Joyce gave a half-smile. The mention of Gina had thrown her a bit, but she had agreed to meet Eddie because there was something important she wanted to discuss with him.
‘Do you know the main reason why I came here to meet you, Eddie?’
Eddie clicked his fingers at the barmaid. ‘Can you bring us over another bottle of wine, sweetheart?’ he asked.
He had a feeling that he wasn’t going to like what Joyce had to say. He turned to face her. ‘What’s on your mind?’
Joyce held his stare. ‘After everything that’s happened, I want you to do something for me.’
‘What?’
‘I want you to make things up with Joey.’
Eddie looked at Joyce as though she was mad. ‘No way. I’ve disowned him. That boy is no son of mine. The thought of what he is makes me wanna puke every time I think of it. I can’t stomach it. I’m sorry, but I can’t handle it, Joycie.’
Joycie had pre-planned her speech in bed last night and as she leaned towards Eddie, she didn’t hold back. ‘If I can forgive you for murdering my only daughter, why can’t you forgive Joey for being gay? He is a wonderful boy, Eddie, a real credit to you. His boyfriend Dominic is a lovely lad and also has a heart of gold. They are always round at ours and, without their support, I don’t think I would have ever got over Jessica’s death. Being gay isn’t a crime. Them two boys love one another and if you won’t do it for my sake, I want you to do it for Jessica’s memory. Jess loved that boy and she would be so upset by your behaviour, Ed, she really would.’
Eddie looked down at his feet. He would do anything to please Joyce, anything but this. ‘I saw Joey last week. I was in a pub in Rettendon and he was in there with that Dominic. He ran off and I chased him and called him, but he just bolted, Joycie.’
‘Well, can you blame him? I know what you did to that poor Dominic, Eddie, and you were bang out of order. Joey never told me, Frankie did. How could you do that, eh? How could you terrorise that poor lad?’
Eddie couldn’t look Joyce in the eye. She was staring at him like his headmaster used to and he had no answers for her.
‘I don’t know why I did it. I just can’t handle Joey being a poof, I suppose. I can’t believe a son of mine has turned out that way – it’s unbelievable.’
Joyce smiled at the barmaid as she brought the wine over, then turned accusingly back to Eddie. ‘I am willing to forgive you, Eddie, for all that you’ve done, but if you don’t make things right with that boy, I swear I will never speak to you again. If you loved my Jessica as much as you say you did, then you will swallow your pride and do it for her.’
‘I don’t even know where he lives and I ain’t got no phone number for him,’ Eddie mumbled.
Fishing through her handbag, Joyce waved a piece of paper in front of him. ‘Joey and Dominic are living in South Woodham Ferrers. That’s their address and don’t you dare let me down.’
Unusually for him, Eddie was suddenly overcome with remorse. Joycie’s words had hit a nerve and he felt pure guilt flowing through his veins. Joycie was right, Jessica would be disgusted over the way he had treated Joey. Aware that his eyes were welling up with tears, Eddie grabbed the piece of paper off Joycie and stood up.
‘I’d better be going now. Do you want me to give you a lift home?’ he asked, trying to keep the emotion out of his voice.
Joyce shook her head. Her speech had hit him like a ton of bricks, she knew that, and she was thrilled for her Jessica’s sake. As Eddie bent down to kiss her goodbye, Joyce grabbed his hand.
‘Another thing, please don’t treat me like some silly old fool, Eddie. I know you have feelings for this Gina woman, I saw it in your eyes. Just do what I’ve asked you to do and you have my blessing to move on with your life, OK?’
Eddie paused before answering. ‘OK, I’ll sort it.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Frankie lifted the net curtain and watched with interest as Jed got into the passenger’s side of Sammy’s truck. Jed usually drove everywhere, but had said something about going to check on the horses. Frankie smiled. With Jed and Sammy out of the way, she had the perfect opportunity to put the plan into action.
Georgie had already gone to school, and Frankie felt incredibly guilty, as Harry kept asking after his favourite teddy bear, which had been operated on and was now hidden in the boot of her car.
