The Betrayer (35 page)

James stood by the big plant, frantically waving his arms at her. She opened the window, ‘Whatever’s the matter, love?’

‘Ssh,’ he said, holding his forefinger to his lips. ‘Open the door, I need to talk to yer,’ he whispered.

Maureen put on her dressing gown and did as she was told. Surely there wasn’t another drama on the horizon. With the day she’d had, she couldn’t bloody stand it.

As she opened the door, she saw the state of his face. His forehead was red raw, his nose looked as though it had taken a clump and his eyes were starting to blacken. In fact, he looked like he’d run into a brick wall.

‘Oh, James, my poor baby. Whatever’s happened to you?’

The tenderness of her voice and the concern in her eyes was all too much for James. Throwing himself against her chest, he clung to her and sobbed like the baby she had just called him. Maureen stroked his hair as though he was a little boy all over again. Her James had never been a fighter and she hadn’t seen him cry for bloody years. She knew whatever had happened to him was serious, and she dreaded hearing the truth.

James felt a right wuss as he pulled away from her. He was twenty-five years old, and here he was crying like a fucking newborn.

Maureen forced a smile. ‘I’ll make us a nice cup of tea, shall I?’

James shook his head. ‘I need something stronger, Mum. Beer, brandy, whisky, anything’ll do.’

Maureen handed him a lager. She didn’t want to encourage him to drink spirits.

Sipping his beer, James launched into the story from the very beginning. He told her about Lucy giving birth to the baby, about the ambulance men who did their best to save the child and about Lucy’s piercing screams on hearing her daughter was dead.

As his mum wiped her eyes and blew her nose, James changed the subject. It was time to tell her about Tommy.

‘You should have seen the state of him, Mum, when he answered the door. He looked like a fuckin’ tramp, he was totally out of his head. I took one look at him, saw red, and gave it to him. I told him his fortune and he lost the plot. He went mental, he did, and started head-butting me.’

Maureen gasped. She’d never imagined in a million years that James’s injuries came from his brother. How could his own flesh and blood do that to him?

‘I’ll never have him darken my door again, James, and I mean it this time. I can’t believe he’s done this to yer. If I get my hands on him, I’ll fuckin’ marmalise him.’

James carried on – he needed to get to the Maria bit. ‘I wasn’t gonna hit him back, Mum. I was gonna walk away, but he started calling Maria a slag and I went apeshit and clumped him. It was awful Mum, really awful.’

Maureen rubbed his arm. ‘I’m glad you fuckin’ hit him and I hope you walloped him hard. He’s no good James, he’s . . .’

‘Shut up, Mum, let me finish. When I was about to leave, he was laughing at me, then he said he’d slept with Maria. He said she’d lost her virginity to him and he started saying some really nasty stuff about her. I’d have killed him if I’d have stayed there, so I ran out, jumped in the car and went straight to the pub. I couldn’t think straight and I needed a stiff drink to calm meself down.’

As tears began to roll down his cheeks, Maureen held him close. For years she’d had a feeling that something had happened between Maria and Tommy. She’d clocked the atmosphere, heard the remarks and smelt the hatred. She’d never said a word, not even to Ethel, but she’d always, always known.

‘How am I gonna find out the truth, Mum? Do I confront her? Beg him to tell me? Ask Freddie? What should I do?’

Taking the brandy out of the cupboard under the sink, Maureen poured two large glasses. Lager was no use to the poor little sod with the shock he’d just had. Handing one to James, she sat opposite him and sipped her own. ‘Do nothing, boy. If Tommy was drugged up he was probably talking rubbish. Can you imagine how poor Maria would feel if you went home and accused her of something she’d never done? It could ruin your marriage, love.’

‘But I need to know if it’s true, Mum, I can’t live a lie.’

Maureen took a large gulp of brandy. She’d lived a lie for years and was an expert on the subject. ‘Only you can decide what to do, James, but my advice would be to let sleeping dogs lie. It’s just Tommy being vindictive, that’s all it is. If I was you, I’d forget all about it.’

James sipped the rest of his drink in silence. Part of him wished he could take his mum’s advice, but he knew he couldn’t forget. He had to know the truth and the only person who could provide him with that was Maria. He finished his drink and stood up.

