Disgusted, Eddie had to draw on every last ounce of willpower not to lay into her. But he knew he would probably kill her if he hit her properly, so he just swatted her out of the way instead, sending her sprawling across the filthy floor.
Sobbing, Patsy screamed, ‘I’ll do anything! Anything!’
‘You’re a wreck,’ Eddie sneered. ‘What do you think I could possibly want from you?’
‘You said you were going to look after me,’ Patsy reminded him, licking at the snot that was running from her nose.
‘I will,’ Eddie said calmly. ‘But not while you’re like this, ’cos you’re putting me at risk.’
‘I’m not,’ Patsy said sincerely. ‘I’d never do anything to hurt you, Eddie. I love you.’
‘So show me you’re making an effort to sort yourself out and I’ll think about giving you something in a day or so,’ Eddie told her firmly. She was suffering but he was glad, because it would make her think twice about disobeying him again.
When he walked out, Patsy scuttled back into the bedroom and started licking the sheet in case he’d dropped any traces of crack there.
Joe was woken by the sound of the letter box’s flap. He reached for his watch and groaned when he saw that it was almost one in the afternoon. He hadn’t meant to sleep in so late but he’d sat by the window after getting home that morning, keeping himself awake with strong coffee while he waited for the girl whose name he didn’t even know to come home. It was half-six before she’d finally appeared, and she’d looked as if she was carrying the weight of the world on her frail shoulders. But one of the other girls had been linking arms with her, so Joe had figured that she would be okay.
He pulled on his dressing gown now and staggered out into the hallway. Seeing the neatly folded note on the doormat – the third in as many weeks – he snatched it up and yanked the door open, hoping to catch the anonymous sender in the act. There was nobody out in the corridor but, just as he was about to go back inside, Eddie came around the top of the stairs.
‘Not up yet, you lazy cunt?’ Eddie called when he spotted what Joe was wearing.
‘Didn’t get much sleep,’ Joe told him, trying not to look as paranoid as he suddenly felt about his secret trip back into town to see the girl after dropping Eddie off last night.
‘Likely story,’ Eddie scoffed. ‘You’ve got a bird in, haven’t you?’
‘I should be so lucky,’ Joe muttered. ‘Been out walking the dog?’
‘Yeah, I’ve been neglecting it a bit lately,’ Eddie admitted, reaching down to stroke its head. ‘Need to remind it who I am before it forgets what it’s here for. Anyhow, you get back to your bed,’ he said now, tossing Joe a conspiratorial wink. ‘And don’t go doing anything daft like moving her in. Take it from someone who knows, that’s the beginning of the end, that.’
Smiling, Joe was about to say goodbye when the sound of an argument suddenly erupted on one of the lower floors.
‘See?’ Eddie said, as a female voice started screaming at someone to fuck off. ‘That’s what happens when you let a woman think she’s got the better of you.’
Joe frowned and stepped closer to the stairwell. ‘It sounds like Cheryl,’ he murmured.
Eddie cocked his head. ‘Yeah, I think you’re right,’ he said. ‘Come on, boy.’
As Eddie and the dog turned and dashed back down the stairs, Joe nipped back into the flat and grabbed his keys before following them.
Cheryl was furious and heartbroken all at the same time, and the combination of emotions had given her a strength she’d never known she possessed. But Shay was still stronger, so even though she’d managed to push him as far as the doorway she couldn’t quite get him out into the corridor.
‘Just go!’ she screamed, beating his chest with her fists as the tears streamed down her cheeks. ‘You’re a bastard and I wish you were dead!’
‘You’d best quit hitting me before I hit you back,’ Shay warned her, gripping her firmly by the wrists. ‘I mean it, Cheryl . . . pack it in, or you’re gonna be sorry.’
‘Get your filthy hands off me!’ she bawled, hurting herself even more than she was hurting Shay as she struggled to yank herself free. ‘Just go back to your bitch and leave me alone! I hate you!’
‘Carry on cussing me out like I’m a piece of shit and you’re gonna know about it,’ Shay hissed. ‘You’ve got it all wrong, as usual, you stupid cow.’
‘You’re the one who’s got it wrong if you think I’m listening to any more of your lies,’ Cheryl screamed. ‘And don’t think you’re seeing Frankie again, ’cos you’re not!’
