by Mel Sherratt
Steve laughed. ‘I know who you are, Keera Harvey.’
Keera swallowed. If he knew her name, then he must know her brother. If he said anything to Sam, she would be in big trouble.
‘Oh!’ Steve grinned as he clocked her expression. ‘He doesn’t know you work here, does he?’
‘He doesn’t need to know,’ said Ramona. ‘This is between you and me.’
‘How is he, by the way?’ Steve’s grin was nasty. ‘I hear he’s had an accident.’
‘He’s fine,’ said Keera.
‘Maybe so, but I don’t think he’ll be fit to pull his weight for a while, not with an injured hand.’
‘He’s—’
‘I’ll be back by the end of next week,’ Steve interrupted. ‘I want the rest of my money by then.’ He turned to face them again just as he got to the front door. ‘And if you don’t have the money, then I’m going to ask her darling brother for it.’ He pointed at Keera.
As soon as he was gone, both women’s shoulders dropped with relief.
‘Ramona, are you okay?’ Estelle came barging into the room. ‘I was erm, a bit tied up so couldn’t get down here straight away.’
‘I’m fine.’ Ramona waved a hand. ‘It’s nothing to worry about.’
‘You sure?’
Ramona nodded.
Once Estelle had gone back to her client, Keera turned to Ramona. ‘You’re not okay, are you?’
Ramona shook her head as she rubbed at her neck, red blotches already appearing under her skin.
‘Who the hell was he?’
‘He’s my brother.’ Ramona dropped her eyes with embarrassment.
‘Oh!’ Keera stood wide-eyed. ‘I thought he was after protection money or something.’
Ramona shook her head. ‘The Mitchell estate might be a shit place to live, but it isn’t the East End of London.’
‘What did he want money for?’
‘I owe him five hundred quid. I should have given it to him ages ago. I suppose he thinks he’s waited long enough. But thanks for helping out.’
‘I could lend you some, if it gets him off your back?’
‘No, thanks. I won’t let him have all his own way. He comes round here too often, trying to push his luck. I know when I’m not here some of the girls can’t cope with him and give in to his demands. I must owe them a fortune, too.’
‘The cheeky bastard!’
Keera sat with Ramona for a while until she felt it was safe enough to return to her room. But it left her with a bitter taste in her mouth and she cancelled her last client to sit with Ramona until the end of the evening. She wasn’t certain that Steve wouldn’t come back.
If things were different, she would have called on Sam. He would help to sort Steve out. But Sam was still in hospital and his fighting days were clearly over for some time. More to the point, no one knew she was working here – and she didn’t want anyone to find out, let alone her family. What would Sam think? Worse, what would her mum think?
So if Steve Wilson needed money, then she might have to get it for him. She couldn’t risk him opening his mouth to Sam.
Chapter Seventeen
At work on Friday morning, Donna spent a depressing hour stacking the shelves with baked beans and packets of noodles, all the time worrying about her mum and Sam. This had been one of the longest weeks of her entire life. Sam would be out of hospital soon, and how would he cope with one working hand? He wouldn’t be able to do anything but the basic of tasks. She’d have to do his washing and ironing, as well as help to keep his flat in good order. After visiting Sam’s place and finding it a tip, Donna knew she couldn’t trust his flatmate Brendan. Honestly, she could clean and tidy for hours and it would hardly make a dent.
Her phone beeped the arrival of a text message. It was from Owen.
I can’t stop thinking about you. Can’t wait to see you when you get chance.
Thank goodness she had their date to look forward to. She replied quickly.
Me too.
Really?
Really.
Then come outside the back way.
Donna nearly dropped her phone. Owen was here? How the hell had he got into the yard behind the shop? He must have jumped over the wall.
‘I’m just going out the back for a break,’ she shouted through to Sarah, trying to look nonchalant even though she could feel her skin burning. ‘Darren can man the tills if they get busy. It’s stifling in here.’
