchair. “And I suppose you’ll be wanting your old bed back.”
Charley nodded.
“And you’ll be wanting hot water, no doubt? And –”
“Look, mum, I’m sorry about last night,” Charley interrupted. Toni’s eyes bulged but Charley pressed on, “I know I don’t appreciate you as much as I should, and I’m sorry.”
Toni shook her head but her shoulders relaxed, and Charley knew that her mother was pacified.
“I should have told you earlier,” Charley continued. “So you didn’t have to –”
“You shouldn’t have had to tell me anything, girl. You shouldn’t have been fraternizing with that boy in the first place.”
Charley groaned inwardly. She had said the wrong thing and Toni was leaning forward again, her chest heaving.
“I know, mum, I’m sorry. But I love –”
“Your brother was under the impression,” Toni continued, as if Charley hadn’t spoken. “That you went to see Bolton this morning.”
She looked inquiringly at her daughter and Charley nodded.
“I told you what he’d say,” Toni said, looking satisfied. “I warned you about that boy, but you refused to listen. He was after one thing, girl, and you didn’t see it. Look what you’ve done to your life now, a single mother. I never thought I’d feel so ashamed of my own flesh and –”
“I’m not going to be a single mum,” Charley snapped. Her temper was rising, as was her voice. “I went to see Bolton and I told him. He was really pleased, for your information.”
Toni looked shocked. Her mouth was opening and closing, though no words came out. Charley took advantage of her mother’s silence, and continued.
“He’s really happy that we’re going to be parents. We’re staying together; we’re stronger than ever –”
“Oh, is that so?” Toni said, glaring at her daughter. “Then why are you back here, eh? Why didn’t he want the mother of his precious child to stay with him?”
Charley looked down at the floor. Toni watched the reaction and settled back against the cushioned armchair, satisfied that she’d hit a nerve.
“There wasn’t enough room,” Charley said. “And his mum couldn’t afford to have me.”
“And does his mother know what you’ve been up to?”
“Yeah, she does actually. And she’s happy for us.”
Charley was pleased to see the smile wiped off her mother’s face, before she quickly composed herself.
“Well, I should’ve known she’d be all for it,” Toni said, her lips curling. “A woman like that. No morals, that woman. Like mother, like son, that’s all I’ll say.”
“She’s really nice,” Charley said, knowing that she was pushing her luck being so argumentative. “And anyway, I won’t need to stay at Bolton’s. Not when we’ve got our own council flat and –”
“You two get a council flat?” Toni asked, incredulous. She started to laugh. “You won’t last five minutes. He might like you now, but he won’t. Oh no. When he realises you can’t cook or clean, then he’ll be gone quick as the wind. You mark my words, girl.”
Charley wanted to argue, fight her case, but she knew that it was futile. Her mother was determined to see her relationship and her pregnancy in a negative light. Whatever she said, her mother would find a way to twist it, turn it into something bad.
“Hit a nerve, have I?” Toni asked, leaning forward hopefully.
Charley shrugged. She knew that the nonchalance of the gesture would irritate her. She wanted a reaction and Charley was determined not to give her one.
“I’m going for a shower,” Charley said.
Toni was dismayed and turned her gaze back to the television as Charley left the room and the hum of the water heater kicked in a few moments later.
CHAPTER FOUR
Charley awoke with a start and groaned as bright sunlight filled the room. Toni tugged the other half of the curtains and more light filled the room. Torey gave a grunt as her face was illuminated by the sun and she pulled the duvet over her head.
“You’ve had all night to sleep,” Toni said, snatching the duvet off her bed. Torey shrieked and grabbed at the cover, but Toni pulled it out of her grasp and dumped it on the floor.
“What’s your problem?” Torey sho
uted, sitting up and glaring at her mother. “I don’t have school for ages; I could’ve had a lie in.”
“It’s your own fault you came home late,” Toni said, standing over them, hands on hips. “If you want to break my rules, you’ll be punished.”
“I was an hour late,” Torey said, climbing out of bed. “And I told you it weren’t my fault. The bus was late. What was I supposed to do?”
