Gina grinned. She couldn’t wait to hold Eddie in her arms without the prison officers and the inmates watching them. ‘I’ve decided that when you get out, I’m going to take at least a couple of months off work. That way we can spend some real quality time together. We can chill out, go shopping, visit nice restaurants. We can even go away on holiday if you like.’
Eddie laughed. ‘Forget the shopping, all I wanna do is make love to you morning, noon and night.’
Gina shuddered as Eddie stared intently into her eyes. She had bought herself one of those vibrators recently and it had kept her company at night while she lay in bed imagining Eddie doing all sorts of naughty things to her. Feeling herself pulsating down below, Gina quickly changed the subject.
‘So, have you had a chance to speak to your sons or Raymond about us living together yet?’
Eddie shook his head. Gary and Ricky knew that he had a woman visiting him regularly, but he hadn’t told them how serious things were. As for Raymond, Eddie was dreading telling him. He was Jessica’s brother and the conversation was bound to prove difficult.
‘I’ll tell you what we’ll do. When I get out I’m gonna organise a big family get-together. You come to it with me. I can introduce you and at the same time we’ll tell everyone we’re living together.’
‘I can cook a meal or something, if you want, and you can invite your family round to the cottage,’ Gina offered.
Eddie squeezed Gina’s hand. ‘I’ll book a restaurant. Indoors is just for us, babe. I don’t want anyone knowing where we’re living, because I just want our new home to be about me and you. People are fucking nuisances, Gina. You tell ’em where you live and they’re forever knocking on the bastard door. That’s why that Rettendon place is perfect for us. It’s rural, out of my manor and secluded. Tomorrow, I want you to go to that estate agent and sign the contract. I’ll settle up with you when I get out. If the nosy gits ask, just tell ’em I’m working away or something.’
Gina smiled seductively at Eddie. The cottage in Rettendon would become their first love nest and the thought of having Eddie all to herself literally made her feel like the luckiest woman alive.
In Wickford, the atmosphere wasn’t quite as lovey-dovey as it currently was in Wandsworth. Frankie had barely said a word since she came back from Lakeside and Jed was becoming pissed off by her silence.
‘Cat got your tongue or summink? For fuck’s sake Frankie, if I’ve done something wrong, just spit it out like you usually do, will ya?’
On the journey back from Lakeside, Frankie had barely been able to see the road markings along the A13. She had been crying so much that she had very nearly caused a fatal accident. A lorry driver had tooted and cursed at her as she’d swerved into his path. Frightened, Frankie had immediately pulled over into a pub car park. She knew Jed would probably be there when she got home and she needed to think fast about what she was going to say to him.
Knowing how clever Jed could be, Frankie decided that the only way to catch him out was to try to act normal. If her boyfriend had any inkling that she knew he’d been spotted with Sally, he would move heaven and earth to cover his tracks. Positive that this was the best way to play things, Frankie dried her eyes, put on a false smile and drove towards home.
The trouble with that was, with Jed now standing only a few feet away, spouting his usual cocksure rubbish, Frankie wanted to smash his smarmy face in. Unable to control her emotions any longer, she lunged towards him, lashing out with her fists.
‘I know you’ve been seeing that slag Sally again, you fucking bastard.’
As Frankie caught her philandering boyfriend on the chin with a right hook, Jed managed to grab both of her arms.
‘I can explain. Calm down, you’re frightening the kids.’
Realising that both of her children were screaming, Frankie put her head in her hands and slumped onto the sofa.
Desperate to buy himself some time to create a story, Jed made a big issue of comforting the children. ‘Sammy ain’t gone out yet, so I’m gonna take ’em next door. We can talk properly then, just the two of us,’ he said solemnly.
Annoyed with herself for blurting out her findings, Frankie began to cry. She was still crying when Jed returned five minutes later.
‘It’s not what you think,’ he said as he sat down opposite her.
‘Well, what is it, then? You were seen out shopping with the old slapper in Romford, playing happy families. You were all over one another, apparently. How you gonna explain that, Jed?’