Donna opened the back door, squinting as her eyes grew accustomed to the light. Once outside, she breathed in the hot air. The weather was still treating them to bright blue skies, bringing thoughts of cocktails and barbecues at the weekend. Knowing her luck lately, it would invite fights from the neighbours, drunken layabouts, loud music or a thunderstorm.
Owen stepped from behind an industrial bin.
‘Oh, very romantic,’ Donna grinned, her stomach flipping over at the sight of him in cut-off denims and a pale blue polo T-shirt. Sunglasses hid his eyes but he removed them as she drew closer, throwing her a smouldering glance before pushing them into the neck of his shirt. He stepped forward, reached for her hand and took her round the corner of the building out of sight of anyone.
‘I’m sorry, but I can’t wait any longer.’
He bent his head down and kissed her, his touch so light and feathery that it felt as if it were a breeze across her lips. She gazed into his eyes, saw the lust reflected in her own as he moved in to kiss her again. This time he stayed where he was, moulding his body to hers.
Donna held him tightly, hand at the back of his neck. Desire rushed through her as he pressed her into the wall hard enough for her to feel every inch of his body next to hers, and not be mistaken by how much she was turning him on.
A moan escaped her. In seconds, the man had woken up feelings she had put to bed a long time ago.
‘Well, that was worth waiting for,’ he grinned when they finally broke for air.
Donna couldn’t speak. Already, she missed the heat of his body, the strong sense of it being pressed against hers.
‘Say something?’ said Owen.
‘I don’t want to,’ she replied.
He frowned but as she brought his face towards hers again, she knew he understood her meaning. She kissed him this time, her tongue probing, darting, but tentative. When it touched the tip of his, she moaned again. If this was what he did to her with his kiss, she could only imagine what else he would do to her, once they had the chance.
They broke free again, each breathless, just staring at the other. Owen remained close to her, as if he didn’t want to move.
‘I know it isn’t the most romantic of places,’ he nodded in the direction of the yard, ‘but I was driving past and I – well, I had to see you. I haven’t been able to stop thinking of you since we met. You do something to me that I’ve never experienced before.’
‘You’re full of shit, do you know that?’ Donna regretted the words as soon as they had left her mouth. She shouldn’t think every man was out to hurt her. It was just scars from the past coming back to haunt her.
‘Oh, God, I’m sorry,’ she added as Owen looked at her, his eyes questioning. ‘I didn’t mean to say that out loud,’ she tried to explain. ‘Let’s just say that life hasn’t exactly been good to me in the love stakes, and sometimes I’m scared to let go in case I get hurt.’
‘I won’t hurt you, Donna,’ he whispered, moving his lips close again. He cupped her face in his hands, his eyes never leaving hers for a second. ‘I need you to believe that.’
She wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to.
‘You do believe me?’ he asked.
She lowered her gaze from his. ‘I have to get back to work. If not, Sarah will come looking for me soon.’
Owen nodded and dropped his hands. ‘See you later,’ he grinned.
She smiled before walking away. But then his hand grabbed her and she was in his arms again. And suddenly she was falling under his spell. The smell, the ta
ste, the sex of him – everything was pulling her nearer. She didn’t want the moment to end. Every inch of her body was on fire, expecting more than he could give, wondering how it would feel to receive it all.
They broke free again, with difficulty. Embarrassed laughter followed.
‘Go,’ Owen said, and patted her bottom before pushing her away.
Donna almost floated back into the shop. She waved a hand in front of her face to try and cool her down. That man certainly knew how to stoke her fire. One minute he was wooing her with a picnic: the next he was treating her to a stolen moment of passion. She couldn’t wait to see him again.
She was wondering where they would go when she joined Sarah behind the counter.
‘It’s still hot out there, I see?’ asked Sarah.
‘Hmm?’
‘Your skin is flushed already. You need to put some lotion on if you sit outside for too long.’
Donna put a hand to her cheek and nodded. Let Sarah think it was the sun that had caused her skin to redden. She didn’t want to say anything about Owen. It was her special moment, and she didn’t want to spoil it by talking about it.