‘Oh, so you’re going to try and pull that one on me now, are you?’ Shay snapped, clenching his fist. ‘No one tells me when I can and can’t see my own son.’
‘Put that fist anywhere near her and I’ll put your fucking head through the wall!’ Eddie barked, coming out of the stairwell door just then and marching towards them.
Inhaling deeply, Shay released Cheryl and took a step back. ‘Everything’s cool,’ he said smoothly, his gaze flicking from Eddie to the dog as it bared its teeth. ‘It’s just personal stuff, man. Nothing for anyone to get worked up about.’
‘What are you saying?’ Eddie asked Cheryl. ‘You want him here?’
‘No,’ she sobbed, shaking her head and swatting at the tears.
Turning back to Shay, Eddie jerked his chin. ‘You heard her. Do one.’
‘Fine by me,’ Shay drawled. ‘I was going anyhow.’ Flashing a quick hooded glance at Cheryl now, he turned and strolled nonchalantly away.
‘Take her inside and make sure she’s okay,’ Eddie said to Joe. ‘I’m going to have a quick word.’
‘Leave him,’ Cheryl begged, immediately regretting having involved Eddie because now it was bound to end in blood. ‘It was just a stupid row. He didn’t hurt me.’
‘Don’t worry – I won’t touch him if you don’t want me to,’ Eddie reassured her. ‘I just want to make sure he’s not planning on coming back and kicking off after I’ve gone. Okay?’
‘There’s no need,’ Cheryl insisted. But Eddie just winked at her and went after Shay. Turning to Joe when he’d gone, she said, ‘Oh, God, I hope he doesn’t hurt him. You don’t think he’ll set the dog on him or anything, do you?’
‘Course not,’ Joe said gently, taking her by the arm. ‘Come on, I’ll make you a brew.’
‘I’m okay,’ she insisted, still worriedly eyeing the door.
‘You might be, but I need a coffee,’ Joe told her. ‘And I could really do with getting off the corridor before someone sees us and thinks I’ve been knocking you about.’
‘Do I look that bad?’ Cheryl asked, allowing him to lead her inside at last.
‘You’ve looked better,’ Joe admitted, closing the door behind them. ‘But don’t worry, the red nose kind of suits you.’
‘Gee, thanks,’ she murmured, giving him a tiny smile.
While Joe made the coffees, Cheryl peered out through the nets at the kitchen window and chewed nervously on her nails as she watched Eddie catch up with Shay at his car. Relieved when they started talking, with no sign of flying fists or biting dogs, she slumped down onto a stool and reached for her cigarettes.
‘So what’s he done this time?’ Joe asked over his shoulder.
Cheryl lit up and inhaled deeply to calm herself. ‘He’s got engaged,’ she said after a moment, her chin wobbling again.
‘You’re joking?’ Joe glanced back at her. ‘To what’s-her-face?’
‘Yeah, I couldn’t believe it either,’ she muttered, her heel beating the floor as she agitatedly bounced her leg. ‘Two years we were together, and we’ve got a baby, but he never bought me a ring. But you know what he said when I collared him? That he’s only done it to shut her up, ’cos she’s been nagging him about it. Don’t you think that’s pathetic?’
‘Ridiculous,’ Joe agreed. ‘So what are you going to do?’
‘I’ve already done it,’ Cheryl said, pulling a tissue ou
t of her pocket and dabbing at her nose. ‘That’s why we were fighting when you and Eddie came down, ’cos I’d just told him I never want to see him again.’
‘And do you mean it?’ Joe asked cannily, knowing that if she went by form she’d punish Shay for a while before letting things slide right back to where they had been.
‘Yeah, I do.’ Cheryl raised her chin proudly. ‘I know it’ll hurt for a bit, but I’ll get over it. You did,’ she added. ‘You’d only just split with Angie when I met you, and it was obvious you still had feelings for her because you were always talking about her. But look at you now. You haven’t mentioned her in ages.’
‘I didn’t realise I’d talked about her that much in the first place,’ Joe said, bringing the coffees to the table and passing Cheryl’s to her before he sat down.
Cheryl thanked him and said, ‘Yeah, well, you did. But you’re loads happier now. And I will be, too – so long as he stays out of my life.’
‘Probably for the best,’ Joe agreed, doubting that she’d stick to what she was saying.
