‘Of course I don’t! I really like you too,’ Dannielle said, tucking her hands underneath her legs. They were shaking with the excitement of it all, and she didn’t want to make herself look a fool.
Barry smiled. Dannielle had been looking at him all evening like some lovesick puppy, but he thought it only polite to ask her how she felt anyway. ‘Well, in that case there is only one thing, rather than two that we need to discuss.’
‘What?’
Barry leant across his seat, held Dannielle’s beautiful face in his hands and kissed her gently on the forehead. He then looked her in the eyes. ‘Your mother.’
Arriving home, Stephanie felt so much chirpier than she had the past couple of days. Going out had done her the world of good and her mum hadn’t mentioned seeing Barry any more, thankfully. Tyler was lying on the sofa watching a film, so Steph half leapt on him for a laugh. ‘What’s Mummy’s little baby doing home, then? Behaving himself, is he?’ she asked, planting kisses on his face.
‘Urgh, get off me,’ Tyler said, screwing up his face and closing his eyes.
Stephanie had known what her son’s reaction would be, and couldn’t help but giggle. She so enjoyed winding him up at times, especially if she’d had a couple of glasses of wine.
‘I mean it, Mum, get off me,’ Tyler yelled, as she tried to grab the cushion he had just placed over his face.
‘OK, I promise I’ll leave you alone, but only if you talk to me for five minutes.’
Tyler sat up and removed his cushion cautiously.
‘So, why didn’t you stay round Brad’s house? I thought you were comforting him because his grandad had just died,’ Stephanie enquired. She wasn’t too concerned about Tyler being indoors on his own. She worked long hours in the salon and couldn’t expect Dannielle to babysit her younger brother any more, so for the past six months or so, Tyler had been entrusted with his own key. Not once had Stephanie had a problem with Tyler when he was at home. The little sod only seemed to play up when he was outdoors.
‘Me and Brad had a row so I came home,’ Tyler replied.
‘Well, you shouldn’t have done that, boy, and you shouldn’t have argued with Brad either. If the poor boy has just lost his grandfather, I shouldn’t think he needs any more stress in his life at the moment.’
‘But it was Brad’s fault, Mum. I was only mucking about with him and he punched me, twice.’
‘You didn’t punch him back, did you?’
When her son sullenly shook his head, Stephanie smiled sadly. Tyler reminded her so much of Wayne at times, especially when he was upset or angry. ‘Good lad, and when you wake up in the morning, I think you should give Brad a bell and make up with him, OK?’
‘But why should I? He started it. He hit me and I never did nothing back. He should ring me up and apologize,’ Tyler replied adamantly.
Stephanie sighed. ‘Grief does funny things to people, son. It makes them behave in a manner in which they wouldn’t usually behave. Brad wouldn’t have meant to lash out at you. He just did it because his grandad had died and he wanted to take his frustrations out on someone. Trust me on this one, because if anyone’s an expert on the subject, I am.’
Tyler rarely mentioned his father or his disappearance, but guessing that was what his mother was referring to, he decided to ask some questions. ‘Did you hit people when Dad went missing, Mum?’
‘No, I didn’t hit anyone, but I did some stupid things like anybody would if they were grieving,’ Stephanie admitted, awkwardly. The shame of what she had actually done, Steph would take to her bloody grave with her.
‘But how could you be grieving if you didn’t know Dad was dead?’ Tyler asked inquisitively.
‘Because I was grieving the loss of your dad – you know, his disappearance. Now, shall I make you something to eat?’ Steph asked. The sudden interrogation was making her feel as guilty as sin, and she was desperate to leave the room.
‘Yeah, I’ll have a chicken burger,’ Tyler replied. ‘Mum,’ he shouted, as Stephanie walked out into the kitchen.
Praying that he wasn’t about to ask her any more awkward questions, Stephanie poked her head back around the door. ‘What, darling?’
‘If I ask you something, will you promise to tell me the truth?’
Feeling her stomach churn at the thought of what her son might be about to ask, Stephanie nodded.
‘Do you think someone murdered my dad?’
Walking towards Tyler, Stephanie crouched down in front of him. ‘Yes, boy. I do.’
