The Traitor (48 page)

Dominic admired the property first and then Gina. ‘She seems extremely nice and she’s very pretty,’ he said.

Eddie looked at Joey and gently squeezed his arm. ‘Gina is lovely but, as I said yesterday, no one will ever replace your mum in my eyes.’

Joey put his hand on top of his father’s. ‘I know that, Dad. I understand, honest I do.’

In another part of Essex, Jed had just been told he was about to become a father yet again.

‘Well, say something. You are pleased, aren’t you?’

Jed nodded. In a way he was pleased for Luke, as it meant he would have a brother or sister to play with. Looking at it from a different angle, Jed wasn’t so chuffed. Sally had no idea that Frankie was also pregnant and he daren’t ever let Frankie find out that Sally was up the spout again. Frankie would be bound to blame him, even if he had told her that Sally had a boyfriend.

‘Do you want another beer?’ Sally asked. She was a bit disappointed by Jed’s reaction – he wasn’t exactly ecstatic. She handed him a can of Foster’s and sat down next to him. ‘Are you sure you’re OK about it, Jed? I don’t want our relationship to suffer because of this. I have been taking the pill, honest I have.’

Jed put his arm around Sally. He guessed that she had stopped taking her contraception on purpose, but wasn’t about to say so. ‘I’m fine. It’s just awkward, you know, having two with you. I wanna leave Frankie, you know I do, but I can’t walk away from Georgie and Harry. One day they’ll be old enough to make their own choices, then I can leave and they can live with us.’

Sally laid her head on his shoulder. ‘I told my dad. He was OK about it.’

Remembering his beating at the hands of Sally’s father, Jed pushed her head away and stood up. If Terry Baldwin knew that Sally was pregnant with his child and also found out that Frankie was, he would probably skin him alive.

‘What’s up? You look ever so white,’ Sally said.

‘I’m gonna get off, babe. I think I’m coming down with something and I don’t want you and Lukey boy to catch it.’

‘What about your dinner? I’ve cooked you a roast chicken.’

Jed bent down and gave her a kiss. ‘I’ll try and pop round tomorrow and eat it cold if I can. I’ve gotta go, Sal, I feel as sick as a dog.’

Jed ruffled Lukey boy on the head, opened the door and bolted down the stairs. He was still hiding the Shogun in Tilbury, so he clambered into his old pick-up truck and rang Sammy.

‘What’s a matter?’ Sammy asked.

‘I need a drink, a good fucking drink. Tell Julie your aunt’s just died and meet me downstairs.’

Sammy smirked. ‘OK, give us five minutes.’

Back in Rettendon, the atmosphere was jolly and the drinks were flowing freely.

‘That was my funniest Christmas ever, Joey, the one when your nan got pissed and came on to your grandad.’

Joey squealed like a pig and spat his mouthful of drink back into his glass. ‘No, she never did! How long ago was that?’

Eddie could barely explain for laughing. ‘It was only about five years back. You and Frankie had been out and had already gone to bed, I think. Anyway, Joycie was pissed – slaughtered she was – and her and Stanley went upstairs. Next thing me and your mum heard was a commotion on the landing and then I saw poor Stanley run out the bedroom in his Y-fronts.’

Joey was by now laughing hysterically. ‘What did he say? Tell me what he said,’ he insisted, slapping his hands on his knees.

‘“Don’t you ever touch me in that way again, Joycie. If you do, I’m going to sleep downstairs on the sofa,”’ Eddie said, imitating Joyce’s voice.

Gina had tears streaming down her face. Joey and Dominic were wonderful company: so much so that she had felt terribly guilty earlier, remembering how she had taken money from Eddie years ago to follow them and report back to him. As for Eddie, he was on top form today. If his work ever dried up, he could certainly earn a good living as a stand-up comic.

Joey nudged Dominic. ‘Tell Dad and Gina about Nan embarrassing us. You know, about us being gay.’

Dominic shook his head. He liked both Joey’s father and Gina very much, but seeing as Eddie had once put a knife to his penis and threatened to chop it off, he didn’t think talking about their sexuality was a particularly good move.

Eddie sensed the lad’s reluctance to tell the story. ‘Tell us, Dominic, it’s fine. I’m cool about things now.’

As Ed smiled warmly at him, Dominic laughed. ‘OK, then. Well, we was round Joey’s nan’s. She had invited us to a dinner party. Anyway, there was all these people there; I didn’t even know half of them. All of a sudden, someone gets up to do a speech and then another speech follows and then Joey’s nan stands up. I can’t remember her exact words, but she said something to the tune of, “My grandson is a gay man and this is his boyfriend, Dominic.” She then made us both stand up and admit to everybody at the table that we were a couple. Joey and I were so embarrassed when she broke into song and starting singing “Congratulations”.’

