‘No need for all that bleedin’ church lark, especially when they’ve both got kids by different partners,’ Johnny stated. ‘I had a feeling Mel would say yes, so had already set the ball rolling. Luckily there was a cancellation, so I got in there sharpish.’
Jason looked at Johnny in bewilderment. ‘Whaddya mean?’
Johnny smiled broadly. ‘I mean the wedding’s booked. You’re getting married three weeks today!’
Unable to stop himself, Jason Rampling dropped his champagne flute in horror.
CHAPTER TEN
The build-up to the wedding flew by and the day before he was due to get married, Jason felt like a trapped budgie in a cage. He hated his new job on the building site. Was constantly knackered and a shadow of his former self. Planning his speech, Jason felt unusually anxious as he rapped on Darlene’s front door. She opened it seconds later, eyes blazing with temper. ‘Andy’s home. Do one,’ she hissed.
‘I need to talk to you, Dar. It’s important,’ Jason said quietly.
‘I’m done with you. It’s over, for good this time.’
Jason stuck his foot out to stop the door being slammed in his face. ‘Please, I’m in trouble. That’s why I’ve not been round. My car’s downstairs. Just give me five minutes, that’s all I ask.’
‘OK. But you say what you gotta say, then leave me the hell alone. Got that?’
‘Who is it, Mum?’ shouted Andy Michaels.
Darlene quickly shut the door. ‘Bloody Jehovah’s.’
Darlene got in Jason’s car, her face like thunder. ‘Drive off the estate. We’ll be spotted otherwise,’ she spat. Barely seeing Jason these past few weeks had driven Darlene doolally and she couldn’t keep torturing herself.
Jason pulled up outside some garages and switched off the engine. He turned to Darlene, tried to hold her hands, but she snatched them away. ‘Look, I know you’re upset with me, but I weren’t lying when I told you about that building job I was forced to take. The Social were bang on me case, threatened to stop my dole money and I can’t allow that to happen as I need to put a roof over mine and Shay’s head,’ he lied. ‘I have missed you so much, babe, I really have.’
Sick of being taken for a fool, Darlene snarled at him. ‘I wasn’t born yesterday. You can’t do without sex for a couple of days, let alone nearly two fucking weeks. Who is she?’
Jason had perfected the art of looking innocent. His eyes opened wide, a hurtful expression clear to see. ‘There is no she. I’ll prove it to ya. You let me and Shay stay at yours until I sort us out somewhere decent to live, and I’ll give up my job and go on the sick. You get to see me all the time then, don’tcha?’
‘Oh, don’t talk such bollocks. What about Andy? He isn’t stupid, ya know. No way am I breaking my son’s heart over you, Jason Rampling. You’re not worth it. A compulsive liar and a chancer, that’s what you are. Got an ex of mine after me at the moment. Had some good times with him, I did. Got far more to offer me he has than you. The geezer’s a go-getter.’
Nobody was more of a go-getter in his eyes than Jason himself. ‘Don’t talk to me like I’m some fucking idiot, Dar, as you know only too well I ain’t. Last chance, sweetheart. Shay and me either move in with you on a temporary basis today, or I move on in life and you won’t ever see me again.’
Losing it completely, Darlene smacked him around the face. ‘Trying to play emotional blackmail won’t work with me, you jumped-up little prick. Virtually brought you up as a lad. You would never have eaten a decent meal if it wasn’t for me. Got a very short memory you have, boy. And that’s what you are deep down, isn’t it? A worthless little boy. Well, more fool me for being sucked in by your charm. Can see right through you now though. You’re a nothing, a nobody, Jason, just like your useless fat slapper of a mother.’
Jason had never hit a woman, not properly. But at that very moment he was so tempted to punch Darlene. Somehow he restrained himself. ‘Get out. Go on, get the fuck out,’ he bellowed, leaning across her to open the passenger door.
‘I’m not walking home from ’ere. Drive me back on to the estate,’ Darlene ordered.
Jason picked up her handbag and flung it out the door. Keys, make-up, cigarettes and tampons scattered across the filthy pavement.
‘You bastard,’ Darlene screamed, scrambling around on her knees to retrieve her belongings.
Jason turned the ignition and reversed his XR2. He opened the window. Even in old faded jeans and a white T-shirt with black mascara dripping all down it, Darlene looked as hot as a blazing bonfire. ‘You’re gonna regret today for the rest of your life, Darlene. Goodbye, sweetheart.’