Dannielle could feel her heart beating rapidly when Barry parked the Range Rover in a dark, desolate country lane. He had already shown her the house he would be moving into, and even though Danni felt incredibly apprehensive, she really hoped that Barry was about to kiss her properly for the very first time.
‘There’s stuff I need to tell you, Danni, stuff which you may or may not already know about. When me and your mum were young, we were boyfriend and girlfriend for a very short time. Nothing sexual happened between us, I swear it didn’t. We were only about fourteen years old.’
Dannielle felt the colour drain from her face. She’d had no idea that her mother and Barry had once dated and she did not know how to react to the confession. She tried to speak, but no words would come out of her mouth, and momentarily she thought she was about to regurgitate the Indian meal that she’d eaten.
Sensing the shock that had registered across Dannielle’s face, Barry took his seatbelt off and leant towards her. ‘Please don’t be angry with me, babe, but I like you so much, I felt I had to be truthful with you from the beginning. Me and your mum were children, nothing more, and we were only together for a matter of weeks. The relationship ended when my mum moved to Spain and I went with her.’
Dannielle had had the perfect evening up until now and, unable to stop herself, she burst into tears. ‘Why did you have to tell me that?’ she cried.
‘Because I think too much of you to bloody lie. Listen Danni, I know this is a lot for you to take in, but I didn’t want there to be any secrets between us. If we are to have any future together, honesty is the only policy.’
Visualizing her mum and Barry kissing one another, Dannielle put her head in her hands. ‘I want to go back to the pub. Can you take me there now, please?’
Barry put his seatbelt back on, started the ignition, then drove along in silence. He’d had no intention of telling Dannielle about his relationship with Steph on their very first date, but he was glad he had. He could have quite easily left it until he had reeled her in hook, line and sinker, but his conscience had told him not to do that. Shagging Dannielle was not his aim, nor was breaking her heart or having his own smashed to smithereens. He liked her, really liked her, and that’s why he had to be truthful with her. Barry knew dropping a bombshell like he had could prove to be shit or bust, but it was better than loving her and losing her. ‘We’re nearly at the pub now, so please stop crying, babe. If you don’t, your mate is gonna think I’ve attacked you or something and she might call the police,’ Barry said, gently.
Realizing that Barry was right, Dannielle ordered him to pull over somewhere. She was acting like an idiot, and even though she was extremely confused, she didn’t want him to think that she was some stupid kid. ‘Thanks,’ she said, as he handed her a hankerchief.
‘Danni, I know this has been a shock for you, and if you never want to see me again, I understand, I really do. The ball’s in your court, sweetheart. You’ve got my phone number and you know where I’m moving to, so I’ll leave it entirely up to you. The only thing I do ask from you is to not say anything to your mother and make sure that mate of yours doesn’t either. Mimi doesn’t like me. I can sense she thinks I’m far too old for you, so when you get back to the pub, just tell her that you won’t be seeing me again.’
‘But she’s gonna know I’m upset. She’s my best friend,’ Dannielle said.
Barry took a deep breath. ‘The best thing you can do to protect the both of us is
to say that I looked upon you only as a family friend or something. I know you’re gonna feel a mug, but what else can you say?’
Dannielle looked into Barry’s doleful eyes and forced herself to behave like an adult. She had no idea if she ever wanted to see him again, but one thing she did know was that she did not want to get him into any trouble. ‘OK, I think I’ll tell Mimi that I got a bit drunk, tried to snog you and you pushed me away. Does that sound all right?’
Barry smiled at her. ‘That sounds perfect, darling. Now, I’d best be getting you back because it’s nearly quarter past eleven.’
When Barry swung into the car park, Dannielle couldn’t wait to get out of the Range Rover. ‘Goodnight then, and thanks for the meal,’ she mumbled uncomfortably, as she made a grab for the door handle.
Knowing that this could be the last time he ever saw Dannielle up close, Barry grabbed her by the hand. ‘You are the kindest, prettiest, most wonderful girl I have ever taken out on a date in my life, Danni, and even if we never clap eyes on one another again, I just wanted you to know that.’
