The School Gates

by Nicola May

  Gordon knelt down too and hugged him tightly.

  ‘YES, YES of course I will.’

  The girls came running into the kitchen. Lola saw that both men were crying and burst into tears.

  ‘Oh no, what’s wrong? Has someone died?’

  ‘Come here, both of you,’ Chris said softly. ‘They are happy tears. Now it’s group-hug time.’

  The girls squealed as Gordon and Chris grabbed them and they all jumped around in a circle hugging each other.

  ‘So, Lily and Lola Summers, how do you fancy being bridesmaids?’

  ‘Who’s getting married then?’ Lola piped up.

  ‘We are, you doughnut,’ Gordon laughed.

  ‘Er, I didn’t know boys could get married.’

  ‘They can now.’

  ‘See? I knew it,’ Lily told her twin. ‘I have been praying so hard for Mummy to send Daddy Chris home to make you happy again, and she must have listened.’

  ‘Yes, darling, she must have listened.’ Gordon’s tears started again.

  ‘So can you please stop these happy tears and let Daddy Chris cook us some decent dinner at last.’

  Chris whisked Lily up in his arms and kissed her.

  It was a Sunday afternoon and Rosco’s was shut. Dana rang the bell to the boys’ flat. A beautiful dark-haired, dark-eyed girl with a shiny black bob came to the door. She had an amazing tan and was wearing a white caftan covering a designer black bikini. Even her slight pregnancy bump was perfectly rounded.

  ‘Ciao. Can I help?’

  ‘Oh hi, Tony didn’t mention that he had a sister.’

  She laughed. ‘I am not his sister, I am his girlfriend.’

  Dana thought she was going to be sick all over the girl’s perfectly manicured toes.

  ‘Pleased to meet you,’ she calmly carried on instead. ‘I work here sometimes, and I just wondered if I could have a quick word with Tony?’

  ‘Si, si, what is your name?’

  ‘Dana.’

  ‘Danna,’ the girl repeated in exactly the same way Tony said it to her. It made Dana feel even worse.

  She shouted in Italian to Tony, who came running to the door as the glorious Fabia went back to her sunbathing in the roof garden.

  ‘Let’s go sit downstairs,’ he said hurriedly, praying that Dana wasn’t going to kick off.

  ‘I don’t understand. This had better be good.’ Dana was furious.

  ‘Dana, I made you no promises.’

  ‘But you lied – you aren’t single at all! Where did you hide her? You said I meant everything to you.’

  ‘You did. I loved being with you, but I had a big decision to make – and you helped me make it.’

  ‘So glad I could be of service,’ Dana spat.

  ‘I got together with Fabia when we were just sixteen, so, so young. She came over to live here, in England, but missed the family and Italy too much so went home. She gave me an ultimatum that either I come back to Italy or we split. I was so torn, as I love England. So we had a break. I love our business here and then I thought I loved you, Dana. What happened between us was so sweet. But, when your husband arrived and you left, I thought about it. I don’t want a woman who is capable of cheating on her husband. I want someone who is pure and honest, who I can trust and have a large family with. I went home to Italy soon after we had sex because I felt so guilty. And that was when I realised I had made a big mistake. We had missed each other so much, Fabia and me. We had both grown up, and when she told me she was pregnant I just knew she was the one. We are going to get our own place here and make it work.’

  ‘But you cheated on your partner too.’ Dana had tears in her eyes.

  ‘Yes, and I will be forever guilty. But we were on a break and our love is strong enough to go on, I know it is, and she will never know.’

  ‘Unless I tell her, of course.’

  ‘And how exactly would that benefit you? I will never be with you, Dana, so please don’t cause unnecessary hurt. And if your love is strong enough with Mark, you will save your marriage too. You love your big house up on the hill with all the trimmings. I know you can make it work.’

  ‘He knows, Tony. He wants me to leave and is getting full custody of Tommy.’

  ‘I don’t understand. How could he possibly know that you had slept with me? Bruno did such a good cover.’

  Dana stood up, ignoring his question. She knew that if she were to say just three words, they would destroy two more lives – so she chose three different words instead.

  ‘Be happy, Tony.’