‘I promise you it ain’t what you think, Frankie. Look, I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d react like this. I have seen Sally and I have been paying maintenance for Luke. I had to. At the end of the day, he’s my kid and I didn’t wanna end up in court. I swear there is nothing between me and Sally. She’s with another geezer now, right loved-up she is, and as for someone telling you we were all over one another, that’s bollocks. Sally’s fat and ugly now – I wouldn’t give her one if she was the last woman in Essex.’
‘Well, why ain’t her own boyfriend taking her fucking shopping, then?’ Frankie screamed.
‘Once I took her shopping Frankie, once. And the only reason I did that was because it was Luke’s birthday. She asked me to buy him this plastic car and it was massive, too heavy to carry, so I took her there to get it.’
‘But why didn’t you tell me?’ Frankie said.
Jed shrugged and at least had the gall to look sheepish. ‘It’s awkward, ain’t it? I’m frightened to speak to you about it, but Luke will always be my son. This is all my fault, I know that, I’m the one that made mistakes, but I have to acknowledge the boy. What type of bloke would I be if I didn’t, eh?’
Frankie had stopped crying, but was still fuming. ‘I don’t want you seeing that slut or that kid any more unless I’m with ya. I mean it, Jed. If you’re spotted out with ’em again and I find out, I’m leaving you and taking the kids with me.’
‘OK, but out of interest, who told you they saw me?’
‘It doesn’t matter who told me. All that matters is you don’t go behind my back no more. I ain’t some mug, Jed, and I won’t be treated like one.’
Breathing a sigh of relief that his lies had been believed, Jed smiled. ‘How about we go out for something to eat? It’ll be nice. Just me, you and the kids.’
‘You go with the kids. I’ve got a really bad headache. I could do with a lie-down.’
Frankie flinched as Jed went to cuddle her. ‘Do you want me to bring you back a takeaway?’ he asked.
‘No, I had something to eat earlier,’ Frankie lied.
As Jed shut the trailer door, Frankie stared at him through the net curtain. The bastard was lying, she was sure of that. All she had to do now was prove it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Over the next few days, Jed behaved like the perfect boyfriend. He cooked, cleaned, looked after the kids and barely left Frankie’s side. Frankie was extremely suspicious. In her book, him sucking up to her just proved his guilt even more.
On the Sunday morning, Frankie got woken up by Jed kissing the back of her neck and thrusting his erect penis up against her buttocks. She immediately jumped out of bed. ‘Sorry Jed, I ain’t got time this morning. I’ve gotta get the kids ready for me grandad’s birthday party, ain’t I?’
Jed sighed as Frankie rushed out of the bedroom. Putting his hands behind his head, he lay back on the pillow and glanced at his erect cock. He hadn’t really wanted to fuck Frankie anyway, he’d only tried it on with her out of pity. Thinking of Sally, Jed grinned. He was seeing her later, so he would save all his stamina for her.
Frankie smiled as Kerry poked her head around the trailer door. ‘What time we got to leave?’ Kerry asked.
‘About one. I think my nan said the party starts at two, but it don’t matter if we’re a bit early.’
Frankie was looking forward to the day ahead. Getting away from Jed was a bonus on its own and Frankie couldn’t wait to introduce Ke
rry to her family. It had been Jed’s idea that she take Kerry to the party with her.
‘Look, I know I ain’t welcome, so why don’t you take Kerry with ya? She can help you keep an eye on the kids, and if she takes the boys with her, it’ll give Georgie and Harry someone to play with.’
Thrilled by the prospect of her best friend accompanying her to her old house, Frankie had asked Kerry immediately and had been delighted when she had said yes. What neither girl realised was that it had all been Sammy’s idea. He had cooked it up so he could spend the day with Julie.
Frankie put her outfit on and glanced in the mirror. ‘What you up to today?’ she asked Jed.
‘Sammy and I have got a lorry to chop up. I dunno what time we’ll finish, but you and Kerry’ll probably be back well before we will.’
Frankie nodded and picked up her phone and handbag. ‘Kids, come on, we’re going now.’
‘Enjoy yourself, babe,’ Jed said, opening the door for her.