Desperate to get away from him, Dannielle snatched her hand away and ran inside the pub.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
After a tearful, sleepless night, Dannielle had a quick shower, got changed into the fresh clothes she had brought with her, then woke Mimi up. ‘I’m gonna make a move now, mate. You don’t mind, do you?’
Mimi sat bolt upright. ‘Why are you going home so early? I thought we were gonna go shopping in Romford and have a bit of lunch out.’
When Dannielle had got back to the pub last night, she had seen Mimi and had immediately burst into uncontrollable tears. Mimi had believed the yarn she had spun about her trying it on with Barry and him rejecting her, so Danni decided to play on that again. ‘I can’t face going shopping, not after what happened last night. I feel such an idiot, I really do. Promise me you’ll never tell anyone I went out with Barry, or that I tried to kiss him? You won’t, will ya?’
Seeing that her friend looked as though she was about to cry again, Mimi stood up and gave her a hug. ‘I know you feel like a div at the moment, but in a couple of weeks’ time we’ll be laughing about this. I didn’t like that Barry one little bit. He scared me, and I’m sure you’d have ended up getting your heart broken by him. He was far too old for you anyway, Dan. An age gap that big would have never worked out in the long run. You’ve had a lucky escape, mate, I know you have, and I swear I will never tell a soul about what happened, OK?’
Pulling away from her friend, Dannielle nodded. ‘Thanks for being such a good mate. I’ll bell you later when I’ve cheered up a bit.’
As Mimi watched Dannielle walk disconsolately down the pathway, Mimi pictured that horrible Barry’s face and thanked God for small mercies.
Marlene and Marge hadn’t had a girlie day out for weeks, so both women were really looking forward to their lunch date. It had been Marge’s idea to go to the Harvester in Chadwell Heath and they had so much gossip to catch up on, Marlene hadn’t cared where they ate.
‘What we having to drink? Wine?’ Marlene asked her pal.
‘Yeah, order a bottle of white,’ Marge replied.
Marlene gave their food and drink order to the waitress, then turned to her mate and grinned. ‘Guess what?’ she said.
‘Dennis has the biggest cock you’ve ever seen?’ Marge replied, crudely.
‘Well yeah, but I’ve already told you that. Guess again?’
‘You’re up the spout?’ Marge said, roaring with laughter.
‘You’re having a laugh, ain’t ya? After the two monsters I gave birth to, I’d rather die than bang out any more. Now, you ready for this?’ Marlene asked.
‘Yep. Fire away.’
‘Dennis spoke about us living together and I said yes! He’s moving his stuff in mine at the weekend.’
‘Good for you, girl. Blinding news! Fuck me, you don’t hang about, do ya? Not even been with him a month, have you?’ Marge asked.
‘Hark who’s talking! You met Frederick in Barbados and moved him in the day after we got back from holiday. Talk about pot calling kettle,’ Marlene reminded her friend.
‘All right, all right. I hold me hands up, I’m a fast worker an’ all. I wonder if you and Dennis will end up getting married quick, like me and Fred did. Wouldn’t it be fab if you did, Mar? I could be bridesmaid, that’s if you can find a dress big enough to bleedin’ fit me. If not you’ll have to buy me a tent,’ Marge said, chuckling at her own wit.
Thanking the waitress for bringing the wine over, Marlene took a large gulp of hers. ‘I know I can trust you and I gotta tell someone. My Barry’s been up to his old tricks again.’
‘Tricks! What tricks?’
Looking around to make sure she was out of earshot of the other diners, Marlene leant forward. ‘He’s committed another murder.’
Unable to stop herself, Marge started to giggle.
‘It ain’t funny, Marge. That’s why I got rid of him quickly out my bleedin’ house. Been staying in a hotel since, he has. There’s no way I could have slept with him there. He might have come in me bedroom and tried to strangle me again in the middle of the poxy night.’
Knowing if she continued to laugh, Marlene would get annoyed, Marge did her utmost to keep a straight face. ‘So, who’s he meant to have done in now?’
‘That girl he’s been with for years, Jolene.’
‘Oh, don’t be daft. Your Barry might be a lot of things, but he ain’t silly enough to murder his own girlfriend. You’re talking out of your arse, Mar.’