Sobbing, Darlene yelled, ‘No, Jase. Come back. I’m sorry. I love you.’
Jason was debating whether to drive back and drop Darlene home when his phone rang. It was his sister and, such was her anguish, he could barely understand her. ‘Slow down, Babs. Try not to cry and tell me again.’
‘It’s Mum. She went out yesterday morning and never came back. We got no food, or money and now the electric’s gone. We’re all starving, Jase. Please help us.’
‘Don’t worry. I’m not far away. I’ll be with you in ten.’
Darlene was on her third vodka when she heard a hammering on her front door. Heart fluttering with anticipation it would be Jason, she touched up her hair and lipstick before answering. ‘Oh, it’s you,’ she said, unable to hide her disappointment.
Craig Thurston stepped inside the hallway, delved inside the carrier bag and chucked handfuls of fifty-pound notes up in the air.
‘What you done? Robbed a bank?’
‘Nope. I got that dosh I was owed – well, thirty grand of it anyway,’ Craig grinned. ‘Let’s book a holiday, be like old times. You choose the destination. We can go anywhere in the world you want.’
‘I’m not in a holiday mood,’ Darlene said miserably. ‘Come from Johnny Brooks that money, did it?’
‘Yeah. A bit of blackmail works wonders,’ Craig chuckled.
‘Did you find out about his daughter like I asked you to?’
‘Hell, yeah. Got some proper gossip for you there. Getting married tomorrow, Melissa is. Pal of mine will be there. He’s been booked to film it and do other stuff. That your mate’s son Mel’s marrying, is it? I saw him when I went round Johnny’s house recently. Cocksure little bastard with a blond curtain haircut.’
Darlene immediately came over dizzy and leaned against the wall for support. ‘What’s his name?’
‘Who?’
‘The groom.’
‘I dunno, do I? Want me to ring me mate Tel and find out?’
‘Yes,’ Darlene replied, her voice no louder than a whisper. Surely it couldn’t be Jason? For all his faults, he would never get married without telling her, would he?
‘Hello, mate. That wedding you were setting the stuff up at earlier. What’s the groom’s name?’ Craig asked.
‘Well?’ Darlene mouthed.
‘Jason. He’s from this estate, by all accounts. Is that your mate’s boy?’
‘Jason Rampling?’
‘Yeah. That’s him.’
A watery sensation rose in Darlene’s throat. She didn’t make the toilet, was sick on the spot all over Craig’s fifty-pound notes.
Having forgiven Jason for going on the missing list earlier, Johnny Brooks proudly introduced his future son-in-law to all his pals in Rainham Working Men’s Club. For all Jason’s faults, he was a good-looking lad who came across as intelligent. A smart talker, who could hold a conversation about most subjects.
Brian the Cabbie nudged Johnny. ‘You got a good addition to the family there, mate. Bright as a button, he is. I wish my Wendy would dump that waste of space she’s with and find a lad like Jason.’
Johnny Brooks beamed with pride. He still had his reservations about Jason, but in a way the lad had redeemed his own street cred. Melissa getting pregnant by a random black bloke – who’d added insult to injury by promptly dumping her – had been the most humiliating exper
ience of Johnny’s life. He’d even stopped going to the Masonic bashes because of it, such was his shame. But he would hold his head up again now, and he’d invited all his fellow Masons to the wedding tomorrow.
Seeing Jason deep in conversation with Scottish Paul, Johnny grinned at him. ‘You all right, son? I’ll get another round in.’
Jason grinned back. For the first time since this wedding had been arranged, he actually did feel all right. Seeing his brothers and sister in a tearful state of poverty once again had shown him where his priorities lay. They couldn’t go on living there with his mother, he had to help them. He’d also popped round to see his nan. She was the only guest he had invited to his wedding and she’d given it to him in her usual sharp-tongued style. ‘You can’t back out now, you silly bastard. I’ve chored a new outfit to wear. If it don’t work out, boy, just divorce the girl. What the hell have you got to lose?’ she’d said.
When Scottish Paul kept rambling on about what a wonderful wife and mother Melissa would be, Jason found himself agreeing. His nan was right. Apart from Darlene, he had nothing to lose – and she was far too old for him anyway.