  It was a scorching day in late June and Eliska had jumped straight into her paddling pool after school. Alana sat on a chair at the side with her feet dipped in the cold water.

  ‘I wish we had a swimming pool, Mummy. I love it when it’s hot.’

  ‘One day we might, darling, if I keep working hard.’

  ‘I wish you’d marry Stephen, then we could be a real family. He’s so funny. I can pretend he’s my daddy then.’

  Isobel, adorned in a long sarong and huge floppy sun hat, walked over and caught her granddaughter’s last comment. She looked knowingly at Alana and sat down on a chair next to her.

  Eliska carried on playing.

  ‘When does he go?’

  ‘Next Friday.’

  ‘It’s only three weeks until the end of term,’ Isobel said. ‘They will probably just be drawing pictures and playing. She won’t be missing anything important.’

  ‘Mother! Stop it.’

  ‘I have been such a useless mother, I know that, Lani. But if I am to give you just one piece of decent advice, make it this. Follow your heart – that stubborn, locked-up heart of yours. If not for you, for that beautiful girl of ours.’

  ‘Joan? It’s Charlie Lake here.’

  ‘Charlie? I thought we’d seen the last of you.’

  ‘I need to see you just one more time, Joanie. And I promise that there is nothing sinister here, but it is really important that I see you alone.’

  ‘Sounds ominous.’

  ‘It’s all good, I promise.’

  ‘So why can’t you just say what you want to say on the phone?’

  ‘Because I need to give you something. Look, I’ve gotta go, so I’ll see you on Bart Baker’s bench in Denbury Park at eleven a.m. on Sunday.’ And with that he hung up.

  Dana walked with a heavy heart to the park. Who’d have thought that one single moment of lustful madness could cause so much hurt and upset. She sat on the swings where she had sat with Tony and swung gently. She put her hand to her tummy; she wasn’t even three months yet so she was well within the realms of getting rid of the baby. She heard screams as some children ran into the recreational area. A mum put her two year old in the swing next to her and the tiny tot shouted with delight.

  Dana smiled as she got up and went over to sit on a bench in the corner.

  She had lied to Mark. She couldn’t deny an abortion had crossed her mind, but how could she possibly get rid of such a gift after trying for so long. It would be hard, there was no doubting that, but nothing was impossible. She would just have to manage.

  There was no going back now so tomorrow she would start making plans to find a flat and a job.

  When Mark had told her about getting back with Carol, she didn’t even cry. It was then she realised that she was no longer in love with him. It even shocked her, how cold she could be. And, if she was really honest, there was no way she could have slept with someone else if she was in love with Mark. She had never considered it before this year.

  But who’d have thought Mark would get back with his ex-wife? Yes, they were the same age and they shared Sidney in common. Evidently, over discussing his woes about his ailing marriage, he realised that he still did have feelings for her. She had never remarried and had always held a torch for Mark. Distressingly, even Tommy didn’t seem that upset as he had an instant brother.

  Mark had agreed to give Dana one hundred thousand pounds in cash and joint custody of To
mmy. She knew she was owed more, but she also knew it would be a massive fight to get it. After all, she was the one who had been unfaithful and was pregnant with another man’s child!

  Feeling sad and lost, she started to walk up the hill. Thankfully, the house was empty. She would pack and make a quick exit, she decided. The thought of a massive goodbye to Tommy, suitcases in hand, would be too much to bear.

  Alana had kindly said she could stay with her until she had sorted somewhere to live, so she would go there tonight.

  Birds were singing in the trees and the sun shone brightly. It was time for Dana and her little Italian bambino to follow her dreams now.

  The airport was heaving with summer revellers and Alana tutted. She normally flew business class and wasn’t used to having to deal with the hoi polloi as she called them.

  She checked in her small case in and looked up for her gate number.

  She saw him before he saw her. Handsome, kind, reliable and sexy. He was reading a newspaper and had a coffee by his side. She went and quietly sat beside him.

  ‘You could have told me it wasn’t a private jet.’

  Stephen turned to her calmly. ‘There wouldn’t have been enough room for your shoes.’

  He then put the paper back up to his face and slowly pulled it down to reveal his now smiling eyes.

