When Linda and Geoff had turned up and found out that Linda’s brother and his fiancée were not coming, after all, Geoff looked like he was about to do a runner off to the pub.
So Linda clutched hold of his sleeve and gave him a stern warning look.
When Linda had plucked up the courage to ask her mother where her brother and his fiancée were, Linda’s mother said, “They’ve gone to the cinema. There was a film they really wanted to see, and I didn’t have the heart to ask them to miss it.”
“So we’re having a dinner to discuss a wedding without the future bride and groom?” Geoff’s voice was a dangerous rumble.
Linda felt her stomach churn, and she mumbled a prayer under her breath. Please don’t let him kick off.
Linda’s mother glared disapprovingly at Geoff, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she turned to her daughter, “Linda, please hand your father the potatoes.”
Linda did as she was told, handing the large china bowl to her father.
When they’d eaten at home as a family, Linda’s mother would always serve up the dinner directly onto their plates and then bring the plates to the table. She wouldn’t use extra bowls because she couldn’t abide making more washing-up than was necessary. But for some reason, whenever she and Geoff came to dinner now, her mother treated it as if it was a great event and brought out the best china and serving dishes.
Linda miserably helped herself to a spoonful of peas and then added some gravy to her plate.
She could practically feel the anger rolling off Geoff as he sat beside her.
He almost looked smart this evening, and it reminded Linda of the first time she’d met him. His hair was carefully combed, and she’d pressed his shirt before they’d left the house. It was odd to recall those first few months of their relationship when she had been so smitten.
Her mother and father had been against Geoff from the start. They’d quickly picked up on the fact that Geoff had never managed to hold down a steady job, but Linda had been too infatuated to notice such small details. She was convinced she and Geoff were going to live happily ever after.
If she was honest, one of the reasons she hated coming to her parents’ house with Geoff was the look her mother would give her from time to time — a look that said I told you so.
But it was too late for regrets. For better or worse, Linda was now stuck with him, and she had to make the best of it.
He drank away a good portion of her wages down at the pub every week, but it could be worse. Some men were addicted to gambling and got into debt. At least Geoff had never done that! A friend of Linda’s from school called Bernadette had married an awful man who got into debt and then ran off, leaving the bailiffs to come and claim all of Bernadette’s furniture.
Because Linda was the one earning, she controlled the purse strings, which Geoff hated, but he couldn’t do much about it.
Linda’s mother chatted on, trying to make conversation about the forthcoming wedding.
Linda didn’t see much point discussing the bride’s dress since she wasn’t even here, but for her mother’s sake, she nodded her head at the right moments and muttered her approval at her mother’s idea of holding an engagement party next Saturday night for the happy couple.
Lost in her own miserable musings, Linda almost missed her mother’s barbed comment.
“What was that?” she asked as she noticed that Geoff had tensed beside her.
“I said it’s a good job your brother is getting married soon because it doesn’t look like you two are going to give us any grandchildren.”
Linda swallowed her mouthful of mashed potato and peas and felt tears form in her eyes.
She knew she would have to laugh off the comment and pretend that it didn’t bother her, but she felt like running away from the table and never coming back.
She put down her knife and fork, but before she could respond, she felt Geoff’s hand on her forearm, and he said, “These things can take time. And besides, Linda and I are happy as we are, aren’t we, sweetheart?”
Linda could have kissed him. But all she managed to do was nod and smile gratefully at Geoff.
It meant the world to Linda that he would stick up for her, and she began to think perhaps she’d been judging him too harshly. After all, he’d stuck by her through all of this.
So what if he enjoyed a drink now and again. A man had to have some pleasures in life.
Linda’s mother looked perturbed. She didn’t like being put in her place.
As her mother served up a suet sponge pudding with custard, Linda glanced at Geoff and squeezed his hand.
The pudding was delicious, but Linda couldn’t stomach more than a few mouthfuls. Her mother’s comments were still weighing heavily on her mind. It was so unfair.
She had spent yesterday at Bevels rushing around trying to cover for Valerie, who kept darting off from her workstation in the factory to be sick. It felt like everywhere she turned there was someone else to rub her nose in it and remind her that she and Geoff didn’t yet have any children.
After she’d taken her second bite of sponge pudding, Linda’s father leaned over to whisper in his daughter’s ear. “Are you okay, Linda? You’re not working too hard, are you, girl?”
Linda shook her head and smiled at her father. “No. I’m fine, and the job is going well.”
Her father smiled. “I’m ever so proud of you, you know? It’s not many women who get promoted to supervisor,” he added with a wink.
When they’d finished eating, and Linda had helped her mother with the dishes, Geoff was courteous and acted like a perfect gentleman as he helped Linda on with her coat.
They said goodnight to her parents and then stepped out of the front door. Linda turned to the left, in the direction of their house, but Geoff, who had been holding her arm, turned in the other direction.
Linda looked back at him, surprised.
“I thought I’d go for a quick one before closing time. Have you got any money on you?”
Linda tried to not look too disappointed. He’d actually made an effort tonight and had made the evening bearable. It could have been so much worse, so instead of objecting, Linda simply nodded and gave him some money from her purse.