“There were earlier buses,” Toni replied. “Other girls manage to get them, I’m sure.”
Torey muttered under her breath as she grabbed at her duvet and dumped it back on the bed. She rummaged through her bedside cabinet for her toiletries.
Charley watched as her sister crossed the room and turned to glare at her.
“Why does Charley get to stay in bed?”
“She doesn’t,” Toni said. “Out of bed, now.”
Charley groaned but didn’t move. She was tired and her mother’s voice was grating on her.
“This is so unfair,” Torey said, heading for the bedroom door. “I’m late coming home and I get punished, but she gets pregnant and she gets a lie-in. Maybe I should get knocked up and all, then I can stay in bed longer and –”
She shrieked as Toni lunged at her, fist raised.
“Don’t joke about these things,” she shouted, as Torey fled the room. The bathroom door slammed shut across the hallway.
“Now,” Toni said, turning on Charley. “Get up, now.”
“School ain’t for two hours.”
Toni grabbed Charley’s duvet but Charley was already gripping it. Toni cursed and they struggled over the duvet.
“You little brat,” Toni said, sweat on her brow from the exertion. “Let go of it, madam, or you’ll be sorry.”
“Fuck off, mum.”
Charley knew she’d said the wrong thing instantly, but she couldn’t take back her words. Toni shrieked in anger and took advantage of Charley’s momentary lapse, ripping the duvet off the bed and throwing it onto Torey’s vacated bed.
“Swearing at your own mother,” Toni said, breathing hard. “What’s happened to you?”
She slapped Charley’s legs and Charley curled into a ball as Toni hit her, still ranting.
“Leave it out mum,” Asher said from the doorway.
Toni landed a final blow and straightened up.
“Out of bed now,” she said to Charley. “If I find you still here when I come back, I’ll fetch a bucket of cold water.”
She left the room and Charley smiled her thanks at Asher, who was wiping sleep out of his eyes. He disappeared from the doorway too, and Charley sat up in bed and rubbed her legs and arms. Her mother’s blows hadn’t left marks but they still made her ache.
Standing up, she stretched and brushed hair off her face. She could hear her sister in the shower and hoped she’d hurry up.
Before she could do anything else, Charley felt her stomach churn. She ran from the room and pushed open the bathroom door, ignoring Torey’s protests. She pushed the toilet lid up and knelt down just as a hot wave of vomit forced its way up her throat.
Charley leant over the toilet for a few more minutes but that seemed to be all there was this morning. She flushed the toilet and washed her face in the sink. As she brushed her teeth, Torey turned the shower off and pulled the shower curtain aside.
She looked at Charley and pulled a face.
“You are so fucking gross,” she said, stepping onto the frayed mat on the floor. “Next time wait ‘til I’m finished, yeah?”
As Torey left the bathroom, muttering under her breath, Charley laughed. She pushed the bathroom door shut and stripped off her pyjamas.
At least, she thought, as she stepped into the bath and turned the shower on; her morning sickness had gotten Torey out of the bathroom ten minutes quicker than usual.
* * *
Bolton kissed his mum on the cheek and called goodbye before leaving the flat. He hurried down the stairs and left the block just as a small red car pulled up on the side of the street. Pulling the front passenger door open, Bolton grinned.
“You’re still driving the shit-mobile then?”
As soon as Bolton’s door was closed, the car lurched forwards and pulled away from the street. Bolton looked at the driver.
He was shorter than Bolton with pale skin and a shaved head. He had a strong jaw and Bolton knew that the girls liked him; just not as much as they liked Bolton.
“Don’t diss my wheels,” the driver said, grinning too. “At least I got a motor.”
“Fair point, Dante.”
Dante Cortez was Bolton’s oldest friend. They had been at primary school together and had attended the same secondary, although they preferred skiving together rather than attending class. His father had done a runner shortly after Dante had been born, so they were both from single mother families and whilst this didn’t bond them, they had an understanding between them that others did not.
“So what was up yesterday?” Dante asked, glancing at Bolton whilst trying to watch the road ahead. “All you said was that you were busy. What’s the deal?”
