Queenie Butler was a suspicious person by nature, but rarely of her own kin. Family meant everything to her and if you could not trust them, who could you bloody well trust? However, something about Vivian’s regular visits to talk to her Lenny at the grave, which had recently become more frequent, did not ring true to Queenie. She was spending hours on end over there, which was why Queenie had decided to surprise her sister by turning up today.
Feeling guilty about using her deceased son as an excuse to spend time with Albie, Vivian actually did pop to the cemetery some days. She only stayed briefly and would then hop back on the train to visit Albie in nearby Barking. Today was one of those days, and Viv was just about to leave when she spotted her sister. She was horrified. She had her big shopping bag and it had a container full of stew for Albie inside. ‘What you doing ’ere?’ she asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
‘The pains in me leg wore off after you left, so I thought I’d surprise ya. You don’t look very happy to see me. What you got in your bag?’ Queenie asked.
‘Shopping. Not that it’s any of your bloody business. You’re checking up on me, aren’t you? How dare you!’
‘No, I’m not! I do have family at this cemetery an’ all, in case you had forgotten. Why you being so narky? I only wanted to surprise you. I thought we’d have a bit of lunch out together – my treat. Been ages since we’ve done that.’
Saddened that she wouldn’t be able to spend the afternoon with Albie, or even let him know that she couldn’t make it, Vivian had no option but to force a smile and hope that Queenie didn’t get a whiff of her own home-made stew.
‘You all right, babe? How did it go with Alex?’ Daniel asked, flopping on the sofa. Lee had spoilt his day by getting drunk and acting like a prick, and Daniel planned to have a serious chat with him tomorrow. No way was he going to have his best man showing him up on his wedding day.
‘Alex can’t wait to be bridesmaid,’ Roxanne grinned. ‘And I saw a wicked outfit that I put a deposit on. The woman said she can get it altered for me if I get too massive. I’m not telling you any more about it though. So don’t pry, canny lad,’ she chuckled. She was actually looking forward to getting married now. The connection between herself and Daniel was awesome. She even knew what he was thinking at times, and he seemed to be able to read her mind too. They were soul-mates and their age difference wasn’t a problem at all.
‘Lee made a right tit of himself today. I felt like knocking him out at one point, but me dad calmed it down.’
‘What did he do?’ Roxanne asked. She was very fond of Daniel’s father, but not overly struck on Lee or his wife. She could sense they were jealous of her and Daniel’s happiness and had told her boyfriend as much.
‘Turns out you were right, but we mustn’t say anything. Me dad had a quiet word in me shell-like after we’d dropped Lee off. Him and Beth are having tests to see why she can’t get pregnant. Lee don’t dislike you, but keeps having little digs about your past. Obviously jealous that I have good sperm that are actual swimmers,’ Daniel chuckled.
‘You didn’t tell him anything, did you?’ Roxanne asked, alarmed. She’d had to tell Daniel something when he’d kept on about her applying for new identification, so had told him her parents were on the run because her dad had once mown down and killed a child in his car whilst drunk. Roxanne explained how they’d moved home the very next day and her surname had been changed.
‘Nah. I told him jack-shit, so don’t worry. Vinny’s the only one who knows everything and he can be trusted,’ Daniel reassured her. Unbeknown to his father or Lee, Daniel actually got on well with Vinny these days. His uncle had written to him a lot in prison and had certainly come up trumps with Roxanne’s fake ID. Vinny dealt with a geezer who could actually provide a National Insurance number as well, and even though Roxanne had been worried, she’d had no problems registering with a quack. Daniel had no idea where the ID came from, as Vinny’d been reluctant to tell him. All he’d said was it was kosher, had cost a lot of money, and to accept it as a wedding gift from him.
Roxanne smiled and cuddled up to her fiancé. She was a good liar, but what she’d told Daniel wasn’t all lies. It was fact, mixed with fiction for her own benefit.
Michael Butler nudged and grinned at Bella as his daughter strutted across the stage singing ‘Oom-Pah-Pah’. Camila had actually had a part in the 1994 West End revival of Oliver, but she’d only played one of the orphans back then. Tonight’s adaptation was much smaller and had been put on by the drama school his daughter attended. She was playing Nancy, one of the biggest parts, and Michael felt as proud as a peacock.