“I’ve got some good news, love. I’ve landed a job. Soon we won’t have to watch the pennies quite so closely.”
“Oh, that’s brilliant, Geoff. When do you start?”
“Well, it isn’t really a full-time gig. I’ll be working for Dave Carter as and when he needs me.”
Linda’s face fell. “Dave Carter? Are you sure that is a good idea?”
Geoff scowled and shoved the money she gave him in his pocket. “You’re never happy, are you? Nothing I do is ever good enough.”
“I didn’t mean that. It’s just…” But Linda took a deep breath instead of continuing her sentence. It wasn’t worth having an argument in the street over. She smiled, apologised and told him she’d see him later.
She turned away, pulled up the collar of her coat as the air had turned chilly, even though it was the beginning of summer.
She turned back, deciding to thank Geoff for this evening and tell him how much she appreciated him sticking up for her tonight.
But when she turned around, he’d already gone, and the street was dark and empty.
CHAPTER 19
O n Monday afternoon, after school, Jimmy was walking home with his friend, Bobby Green, when he heard a voice behind him. It was little Georgie running after him, trying to catch up.
Jimmy stopped and waited, wondering what Georgie could want. His brother Trevor had made it very clear that he didn’t approve of Georgie talking to someone like Jimmy.
Although Jimmy had been intrigued by the fact Dave Carter was Georgie’s father, he had enough common sense to know he was better off not getting involved with a family like that.
Beside him, Bobby Green grew restless. He had a coin burning a hole in his pocket, and he wanted to go and spend it on sweets. �
�What are you talking to him for?” Bobby asked sulkily.
“Go on ahead,” Jimmy told him. “I’ll catch you up.”
Bobby shrugged and ran off.
“Everything all right, Georgie? Nobody has been bullying you again, have they?”
Georgie shook his head. He was a slight boy and a good few inches shorter than Jimmy. “No, nobody has picked on me since. I think my dad must have had a word.”
Jimmy nodded. “Right. Well, I’d better get on. Bobby is waiting for me.”
Jimmy almost felt guilty as a look of disappointment passed across Georgie’s face.
“Did you know my dad’s got a workshop?”
Jimmy turned back. “A workshop? What for?”
“Motors. They fix cars and coaches. Do you want to see?”
Jimmy hesitated and considered his options. On the one hand, Bobby would probably share his sweets with Jimmy, but on the other, Jimmy loved motors of any sort, and it would be interesting to have a gander.
The eager look on Georgie’s face swung it. The poor kid didn’t have any friends at school, and Jimmy felt sorry for him.
“Go on then. Lead the way.”
As they walked along in the early summer sunshine, Georgie chatted away about his dad’s workshop and all the business he did. Although Jimmy was interested, he was cautious, and so he didn’t ask the question playing on his mind: was Georgie’s father really a gangster?
When they got to the workshop, Jimmy was quite taken aback. It was much bigger than he’d expected, with a large ceiling and different types of tools everywhere. The place smelled of grease and engine oil.
There was a large coach at the back of the workshop, and towards the front, there was a red and white car above a pit. A brown-haired man with a round face was standing in the inspection pit beneath the car, holding a spanner.
The man obviously recognised Georgie because he gave him a wave.
Georgie led the way inside proudly. “My dad’s got an important contract for the coaches.” He jerked his thumb at the small bus at the back of the workshop, but it was the car that had attracted Jimmy’s attention.
It looked flash. A Ford Zodiac in two-tone metallic blue with whitewall tyres. Jimmy could just picture himself driving it around London. He made up his mind on the spot that whatever job he ended up doing he would definitely have a fancy car like that.
Jimmy walked a little closer to the car and crouched down to admire the bodywork, completely unaware he was being watched.
* * *
Big Tim had recognised Jimmy Diamond straightaway. Since the other night, he hadn’t been able to get the boy out of his head. He’d told himself it must’ve been a hallucination, and the drink had made him conjure up the image of a boy who looked just like Kathleen Diamond.
It was strange he hadn’t seen the boy around before. But he’d been lost in a drunken haze for the past few years just trying to get through each day as best he could.
But after running into Jimmy Diamond on the way home from the pub the other night, even alcohol couldn’t wipe the boy’s face from his mind.
For the past couple of days, he’d hung around near Mary Diamond’s house, waiting for another look at the boy.
He’d seen him again a few times now but had been careful to keep his distance.
But when he’d seen him walking down the road with Dave Carter’s son, Big Tim hadn’t been able to stay away. The boy was the spitting image of his mother, with his dark hair and dark blue eyes that seemed to look right into Tim’s soul accusingly.
It was hard to see much of Martin about the boy at all, except the slight dimple in his chin.
Tim had followed the two boys to the workshop and now stood across the street, watching.
He knew it was a mistake. The sheer size of him made it impossible for Tim to blend into the background. And just a minute later, Brian Moore clambered out of the inspection pit, wiping his hands on a piece of rag and narrowed his eyes as he spotted Tim on the opposite side of the road.