‘I’m going next door, Mum, and if she ain’t there, I’m going home to ask her. She’ll tell me the truth, I know she will.’

Maureen plastered on a fake smile. ‘You do what you think is best, love.’

Wishing him luck, she shut the front door. It was time to cry her own tears now.

Maria put her book down and stared at the ceiling. She’d left her mum’s and come back to the flat hoping that he’d be there, but he wasn’t. Her mum’s birthday surprise had been totally ruined. She wasn’t worried about that any more; she wasn’t even annoyed. Something had happened, she could feel it in her bones. It was so out of character for James not to contact her. Even if he was still at the hospital with Lucy and his phone was dead, he’d have called her from somewhere.

Her eyes followed a fly leave the ceiling and walk down the wall. Either he’d had an accident or Tommy had opened his poisoned mouth; there was no other explanation. Guessing it was the latter, she prepared herself. She couldn’t lose James – not now, not ever.

As she heard his car pull up, her stomach lurched. Hearing the door open, she took a deep breath. One look at his face told her all she needed to know. He knew.

‘I’ll make us a coffee and you can tell me all about Lucy and the baby,’ she said brightly.

James waved away the offer of the coffee and walked towards her. ‘I need to talk to you, Maria. I saw Tommy earlier and he said something about you and him. He –’

Maria had no choice other than to interrupt him. She had to drop her bombshell before he could drop his. ‘Guess what, James?’

‘Can’t you just let me finish for once, Maria?’ he said angrily.

She shook her head. ‘No, I can’t. Whatever you’ve got to say is not as important as what I’ve got to say, and I’ve been waiting all day to say it. I’m pregnant, James, me and you are gonna have a little baby.’

James felt like he’d been shot in the back. Rooted to the spot, he was totally unable to show any emotion.

Maria smiled at him. ‘Well, say something, then.’

James was dumbstruck. He could hardly drop the accusation that Tommy had made now.

Maria threw her arms around his neck. ‘I thought you’d be ecstatic. Please say something, James.’

James responded to her hug and held her tightly. With tears in his eyes, he smiled at her. ‘Ecstatic is putting it mildy – I’m over the bloody moon!’

Maria looked him straight in the eye. ‘Now, what did you want to tell me that was so important?’

James shook his head. ‘I can’t remember now.’

Maria smiled. ‘Well, it obviously wasn’t that important in the first place, then.’

James turned his head away. If only she knew.

THIRTY-FIVE

‘So, what you doing tonight, Johnny? There’s a crowd of us going down to that new soul club in Ilford, if you fancy it.’

Johnny stepped out of the communal shower. ‘Nah, I’ve got plans for tonight. Let us know if you’re going out again next week.’

‘I’m sure he’s got some little bird on the go,’ one of the lads shouted.

‘I bet she’s a right fat minger. Go on, admit it, Johnny, you’re dating a dog,’ shouted another.

Johnny smiled as he dried himself off. He was used to his team-mates ribbing him. Banter was a part of their match-day ritual, and he always gave as good as he got.

‘See yer later, tossers!’ he shouted as he left the changing rooms.

‘Wanker!’ the lads yelled back.

Johnny got into his van and drove out of the car park. The lads were right in one sense: he was seeing a bird, but what they didn’t know was that bird was his mum. None of his current pals knew much about his upbringing. They knew he lived with his nan, but little else. In his eyes, his past was his past, and it was no one else’s business.

Unable to concentrate on the film because of Ethel’s snoring, Maureen decided to tackle the ironing. As she walked into the kitchen, the phone rang.

‘All right, Nan? I’m just shooting round me mate’s and then I’m going straight round Mum’s. I’ll probably stay there the night. We’re gonna have a couple of beers and a takeaway.’

‘OK, Johnny, I’ll see yer when I see yer. How did the game go, by the way?’

‘We won and I scored two goals. I’ll tell yer about it properly tomorrow. I wanna hurry up and get round Mum’s before
The X Factor
starts.’

Maureen smiled as she replaced the receiver. She was so pleased for Johnny’s sake that his mum had finally got her act together.

Susan had been clean for just over a year now, and was doing really well. She’d come to Maureen for help after a prison stint for shoplifting. Maureen had been dubious about trusting her at first – another false dawn was the last thing that Johnny needed. Maureen had gone to the doctor with her, not holding out very much hope, but her GP had been fantastic and had got her into rehab. On completion of her treatment he had demanded that the council move her away from her old area and temptation. The authorities were told that she had a son who wanted to stay with her, and after deliberation with Barking and Dagenham council, she was offered a two-bedroom house in Becontree Heath.