‘Wow! Our little girl is officially amazing,’ Bella whispered in Michael’s ear.
‘Gets it from me, especially that Cockney accent,’ Michael chuckled.
‘I’ll allow you the credit for her accent, but her beauty and talent are definitely my input,’ Bella retorted.
Overcome by the moment, Michael squeezed Bella’s hand. ‘Shall we take Cami out to celebrate afterwards? I know a nice restaurant not far from ’ere.’
Bella returned the squeeze. ‘Cami would love that, and so would I.’
Roxanne smiled as she stared at Daniel sleeping peacefully. He always had a habit of falling asleep quickly after one of their marathon love-making sessions, but it didn’t bother Roxanne. She saw it as a sign of contentment.
Not feeling tired herself, Roxanne got out of bed and crept into the kitchen. She made herself a brew, took her purse out of her handbag and stared at the photo of her brother and sister. There’d been twins of around the same age in the café she and Alex had met in today, and it had momentarily reminded Roxanne of how much she missed them.
She stared at the photo for a couple of minutes, kissed it and put it back in her purse. One day she would come clean to Daniel about her big whopper of a lie, but only when the time was right. The twins could come and visit them then, be part of her life again. Unfortunately though, that wouldn’t be any time soon. If the truth reared its ugly head now, it would definitely blow her happiness to pieces without a shadow of a doubt.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The morning before his son’s wedding, Michael Butler was awoken by Katy’s hand around his cock. He leapt out of bed at rapid speed. ‘I ain’t got time today, girl. Got shitloads to do, as you can imagine, and I can’t let me own son down on his stag piss-up. I’m gonna jump in the shower.’
‘You certainly know how to make a woman feel good, you do, Michael. Last night you were tired and this morning you’re in a rush. I don’t ask for much from you. There aren’t many women who would put up with you spending the bulk of the week in London getting up to Christ knows what. Don’t take me for a fool, because I will make sure you regret it.’
Not wanting a bad atmosphere at the wedding tomorrow, Michael reluctantly got back into bed and gave Katy what she craved.
Daniel Butler checked his appearance in the mirror. Lee had suggested they go away and have a proper stag do, but Daniel didn’t fancy a mad one. An East End pub crawl suited him fine and even though he wasn’t getting married until tomorrow afternoon, he was determined to be home by about midnight at the latest.
Roxanne chuckled as she watched her fiancé admiring himself. He was wearing a black suit and looked a proper gangster with his dark sunglasses on.
Daniel turned around and took Roxanne in his arms. ‘How lucky are you to be marrying me tomorrow, babe?’
Roxanne playfully punched him. ‘You’re the bloody lucky one and don’t you ever forget it. You still meeting Vinny first?’
‘Yeah. Gonna have a few bevvies with him over Canary Wharf before I meet the others. He’s got some young bird on the go, so I’ll suggest the four of us get together after the wedding. He’s looking forward to meeting you and I can’t wait to see this bird of his. He’s a funny one, my uncle. Never been a player. I’ve not known him to have a bird since Jo.’
‘Is Jo the mother of his kids?’
Roxanne asked. Daniel had a very big family and Jo was a name she’d never heard mentioned before.
‘Was. She’s dead now. Jo was Ava and Molly’s mum. Got killed in a car crash, she did. Changing the subject, I wonder what my nan’s got in store for you? I hope you like Chas and bleedin’ Dave,’ Daniel smirked. When Roxy had first met his nan it had been awkward, to say the least, and it amused Daniel greatly they were now good buddies. So much so, Queenie had insisted on organizing a small hen party at hers. Roxanne was planning to stay over and get ready there tomorrow. He was getting ready at the club with his dad and Lee.
‘Who the hell are Chas and Dave?’ Roxanne asked innocently.
Daniel laughed. ‘You’ll find out later, and for Christ’s sake don’t tell me nan and aunt you’ve never heard of ’em. They’ll hate you.’
‘Stop winding me up, and make sure you behave yourself today. I love you, Daniel Butler.’
Kissing his wife-to-be, Daniel pulled away and grinned. ‘Crazy, ain’t it, to think we’re gonna be husband and wife tomorrow? We didn’t even know one another this time last year. But when something feels right, it feels right. I love you too, babe. Bundles.’
