Adele looked at her mother with a confused expression on her face. She couldn’t understand her at times. Her husband had given her a severe beating and yet she was grateful for the smallest sign of reconciliation.
Adele was tempted again to put her mother up at her place. But what was the point? She knew only too well what would happen. He’d find out where they were then come round to fetch her mother back. He’d turn nasty and violent and, if that didn’t work, he’d beg and plead and promise to treat her better. And her mother would go. Adele might be able to save her from him for a short while but she couldn’t save her from herself. Meanwhile, Adele would have all the stress and hassle of putting up with both of them.
Her mother had made her decision. That was clear. She might complain about Tommy but, despite all his shortcomings, she loved him. It was an odd kind of love and one that Adele would never comprehend. Shirley knew him and all his faults and yet she accepted the way things were.
At a loss as to how she could help her, Adele eventually let her switch topics while they drank tea.
When it was time to go, she hugged her mother and gazed at her with a strange kind of admiration. Despite Shirley’s weaknesses, she had stood up to Tommy and refused to tell him where her daughter lived. Adele felt thankful for that at least. She also felt confident that Shirley wouldn’t let him know, no matter what it took to keep her address secret. Perhaps her mother didn’t need her quite as much as she had thought.
Part Three – 1983-1984
Chapter 34
Adele arrived home feeling exhilarated after attending her kickboxing class. She had been practising kickboxing for some time now and she loved it. No matter what stresses she’d had to deal with during the day, they all melted away once she started fighting. Often she would feel tired and reluctant to go to the class but she’d push herself knowing that the session would re-energise her, and help her push away any troubled thoughts.
Life was good for her at the moment but the past always caught up. Her early life experiences had left her with an endless cycle of negative thoughts and a profound mistrust of men. Because of her damaged childhood she often felt insecure and jealous.
At twenty-one, Adele had already had a couple of brief relationships but they ended the same way. She became clingy, jealous and bad-tempered, which drove her partners away.
So, she’d begun kickboxing classes. She’d read somewhere that it was a good way to channel aggression, and it had proved true. Although she still lost her temper at times, her rages were less frequent. Adele couldn’t do much about her jealousy though. She tried to contain it but there were times when that proved difficult.
Still, things were going well in her current relationship. She’d been seeing John for over a year and they were now living together in a lovely two-bedroomed house. She’d met him while she was out in the city centre one night after work, and they’d clicked straightaway. Adele had put her trust fully into the relationship, something she usually found difficult to do. But with John everything felt right and he’d never given her any reason to doubt or mistrust him. And he was a looker. He had just the sort of features she liked, and a good physique.
As Adele steered her car into the drive she felt a surge of excitement. John always had this effect on her. She walked into the living room to find him ready to greet her.
‘Hi, love. How did it go?’ he asked, walking over.
Adele felt a tingle as he gave her a quick kiss then grazed her throat with his lips. He raised his head and gazed into her eyes.
‘Fine,’ she said, smiling.
John took hold of her shoulders and gave her another kiss, this time more passionate, and she felt herself responding. His kisses grew in intensity and he moved his hands down to her waist, caressing her curves. Then he pulled her tightly towards him. When she felt him becoming aroused she pulled away.
‘Don’t,’ she said. ‘I’m all sweaty. I need to take a shower.’
Instead of being put off, John took this as a sign of encouragement. ‘Come on then,’ he said. ‘I’ll join you.’
They giggled like school children as they took the stairs two at a time. Once they reached the bathroom John undressed her. He removed her clothing slowly, kissing her sensuously on the lips as the garments dropped to the floor one by one.
When only her underwear remained, John broke away from his kisses. His eyes met hers, studying her reaction as he peeled off her bra and stroked her breasts, his hands brushing them lightly until her nipples were erect. As he took one nipple between his fingers, his mouth closed around the other one. Adele let out a squeal of delight.