She felt she was on the cusp of possibilities, of hope, of love and laughter and shared dreams and future plans and wishes. And she didn’t want the feeling to disappear.
It was so exciting to have a little light in her life at last.
Chapter Eighteen
Josie had been surprised to get a call on her mobile from a tenant in Russell Place. Even though she still had a few weeks left at The Workshop until she returned to the estate full-time, she’d rung the individual and reassured the irate woman that she would investigate the matter further.
It was another complaint about Lewis Prophett. Lewis and his wife, Amy, had been tenants since they’d moved into one of the estate’s rented properties just after their son, Daniel, had been born. Despite her youth and the hardships of living alone with a baby when Lewis was overseas, Amy had been a model tenant. Josie heard lots of negative things about young mums with babies but Amy did everything right. The house was always tidy, the baby had been immaculate and Josie was pleased that she hadn’t gone the same way as some of the mums on the estate.
While Lewis had been in the army, there hadn’t been any complaints relating to the property. So it had concerned Josie when she’d started hearing about Lewis causing problems these past few months. It seemed that Amy didn’t know how to handle him and his moods. It appeared that no one did.
She knocked on the door. Amy Prophett opened it with a look of resignation, her shoulders drooping. She was a small woman in contrast to Lewis’s tall stature, and thin where Lewis was bulky. Her blonde hair was tied back revealing a clean, make-up free face. Her eyes didn’t smile, even though her lips did.
She let Josie into the property.
‘Who’s complained this time?’ Amy asked as Josie followed her through to the kitchen. ‘Honestly, I wish people would think before they ring you. I could tell you lots about the residents in this street, but I don’t. I keep myself to myself.’
‘Oh, take no notice of anyone who complains,’ said Josie. ‘I couldn’t give a tuppence unless there was a riot or he’d damaged our property. I just wanted to see if you’re okay. I know Lewis has been having trouble lately, but how are you?’
‘Me?’ Amy raised her eyebrows. ‘You’re the first person who’s asked that in a long time! Everyone always wants to know how Lewis is.’
‘I can imagine, but it must take its toll on you and Daniel?’
Josie saw Amy bristle at the mention of their son’s name.
‘We get by. Dan’s doing well now,’ Amy told her. ‘He’s picked up at school again.’
‘Not asking to join the army now?’
Amy shook her head. ‘I think he’s come to his senses after seeing what it’s done to his dad.’
‘Want to talk about it?’
Amy pointed to a chair and they both sat down at the table. ‘Lewis came over yesterday after he’d been to the job centre. He was distraught that he couldn’t find a job, felt like he was going to be on the scrapheap forever. I tried to tell him that he’d get fixed up soon, but he’s got it into his head that if he finds his feet again and starts to settle into a routine, he could come back here and we could start over.’
‘And that’s not an option anymore?’ Josie probed.
Amy shook her head. ‘Not unless he gets help. I can’t see what we had working again if he doesn’t. I know it would take us time to readjust after being apart for so long, but it isn’t just that. I could cope with us pussyfooting around each other if he hadn’t been so angry all the time. I only had to put a cup down in the wrong place and he’d start shouting at me.’
‘He took his frustration out on you?’
‘Yes, and it was hard to live with. I took it for a while but then, when it started to affect my sleep and I was constantly in a state of worry, especially when he began drinking heavily, it started to feel like a war zone right here in our home. It wasn’t good for Daniel to see either. I was worried about him, too.’
Josie could see guilt in Amy’s eyes as she glanced her way before continuing.
‘In the end, I used to sigh with relief when he left the house, but dread the sound of his key in the door when he came back. And Lewis kept telling Dan to be quiet. He’s just a boy – they make noise – but Lewis was always jumpy every time he heard a bang. Dan stopped bringing his friends around.’ Her smile was faint. ‘It had always been open house. I miss having lots of kids around here. Some have started to come again since Lewis left, but now they’re older, they want to be out, don’t they?’