Knowing Joyce as well as he did, Eddie laughed. He nudged Gina. ‘She’s a one-off, our Joycie. You’re gonna have to meet her one day. She’s a fucking scream, honest.’

Joey wiped his eyes with his cuff. ‘And what about the “gay and proud” T-shirt with the pink lettering? Nan bought it for me for Christmas and when I said I wouldn’t wear it, she handed it to grandad and told him he could wear it when he cleans out the pigeon shed.’

Eddie stood up holding his privates. ‘I’ve gotta go a toilet, else I’m gonna piss meself laughing. Gina, bring in a couple of bottles of that vintage champagne,’ he chuckled.

As Gina and his father left the room, Joey leaned across and kissed Dom on the lips. ‘I’m having such a good day. I really like Gina. What do you think?’

Dominic smiled. He hadn’t seen Joey enjoy himself so much for ages. ‘I think she’s lovely and I also like your dad. Once you get to know him, he’s a sound type of bloke.’

‘Do you really think so?’ Joey asked proudly. He had never really thought of his dad in that way before.

Gina walked back into the room and handed the boys a champagne flute each.

‘Where’s Madonna?’ Joey asked.

Gina smiled. Madonna had just eaten a plate of fillet steak and was currently lying in the garden with her legs in the air basking in the sun.

‘She’s fine. She’s in the garden sleeping off her dinner.’

Eddie walked in, picked up a champagne bottle and popped the cork. He poured everybody a glass and held his up.

‘To us and new beginnings,’ he said.

Joey, Dominic and Gina all raised their glasses. ‘To us and new beginnings.’

CHAPTER FORTY

Frankie stood in the shower and stared at her stomach as she sponged herself down. She was nearly four months gone now, and even though this pregnancy had been the easiest out of the three, she felt more unattractive than she ever had before. Usually Frankie was in and out of the shower in minutes, but this morning she felt much dirtier than she’d in a long time. The reason was that she’d had to have sex with Jed.

Jed had come in late last night and had not only been drunk, but also amorous. Frankie had told him that she had a headache, but he hadn’t listened and had pinned her to the bed. ‘We ain’t had a bunk-up for ages. Don’t you love me any more?’ Jed had slurred.

All Frankie could think about was getting her hands on that tape recorder, so she hatched a plan. ‘Go and have a shower and I’ll be ready and waiting for you,’ she said in the most seductive voice she could muster.

‘I ain’t dirty,’ Jed replied.

‘You’ve been out working all day. Jump in the shower, it won’t take you a minute.’

Cursing under his breath, Jed did as she asked, which gave Frankie the perfect opportunity to creep outside, get the tape recorder and hide it in the wardrobe.

The sex had been all over in minutes. When Jed was drunk, he was only concerned about receiving pleasure rather than giving it. Frankie wasn’t bothered by his selfishness. The boyfriend she’d once lusted after now made her skin crawl.

‘Hurry up, Frankie. What the fuck you doing in there?’ Jed shouted.

Frankie turned the shower off. ‘Sorry, I won’t be a sec.’

Putting the king-size towel around her, Frankie shuddered as she stared at her drab reflection in the mirror. In less than a couple of hours, she would have listened to the cassette and its contents would be sure to map out her future.

Stanley sat at the table with his head in his hands. Distraught didn’t begin to cover the way he’d felt this morning when he had walked into the pigeon shed and found Ethel had followed Ernie to the pearly gates of heaven.

Not knowing what to do to lift Stanley’s depression, Joycie made him a cup of tea and cut him a slice of homemade apple pie. ’Ere you go, love, eat this – it will make you feel better.’

Stanley lifted his head and ungratefully pushed the plate away. ‘How is a slice of apple pie going to make me feel better? Ethel’s just died – don’t you understand how upset I am? I told you she was heartbroken over Ernie. If only you’d have let her live indoors for a bit, she’d have probably got over her loss.’

Feeling herself losing patience, Joyce picked up the dishcloth and furiously wiped the sink. ‘You’re gonna have to pull yourself together, Stanley. I know you’re upset, but it’s a fucking bird that’s snuffed it, not me or your grandkids. Can’t you pop down to the pet shop and buy yourself another one?’