‘Don’t work too hard,’ Frankie replied sarcastically.
Over in Rainham, Joyce was in full peacock mode. Extremely proud of her beautiful house, there was nothing Joyce liked more than showing off her wealth to all her friends.
Rita and Hilda glanced at one another as Joyce began to boast about how much Eddie had paid for the swimming pool. Joyce had begged them to come over early to give her a hand with the food, but even though they had only been here an hour, she had already driven them up the bloody wall.
Desperate to give her ears a rest, Hilda decided to make a start on taking the cutlery outside. ‘Give us a hand, Rita. You take the plates.’
Out of earshot, Rita turned to Hilda. ‘She’s brain damage, ain’t she? I wouldn’t mind, she only got this house ’cause Eddie felt guilty and gave her the bastard thing.’
Hilda agreed. ‘It’s as though she’s forgotten that she used to live in a council house opposite us, ain’t it? I dunno about you, mate, but I’m gonna pour meself a large gin and tonic in a minute.’
Rita laughed. ‘Pour me one, too. I might be able to suffer her more if I get a bit tiddly.’
Unaware that her friends were taking the piss out of her, Joyce went upstairs to get changed into her new frock. Joyce had spent ages searching for the appropriate number and she had finally found the dress of her dreams in a little boutique near the Cherry Tree in Rainham. Long, sleeveless and satin, with a leopard-skin design, it had cost her a small fortune. Susan, who owned the boutique, had said she looked absolutely stunning in it and, as Joyce admired herself in the mirror, she couldn’t help but smile. I really do look a million dollars – that Susan was right, she thought smugly.
Hearing the doorbell, Joyce secured her diamanté earrings and floated down the stairs. She had arranged her husband’s sixty-fifth birthday party with precision. Jock had taken Stanley out for her and she had ordered him not to bring her husband back until at least three o’clock. She had told the other guests to arrive at two, so that everybody was there by the time her husband returned home.
‘Joey! Dominic!’ Joyce exclaimed, kissing both boys lightly on each cheek.
Hearing a little yap, Joyce nigh on jumped out of her skin. She looked down and pointed at the little dog sporting a red bow around its neck. ‘What’s that? Who does it belong to?’
Laughing, Joey picked the Chihuahua up. ‘Nan, meet Madonna. She’s mine and Dom’s, we bought her last week. Gorgeous, isn’t she?’
Joyce politely patted Madonna on the head. She had a cute little face and was certainly more practical than those big, cumbersome Rottweilers she’d given away to Pat Murphy.
‘Madonna’s panting. I think she’s thirsty, Joey,’ Dominic said.
Telling the boys to get the dog some water, Joyce went to answer the door again. ‘And don’t use one of my good dishes. There’s an old saucer on the windowsill with a plant standing on it. Rinse it out and use that,’ she shouted.
By half-past two all of the guests had arrived. Joyce had been choosy who to invite and had kept the numbers to a lucky select fifty. Family-wise, Joyce had invited Raymond and Polly, Joey, Dominic and Frankie, who was bringing her friend Kerry and, reluctantly, she had invited two of Stanley’s cousins and their miserable wives. The rest of the numbers were made up by neighbours and friends. Joyce had asked Jock to invite a few of Stanley’s pals from the pigeon club and also the bus depot where Stanley used to work.
At five to three, Joyce insisted that everybody gather in the lounge to await Stanley’s arrival. As it was mid-August, the weather was hot and clammy and by the time everybody squeezed into the room, it was like a sauna.
Frankie stood next to Kerry with Harry in her arms. Georgie had taken an unhealthy interest in Madonna and wouldn’t leave the poor dog alone.
‘What do you think of my family, then?’ Frankie whispered.
Kerry giggled. ‘I think your uncle’s well hot.’
‘Raymond’s married. His wife’s over there. Behave yourself or I shall tell Sammy you’ve been acting like a floozy,’ Frankie joked.
‘He’s here. Everybody be quiet,’ Joyce shouted, in a false posh voice.
Joyce waited until she heard the front door click shut. ‘Stanley, help me lift this,’ she yelled.