‘Cooey, Albie. Got away quite easily today, love. Queenie’s too busy preparing for the hen party to be worrying about me going out. Gone a bit overboard, if you ask me. Had banners and all sorts made. I wouldn’t mind, but she didn’t even like the poor little bride until a few weeks ago. Said she was nowhere good enough for Daniel.’
Chuckling, Albie stood up and gave Viv a peck on the lips. ‘That’s our Queenie for you, dear. As two-faced as they come. Sit yourself down and I’ll make you a cuppa.’
‘No. You sit down, Albie, and I’ll put the kettle on. I’ve got some crusty rolls in me bag and a nice bit of boiled bacon for lunch. Bought us some big Spanish tomatoes an’ all, but I’ll rinse them under the tap for ten minutes first. If they’ve come all the way from Spain you don’t know what diseases they’re bleedin’ carrying,’ she said in earnest.
‘You’re a tonic, you are, Vivian Harris. Anyone ever tell ya that?’
‘Yes. My old man on a regular basis. Until he ran off with that young barmaid. So whaddya reckon about tomorrow, Albie? You looking forward to it? Daniel seems very settled now, doesn’t he? Nice enough girl, but I still can’t bleedin’ well understand her. Queenie apparently does though. She’s taken it upon herself to translate between us.’
‘I can’t understand her very well either, but I do like her. She’s very bubbly. Only time will tell if they rushed into things. As for the actual wedding, bound to be a bloody drama of some kind, Vivvy. There always is with our mob.’
‘You’re looking very suave and well, lad. Excited or crapping yourself?’ Vinny Butler chortled, slapping his nephew on the back. He was genuinely fond of Daniel, thought he’d turned out well. But it did also bring a wry smile to Vinny’s face that the boy had come to him for help regarding his bird’s fake ID, rather than his father. He also got off on Daniel meeting him behind Michael’s back.
‘You ain’t looking too bad yourself. Whoever this young bird is, she’s obviously taking good care of you,’ Daniel grinned, returning the slap on the back.
‘She sure is. But keep it between me and you, OK?’ Vinny winked, tapping the side of his nose. ‘If your Ava finds out, I’ll be skinned alive. And if your nan finds out, she’ll chop me nuts off and feed ’em to the birds as fat balls.’
Daniel laughed. ‘What’s her name and where did ya meet her?’
Vinny explained the score with Felicity. Carl and Eddie Mitchell were the only two that knew, and it felt good to finally tell a family member. ‘It’s early days though, boy, and Felicity’s a lot younger than me. I’m just enjoying it for what it is. Can’t see meself ever living with a bird again, if I’m honest. Too long in the tooth and set in me ways. She’s a fucking wild one in the sack though. Keeps me fit, put it that way,’ Vinny smirked.
Daniel chuckled. ‘I never thought I’d settle down, but as soon as I met Roxy that all changed. Big age gap an’ all, but who cares? You gotta do what makes you happy in life. I’m proper excited about being a dad an’ all. I feel ready for it now.’
Vinny clicked his fingers. ‘Bring us over a bottle of your finest bubbly, mate,’ he told the barman. He turned back to Daniel. ‘Do you ever think of your mum, boy? The reason I’m asking is, Ava’s started giving me the third degree about Jo recently. Wants to know what she was like as a person and stuff. I wondered if that was normal after all this time? Or is it because she’s got a whiff that I’m knocking off Felicity, d’ya reckon?’
‘Funny you should say that, me and Lee were only talking about me mum the other day. Lee suggested we pop in and see Mary and Donald, tell ’em about the wedding and see if we could build some bridges. But they ain’t got the café no more. They retired and moved away. Other than that, I’ve barely given my mum a thought for years, if I’m honest. I reckon Ava must’ve got wind you’re at it, Vin.’
‘Yeah, probably. She had her suspicions I had the hots for Felicity before I even went there. Donald and Mary, now that’s a blast from the past. She weren’t too bad, her. But he was a proper poker-faced do-gooder. So was their son. I bribed him, as a kid. Joined the police force as an adult, he did,’ Vinny grinned. ‘Would you have invited ’em to your wedding? I doubt your dad or nan would’ve been too happy.’
