Billie Jo (15 page)

Billie gave a half-smile. 'OK, Jade, and thanks for
helping me. I don't know what I'd do without you.'

Jade winced at the compliment. Billie would very
shortly have to do without her, and telling her wasn't
going to be easy.

Jade sat Billie down a couple of weeks after she'd moved
in with her and gently explained that her savings were
running out and she was going to have to put the house
up for sale.

Jade had moved into the house in Stapleford Abbotts
a few months after Terry's death. Pregnant and jobless,
she hadn't been able to afford the rent on her flat and
had no choice but to move into her and Terry's intended
love nest. Davey Mullins had been fantastic. He'd put the
deeds in her name, handed her the keys and told her it
was all hers. 'It's what Terry would have wanted,' were
his exact words.

Turning her attentions back to Billie, Jade spoke softly
and apologetically. 'I'm gonna have to move back to
Somerset, get a job and let my mum look after Terry
Junior.' Billie was horrified by the news. After the initial
shock of being slung out by her mother, she'd now got
over her feelings of rejection and loved every minute of
sharing a place with Jade and her little brother.

'Jade, I don't want you to go. I don't know what I'll
do without you and Terry Junior being nearby. You're the
only family I've got. Where will I go? I'll have nowhere
to live.'

Jade felt terrible as she tried to explain her reasons to
Billie. 'I have to go, Bill. I can sell this property, buy a
smaller one back home and have plenty of money left
over to give Terry Junior the life he deserves. I've known
for quite a while that I was probably going to have to sell
up, but I was dreading telling you.'

Billie put her head in her hands. 'Will you help me
find somewhere to live before you leave? I can't bear the
thought of being homeless.'

Jade moved over to where Billie was sitting and put a
comforting arm around her shoulder. 'Listen, Bill, I've
thought long and hard about this and I think you should
come with me. I could get us a nice three-bedroom place
and you can get a job up there. We'd be happy living in
Somerset, the three of us.'

Billie gave a half-smile. 'Thanks for asking me, Jade,
but I couldn't bear to leave Danny or my job. I like living
round here and I'd hate to move to a strange area where
I didn't know anybody, I'd miss my friends too much. I'd
like to come and visit you and stay with you for the weekends
sometimes, if that's OK?'

Jade's heart went out to Billie. She loved the kid, she
really did, and she was going to miss her dreadfully. It
would have given her such peace of mind if Billie had
agreed to move away with her. She hated leaving her,
especially with Danny on the scene. She'd met the flash
little bastard recently for the first time and had detested
him on sight. He'd put on a charming, courteous act all
right, but Jade, being reasonably clued up when it came
to judging people, saw straight through him. Billie was
such a pretty girl with a lovely disposition that she could
take her pick when it came to boys. Jade only hoped that
this Danny infatuation was just a first love thing and
that in time Billie would forget about him and move on.
Hopefully, she would meet a nice lad who would treat
her well and give her a good life.

'You can come and stay with me, Bill, whenever you
want. Anyway, it'll be ages before I move. I've got to sell
this place and find somewhere to live before I go
anywhere. In the meantime, we'll look for a nice little
flat for you. I'll pay the deposit and the first six months'
rent and you can pay me back when you sort yourself
out, OK?'

'Could you do that for me, Jade? I'll be able to pay
you back when I'm eighteen. I've got an endowment policy
I can cash in them, that Dad put away for me.'

Billie was so honest and genuine that Jade couldn't
help but laugh. She had no intention of taking the money
back that she was lending. It was a gift, but she knew
Billie wouldn't accept it if she said that, so she pretended
it was a loan.

'Pay me back when you're twenty-one, Bill. You might
need it up until then. Now that's enough about money.
I'm starving; what's it to be, Chinese or Indian?'

'Indian,' Billie said gratefully.

Sitting in the office the following day, Billie was as quiet
as a mouse.

'What's the matter, mate?' Carly asked, concerned by
her friend's sad face and lack of conversation.

Explaining Jade's financial situation, Billie felt eaten
up with worry. 'If Jade moves, I feel that I've got no one.
I know I've got Danny, but say we split up? I know my
mum wasn't the best in the world, but I wish we were
still on speaking terms. The thought of being homeless
with no family fills me with dread.'