  ‘You’ve just made an old man very happy.’

  ‘Don’t get too excited. I’m only coming out for a week initially. To have a look, check out some schools. See what I might be letting myself in for.’

  ‘If you love it as much as I love you, then we are on to a winner.’ Stephen gently kissed her on the lips.

  And with that Alana Murray did something she did very rarely. She started to cry. In fact, she started to sob. Stephen held her to him tightly to avert the stares of other passengers.

  Then, as if nothing had happened she sat up and blew her nose, adding, ‘I take it we will have a cleaner, darling?’

  – Chapter Twenty Eight –

  ‘Bart bloody Baker,’ Joan said under her breath as she searched for the bench in the park. She hadn’t realised there were four of them – and it would have to be the one furthest from the gate on this boiling hot summer’s day. On reaching it she let out an ‘Aw.’

  In memory of Bart Baker, chief coach and scallywag of Denbury United 1920-2000.

  Talking of scallywags, she could see the rotund form of Charlie Lake approaching.

  ‘I can’t believe you picked the bench furthest from the gate,’ she puffed.

  ‘Look at me – I need all the exercise I can get, and we can’t be seen.’

  ‘You’re scaring me now.’ Joan looked perplexed.

  ‘Don’t be silly. I need your help with something and you are actually the only person I can trust for the job.’

  ‘Blimey, Mr Bond, what is our next mission exactly?’ Joan quipped, although she didn’t feel comfortable, hiding things from Mo.

  Charlie Lake reached into his pocket and drew out a lottery ticket.

  ‘I want you to drop this in front of Maureen. She must be the person who sees it and picks it up.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’ Joan ran her hands through her curly blonde hair.

  ‘It’s a winning ticket. Five balls and the bonus. Sadly there are lots of winners that week, so it’s only fifty thousand pounds.’

  ‘Fifty grand!’ Joan nearly fell off Bart Baker’s memory seat in shock. ‘Look – I still don’t understand.’

  ‘When I found out that I was potentially young Charlie’s father, I had to find out what he was like, and what sort of person Maureen had become. I wanted to do right by her and the lad, but I knew it would be difficult to just walk in and announce myself. I am marrying Hannah and I do live in the next town but I’m a rich man. My first wife was a very wealthy lady with no kids, and when she sadly died young, I came into a healthy inheritance. I couldn’t just sit on my fat arse all day, and as I’ve always been a nosy bastard, I decided to train to become a private investigator and eventually set up my own business. I now employ ten blokes so that too makes me a good living in my own right, thanks very much.’

  ‘Go on,’ Joan urged, intrigued.

  ‘Well, it appears Maureen is a fine woman. I’ve had some of my boys on to Charlie and I know he ain’t no angel, but with my genes that was always going to be a probability. But he loves his mum, that’s for sure, and that’s what matters to me.’

  ‘So why not just give Mo the money?’

  ‘I won the lottery just as I heard about Charlie. I was going to give it to charity as I really don’t need any more and I do a lot of fundraising in the local community. Then I had this madcap idea about making someone’s dream come true, meaning Maureen’s. When she refused to let on about Charlie being my kind, not even for the thirty grand I was tempting her with, I knew I was doing the right thing.’

  Joan couldn’t get over the fact that they had got this man so very wrong.

  ‘Anyway, after meeting her, I know she won’t take any money from me as she is a very proud lady. She would have to explain it to our boy, and as I fully respect her wishes for not telling him yet, this seems the perfect solution. She will, of course, give some to him to get him on a steady path and they will both now be put in my Will so the whole family, Rosie included, will always be OK .’

  ‘But you know Mo,’ Joan objected. ‘What if she gets all honest and says we should try and find the real winner?’

  ‘Yes, she’s bound to do that. We know her so well, don’t we! So this is where you come in again. You tell her you will ring the lottery HQ for her and just come back saying finders keepers or something to that effect.’

  ‘You think of everything, Charlie Lake.’

  ‘I know, I’m brilliant.’ He laughed.

  ‘Thank you for doing this for Mo,’ Joan said, feeling moved. ‘Fifty thousand pounds will change her life. It is amazing. I am so happy for her.’