‘You must have left it over Kerry’s, darling. Mummy will go and get it for you next week,’ she lied. Harry was an angel. She had told him not to tell his dad that they regularly went to visit Kerry and he never had. It was as though he knew the score in his own little way.
Frankie checked on her son and was pleased to see him playing happily on his bedroom floor with some plastic building blocks. She ran out to the car, opened the boot and took the teddy out of the plastic bag. Something didn’t feel right about this. Kerry had done her best, but the tape recorder showed clearly through the bear.
Frankie went inside the trailer and chewed on her fingernails. If she hid it under the passenger seat in the Shogun and Jed or Sammy picked it up, they would definitely notice the bulge in the bear and all hell would break loose. Desperate not to get herself caught, Frankie racked her brain for an answer. ‘Got ya,’ she mumbled, as she caught sight of Harry’s Postman Pat lunchbox on the table.
Kerry was no expert with a needle and cotton and Frankie easily unpicked the loose stitching with her hands. She took out the tape recorder, placed it inside the lunchbox, then covered it with one of Harry’s T-shirts.
Frankie pressed the record button, shut the lid and turned up the TV. The box was plastic and there was a small gap where it closed, so hopefully it could still pick up the sound.
Keeping an eye out in case Jed returned, Frankie sewed the teddy bear up, stopped the tape and played it back. The recording was crap. She couldn’t hear anything clearly – it was muffled.
Desperate for an answer, Frankie opened the kitchen cupboard. Spotting Jed’s masking tape, she grabbed it and took a pair of scissors out of the drawer.
Feeling pleased with herself, Frankie ran out to the Shogun. Jed never locked his motor; there was no need to where they lived. She opened the door, put the tape recorder under the passenger seat and secured it with masking tape. All she had to do now was press ‘record’ when Jed was going out next and pray that he played into her hands.
Over in Rettendon, Gina was worried about Eddie. Today, he wasn’t his usual vibrant self and had barely said a word to her since breakfast this morning. Concerned that he was having second thoughts about their relationship, Gina made her way into the lounge and sat down opposite him.
‘What’s the matter, Ed? I know you’ve got something on your mind. It’s not something I’ve done, is it?’
Eddie held out his arms. ‘Of course it ain’t nothing you’ve done. Come and give us a cuddle and I’ll tell you all about it.’
Relieved that whatever was on his mind was nothing to do with her, Gina snuggled up next to him. Eddie kissed her lovingly on the forehead.
‘I went to see Joycie, Jessica’s mum, yesterday. I had to see her, I wanted to apologise face to face. Anyway, she was OK with me, but she gave me a right bollocking over Joey. She reckons I’m bang out of order for the way I’ve treated him and she made me promise to sort things out for the sake of Jessica’s memory.’
‘And what are you going to do?’ Gina asked softly. She knew that finding out that his son was gay had been awfully difficult for Eddie to deal with. In her job, she had heard of similar situations in the past, and men like Eddie could never accept homosexuality in their families.
Eddie shook his head. ‘I dunno. Joycie knows me and you are together, I think. I mentioned you a couple of times and she sort of clocked on. She said as long as I make up with Joey, she’s OK about us. She also said if she can forgive me for murdering Jessica, then I can forgive Joey for being gay.’
Gina squeezed his hand. ‘Joyce sounds like a lovely woman and she has got a point,
Ed. Being homosexual isn’t a crime, especially in this day and age. I have a couple of male gay friends and they are the nicest people you could ever meet. Why don’t you find out where Joey’s living and go and see him? I’d offer to come with you, but under the circumstances, it would probably be a bad move.’
‘I’ve got his address, Joycie gave it to me. No wonder he was in that boozer the other day, he’s only living in South Woodham Ferrers.’
Gina smiled. ‘Why don’t you go there now? There’s no guarantee he’ll be indoors, but it’s worth a try. He doesn’t work on a Saturday, does he?’
Eddie shrugged. ‘I don’t think so. To be honest, I don’t know much about him any more. I think he’s got an office job up town or something, but I ain’t sure what he does now. Last I heard he was in the post room or something.’