Stanley looked at his wife in disgust. Joyce really didn’t have a clue. He stood up. ‘You are one callous, self-centred old crow. Buy another one, buy another one! What do you think my Ethel was? A fucking chicken you pick up in Sainsbury’s? I loved Ernie and Ethel, Joycie, loved them with all my heart I did, but you wouldn’t understand that, would you? And I’ll tell you why, shall I? Because you’re an evil old witch!’

As the front door slammed, Joyce ran to the window and was surprised to see Stanley drive away. ‘Where’s he going? The silly, bald-headed old tosspot,’ she mumbled to herself.

Ten minutes later the phone rang and Joyce ran into the hallway. Perhaps Stanley was ringing to apologise for the awful names he had called her.

As she pressed the receiver to her ear, Joyce was greeted by silence. ‘Is that you, Stanley?’ she shouted angrily.

‘Nan, it’s me. Can you talk?’

‘Oh, hello Joey. Yes, your grandad’s just stormed off in one of his little tempers. I’m here on me own. Aren’t you at work, love?’

‘Yeah, but I had to ring you. Guess who I had dinner with yesterday?’

Joycie was still smarting from Stanley’s comments and wasn’t really in the mood for guessing games. ‘Frankie?’

‘No, my dad. He came round on Saturday, Nan, he said that he had spoken to you. He invited me and Dom around to his house yesterday for dinner and we had such a good time. We really have cleared the air and we got on better than we have done ever. He was really nice to Dominic and he even invited Madonna over and gave her a plate of fillet steak.’

Joyce grinned. She knew the speech she had given Eddie had hit home, but she hadn’t expected a reconciliation to happen this quickly.

‘Joey, I’m so, so pleased. I know what happened to your mum was awful for all of us, but your dad’s a good man deep down – he always was. Have you made any plans to see him again?’

‘Yeah. The four of us are going to a pub on Friday night.’

Joyce paused. ‘What do you mean the four of you? Who else is going? Frankie?’

Annoyed with himself for putting his foot in it, Joey bit his lip. His dad had said that his nan was aware of Gina, so he may as well tell her the truth.

‘Actually, Nan, Dad’s friend Gina is coming. She was there yesterday, she cooked the meal for us. She’s a really nice lady and I’m sure that you’d approve of her.’

Joyce felt her eyes well up. She knew that Eddie had to move on with his life, but the thought of him being with another woman still cut like a knife. ‘I’ve got to go now, Joey, your grandad’s just come back,’ she lied.

Joyce replaced the receiver, walked over to Jessica’s framed photo and picked it up. ‘Well, I think Eddie’s finally moved on now, my darling, and I hope you’re OK about that. More importantly, he’s made things right with our Joey and I hope if you can see that from heaven, my angel, you can finally rest in peace.’

Frankie was filled with adrenalin as she handed the tape recorder to Kerry. The boys were playing in the garden, Kerry’s sister was round at her mate’s, so it was just the two of them and a bottle of wine. Kerry poured two drinks and handed one to Frankie.

‘You ready?’ she asked.

Frankie held her breath as Kerry pressed the play button. Unlike their last failed attempt, Jed and Sammy’s voices could be heard quite clearly this time.

‘And how was the wonderful Frankie today?’ Sammy asked sarcastically.

‘As miserable as fucking usual.’

Sammy laughed. ‘Where we going now, then?’

‘Let’s go and see them pair of Dorises over in Barking, eh?’

‘Who’s Doris?’ Frankie whispered to Kerry.

‘They’re talking about two old tarts. That’s what Sammy calls ’em, the dirty pair of bastards,’ Kerry replied.

‘You ever shagged a blackie before?’ Sammy asked.

‘Nah, but I can’t wait to stick my cory into that Angela’s tight pussy. I wanna just see what it’s like. What about you? You ain’t shafted a black bird, have ya?’ Jed replied.

‘Nah. But let me know if it’s any good and I might shove my cock up Angela’s tight black pussy an’ all,’ Sammy joked.

Kerry and Frankie looked at one another in disgust.

‘I hate him. I have to leave him now,’ Frankie cried.

Kerry grabbed Frankie’s arm. ‘Sssh. They’re talking about that Julie.’

‘She keeps banging on about having a brother or sister for Tommy boy. I’ve been stalling her, but I might agree to it soon. I mean, it don’t look like Kerry’s coming back, does it? I miss me boys, but a minge is a minge at the end of the day and seeing as Julie’s a better fuck than Kerry, I might as well lay me hat at hers or, better still, get her to move in with me.’