‘Well, I have, sort of. The couple who run the café now have a forwarding address. They wouldn’t give it to us, but promised to pass on a letter to Donald and Mary, so I stuck an invitation in an envelope. We’d been on the piss in Barking, me and Lee, and it seemed like a good idea at the time.’
Vinny spat his champagne back in the glass. He was the only family member not to be invited to the wedding, for obvious reasons. ‘I’d love to be a fly on the wall if they turn up. Talk about throw a spanner in the works!’
‘They won’t show up. They fucking hate me.’
‘You hope,’ Vinny quipped.
Daniel laughed. ‘The wonders of alcohol, eh?’
‘All right, lads. Where’s the main man?’ Little Vinny asked.
‘Gone on the missing list. Well, he ain’t answering his phone, put it that way,’ Lee replied solemnly. He and his father had fancied lining their stomachs properly before the heavy session ahead, so had popped down to Kelly’s in Roman Road for pie and mash. The Hand and Flower was around the corner, so they’d decided to have a couple in there before meeting Daniel and the rest of the lads back in Whitechapel.
Little Vinny had rung them while in Kelly’s and it had been Michael’s idea to wind him up when he arrived. ‘We think Dan’s got cold feet, Vin. Nobody could get hold of him yesterday and Roxanne’s in pieces,’ he gloomily explained.
‘You’re kidding me!’ Little Vinny exclaimed, his mouth wide open.
A serious look on his face, Lee shook his head. ‘Nah, he ain’t, and I blame myself. It was my idea we have a stag drink with our old school pals in Barking last Saturday, and Dan met this stunning bird. A model, with the biggest pair of knockers I’ve ever seen. He went home with her after the pub, and I covered for him with Roxy. But now he’s disappeared again.’
‘Fucking hell! Why does nothing ever go smoothly at weddings for our mob? I thought Dan and Roxanne were happy. And what about the baby? Does Nan know yet? She’ll go ballistic if he stands her up at the altar.’
It was at that point Michael burst out laughing. ‘We’re winding you up, you numpty. Dan belled me earlier. He ain’t meeting us until half two. Now get that down your neck,’ he ordered, handing his nephew a drink.
‘You bastards,’ Little Vinny chuckled. He’d so needed to get out today and let his hair down for once. As much as he loved his wife, all she went on about lately was bloody Regan. The judge had ordered that his youngest son be sent to a secure unit in Hackney as punishment for stabbing his school teacher, and ever since Sammi-Lou had droned on about his welfare non-stop.
‘How�
�s the family, Vin? Regan coping OK?’ Michael asked.
‘Yeah, all good. Me and Sammi were allowed to take him out last Saturday. Let’s talk about something else today, though, eh? I’ve come out to get away from the pressures of family life.’
‘Me and you both, cuz. Now Vin’s ’ere, Dad, tell us about this big surprise you have in store for Dan. I’ve been wracking me brains for days and I still haven’t got a clue what it is,’ Lee said. He and his brother were now firmly back on track. Lee had apologized for his stupid outburst in the pub, and had made more of an effort with Roxanne since.
Michael grinned. ‘It’s more of a surprise for the whole family, not only Dan. I pulled off a masterstroke. We’ve got two special guests attending the reception.’
‘Who?’ said Little Vinny.
‘Jesus – is it Donald and Mary?’ Lee asked, wondering if they’d received the invitation and somehow got hold of his father.
Michael laughed. ‘Donald and Mary! As if! Let me tell Dan myself, but I’ve only gone and booked the real Chas and Dave to sing at the reception. We’re still having the DJ and singer, but can you imagine your nan and aunt’s faces? Their crew are setting their stuff up on stage early tomorrow morning. I remember seeing ’em in a few boozers round the East End before they were famous. But your nan and aunt won’t have.’
‘Brilliant! I’ll put money on it Nan and Auntie Viv get up on the stage with ’em,’ Little Vinny said.
‘That is so fucking funny. And I bet Roxanne has never even heard of ’em,’ Lee added.
Michael grinned broadly. ‘Gonna be a wedding people talk about for years to come, lads. A true Butler occasion.’
‘Cooey, Queen. Christ it’s quiet in ’ere. Where’s the music? Haven’t the girls turned up yet?’ Vivian asked, hanging up her jacket in the hallway.
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