Gina stood up and handed Eddie his car keys. ‘Come on. Go now and while you’re gone, I’ll prepare us a nice seafood pasta.’
Eddie reluctantly stood up. ‘I shouldn’t be long. Wish me luck, I think I’m gonna need it.’
Frankie smiled as Harry clambered onto her lap with his patched-up teddy bear in his hand.
‘Love you, Mummy,’ he told her.
Georgie moved away from her father and threw her arms around Frankie’s neck. ‘I love you too, Mummy.’
‘You wouldn’t if you had to put up with what I put up with,’ Jed muttered.
Frankie ignored Jed’s nasty comment.
‘Aren’t you going out again?’ she asked him.
‘Yeah, in a bit. Me and Sammy are going for a beer with me dad and me brothers.’
‘What time are you leaving? Are you driving or is Sammy?’
Jed laughed. ‘What are you, a fucking gavver? I’m driving and I’ll leave when I’m good and ready.’
Minutes later, Jed stood up and cockily sauntered towards the shower. Frankie stared at his back. She was still recovering from the shock of finding out that he conned old people out of their life savings. If only she could get that on tape as well, she could blackmail the bastard when she left him. If she threatened to go to the police with her evidence, he would surely have to leave her and the kids alone.
Frankie waited until she heard him turn the water on and sneaked outside. It was time to press the record button.
Terry Baldwin smiled as his daughter handed him a mug of coffee. He often popped round to visit Sally and his grandson and even though he didn’t understand the unusual relationship she had with Jed, he accepted it for her sake.
‘So, have you told Jed yet?’ he asked her.
Sally shook her head. ‘I’m seeing him tomorrow. He’s coming round for dinner so I’ll tell him then.’
As Sally rambled on about baby names, Terry studied his daughter carefully. Sally was happy at the moment, Terry knew that. In the past she had suffered from terrible depression, but ever since Jed had come back into her life, she had been fine.
‘Why don’t you get Jed to move in here with you? It will be difficult bringing up two kids on your own,’ Terry urged her.
Sally had never told her father that Jed still lived with Frankie. He wouldn’t agree with the set-up, it wasn’t his style. ‘We’re happy as we are, Dad. Jed likes living in his trailer and I like living here. He’s very set in his ways and so am I, but we’re happy. Surely that’s all that matters, ain’t it?’
Terry nodded. Sally was right, and as long as she was happy, then so was he.
Over in South Woodham, Joey and Dominic were sitting in the garden, enjoying the last of the summer.
‘Isn’t it hot, considering it’s October?’ Dominic said.
Joey nodded and smiled. ‘I love living out here, it’s so bloody peaceful.’
Dominic leaned across and kissed Joey gently on the lips. ‘Shall I get us another beer?’
‘Yeah, go on,’ Joey replied, as Madonna began yapping like mad.
Dominic stood up. ‘I think I heard the doorbell.’
Joey nodded. ‘It’s probably Anne from next door. I saw her this morning and she said that she was baking us another cake.’
Dominic whistled as he followed Madonna into the hallway. She looked so cute when she barked and, if she wasn’t wearing her pink bow, she might have even looked vicious.
‘Stop barking,’ Dominic said as he picked her up. He opened the door and dropped the dog in shock. ‘Go away. Leave us alone,’ he shouted, as he tried to shut the door.
Eddie jammed his foot into the door. ‘Please, listen to me. I haven’t come here to cause any trouble. I just need to speak to Joey, it’s important.’
Dominic felt his legs begin to buckle and grabbed hold of the staircase to support himself.
Eddie felt awkward as the snarling Chihuahua flew at him. ‘Get off me, will you?’ he said, as it clung to his trouser leg. Feeling it nip his right ankle, he picked it up and held its head so it couldn’t bite him again. He then handed it back to the quivering Dominic.
‘I ain’t gonna hurt you, I promise. Now, where’s Joey?’
‘In the garden,’ Dom stammered.
Eddie walked through to the kitchen. He could see Joey lying on a sun lounger through the window and he felt incredibly nervous as he walked towards him.