‘Best for him, maybe. But he obviously doesn’t care what it’s going to do to his son. The poor thing’s confused enough already without all this. But if Jayleen thinks she’s going to be his new mummy, she can fuck off. And you know I don’t usually swear, so that’s how much I mean it.’
‘Frankie will be fine as long as he’s got you,’ Joe assured her, wondering if the boy would even notice if his father stopped coming round. ‘Shay’s not exactly dad of the year, from what I’ve seen so far.’
‘No, ’cos that bitch has got him all tied up,’ Cheryl spat. ‘But he’ll regret it when he realises what a waste of space she is. I wouldn’t mind, but she can’t be all that special or he wouldn’t have been coming round to see me the whole time he’s been with her, would he?’
‘No. But I still think you can do better for yourself. And so does Carl.’
‘Carl can’t talk,’ Cheryl snorted. ‘Mel’s an absolute bitch to him but he’s still with her. I bet you wouldn’t put up with someone treating you like that, would you?’
‘Not a chance!’ Joe laughed. ‘But that’s love for you. He probably doesn’t see her like we do.’
‘No, ’cos he can’t see past her great figure and gorgeous face.’ Cheryl sniffed. ‘Typical man.’
Joe was amazed that Cheryl thought Mel was better-looking than her just because Mel was slimmer. And she obviously had no idea that, given the choice, Carl would swap Mel for her in a heartbeat. Not that Carl had ever actually said that as such but Joe had seen the way he looked at her, so he knew.
Finishing her smoke in silence, Cheryl stubbed it out and exhaled wearily. ‘Thanks for letting me spout off. I got myself into a right state after I saw her and that flaming ring.’
‘You’ve seen it?’ Joe raised an eyebrow. ‘How come?’
‘She was standing outside when I took Frankie to playgroup this morning,’ Cheryl told him. ‘Holding her phone to her ear with that hand so I couldn’t miss it.’ Sneering now, she shook her head. ‘I bet there wasn’t even anyone on the other end. She just did it to spite me, the slag. But if she thought I was going to let her see I was bothered, she was wrong. I just made out like I hadn’t even noticed and walked right past her.’
‘Good for you,’ Joe said approvingly.
‘Yeah, I thought so. Should have seen her – she was gutted. But she’ll be even more gutted if she tries to get in my face again, ’cos I’ll get Shay to come round and then I’ll take a picture of us in bed together and Bluetooth it to her. See how she likes that.’
‘And would that make you feel better?’
‘I’ll let you know when I’ve done it,’ Cheryl said, grinning slyly. ‘Anyway, enough of me and my problems. I haven’t even asked how you are.’
‘Same as usual.’ Joe shrugged. ‘You know me, nothing much changes.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ Cheryl gave him a meaningful look. ‘I was a bit concerned that Eddie’s ways might rub off on you when you hooked up with him.’
Assuring her that he was basically just a glorified taxi driver and therefore in no danger of becoming a gangster, Joe said, ‘I’m doing it for the cash more than anything. And I’m definitely getting fitter now I’ve not got as much free time to spend boozing, so I’m pleased about that.’
Cheryl smiled and took a sip of her coffee. Joe hadn’t needed to tell her that he was getting back into shape because she’d already noticed for herself. He’d begun to look drawn before getting this job, but the old sparkle was coming back into his eyes lately. And that was nice to see.
The post arrived just then. Reminded of the note he’d stuffed into his pocket, Joe pulled it out to read it when Cheryl went to get hers.
FAO Tenant of No. 312: Your neighbours have the right to expect peace and quiet whilst at home, so it would be appreciated if you could reduce the volume of your television set and/or hi-fi equipment as it has been noted that you are causing a regular disturbance. Thanking you in anticipation of your cooperation.
Shaking his head when Cheryl came back, he said, ‘Have a look at this.’
Reading it, Cheryl’s eyebrows knitted together. ‘Who the hell sent that?’
‘Who do you think?’ Joe rolled his eyes. ‘It’s not signed so I can’t prove it, but it’s got to be Kettler, hasn’t it? No one else round here is that anal.’
‘I wouldn’t mind, but you don’t even make that much noise,’ Cheryl said indignantly. ‘There’s plenty of times I’ve been at yours and I couldn’t hear the TV properly, and I was in the same room.’
‘Well, I didn’t think I was noisy,’ Joe agreed. ‘But he’s obviously got a problem with it. Either that or he’s got superhuman hearing.’