‘He won’t do it, Dar. I’ve already asked him twice,’ Craig Thurston said. He’d been stunned when Darlene had spilled her guts to him earlier about Jason; he’d never had her down as a cradle-snatcher.
The shock having now worn off, Darlene was absolutely livid and was pacing up and down her lounge like a woman possessed. ‘Fucking little cunt. He deserves this, Craig, believe me. I’ve got five grand in the bank that my mother left me. Ring your pal back and ask him if he’ll do it for that on top of the grand you offered him. No! Offer him five grand altogether, your grand and my four. That leaves me something for a rainy day.’
‘Jesus wept, Dar. You must’ve really had it bad for this lad.’
‘I did. But not any more. Jason Rampling is history, trust me. Go on, ring him back and offer him five. His reputation can’t be worth that fucking much. Please, Craig. And I promise you faithfully if he says yes, we’ll go and book that holiday first thing tomorrow morning. Perhaps we can go back to Majorca, stay at that resort we did last time. What a laugh that was. Remember Brenda and Stewart who ran that bar? A scream, they were.’
‘OK. But this is the last time I’m ringing him, Dar. If the geezer says no, he says no.’
Stomping about with her hands over her ears, Darlene refused to listen to the call. ‘What did he say?’ she asked when she clocked Craig had stopped moving his mouth.
Craig Thurston grinned. ‘Majorca here we come.’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Jason Rampling woke up at six a.m. In eight hours’ time he would be a married man, and for once he had no doubt he was doing the right thing.
Jason sat on the edge of the bed. He and Melissa were yet to find their perfect property, but Johnny owned a few flats that he rented out. The tenants of one had recently done a midnight flit without paying the rent, so he and Mel would be moving into that for the time being. It was a palace in comparison to the Mardyke Estate. There was no doubt that Darlene was going to react like a mad woman when she learned he’d got hitched, but Jason was done with her now. He had given her the option of allowing him and Shay to move in with her, and she’d knocked him back.
Grinning, Jason stood up. This was a new chapter of his life and he was determined to give it a whirl. Melissa was a decent person and tonight he would hold her in his arms and make love to her like a husband should.
‘Stunning! Oh, Mel, you really do look beautiful. Your dad and Jason are going to be the proudest men alive when they see you,’ Carol Brooks beamed. Mel’s wedding dress was traditional white. The bodice had a crochet effect, and the skirt flowed out from the waist downwards with crochet along the bottom. Melissa had chosen to wear her dark hair up, so had a matching crochet headpiece to hold her hair in place. She truly did look stunning, like a princess, Carol thought.
‘No. Don’t want to put it on,’ Shay screamed, knocking the purple bridesmaid dress out of Carol’s hands. Shay hated Melissa even more now she was marrying her beloved father.
Carol sat on a chair and urged Shay to sit on her lap. She stroked the child’s hair and spoke gently in her ear. Shay could be unruly when she worked up a temper, but was very loving towards her. Carol felt sorry for the poor little mite. She’d rarely left that flat on the Mardyke Estate, by the sounds of it. ‘Remember I was telling you all about the seaside last night?’
Bottom lip trembling, Shay shrugged.
‘Yes, you do. I told you about sandcastles and explained what the sand and sea look like. And the boats that sail in the water.’
‘And chips and sweets,’ Shay mumbled.
‘That’s right. You’ll love eating chips on the beach, and as for those sticks of rock, yum yum. So, if you’re a good girl for Auntie Carol and you put your dress on, how about me and Johnny take you and Donte to the seaside tomorrow?’
The tiny underfed-looking child’s eyes shone as she flung her arms around Carol’s neck. ‘I love you. Can I call you Nanny?’
Jason Rampling studied himself in his pal’s full-length mirror. The long-tail tuxedo was a tonic mohair with matching trousers.
Terrence Arnold walked into the room and wolf-whistled. ‘Looking good, buddy. If I wasn’t married to Susan, I’d half fancy you meself. Any last-minute doubts?’
Jason had only ever owned one suit in the past. A cheap, black one that he wore for funerals. Studying his smart new look once again, Jason knew he could easily get used to the finer things in life. ‘No, mate. None whatsoever.’
Johnny Brooks felt extremely proud but also very sad as he laid eyes on his wife and daughter in their wedding regalia. Carol’s peach skirt-suit now looked a size too big for her. She still looked beautiful though and Melissa looked absolutely amazing. ‘Beautiful, both of you look,’ he sighed.