Bolton thought for a moment. He had indeed been busy yesterday. There had always been an unmentioned tension between his mates and Charley. He had tried to split his time between them so that nobody felt left out, but his friends, Dante in particular, had taken opposition to this. Bolton knew that Dante felt jealous of the reduction in the time they spent together, messing about, drinking and causing aggro, but Bolton had made it clear that it was a sacrifice that had to be made. Dante had accepted this, but Bolton knew that his friend had never liked it. Charley, on the other hand, had been only too happy to spend time apart. He spent time with his mates and she spent time with hers. When she’d realised how little Dante thought of her, however, Charley had become paranoid that Dante would try and lead her boyfriend astray and replace her with a girl that Dante liked.
Recently, an uneasy truce between Charley and Dante had been struck up. Neither mentioned the other if they could help it and Bolton made sure that he brought up subjects that wouldn’t lead to questions about the other.
Now, with Charley being pregnant, Bolton knew that things would have to change and he didn’t want them to. He wanted both Charley and his friends, but he knew that it would be more difficult after Charley’s revelation yesterday.
“I was busy with Charley,” Bolton said. He knew he would have to choose his words carefully.
“Right,” Dante said. “Everything going all right in that department, then?”
His voice was flat. This wasn’t his favourite subject.
Bolton wondered whether he should leave it for another time. No, he told himself. His best friend deserved better than that. If he found out from someone else then he’d never forgive him, and Bolton wouldn’t blame him.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Bolton said. “I’ve got a bit of news, actually.”
Dante raised an eyebrow.
“You not gone and knocked her up, have you?”
Dante’s voice was casual, but Bolton heard the serious tone beneath it. Dante was watching him closely, one eye on him, the other on the road.
Bolton looked down at his lap, averting his gaze. He couldn’t find the words now that he was faced with Dante’s direct question.
“Damn, man, you did,” Dante said, shaking his head. “You knocked her up.”
Bolton nodded.
“What have I told you, man? Always wear a rubber. Otherwise shit like this happens.”
Dante’s voice was loud and Bolton knew he was feeling frustrated.
“So what you going to do?” Dante asked, turning the car out of the estate. “She going to get rid? Or you going to do the adoption thing?”
Bolton shook his head.
“We’re keeping it,” he said. A sharp intake of breath beside him indicated that Dante hadn’t been expecting that. “We’re going to stay together, raise the kid and that.”
“Damn, you lost your fucking mind?”
Dante wasn’t shouting, but Bolton knew he was seriously pissed off.
“She wants to keep it. And I want to be a dad, look after my kid. Not like our dads.”
Bolton watched his friend’s face. Dante sighed heavily.
“I get where you’re coming from, mate, I really do, but you know what this means? You ain’t going to be able to do what you want anymore. Once that kid comes along, that’s it. You’re stuck with it for life, whether you want it or not.”
Bolton had expected nothing less than this reaction and he was ready for it.
“So what would you do?” Bolton asked. “Just forget all about it?”
“Nah, mate,” Dante said, shaking his head. “I dunno, mate. I wouldn’t get myself in this position in the first place. I’m too smart for that.”
“We’re going to get a council flat,” Bolton said.
He thought it was better to get the whole story out now. He knew that once the subject was changed, Dante wouldn’t want to revisit this particular topic for as long as possible.
“Whereabouts?” Dante’s voice was suspicious. “You ain’t moving away from the Goldsworth, are you?”
“Nah, we both want to stay round here.”
“You spoke to the council yet?”
Bolton shook his head.
“Not yet, we’ve got ages. She’s only a couple of months gone.”
“Wow, man, I never thought I’d see the day you settled down,” Dante said, shaking his head. “I always thought you and Charley was just a fling. But you’d best get yourself down on a council list soon, I heard some people been waiting years for a flat.”
Bolton smiled to himself. Dante had taken the news better than he had thought he would. Dante was whistling under his breath in time to the beat on the radio.
“I need to start earning some money,” Bolton said.
Dante turned around.
“We already make some,” he said sharply. “I hope you ain’t thinking about dropping out. We make a good team, we do, that weed sells itself and –”
The Goldsworth Series Box Set Page 43