‘Hello, son.’
Joey jumped out of his chair. ‘Who told you where I lived? What have you done to Dominic?’
As Joey backed away from him, Eddie was upset by the fear in his son’s eyes. For years, Eddie had enjoyed the impact he had on people that had wronged him, but not his own son.
‘I just want to talk to you, Joey. I haven’t touched Dominic, I swear I haven’t.’
‘Where is he, then?’ Joey asked accusingly.
Dominic, who had been on the verge of passing out, had now managed to pull himself together and was watching the reunion from the window. Hearing Joey call his name, he ran outside, clutching Madonna in his arms.
‘It’s OK, Joey. Your dad hasn’t touched me. He just wants to talk to you.’
‘I’ve got nothing to say to him,’ Joey said coldly.
‘Joey, he’s your dad. Just listen to what he’s got to say,’ Dom replied sternly.
Eddie glanced at Dominic gratefully. ‘Actually, I want to talk to both of you. I need to apologise for my behaviour in the past. Let’s go inside. I could murder a beer, if you’ve got any spare.’
‘That’s not all you could murder. You murdered my mum,’ Joey screamed.
As Joey’s eyes welled up, Dominic took charge of the situation. ‘There’s beers in the fridge. Go and sit in the lounge while I speak to him,’ Dominic told Eddie.
Annoyed by his own tactless turn of phrase, Eddie cracked open a can of lager and sat on the sofa. Joey hated him, he could see it in his eyes. Even the dog despised him and had tried to fucking bite him.
Dominic put Madonna on the grass and held Joey tenderly in his arms.
‘I don’t want him here. He killed my mum,’ Joey said tearfully.
‘Sssh, it’s OK. Listen, you have to pull yourself together and talk to him, Joey. He’s your dad, he knows where we live and if you don’t speak to him today, he’ll come back another time. Just hear him out, see what he has to say for himself.’
Joey shook his head. ‘I can’t. I hate him.’
Dominic decided to try the firm approach. ‘Look, I know what your dad did was awful, but I also know that it was an accident. I read the newspapers, Joey, and every article said how much he had loved your mum. Being bitter is not going to help you move on in the long run. Nothing can bring your mum back and I’m sure if she is looking down, she would want you to speak to your dad and, if possible, forgive him.’
‘Do you really think that? But what about what he did to you?’
Dominic shrugged. ‘OK, I was frightened at the time, but he only really threatened me, Joey. I know he made a little cut on my you-know-what, but I don’t think he would have taken things any further. Let’s both go inside and have a sensible conversation with him, eh? I’
m willing to forget about the past and, even though it’s more difficult for you, because of your mum, you have to try to let go of it as well.’
Joey nodded and stood up. ‘OK, but if he starts or says anything abusive about me or you, I will never speak to him again.’
Apart from waiting for the jury to deliver their verdict, Eddie Mitchell could never remember feeling more on edge in his life as when Joey walked into the lounge. ‘You’ve got a nice place here. Is it rented?’ he asked awkwardly.
Dominic brought in a case of beers. ‘We’ve bought it, actually. Shall I leave yous two to speak in private?’
‘No,’ Joey said immediately.
Eddie smiled at Dominic. ‘Sit down. You’re Joey’s partner, so you should also listen to what I have to say.’
‘What do you want to say, then?’ Joey asked, stroking Madonna’s head. She didn’t like his dad; she was obviously a good judge of character and kept snarling.
Eddie cleared his throat. He shouldn’t really tell Joey that he’d met up with Joyce in case he told Stanley, but knowing how close Joyce had always been to her grandson, he knew he wouldn’t get his nan into trouble.
‘I’ve come here today because I want to try and make things right between us again. I saw your nan yesterday, we met and spoke for ages. Please don’t tell your grandad, as you’ll get her into trouble. She thinks the world of both you and Dominic and she kind of made me see sense. I want to apologise for the way I’ve treated you in the past. You seem very happy together and although I can’t even pretend to understand your preferences, I really do wish you all the happiness in the world.’
The Traitor Page 36