John’s hand travelled down to her briefs, his fingers slipping inside the fabric and exploring her. She was moist. Adele began to pant as his fingers entered her. She drew away and stepped into the shower while John threw off his own clothes.
‘I’m still sweaty,’ she said.
‘Let’s get you clean then,’ he said, tantalisingly pouring shower cream into his hands.
He rubbed his hands together then slithered them over her naked breasts and worked the shower cream into suds. Within seconds her whole body was covered in creamy suds as he caressed every bit of her. Then his hands clenched her buttocks and lifted her. Adele’s legs closed around his back as he entered her.
She didn’t feel the cold tiles on her back, just the intensity of pure joy as he thrust inside her, sending her into spasms of delight. She watched his muscles tense and relax with each thrust and saw the release in his facial expression as he came inside her.
When it was over, her eyes locked with his and a smile graced her lips. He let her down gently. Then she was giggling again as she flicked suds at him; their sexual gratification morphing into playfulness.
Later that evening, John became more serious. ‘There’s something I need to talk to you about,’ he said.
Adele’s mood changed straightaway when she saw the serious look on his face. ‘What, is it?’ she asked, her tone more grave than she had intended.
He shifted his position from where he was sitting next to her on the sofa and moved closer, taking her hands in his. ‘I’ve been offered a promotion,’ he said.
‘That’s good, isn’t it?’ she asked, almost relieved but somehow knowing there was more to come.
‘Y-yes, it is. It’s a great opportunity with a massive pay rise as well.’
‘Sounds great. Tell me more.’
John took a deep breath, his shoulders heaving. ‘It’s in London. B-but it needn’t be a problem…’
‘You’re going to leave me,’ Adele cut in.
‘No, not at all! In fact, I’d like you to come with me. It’ll be a brilliant opportunity for both of us,’ he gushed. ‘You’ll easily get a bookkeeping job down there and you’ll probably be on more money too.’
Adele snatched her hands away. ‘No, I can’t go. My life is here; my family’s here. My mother needs me.’
‘But, you’ll still be able to visit. Besides, you hardly ever see your brother, and your mother should be capable of looking after herself,’ John said.
Adele realised that he had no real understanding of her situation. How could she leave her mother? She would go to pieces if Adele wasn’t around; she had been bad enough when Grandma Joyce died.
‘It’s not the same,’ she replied, walking over to the mantelpiece and rearranging her coveted porcelain ornaments for the second time that day. ‘My mam needs me! Please say you won’t go, John.’
‘But I want the job, Adele, and I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t come with me.’
The conversation soon escalated into a row with neither of them able to see the other’s point of view. Eventually they gave up arguing and an impenetrable barrier of silence fell between them until Adele went up to their bedroom. She picked up her silver-plated brush set, drawing comfort from the feel of it in her hands, turning it over and admiring the embossed flowers that surrounded it. She ran the brush briskly through her hair then sat
down to read a book once she was feeling a little calmer.
The following day they made up and John didn’t mention the promotion. But Adele knew it wasn’t forgotten. He was just biding his time to keep the peace.
Chapter 35
By the time he had reached the age of twenty, Peter, and his friend David, had progressed from mugging unsuspecting victims. Having summoned up the gall to carry out such attacks, Peter had realised that there were richer pickings available. Instead of randomly attacking anyone who looked vulnerable, he made sure that their victims were carrying plenty of cash: shopkeepers. They were his new targets and he and David were just about to hit one. Their attacks had become more organised too. They’d been watching this particular shop for some time and knew when the owner went to the bank.
‘There he is now,’ said Peter, pulling a mask over his face to disguise himself.
‘Fuck! He’s got someone with him,’ said David as they watched the owner locking up the shop.
‘It’s OK; it’s only his wife. You sort her out while I grab the cash.’
David nodded his agreement.
‘Quick!’ said Peter. ‘Hurry up before they get in the car.’