Unable to imagine a worse situation to be in, Carly
spoke from the heart. 'I'd ring your mum, Bill. Tell her
how you feel. Explain how you bumped into Jade by accident.

Surely your mum will understand your desire to
keep in contact with your little brother.'

'I doubt it,' Billie said, woefully.

'You have to try and sort things out with her, Bill. I
know she has her faults, but she's the only mum you've
got. Why don't we go for a drink after work and talk
about it?'

'OK,' Billie said, dubiously. She didn't hold out much
hope of a reconciliation, but Carly was right, she had to
try.

The pub was busy when the girls arrived. Noticing a
couple of blokes leaving, Carly shoved Billie towards the
corner table.

It took two hours, four wines and an ear-bashing from
her friend for Billie to pluck up the courage to make the
dreaded call. Urging Carly to make herself scarce, Billie
took a deep breath before dialling her mother's number.

'Hello.'

'Mum, it's Billie. Please don't put the phone down
on me.'

'What the fuck do you want? I thought I told you not
to contact me any more.'

'Mum, I'm sorry for what happened. I just want to
explain things properly to you.'

Chelle sneered as she held the phone away from her
ear. Her daughter deserved a mouthful for betraying
her and that's what she was gonna get.

'Now you listen to me, Billie. I never wanted kids and
then you came along. The only reason I fell pregnant was
to keep your father happy and look where that bloody
well got me. Years I suffered you and all the thanks I get
is you becoming best pals with the old slapper. Well, no
more, Billie. You did the worst thing to me that you ever
could of done. Now, fuck off out of my life and don't
ever ring me again.'

'But, Mum . . .' Realising she'd been cut off, Billie
burst into tears.

Returning to the table, Carly was shocked to see the
state of her pal. Inconsolable was putting it mildly. Not
knowing what to do, she called Danny and asked him for
his help. Elated at being the knight in shining armour,
Danny arrived at the pub within the hour.

Leading the girls to a transit van he'd borrowed, Danny
insisted that he drop them both at Carly's.

'I'll sort this, babe,' he told Billie in his usual cocksure
manner. 'You're my girl now and I ain't letting no
one speak to you like a piece of shit. You stay here with
Carly. I'll go and have it out with your mother and pick
you up after.'

Impressed by his dominance, Billie managed a weak
smile.

As he headed towards Chelle's, Danny stopped at an
offie where he bought two bottles of wine and a box of
Milk Tray. Smiling at his sweeteners, he continued his
journey. What great presents to give an overweight alkie.

Chelle stood up and walked over to the CD player. She
found it difficult to listen to Patsy Cline since Terry had
died. Too many memories, too much shit. Opting for
Tammy Wynette, she topped up her wine glass. The phone
call earlier from Billie had upset and disturbed her and
she needed to blank it out. A piece of her felt guilty for
being so nasty. She didn't hate Billie as much as she
pretended to. How could she? She'd given birth to her.

Terry was the bugbear between them, he always had
been. The fact he was now pushing up daisies altered
nothing. Chelle had felt like an outsider since the day
Billie was born. The closeness that father and daughter
had shared was something she could never compete with.
Loneliness and a bitter taste was all she had left.

'Sometimes it's hard to be a woman,' she sang. 'Giving
all your love to just one man.'

The sound of the doorbell stopped Chelle from reaching
the chorus. Debating whether to ignore it, she peered
out the window.

'Who's this fucking nuisance?' she muttered as
curiosity finally got the better of her. Surprised to see
Danny standing on the doorstep, she invited him in. She'd
liked the boy from the moment she'd first met him.

'Peace offering,' Danny said, handing her the presents.

'Wanna beer, love?'

'You bet,' Danny said, treating her to his killer smile.

Four beers later, a friendship was secured. Both
troubled souls, they bonded immediately.

'Can't you and Billie start afresh? Ain't there no way
you can forgive her, Chelle, even if it's only for my sake?'

'Definitely not,' Chelle said adamantly. 'You're
welcome round here anytime, son, but me and her are
finished. There's far too much water under the bridge and
I can't forgive her for siding with that slag.'

'I understand where you're coming from,' Danny said
sympathetically.

His foot was halfway in the door here, so he was hardly
about to push the issue. 'I'm just glad that me and you
can still be pals, Chelle. I'll look after Billie, you've got
my word on that. I can let you know how she's doing on
the quiet.'