Carol beamed with happiness. She had prayed to God that she wouldn’t suffer one of her migraines today of all days, and thankfully he’d listened to her. She didn’t even feel tired, considering she’d barely slept last night. Excitement had kept her awake and today she was full of adrenaline. ‘You look so handsome, Johnny. Doesn’t he look smart, Mel?’ Carol gushed. Johnny, Terrence and Donte were wearing the same suits as Jason, bar the bright purple waistcoat the groom had chosen to separate his look from the others.
‘I dunno about handsome,’ Melissa laughed, giving her father a hug. She couldn’t wait to become Mrs Rampling now and the thought of herself and Jason finally sharing a bed later this evening sent tingles down her spine.
‘Donte, come and show your mum and nan what a big boy you look in your suit,’ Johnny said.
Carol burst into tears at the sight of her beloved grandson looking all grown up.
‘Don’t cry, Mum. You’ll ruin your make-up,’ Melissa urged, her own eyes brimming with tears.
‘Mel, ’ere a minute,’ Tracey shouted out. Melissa had insisted Tracey was to be a bridesmaid, even though Jason was none too keen.
‘Wow! You look incredible,’ Mel gushed. Shay and Tracey were wearing stunning purple off-the-shoulder dresses, and Melissa couldn’t help thinking that Tracey looked far prettier than she did.
‘I got something for you,’ Tracey smiled, handing Melissa a small box. ‘It’s that bracelet you loved of mine with the blue stone. Something borrowed, something blue, something old, something new.’
‘I thought they were meant to be separate items. Not unlucky if they’re all the same, is it?’
‘No. Don’t think so.’
Unaware that her marriage was doomed anyway, Melissa happily put the bracelet on.
‘Answer the door, Babs, and get rid of whoever it is. Not in the mood for visitors,’ Debbie Rampling shrieked.
Babs trudged along the hallway. ‘It’s Dave the Rave, Mum. He’s got a present and card for Jason.’
Dave the Rave was the estate’s speed and ecstasy dealer. Never one to miss the chance to ponce an illegal subs
tance, Debbie darted towards the front door. ‘Jason don’t live ’ere no more. What you bought him a present for? It ain’t his birthday.’
‘It’s a wedding present. Ain’t nothing special, just a card and bottle of plonk.’
Having already drunk two litres of strong cider, Debbie wondered if her hearing was playing her up. ‘Wedding present! What do you mean?’
Dave the Rave pulled his Nike baseball cap over his eyes. He was on a paranoid one, thanks to the three acid tabs he’d popped last night, and Debbie had always scared the living daylights out of him even when he was straight. He stared downwards at his Diadora trainers. ‘I saw Jase in the Working Men’s Club last night. He was on his stag do. Look, just give this to him, will ya?’ Dave mumbled, shoving the carrier bag in Babs’s hand.
Not one to be shaken off easily, especially when two sheets to the wind, Debbie chased Dave towards the lift and grabbed him by his scrawny arm. ‘When is he getting married? Where?’
Knowing he was about to have a panic attack, Dave the Rave was desperate to get away. ‘Langtons, today at two. Look, I gotta go. Not been a-bed all night.’
‘Is Jason really getting married?’ Babs asked as her mum stomped back inside the flat.
‘Don’t ask me, I’m only his bastard mother. Get the boys dressed. And ask old Lil if you can borrow a fiver.’
‘Why?’
Debbie glared at her thick daughter. ‘Why d’ya fucking think?’
Jason arrived at Langtons Registry Office with Terrence, his best man. ‘I don’t know a soul here,’ he whispered to him, as he made his way to the front of the aisle to await his bride.
‘Jason, Jason,’ a voice bellowed.
Aware of all eyes on him, Jason walked over to his nan who had bagged herself a seat in the front row.
‘You said I could bring someone, so I brought Ted. You remember Ted, don’t ya? It was his grandson Timmy you used to nick the lead off the church roofs with.’
‘Yes, I remember, Nan,’ Jason hissed, putting a forefinger to his lips in hope she’d get the message. She was only five foot three. A sturdy woman with dyed burgundy-coloured hair. But she literally had a voice like a foghorn, and he could sense all the Brooks’s posh friends looking at her. The last thing he needed was for her to tell embarrassing stories about him all day. Johnny Brooks would literally have a heart attack.
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