  ‘And this is for you, for doing it.’ Charlie handed her a cheque for one thousand pounds.

  ‘I don’t want your money, Charlie.’ She pushed his hand away. ‘I could do with it, don’t get me wrong. But just seeing Mo’s face when she realises how much it is, will be worth more than any money anyone could give me.’

  He put the cheque back in his pocket and handed over the lottery ticket, joking, ‘Don’t bloody lose it, will you?’

  ‘I will guard it with my life until I see her tomorrow.’

  They both stood up and Charlie kissed her on the cheek.

  ‘Well, it’s been a pleasure meeting you, Joan, and I’m glad Maureen has got such a good friend in you. I doubt if we’ll meet again, but who knows. I pray that in time my son will want to get to know his real dad.’

  ‘If there is such a thing as Karma, Charlie, then I do believe he will.’

  Joan turned around and touched the plaque on the bench.

  ‘And as for you, Bart Baker, the scallywag – don’t you be telling anyone this either.’

  They both laughed and headed their separate ways.

  Mo walked across the road to the doctors’ surgery. The sun was shining and for the first time in ages, she had a spring in her step. Charlie had sent her a cheque for half of the Freedom Fund he had stolen, so she had treated herself to a flowery summer dress from the posh boutique at the end of the High Street.

  Ffion was already in. She had been mortified when Mo gently explained that Charlie hadn’t known about his real dad, and that it had been a terrible shock for him, coming on the very day of his father Ron’s funeral; chastened and ashamed, the young Welsh girl had promised that if she were ever to see him again, she would not mention it.

  ‘You’re early, love,’ Mo said comfortably.

  ‘I know – I’m leaving at two today, got one of my beauty exams.’

  ‘Cor, that’s come round quick.’

  Ffion looked up from her screen and opened her eyes wide.

  ‘Wow! Mo Collins, you look amazing. Those colours
really bring out your eyes – and that dress! You have a waist!’

  ‘Aw thanks, Ffi. I have to say I love it now I’m lighter. I feel so much better too.’

  ‘Well, that’s the main thing,’ Dr Delicious chipped in as he walked through with a pile of patients’ notes. ‘And Ffion’s right, you look very nice today, Mo.’

  Even Grim Lynn was smiling as she walked through to her office.

  ‘Must be the sunshine,’ Ffion whispered. ‘Or she got a good seeing-to last night.’

  ‘Ffion Jones, what are you like?’

  ‘Talking of which, the Denbury total has sprung up a notch. There’s a new barman in the Featherstone Arms I’ve got my eye on.’

  ‘Not many prospects with a barman, Ffi,’ Mo said wisely.

  ‘Yes, but plenty of free drinks and lock-ins, that’ll do me for now.’

  ‘Ladies, this is a doctors’ surgery, not a public house!’

  ‘OK, I take back what I said about the shag,’ Ffion trilled.

  Dr Delicious rang Mo’s extension. ‘Have you got a minute please, Mo?’

  Mo was glad to be looking good as she walked down to Noah Anderson’s room.

  ‘Take a seat.’

  ‘I feel as if I’ve done something wrong,’ Mo said nervously.

  ‘Don’t be silly, far from it. I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with your work. Despite all you’ve been through, you haven’t once let me down and have been as pleasant as ever to the patients. In fact, you are a joy to have around.’

  Mo blushed.

  ‘I also need to let you know that Lynn is leaving. Her husband has got a job overseas and she is going with him.’

  ‘That’s a surprise. She’s like a part of the furniture.’

  ‘Indeed she is, so to that end I was hoping maybe you’d take over being that part of the furniture. What do you reckon?’

  Mo was taken aback. ‘But as Surgery Supervisor, she must be on at least eight thousand a year more than me!’

  Noah Anderson nodded.

  Tears filled Mo’s eyes. ‘Dr…’

  ‘Noah, please, Mo.’

  ‘Thank you, Noah. I don’t know what to say.’

  ‘Well, I was rather hoping you might say yes.’

  ‘Yes, yes of course I would love to! I realise it will be extra hours, but I will be able to afford to pay Joan now to look after Rosie so that will help her out too. I can’t believe this is happening.’