Josie nodded. ’So when he came to visit?’
‘He wanted to prove to me that he’d changed, but because he couldn’t get a job, he kept saying he’d failed. He accused me of not understanding. I don’t understand him, if I’m honest. Trouble is, I don’t think I want to understand anymore. I don’t want my marriage to be over but I think I’d prefer to think that Lewis is still away in the army, rather than have the constant worry of what he will do next.’
‘He lost a support group when he left his fellow soldiers behind,’ said Josie.
‘I should be his support group now.’ A lone tear fell down Amy’s face and she flicked it away quickly. ‘But he won’t talk to me. I don’t know what else to do.’
When Josie left the house, she walked down the path and put her face up to the warm rays of the sun.
She didn’t know what it was about him, but Lewis’s plight touched her heart. So many of her residents didn’t want to be helped, pushed her away, or called her a ‘jobs worth.’ So many more were just out for what they could get. Lewis was different. He was hurting.
But this was so far out of her jurisdiction that she felt out of her depth. She wished she could help him, but he needed to want that help. There seemed no point in barging in with her opinions and advice leaflets.
Perhaps she could do some more research on PTSD, try and get in touch with someone that Lewis could talk to.
Her shift over for the day, Donna went to see Sam at the hospital. He’d had his second operation that morning. Thankfully, the surgeon had managed to attach the severed tendon again so he wouldn’t lose his finger. They’d stitched it up as neatly as they could and now it would need lots of physio to get it working again.
It was only after leaving the hospital, as she rushed off to visit Mary, that she started to look forward to her evening. Tonight was finally going to be the night. Owen was picking her up at seven thirty and they were going out for a meal. The prospect of her evening had got her through the stresses of the day; every man and his dog had been moaning about the weather being too hot. They should try standing in a shop all day where the only air conditioning was the door being open, Donna thought to herself.
As she let herself into Mary’s flat, shouting out a greeting, a head popped around the kitchen door.
‘Oh, hi, Megan,’ she smiled a
s the young girl came out, carrying a beaker of juice for Mary.
‘Hi, Donna, how are things?’ Meg handed the drink to Mary, cupping her hands around the base of the beaker to attempt to get Mary to do the same.
‘Fine, thanks. You?’
‘Good, thanks. And Mary is doing well, aren’t you?’ Megan gave Mary’s arm a quick pat before standing up straight again.
Mary sucked away on the beaker, causing Donna to grin at the funny noises she made.
‘How’s Sam?’ Megan enquired.
‘As well as can be expected, thanks. He’s had another operation today, though. If all goes well from now, he’ll be able to come out after the weekend.’
‘That’s good.’
Donna detected a slight blush on Megan’s cheeks. She caught her eye and the young woman looked away as her skin reddened further. Donna couldn’t help but smile. It looked like Megan had a crush on Sam.
‘You should look in on him if you have time,’ she encouraged. ‘He’s spoken about you a lot this week.’
‘Oh, I— well, I’ll see if I have time after my shift.’ Megan looked at her watch. ‘Talking of which, I need to go. Bye, Mary, and see you tomorrow.’
Donna showed Megan out. At the door, she stopped her. ‘Thank you for looking after Mum so well,’ she said. ‘I know she’s in safe hands with you.’
Megan beamed. ‘I like her, she’s a lovely lady. And besides, I like to speak to people as equals. Mary might not remember me tomorrow, and she may not even like me tomorrow, but that shouldn’t affect the way I treat her. Manners and understanding cost nothing.’
Once Donna had closed the door, she went back into the living room with Megan’s words ringing in her ears. What an old head on young shoulders. She hoped that she did have a soft spot for Sam. He’d do well to find someone like her.
‘I don’t like her,’ said Mary suddenly.
‘But that’s Megan. Everyone loves Megan.’
‘Not me,’ said Mary. ‘She’s horrible, that Laura.’
Donna sighed. Laura Prophett was another of Mary’s carers. ‘That’s Megan, Mum, not Laura.’