He and David sped from behind the car where they were hiding and rushed straight into the shopkeeper and his wife. While David kept a tight grip on the wife, covering her mouth to stifle her screams, Peter grabbed at the bag of takings. He had relied on the element of surprise to knock the shopkeeper off balance so he could grab the takings before the shopkeeper had chance to recover himself. But he had underestimated him.
The shopkeeper was a bulky man and although he was middle-aged, he was still willing to put up a fight. As Peter clutched at the bag, his adversary wrestled him for it. Peter tightened his hold but the man still wouldn’t let go, so Peter aimed a sharp blow to the man’s face. His fist connected, stunning the man momentarily, but he soon recovered. The shopkeeper was a powerful man as well as a feisty one. He swiftly countered Peter’s punch while holding tightly onto the bag with his other hand. The blow stung and the impact of his heavy fist unnerved Peter. This guy was strong!
Peter looked across at David who had his right hand covering the woman’s mouth while his left arm came across the front of her body, pinning down both of her arms. David released his right hand, ready to grab the bag, but the woman began screaming. Peter felt the first signs of panic. He was tempted to run but they had been planning this snatch for too long. And they wanted the money.
Peter continued to wrestle with the shopkeeper, his eyes focused on the cash. David and the woman were in his peripheral vision. ‘Shut the bitch up!’ he shouted.
As Peter fought blow by blow with the shopkeeper, the woman suddenly stopped screaming, grabbing the attention of both Peter and the man. Peter saw the flash of steel through the corner of his eye. He looked across to see David holding a knife to the woman’s throat. The woman’s jaw hung loose, her eyes wide with fear.
‘Give him the fuckin’ bag or I’ll slit her throat!’ said David.
Peter knew he meant it; he had already drawn blood. The woman began to whimper, her eyes pleading with her husband to let them have the bag. He didn’t hesitate. It was obvious from David’s stance and tone of voice that he would carry out his threat.
As the shopkeeper let go of the money, Peter tightened his grip on the bag and moved away. ‘Come on, let’s go,’ he said to David who released the woman and backed away from the shopkeeper, waving the knife in front of him to show them he still meant business. Once they were a few metres away from the couple Peter and David sped down the road.
‘Right, let’s count it,’ said Peter once they were safely inside his flat.
Peter and David no longer lived in the squat. Peter was now renting a two-bedroomed flat near the centre of Manchester. Using money from his various illegal activities, he had kitted it out with all the latest electrical equipment and some top of the range furniture. He wasn’t a petty crook anymore; he had become a career criminal and it was paying off.
During the last couple of years, Peter had spent more time inside. His last stint had been in an adults’ prison and he had made a number of useful contacts during his sentence. Unlike many prisoners who attempted to go straight once they had served their time, Peter had no intention of doing so. Criminality was all he had ever known. Through living in the squat from the age of sixteen, he had learnt to survive the best way possible. And the easiest option for him had always been on the wrong side of the law. But it was no longer just a means of scraping by.
As Peter’s crimes escalated, they were becoming more lucrative. And he enjoyed it. The lure of new money-making schemes. The adrenalin rush and excitement of evading capture. The thrill of counting his spoils. He loved it all. Peter also liked the respect he had gained within the criminal fraternity. He was earning a reputation. And he was going places.
*
‘There’s a new Chinese restaurant opened in town,’ said Shirley.
Tommy didn’t reply and Adele noticed him grunt as he chewed his roast chicken. Adele’s mother had invited her and John for Sunday dinner and her father was home in time to eat it fresh for once. Although Adele didn’t like taking John to her parents’ home while her father was there, it was kind of her mother to offer, and she didn’t want to let her down. Adele was painfully aware of her mother’s futile attempts to imitate normal family life in front of John.
‘Do you fancy going next Saturday?’ Shirley continued.
‘Dunno. Depends if we can afford it,’ said Tommy.
He stabbed angrily at a roast potato, irritated at Shirley’s constant chatter. She missed the signs, but Adele didn’t, and she cringed, hoping he wouldn’t cause a scene in front of John who had never seen Tommy lose it. She dreaded how John would react to one of her father’s displays of temper. John’s home life had been very different to hers and she didn’t want him to judge her because of her father.