As Stanley opened the lounge door he was gobsmacked.
‘Surprise!’ everyone shouted.
He turned to Jock. ‘I take it you were in on this as well.’
Jock patted him on the back. ‘Happy birthday, Stanley. You might be sixty-five, but you don’t look a day over fifty, mate. It must be because you took that early retirement, you lazy bastard.’
‘He looks young because I look after him so bloody well,’ Joyce shouted cockily.
Raymond had offered to be in charge of the barbecue for the day as a favour to his mum. He turned the steaks over and glanced around to see where his miserable wife had got to. Raymond and Polly had tied the knot two years ago. Before they had married, their relationship had been fantastic, but since they’d wed it had gone drastically downhill.
Just lately, things had got even worse. Polly never seemed to stop moaning and her constant disapproval of their lifestyle drove Raymond up the wall. He was currently running Ed’s salvage yard for him. The jewellery business had done his head in, so he’d resigned and gone back to a job he knew inside out. The money wasn’t fantastic and if Polly wasn’t whinging about their lack of finances, she was kicking off about their inability to conceive a child.
Spotting Polly standing next to Vicki with a face as black as thunder, Raymond sighed. They had only been trying for a child for the past eighteen months and Polly was already insisting that if she hadn’t fallen pregnant by Christmas, they must look into adoption. Raymond had no intention of adopting. He wanted his own kids, not some other bastard’s. He and Polly had recently been to see a quack who had sent them for tests, which confirmed there was sod all wrong with either of them.
‘Some couples just take longer to conceive than others. You need to be a bit more patient,’ the doctor had told them.
Unfortunately, Polly didn’t know what the word patient meant. Whether it be wealth, children or a new designer handbag, she wanted everything the moment she set her mind to it. In other words, she wanted everything yesterday.
Glancing around the garden, Raymond smirked as he saw his mother trying to get his dad to dance with her. They might argue like cat and dog, but at least their marriage had lasted the duration, he thought.
Seeing Dougie walk past him, Raymond waved. Dougie was Eddie’s pal, and Vicki, his wife, had been Jessica’s best mate. Vicki had even called her little girl Jessica in honour of his sister.
Prodding a fork into the sausages to test if they were cooked, Raymond thought about Eddie. His brother-in-law had looked as fit as a fiddle the last time Raymond had seen him, and was due for release very soon. Raymond put the sausages onto a large plate. If Ed was going back into loan-sharking and wanted him to be his right-hand man once again, he would jump at th
e chance. He missed the excitement and riches of his past career and if Polly didn’t like his decision, she could go and fuck herself.
Jed told Sally to duck down as he neared his parents’ gaff. With Frankie’s grandparents throwing a party just down the road, the last thing he needed was to be spotted with a bird in the motor.
‘Slow down a bit, Jed,’ Sally said, as her head made contact with the glove compartment.
‘You can sit up now, and remember what I told ya: don’t put your foot in it about me and you, as I don’t want me mum sticking her oar in.’
Jed leaped out of the Shogun and unclipped Luke from the child-seat in the back. He took his son to visit his parents regularly, but they’d never been properly introduced to Sally before. They’d only met her once, and that was when her father had turned up shouting and screaming at their house.
‘It ain’t bloody right. Me and your father love little Lukey boy with all our heart and we deserve to know what his mother’s like. You’re on good terms with her now, ain’t you, Jed? So bring the bloody girl round for dinner,’ Alice kept insisting.
With his mother on his case, Jed felt he’d put the imminent introduction off as long as he possibly could. His dad knew that he was in a relationship with Sally, but because Frankie was up the duff again, he was reluctant to admit the truth to his mum.
‘Please don’t mention that Frankie’s pregnant in front of Sally. Things are awkward enough as they are and Sal will be upset if she finds out Lukey boy’s gonna have yet another brother or sister that he can’t have no contact with. And don’t you ever put your foot in it with Frankie, either. She’ll chop my fucking nuts off if she ever finds out that Sally came round yours for dinner.’
Unaware that her son had been playing both girls, Alice promised to keep schtum.
The Traitor Page 27