Brian said something over his shoulder to someone in the workshop. Tim couldn’t see who else was in there. The rest of the room was in shadow. He hesitated, leaning on the balls of his feet, ready to make a quick getaway. Not that it mattered now he had been spotted.
Big Tim had worked for Martin Morton for years, and everyone around these parts knew it. After Martin had been put away, Tim had spent most of his days half cut, and Tony had been quick to get rid of him, bunging him a few quid every now and again, but not relying on him to do any of the big jobs. Not that Tim minded.
He knew he needed to turn his life around and get away from the Mortons once and for all, and that was why he had approached Dave Carter. Tim could not have faced working for Martin Morton again, but his skills were hardly in high demand anywhere else. Dave had been his last shot at a steady job.
* * *
Inside the workshop, Jimmy was focused on the car.
“You like the look of that one, son, do you?”
Jimmy turned at the sound of a man’s voice. A tall, dapper man grinned at him. He was young and thin and wore a three-piece suit. Jimmy thought he looked very smart and then he caught a glimpse of the gold pocket watch, and his jaw dropped.
Jimmy was impressed. This was exactly the kind of man he wanted to be when he grew up.
“It’s brilliant,” Jimmy said, smiling widely.
“Do you want to have a look inside?” the man asked.
Behind them, little Georgie spoke up, “I don’t know, Charlie. My dad doesn’t like me to get in the way.”
“You’re not in the way, Georgie. Anyway, your dad isn’t here, and what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Charlie tapped the edge of his nose and grinned at the boys.
Jimmy was in his absolute element as Charlie opened the door and allowed both boys to explore the car. They were so busy pretending to drive, neither boy noticed Dave Carter entering the warehouse.
“What’s going on here?”
Both boys froze as if they’d been caught with their hand in the biscuit tin.
Dave let out a loud laugh that echoed around the workshop.
Charlie strolled across to Dave and spoke to him in a low voice. “We noticed Big Tim hanging around a few minutes ago.”
Dave frowned. “Where?”
“Just out there.” Charlie nodded to the opposite side of the road where Big Tim had been standing. “He’s not there anymore. But I thought it would be a good idea to keep little Georgie here until he’d gone.”
“Tim is nothing to worry about. As a matter of fact, he’ll be working with us soon.”
Charlie spluttered. “Are you serious?”
Dave didn’t answer. He had noticed Jimmy staring at him and listening to their conversation. He patted Charlie on the shoulder and walked towards the car.
Feeling guilty, as if he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t, Jimmy let his hands slip from the steering wheel. “I’m sorry, Mr. Carter. We were just having some fun.”
Dave leaned on the car and smiled at Jimmy as he ruffled little Georgie’s hair. “There’s nothing wrong with having a bit of fun. Do you like cars?”
Jimmy beamed. “I love them.”
“I tell you what then. How about I give you two boys a job?”
Jimmy chewed his lower lip. A job? He wasn’t sure his nan would approve of that.
“What kind of job?”
“Washing the cars. If you come by for an hour every day after school, I’ll pay you wages at the end of the week. How does that sound?”
That sounded great to Jimmy. He didn’t think his nan would object if he was just washing cars.
“What about me, Dad?” Georgie asked. “Do I get a job, too?”
“Of course, you do,” Dave Carter said, smiling fondly at his son. “I expect to see you both here tomorrow after school.”
* * *
Dave smiled as he looked on at the two boys playing inside the car. He couldn’t remember the l
ast time he’d seen Georgie playing with a lad his own age.
Dave had been concerned about removing Georgie from his special private lessons. Since he’d been a baby, Dave and Sandra had been protective of the boy, probably too protective, and Georgie’s childhood had suffered. Dave loved the boy to the moon and back, but that wasn’t enough. He needed friends if he was to ever have much of a life.
Putting him into the main school a few months ago had been nerve-wracking, to say the least. But Dave had thought his reputation would go a long way towards protecting Georgie. He hadn’t considered the fact it might make the boy a target.
Charlie Williams stepped up beside Dave and began to give him a run down on the problems they’d had with one of the coaches. Dave was keen to keep the customer sweet because this was his legitimate side of the business, and it was important to him to make it a success. If he could have relied on his brother Gary, Dave would have gladly handed over the rest of the business to him. But he couldn’t. He would have felt more confident putting his business in the hands of Charlie.
The only thing Dave could rely on Gary for was spilling his secrets. Dave had learned that lesson long ago and now only told Gary things he wanted his rivals to know. Gary had once been Dave’s weakness, but now he’d turned that into a strength.
If Dave divulged information to Gary, he could be assured his brother would soon be boasting about it after a few drinks. Dave loved his brother, but he wasn’t above exploiting his unreliable nature to his benefit.
Charlie Williams was a different story.
He’d taken him on as a young lad, and Charlie had more than proved himself over and over again.
He’d filled out a little now but was still a lanky lad, and his arms and legs looked too big for his body, but he had a charming smile that the ladies seemed to love, although he had skilfully avoided going up the aisle so far. The fact that he still lived at home with his overbearing mother probably had something to do with that.
Charlie lowered his voice when he said, “You do know who that boy is, don’t you?”
East End 02-East End Diamond Page 12
