by Dani Oakley
“With all that money you’re earning now, I would have thought you could afford to clothe them properly,” his mother had said.
Martin had only just managed to swallow back the response he’d wanted to make.
They were having fish and chips tonight because Violet had thrown a fit at Babs and Martin for arriving ten minutes late. When they arrived, his mother had dramatically informed them she’d put the liver and bacon in the bin because it had been overcooked, so Martin had to walk round the corner to collect the fish suppers.
Of course, golden boy, Tony had been on time. He’d sat back with a grin on his face as Violet Morton laid into her eldest son.
Little Ruby dropped a chip on the floor, and Martin thought his mother was going to have a heart attack from the look on her face.
“Quick pick it up before the grease marks my new rug.” She gave Ruby a sharp look. “You’re a big girl now, Ruby. You shouldn’t be dropping food on the floor. Have your mother and father not taught you how to use a knife and fork properly?”
“It’s just a chip, Mum,” Martin said and put his hand on Babs’s knee as his wife looked as if she was about to explode.
“Well, it’s a new rug, and it was expensive. She needs to be more careful.”
Martin knew it was expensive. He was the one who’d paid for it! He’d paid for everything here. He’d moved his mother just round the corner from his own house and paid a small fortune to have it all redecorated and fitted with new furniture, but that wasn’t enough to get any thanks from his mother.
Violet Morton stood up and began to clear the table.
Martin nudged Babs, encouraging her to get up and help, but she just shot him a nasty look in return and refused to budge. Instead, she leaned down and wiped Derek’s greasy face with a bit of tissue.
“Sherry, Martin?” his mother asked, holding up the decanter, which was one of her most prized possessions.
Sherry was the last thing Martin wanted right now. He’d much rather be having a Scotch back in his own bar, but if he refused, his mother would take it as a personal affront.
“Thanks, Mum.”
She poured glasses for the four adults, and then sat down and lifted her glass to her mouth, sticking out her pinkie as she did so.
Martin eyed the brass clock on the mantelpiece. It had been given to his dad when he’d retired, after forty-five years of faithful service, working at the docks. He’d dropped dead six months later. Poor sucker, Martin thought. There was no way that Martin was following in his father’s footsteps. Working his fingers to the bone was not part of his future plans. Although, he intended to make a success of himself and he was quite prepared to work hard to achieve that success.
“I’ll just finish this, and then I better get off, Mum. I’ve got a bit of business to do tonight,” Martin said.
His mother sucked in a scandalised breath. “Business? At this time of night?” She shook her head at him. “You want to be more like your brother,” she said. “A good family man. He knows what’s important.
Martin felt his tight control slipping. Tony didn’t even have a bleeding family yet. He was out shagging a different bird every night.
“Someone has to pay for all this lot,” Martin said, gesturing around the room at the new furniture that had recently been installed in his mother’s dining room. “It’s certainly not going to be Tony putting his hand in his pocket, is it, Mum?”
But his mother didn’t answer the question. She set her sherry down on the table so she could fold her arms and directed a disgusted look at her eldest son. “Are you expecting your wife and children to walk home alone? Babs is six months along, Martin. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
Martin gritted his teeth. It wasn’t as if he was expecting them to trek home over the bloody Sahara Desert. The house was only around the corner.
“I’ll walk them back, Mum,” Tony said. He smiled at their mother, and then when he turned to Martin his eyes glinted as he enjoyed Martin’s furious expression.
Martin knew he was so much better than Tony. He was cleverer than him, and he worked harder. He paid all his mother’s bills, but for some reason, Tony was his mother’s little darling boy, and Martin would never measure up.
He didn’t know why he bothered even trying. He should go back to the club and spend the evening flirting with the curvy barmaid he’d recently employed. He’d had to give up Kathleen after Babs had found out.
Martin wasn’t a stupid man. He didn’t really care about hurting Babs’s feelings, but he did prefer a quiet life at home, and if that meant he had to give up Kathleen and find a replacement, then so be it.
By dumping Kathleen, he had pacified Babs, which meant she wouldn’t be scrutinising him quite so closely over the next few months.
Martin drained his drink and put the empty glass on the table.
He’d had enough of all this. “I’m off,” he said, and without another word, he walked out of the dining room and left his mother’s house.
No matter what his mother thought, Babs was quite capable of getting home on her own. A lot of people underestimated Babs, but she was far more cunning than Martin could ever be.
He’d chosen wisely when he’d decided to marry her. It wasn’t only that her father had given him some money to start up in business on his own. Of course, that had helped, but Babs knew the lay of the land.
She didn’t make a fuss over most things. Granted, she got out of her tree over the thing with Kathleen Diamond, but that was because Kathleen was a stupid cow who had started flaunting her relationship with Martin. No woman, especially not Babs, liked to have their husband’s infidelity rubbed in their face.
Chapter 23
Less than half a mile away in Poplar, Dave Carter was spending Friday evening with his family, too. The difference was, he was enjoying it. The Carter’s were having a birthday tea party for Dave’s daughter, Lillian.