‘No I’m not! Took the girl out on his boat to apparently end their relationship and the poor little cow ain’t been seen since. I bet she threatened to grass him up over his dodgy fucking dealings or something and he lost his rag and slung her overboard.’
‘I can’t believe your Barry would do something like that, mate. Perhaps the girl was just devastated over him breaking up with her and she’s disappeared to get her head together,’ Marge said in earnest.
‘Well, that’s what Barry reckons, but I don’t believe him. He swears Jolene’s rung him a couple of times, but she ain’t contacted her parents and her father’s gunning for Barry, by all accounts. The old man’s a scouse villain and he’s already set fire to Barry’s boat. You gotta remember, Marge, this ain’t the first time that something like this has happened. Jake, Wayne, and don’t forget he tried to kill me.’
Feeling a shiver run down her spine, Marge picked up the glass and downed her wine in one. Marge had always liked Barry, thought he was a son to be proud of, and she so wished Marlene hadn’t told her that Jolene story. The reason being, for the first time ever, Marge believed that her pal might be right.
Unfortunately for Dannielle, who just wanted to be left alone, Tyler was indoors when she got home and her little brother was in one of his more irritating moods. ‘Why do you keep asking me questions about last night?’ Danni shouted at him.
‘I’m interested, ’cause you’re my sister. Just tell me what film you and Mimi watched? Then I’ll shut up,’ Tyler asked, watching Dannielle’s expression for signs of guilt.
‘We watched some shitty comedy on Sky and don’t ask me the name of it because it was that bad, we turned it off and put some music on instead,’ Dannielle lied.
‘Why didn’t you go out instead? You could have gone to the pub,’ Tyler said.
‘Because neither of us could be bothered getting ready. Now, will you shut up, Ty? Because you are really doing my brain in.’
As Dannielle bolted up the stairs, Tyler picked the phone up and rang Brad. ‘Are you OK, mate? Sorry I left you last night. My mum said I was out of order.’
When Brad then apologized for punching him and asked if he wanted to go out somewhere, Tyler grinned. ‘Come round here asap. Danni’s home and she was deffo lying about last night. I wanna know what she’s up to, so today we’re gonna be detectives and spy on her properly.’
Brad giggled. Both he and Tyler
got a kick out of spying on people. Last year they’d found out where one of their schoolteachers, Mr Douglas, lived and had caught him snogging another man. They had told everybody at school and now the whole of their class referred to him as ‘Gay Boy’. ‘I’ll be round in half hour,’ Brad said.
Hearing her phone beep to notify her she had a text message, Dannielle fully expected it to be Mimi checking that she was OK and was stunned to see the name Bobbi flash up. She hadn’t wanted to store Barry’s real name in her phone in case her mum ever saw it, so had chosen the name Bobbi as it began with a B and she’d also had a girl in her class at school with that name. Her heart started to beat wildly as she read the message: Hi, babe. I know I said I wouldn’t contact you, but I just wanted to check you were OK? Bx.
Aware of her hands shaking, Danni dropped the phone on the bed. She had lain awake all last night pondering what she should do and she still couldn’t make a decision. Her heart told her that she had to see Barry again, and she would never forgive herself if she didn’t get to hold him in her arms and see how things panned out. Yet, her head told her that if she did start dating him and her mum found out, it would cause absolute mayhem. Dannielle hated the thought of her mum being disappointed or disgusted with her. They had always been so close, and Danni would hate that bond to ever be broken. It also didn’t help that her mum was a complete man-hater and she would probably have disliked any bloke that Danni had met, even if it wasn’t Barry. Reading his text again, Dannielle decided she couldn’t be rude. Barry had treated her to a lovely evening out and his only crime was to be truthful with her at the end of it. Her hands were trembling as she texted him back: I’m fine thanks x.
Dannielle was horrified as Tyler barged into her room, just as she pressed the send button. ‘What do you want now, Ty?’ she asked, angrily.
‘Just a chat. I’m waiting for Brad to come round and I’m bored. We might hang out over the park today for a bit. What you doing? You going out?’
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