‘Nah, he’s just being a wanker,’ Cheryl said bluntly, passing the note back. ‘I hope you’ve told him to get lost.’
‘He’d only deny it, so I can’t be bothered,’ Joe said, shrugging it off. ‘Anyway, I reckon he’s only doing it to get a reaction, so it must be killing him that I haven’t said anything.’
‘What, you mean this isn’t the first?’ Cheryl asked.
‘Third,’ Joe told her. ‘First was a complaint about me dropping rubbish on the stairs. Which is crap, ’cos I always double-check my bags before I take them out. But according to the note, someone could fall and break their neck because of it. Second one was about me slamming my door when I come in or go out late at night. Apparently, I do it so hard I make things fall off shelves.’
Cheryl laughed now and shook her head. ‘Wow, he’s really got it in for you. You want to watch he doesn’t report you to the council, or you’ll have them spying on you.’
‘Couldn’t be any worse than him doing it,’ Joe said, slapping the note down on the table. ‘But I’m just going to carry on ignoring him. Wait till he finds someone else to obsess over.’
‘Good luck with that.’ Cheryl’s tone implied that she thought he’d be waiting a while. As she opened her own post her brow creased into a frown. ‘Oh, great, that’s all I need,’ she muttered. ‘The Social are threatening to cut my benefits if I don’t tell them who Frankie’s dad is.’
‘So tell them,’ Joe said, wondering why she hadn’t already.
‘I can’t,’ Cheryl moaned. ‘He went mad when I said the CSA had been asking for his details, said he’d deny he was the dad if I dropped him in it.’
‘Send them the birth certificate,’ Joe suggested. ‘That’s all the proof they need.’
‘His name’s not on it,’ Cheryl admitted. ‘He wouldn’t come with me when I registered the birth, and you’re not allowed to put the dad’s name on the certificate unless he’s there.’ Tutting now, she slapped the letter down on top of Joe’s note. ‘See what a bastard he is? It’s all right for him living up there with no responsibilities, but he obviously doesn’t give a toss that me and Frankie could end up with no money.’
‘There must be something you can do,’ Joe said, wondering why so many men felt no gu
ilt about denying their own children. ‘How about a DNA test?’
‘And who’s going to pay for that?’ Cheryl gave him a weary look. ‘Even if he agreed to do it in the first place – which he wouldn’t. I’ve got a good mind not to give him this.’ She tossed down the other letter she’d been holding and stared at it resentfully. ‘He thinks he’s smart keeping this as his address. Thinks if people don’t know where he’s living they can’t catch up with him if he gets into debt.’
‘You’re the one who’s letting him do it,’ Joe pointed out.
‘Yeah, ’cos I’m soft in the head,’ Cheryl said bitterly. ‘But enough’s enough,’ she added, a new resolve coming into her voice. ‘I’m going to see who it’s from, then ring them and tell them he doesn’t live here any more and to stop sending shit here for him.’
She snatched up the letter and tore the envelope open. But when she saw the credit-card bill inside and scanned down the list of recent purchases that Shay had made, her mouth dropped open and fresh tears sprang into her eyes.
‘He spent nearly two grand at a jeweller’s a couple of weeks ago,’ she croaked. ‘How could he do that? He said he was broke when I asked him for twenty quid to get Frankie some new trainers but he can spend that much on a ring for that brain-dead whore. And he told me it only cost him fifty quid from a pawn shop when I asked him this morning.’
Joe got up when she started sobbing, put his arms around her and rocked her gently. ‘I know you’re hurt, but at least you know the truth now. And you’re way too good to let him treat you like this – you know that, don’t you?’
‘I just can’t believe he’s done this to me,’ Cheryl cried, burying her face in Joe’s shoulder. ‘He tells me he loves me when he comes round; says it was a mistake going with her, and he wishes he’d stayed with me. Even today, he said he was going to leave her as soon as he’s paid her brother back the money he owes him.’
‘And you believed him?’ Joe asked.
‘Not now,’ Cheryl conceded, the pain in her heart eased by his closeness. This was the first time they had ever actually hugged, and it felt totally different to be held by him than it did to be in Shay’s arms. With Shay it was all about sex: every touch designed purely to get her out of her knickers. But Joe’s arms felt warm and safe, like those of a true friend.
The Driver Page 13