It was mayhem. Children of all ages were running everywhere. Lillian was wearing a brand-new pink dress, and her happy laughter made Dave smile. The girl was the apple of his eye. She had been since the day she’d been born. That first day, as he’d held her and looked down into her blue eyes, he’d fallen hook, line and sinker.
Dave was having a chinwag with two of Sandra’s brothers when he caught his wife’s eye and smiled. She was easing herself out of an armchair and looking a little tired. She was seven months pregnant, so it wouldn’t be long before they had another little Carter running around, joining Lillian and Trevor.
Trevor trudged over to his father and held up his favourite toy. It was a little replica steam train. “The wheel has fallen off again, dad.”
Dave leaned down and took the toy from Trevor. The wheel popped back on easily enough. He handed the train back to his son. “Are you having a nice time at the party, son?”
Trevor screwed up his face. “There’s too many girls.”
Dave laughed and nudged Sandra’s brother in the ribs. “You wait until you get a bit older, son. You’ll be glad to have lots of girls around then.”
“No, I won’t,” Trevor insisted, looking at his father as if he’d gone mad.
He wandered off to play on his own. Sometimes Dave worried a little about Trevor. He did seem to prefer playing in his own little dream world rather than with other children his own age.
Lillian, on the other hand, loved being around people. There was something contagious about her happiness and her exuberance for life. He watched her now as she played chase around the living room, causing her mother to shout and tell her to slow down.
Dave crossed the room in two broad strides and scooped his daughter up in his arms. He chuckled as she squirmed in his arms as he tickled her.
“Are you having a nice birthday, Princess?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Unlike Trevor, who practically itemised every one of his toys, Lillian preferred to play and talk to other children. He and Sandra had bought Lillian a brand-new doll and some pret
ty outfits to go with it. Dave had also acquired a child-size pram for her to play with. However, since her friends had arrived and she’d shown them her presents, she barely looked at them again.
He set Lillian back down on her feet, and she ran off to join her friends playing outside.
The backyard was paved, and there wasn’t much room out there. Dave swore to himself there and then that one day soon his kids would have a huge garden to play in.
It was starting to get dark, and even though the evening was mild, the kids would have to come in soon. Dave enjoyed watching them play for another five minutes.
Before he had the chance to call the children inside, he got a tap on the shoulder from Sandra. Her lips were pursed, and she looked annoyed, which was very unlike her. Sandra was generally very easy-going. This pregnancy had definitely taken it out of her, and Dave immediately assumed that something was wrong.
“What is it, love? Are you not feeling well?”
She shook her head. “No, nothing like that. I’m fine. You’ve got a visitor.”
From the tone Sandra used, Dave knew she wasn’t impressed. She looked over her shoulder and Dave followed her gaze. Bernie Goldstein stood there, shuffling from foot to foot, looking extremely nervous and clutching a small cap in his hands.
Sandra did not like him bringing business home, and to be fair, neither did Dave. He liked to keep his family life separate from his business dealings.
“I’ll deal with it,” Dave said, taking a step towards Bernie Goldstein.
“Make sure you do,” Sandra said.
Bernie’s eyes widened when he saw Dave, and he licked his lips nervously. “I’m ever so sorry to trouble you at home, Mr. Carter. And on your daughter’s birthday…” He gestured around him and all the guests. “I had no idea. I’m truly sorry.”
Dave stayed silent. Sometimes the threat of violence wasn’t needed to scare someone. Sometimes the fear was all generated in their imagination, and all Dave had to do was say nothing. They’d scare themselves far more effectively than he ever could.
“I just wanted a quick word,” Bernie stammered.
Still Dave said nothing.
Bernie’s head drooped down. “I’m sorry. Shall I come back tomorrow?”
Dave found it hard to be angry with anyone on a day like today when he was in such a good mood. “I don’t like people visiting me at home, Bernie.”
Bernie now looked petrified as he realised the mistake he had made. “Oh, of course. How stupid of me. I’ll come and speak to you at the warehouse.”
Dave put one of his big meaty hands on Bernie’s shoulder and felt the man shudder.
“No need for that, Bernie. You’re here now. Just remember that in the future.” Dave looked around at the crowded front room. “Let’s go through to the yard and have a bit of privacy.”
Bernie nodded, eager to please.
“Thank you ever so much for taking the time, Mr. Carter,” he said as they walked through the front room and the kitchen and stepped out into the backyard.
Dave jerked his head at one of Sandra’s brothers, indicating that he should go inside and leave him and Bernie alone to talk.
“Can I get you a drink Bernie?” Dave asked.
Bernie shook his head. “That’s very kind of you, but no, thank you.”
It seemed as if Bernie was having trouble saying what he wanted, so Dave prompted him. “What is it you need to speak to me about, Bernie?”
Bernie swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down his neck. “I’m having a bit of trouble…” Bernie began looking frantically around him. His eyes flickered up to Dave’s and then back down again to the floor.
“You see my son has been ill, and we have to pay the doctor’s bills, and then my daughter’s wedding is coming up. I’m struggling to make the payments this month.”
Bernie Goldstein owned a cafe on Burdett Road. It was a popular little place, but it had been subject to racially targeted attacks, so Dave Carter had offered a bit of protection, which had worked well for both parties. Bernie could keep his cafe open without fearing any more attacks, and Dave earned a little extra money.