‘We’re doing OK nowadays, aren’t we?’ Shirley asked, in reference to their finances.
He ignored her, focusing instead on his meal.
‘I believe the Peking duck’s lovely,’ she continued.
‘What?’ Tommy asked, oblivious to her last comment.
‘The Peking duck at that new Chinese restaurant.’ Then, turning to Adele she tutted and raised her eyebrows, feigning exasperation at her husband’s disinterest, and said, ‘What’s he like?’ Then she continued to address Tommy, ‘Lucky Star it’s called. The Hampsons have been. She was going on about it in the corner shop.’
‘For fuck’s sake! Can’t I eat my fuckin’ dinner in peace without listening to you rabbiting on?’ stormed Tommy, slamming his knife against the plate.
Adele noticed the shocked expression on John’s face, and she flushed with shame at her father’s behaviour. But she kept quiet, nervous of inciting her father even more.
They continued to eat in silence, and Shirley didn’t mention the new Chinese restaurant again. Adele was tense; her muscles were strained and she could feel her heartbeat speeding up. She glanced across at John and smiled at him nervously but he didn’t return her smile. Instead he looked down at his plate and prodded at his vegetables.
Adele sped through the meal, sensing John’s disapproval and anxious to be away. When she had finished eating she lined up her cutlery on her plate and looked up at her mother.
‘I’ll take that,’ said Shirley, carrying Adele’s empty plate over to the sink.
It wasn’t like her mother to clear up the dirty pots straightaway and, despite her embarrassment at her father’s behaviour, Adele was touched that at least her mother was making the effort. She smiled at her then turned her attention to John once more. He had only eaten half the meal and she willed him to finish quickly so they could make their excuses and go.
‘Here, you can take this one as well,’ said her father, letting go of his cutlery and giving a satisfied smirk as it clattered onto his plate.
Shirley sped over
to the table and took Tommy’s empty plate away.
‘What’s for afters?’ Tommy demanded.
Adele made a show of looking at her watch. ‘Not for us, thanks. We need to dash. Sorry, Mam, but I’d forgotten we need to call in at John’s parents on the way back.’ She looked at John, her eyes pleading, hoping he would back her cover story.
‘Oh yes, I’d forgotten about that,’ he responded, placing his knife and fork down onto his plate, which was still half full.
Her father sniffed before looking accusingly at John. ‘You not gonna finish that then?’ he asked.
‘So sorry, but time’s getting on and I’m afraid we really must be gone,’ said John. Then, looking over at Shirley, he added, ‘Thank you for a lovely meal though, Mrs Robinson. I’m only sorry we can’t stop longer. Maybe another time.’ He rose from his seat and put out his hand to Tommy. When Tommy ignored his gesture, John crossed the room and shook Shirley’s hand instead. ‘Thanks again for inviting us, Mrs Robinson,’ he said, giving Tommy a sly glance as he walked away.
‘Yes, thanks Mam,’ said Adele.
Ignoring her father, she also left the table and gave her mother a hug before they left the house. Shirley followed them to the door.
‘I’m only sorry you couldn’t stay longer,’ she said.
‘Me too,’ said Adele. ‘Hopefully next time,’ she added, quickly putting on her jacket.
John was already outside the house.
‘Sorry about that,’ she said to him once she was by his side. ‘My dad can be a bit ignorant at times.’
‘I noticed,’ said John.
Adele’s mouth dropped as his words cut through her.
‘Not to worry,’ he quickly added. ‘It’s not your fault.’
He placed a perfunctory kiss on her cheek but Adele wasn’t convinced by his sudden bonhomie. She knew that, yet again, she was being judged by her parents’ behaviour. Although she didn’t live at home anymore, unfortunately for Adele, her parents still influenced her life. It was impossible for her to escape their grip.
Born Bad Page 19