Maureen offered to view the property with Susan and they had both fallen in love with it on sight. The corner house of a cul-de-sac, it was in immaculate condition and had a pretty little garden.

‘Oh, Suze, it’s beautiful. You’ve gotta take it,’ Maureen insisted.

‘I love it, Mum. I’m gonna be so happy here; it’ll be a new start for me,’ Susan crowed.

Maureen was delighted that Susan had managed to kick the heroin habit that had blighted so much of her life. She looked an entirely different person without the sallow eyes and haunted expression. Her sparkle returned, along with rosy cheeks and a hint of laughter.

Obviously, life without hard drugs wasn’t all plain sailing, and within weeks of leaving rehab, Susan was indulging in the odd drink and joint. Maureen was furious with her. ‘Yer silly little cow. What did yer drugs counsellor tell yer, eh? He said once yer start takin’ soft drugs, you’ll be back on the hard stuff before yer know it.’

Susan stood her ground. ‘I can’t live like a fuckin’ nun, Mum. I swear on my life, I’ll never touch the brown again. I’m clean as a whistle and you’re just gonna have to trust me.’

On accepting the council’s offer, James and Freddie had decorated the house as a surprise for Susan. Maureen brought curtains, cushions, ornaments and new bedding. The fewer reminders of her past and the flat in Stepney the better, her counsellor advised.

Once her daughter had moved in, Maureen made sure that she visited her a couple of times a week. She often found Susan half-pissed or stoned, but overall there seemed nothing major to worry about. She seemed happy and content and had even made friends with her next-door neighbours.

Maureen was thrilled that finally she’d managed to get away from Dave Taylor. An arsehole, waster and junkie, he’d done nothing but drag Susan down with him. For ten years she’d been with him on and off, and in that time he’d lived with five other birds, fathered three kids and repeatedly broken her heart.

‘Good riddance to bad rubbish,’ Maureen kept reminding her.

The most pleasing aspect of Susan’s new life, for Maureen, was that she’d managed to rebuild her relationship with her son. Once her brain was no longer bamboozled by smack, she saw Johnny for what he really was – a polite, intelligent, loving young man.

Having finally seen the light, Susan often had attacks of guilt and only recently had broken down and poured her heart out to Maureen.

‘I don’t deserve him, Mum, and I can’t believe, after the way I’ve treated him, he still wants to know me – let alone loves me. What about the time I sold his wedding outfit?’ she sobbed.

Maureen cuddled her. ‘The past is the past, Susan, don’t dwell on it. You’ve got years of catching up to do with Johnny. Just enjoy it, love.’

Susan had taken her advice on board, and Johnny often visited and stayed with her on a Saturday night. It was a special kind of bonding for both of them. They’d get a takeaway, sink a few cans, and laugh and cry as they watched
The X Factor
together.

‘Maur, I’m fuckin’ wastin’ away in ’ere. Make us some grub, girl.’

Ethel waking up spelled the end to Maureen’s daydream. Sighing, she switched off the iron and switched on the cooker.

Maria stepped off the treadmill and drank her bottle of water. She’d joined the gym a few months ago in the hope of making new friends. So far, apart from the odd hello and goodbye, she hadn’t had much success. Maria didn’t miss living in the East End at all, but she did miss the friendliness of the people. Essex was quite snooty, and the people who lived there seemed very shallow.

‘Excuse me, my friends and I are about to participate in a well-earned glass of wine at the bar, if you care to join us.’

Maria looked around to make sure the woman was definitely talking to her. Seeing no one standing behind her, she held out her hand. ‘I’d love to, and I’m Maria, by the way.’

The woman accepted her handshake. ‘I’m Lavinia. Now, shall we get that drink, Maria? Follow me and I’ll introduce you to the other girls.’

Maria was as pleased as punch as she was led into the bar area. She’d noticed Lavinia and her friends when she had first joined the gym. Out of all the girls there, they looked the in-crowd. She was in no rush to get home. James was away for a couple of days, doing a run with Freddie, and her mum was indoors looking after the girls.