Bernie continued to babble on about how expensive the doctor’s bills were.
He was so nervous. He couldn’t stop talking.
Dave shook his head and studied Bernie’s face. He considered himself a good judge of character, and he was sure that Bernie was telling him the truth. Even so, it wasn’t good to look weak in this business.
If word got out that Dave had let Bernie off the hook, there would be more and more chancing their luck and trying to follow Bernie’s example.
“I would very much like to help you, Bernie. As you know, I’m a family man myself.”
For a moment, Bernie looked up hopefully, but his face fell when Dave continued, “Of course, I can’t actually let you off the payments as that will make me look weak.”
Bernie’s shoulders slumped, and fresh beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
“Look,” Dave said putting a fatherly arm around Bernie Goldstein, even though the man was older than he was. “Like I said, I can’t let people off payments but…”
Dave reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of bills. He peeled off a few notes and handed them to Bernie, who took them, his eyes wide with surprise. “Let’s call it a wedding present for your daughter,” Dave said.
* * *
It had taken Kathleen four attempts to find something decent to wear. All of her clothes were now getting a little tight around her stomach. She settled on a pretty blue dress that normally she would have dismissed as too frumpy, but today she didn’t have much choice.
She carefully applied her makeup and brushed her hair until it shone.
She quickly shoved her feet into her high-heeled shoes and rushed downstairs. She didn’t have long if she was going to get there in time. And her plan all depended on getting there at exactly the right moment.
Kathleen caught the number twenty bus, which was ten minutes late, and she ended up running the short distance from the bus stop to the Odeon cinema. She was breathing heavily by the time she arrived, and at first, she couldn’t see Linda. Her heart sunk in disappointment, but then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw them.
Linda was wearing her best knee-length dress with navy blue stripes. She’d worn her hair down, and she was gazing adoringly up at Donovan, her new bloke.
Kathleen pushed her shoulders back and swayed her hips as she walked up to them. “Fancy seeing you two here!”
Donovan turned to her with a bemused expression on his face, but Kathleen noticed how his eyes slid up and down her body before returning to Linda.
Linda looked puzzled as she stared at her friend. “Kath, what are you doing here?”
Kathleen gave a tight little smile. “I was home on my own, and I was a bit bored. I thought I’d watch a film.”
Linda frowned. “But you knew I was going to be…”
Kathleen cut her off. “Oh yes, you did mention something about it. I forgot. You don’t mind me tagging along with you two, do you?”
Kathleen looked at Donovan and Linda, smiling brightly at them and ignoring the disappointed look on Linda’s face.
“Of course, we don’t mind if you join us,” Donovan said. “Any friend of Linda, is a friend of mine.”
That was exactly what Kathleen wanted to hear, and she linked arms with Donovan. “Oh, how lovely.”
She quickly snuck a look at Linda, and then looked away again equally quickly when she saw the angry look on Linda’s face.
When they went inside the cinema, Kathleen made sure she sat between Linda and Donovan. Donovan looked quite surprised, but he didn’t make a fuss and sat down quietly.
As the lights in the theatre dimmed, Kathleen crossed her legs, making sure that her dress rode up over her thighs, giving Donovan an eyeful of her legs, which she knew was one of her best features.
Linda gave a little huff of annoyance and crosse
d her arms over her chest, staring stonily ahead at the screen. Kathleen ignored her and paid attention to Donovan.
She put her arm on the armrest, pretending to touch Donovan’s hand accidentally.
He jumped as if he’d been electrocuted, and Kathleen frowned. This could be harder than she’d expected.
They watched the film in silence, and when the credits started to roll, Kathleen beamed at them both.
“Wasn’t that a great film?” Kathleen said although she hadn’t really been paying much attention. She’d been far too busy plotting.
As the lights in the cinema went up, Kathleen saw Linda’s eyes were red. How strange, she thought. She hadn’t noticed any sad scenes in the film.
Chapter 24
When Martin got back to his club, things were just beginning to heat up for the evening. There was a line forming outside by the doormen, who stood aside to let Martin enter. He got a few respectful nods from some of the punters, but he ignored them. He was still in a foul mood, thanks to his mother.
The first thing Martin saw when he walked towards the bar was Frank the Face, looking pissed and cradling a glass of whisky. Martin gritted his teeth. What the hell was he doing downstairs?
A moment later, Big Tim was by his side. Martin jerked a thumb at the pathetic figure of Frank at the bar. “What’s he doing down here? I thought I told you to keep him out of sight.”
Big Tim frowned. “I don’t think you said that, boss. You said to keep him at the club, not to keep him upstairs or out of sight.”
Martin was feeling extremely irritable after spending the evening in his mother’s company, so he turned on Big Tim and snarled. “Are you telling me I don’t remember what I told you?”
Big Tim flinched. “No, boss. Sorry, I must have got it wrong.”
Martin took a deep breath. He was filled with a burning fury, but it wasn’t sensible to take it out on Big Tim. He was reliable and a good worker. Martin needed to keep him around.