'Whatever,' Chelle said unconcerned. 'She's her father's
daughter, Dan, and nothing or no one will ever change
that.'

Enjoying himself immensely, Danny suddenly realised
that he'd forgotten about Billie. 'Shit, I'd better be
going, Chelle. Billie's round at Carly's and I said I'd pick
her up.'

'Fuck her,' Chelle slurred. 'Don't go, Dan. Stay here
and get on the piss with me.'

Danny felt settled and relaxed and didn't need much
arm-twisting. Pretending he needed the toilet, he left the
room to ring Billie with one of his lies.

'All right, Dan? Did you see her? What happened?'

'Your mum's fine, Bill. She spoke highly of you. Things
are gonna take a bit of time, but you and her'll be sorted
before you know it.'

'Oh, thanks, Dan,' Billie said, gratefully. 'I don't know
what I'd do without you. What time are you coming to
pick me up?'

'I can't make it back there, babe. Me mum's just rung
me. Frantic she is. Me little brother's been rushed to
hospital with a bad asthma attack. I'm on me way up
there now.'

'Oh, Dan, I'm so sorry. Shall I come with you?'

'No, Bill. You get a cab home. I won't be staying up
there long meself. I just wanna make sure that me poor
old mum's all right.'

Saying goodbye to him, Billie explained to Carly what
had happened.

'He's just so lovely. He loves his family and dotes on
his mum. There's not many lads that would drop what
they're doing to be there at their mother's side.'

Carly smiled. She wasn't as convinced as Billie of
Danny's wonderful nature. Loud and flash would be her
description of him.

The following week proved the biggest test yet of Danny's
character.

Billie woke up one morning, feeling like nothing on
earth. Bolting to the bathroom, she retched into the toilet.
She felt very sorry for herself as she wandered downstairs
in need of sympathy.

'I've just been sick, Jade. I feel dreadful. I think I've
got the flu.'

Knowing that Billie had been out late the previous
night, with the charmer of a boyfriend, Jade wasn't overly
concerned. 'Go and sit in the lounge. I'll do you a nice
breakfast to settle your stomach.'

The smell of fried pig was too much for Billie. Legging
it back to the toilet, she only just made it in time.

Jade put the spatula down, turned the gas off and
followed her up the stairs. She stroked her hair as she
vomited, then put her to bed and rang up her office to tell
them that Billie had a sickness bug and wouldn't be in.

It was when she'd put the phone down that the awful
truth dawned on her. Surely Billie wasn't pregnant. 'Please
God, no,' Jade said out loud.

Billie walked into the living room and flopped into the
armchair.

'Do you think I should go to the doctor's? I feel terrible.
I think I've got the lurgy.'

Jade could feel her stomach churning with anxiety. 'I
don't know, you might have. Have you had a period lately,
love?'

Racking her brains, an awful feeling washed over
Billie. 'I'm not sure if I have or not. You don't think I'm
pregnant, do you? I'm not even sure if I'm due on yet. I
never keep dates and sometimes I miss a month here and
there anyway.'

Jade tried to put her mind at rest. 'It's probably just a
bug, Bill, but I think I should get you a test, just to be
on the safe side.'

The following morning Jade's worst fears came true
as she looked at the blue line on the stick that Billie was
holding.

'Christ, Bill, it's positive. I'm so sorry, but it looks like
you're pregnant, darling. Now, don't worry, I'm here to
help you. Don't cry, Bill, you've made a mistake, lots of
girls do, it's not the end of the world.'

Billie was shaking and sobbing at the same time. 'What
am I going to do, Jade? I'm only sixteen, how will I
manage?'

'Ssh, now calm down,' Jade said, hugging her tightly.
'Don't beat yourself up. It happens to the best of us.
Remember I'm no different to you. It was an accident
when I got pregnant by your dad. I was on the pill and
it still happened to me. It's just one of those things. At
least you've found out early on and you've got the choice
whether to keep it or not. Some girls aren't that lucky.
By the time they find out, it's too late to do anything
about it.'

'I'm supposed to be meeting Danny tonight. What am
I gonna do, Jade? How am I going to tell him? He is
going to be so angry with me.'