Betrayal

by Martina Cole

  Aiden O’Hara was a complete one-off; he would never forgive, let alone forget that he had fucked up and, his personality being such as it was, he would always blame those closest to him for it.

  Chapter Seventy-One

  Agnes had been dragged out of bed because Reeva had caused fucking murders, as she had predicted. She left them all to it; Tony had tried to calm her down but Reeva was having none of it. She was so out of her head that she had finally reduced them all nearly to tears. She was right up on her highest horse fighting and arguing with everyone and none of the boys knew what to do with her. Well, welcome to Agnes’s world.

  They had no choice but to bring in the big guns; Aiden had been summoned and he was not impressed in the least. ‘So let me get this fucking straight: I’m supposed to care about Mum having a fight with a fucking neighbour? Are you taking the piss, Aggs?’

  The boys were nervous; they knew that Aiden had had to put off a big meeting to come here and calm their mother down. Aiden could not understand why the sister he adored was creating so much trouble for him. Everyone knew she could cope with Reeva better than anyone else. Now she had threatened to walk out on Aiden Junior unless she had some sort of assurance that this kind of trouble would never happen again. It was beyond him. What the fuck was he supposed to do? Agnes was right in what she was saying: they left her to sort out Reeva and her fucking usual crap on a regular basis because she was the only other female in the house. Clearly that was the right thing; after all, women understood women. Agnes was basically the only really sensible head in the house when their mum went on the piss, so she should be the one to rein Reeva in. And yes, she was expected to look after Aiden Junior and make sure that everything went along smoothly because she was the sister; she had to pull her weight. It wasn’t that hard, surely? He said as much.

  ‘Hang on, Aiden. Tonight not one of this lot could fucking cope with her. I went to bed, and look at the upshot. You have had to come to try and sort it. I rest my case!’

  Aiden looked at his mother. She was slumped in a chair, and Helen Keller would have known that she was completely out of the game.

  ‘I’m sorry, Aiden, but when Mum goes off on one, I don’t think Agnes should have to fucking sort it. Or sort your son out.’ Eugene smiled his apology at Jade as he continued seriously, ‘Aggs has taken the brunt of Mum’s fucking lunacy for years. I think she has a point, Aiden. And tonight was not exactly a one-off, was it? Tony tries to keep her in line, and we know that she can be good for ages. But when she does go off, it’s like the fucking atomic bomb. If Aiden Junior wasn’t here no one would give a flying fuck, would they? I think that Agnes should be given her say. You know as well as I do that Mum can’t be trusted without her in the house to keep that child safe.’

  Aiden was looking at his brother with hatred, because he never could listen to the honest truth − most people didn’t have the nerve to tell him the truth outright, but Eugene was willing to say his piece.

  Porrick stepped forward then. He was smaller than his brothers, but he was a true O’Hara in that he could have a fucking row if called upon. ‘He’s right. Mum is lovely, but when she goes on the piss, none of us can fucking stand her, let alone control her. It is left to our Aggs to sort out your fucking son, because let’s face it, Aiden, that is the most important thing at the end of the day. He’s always here. When Mum’s on a good one, that’s marvellous. But when she decides to go on a serious fucking bender, we leave it to Agnes. I’m with Eugene − this needs to be fucking sorted once and for all. Why should Aggs be expected to sort everything out? He is your fucking kid.’

  Aiden was looking around him at his brothers and his sister as if he had never seen any of them before. That he was annoyed was a given, but the fact that they were in the right was what he had a problem with right now. Tonight of all fucking nights; they had to choose this night to make a fucking point. Patsy stepped forward then and, shrugging, he said quietly, ‘Sorry, Ade. I agree with them. I’ve always thought it was OK to leave this to Aggs, but they have a point. Aiden Junior is your son, and when Mum is on a good week he is more than welcome. But when she goes off the rails, why should our Agnes be expected to sort it all? She ain’t like us. She shouldn’t have to look after Mum, let alone your fucking kid. He is a big lad now, Aiden, but he still climbs into her bed and sleeps with her because he knows it’s the safest place to be.’

  Porrick added, ‘Mum was off her head and the Old Bill was called and, in fairness to Agnes, she always defuses the situation. You know she’s the one who looks after little Aiden, especially when Mum goes on a drugs bender, or on the fucking piss . . . She’s quiet now, but Mum threatened to pull a knife on us earlier. Aiden, she was fucking dangerous. She’s a fucking liability in more ways than one.’

  Agnes could have kissed him. She really had not expected them all to support her. After all, this was her life now. Reeva had been on spectacular form tonight, but now she was slumped on the sofa she didn’t look in the least bit worrying. That was the problem − by the time the boys got home she was over her tantrums. It was Agnes who had to put up with it all day. She looked at Jade who winked at her surreptitiously. Agnes knew better than to drag her into any of this. Jade was always on her side. She loved Jade even though there was a big piece of her that wanted to question why her son was here so fucking often and not in his own house. But she knew the answer to that as well as anyone else in this family.

  Jade spent her life policing Aiden, not just because of the women – Jade was too intelligent to care about them. She policed him because he couldn’t be trusted. He had a lot of Reeva in him; when he decided to go his own way no one could stop him. As a result, Aiden Junior was at the house a lot more than was good for any of them − especially Aiden Junior himself. He was old enough now to question why he was not at home with his parents. Why was he always at his nanny’s? There was clearly a reason, and it wasn’t a good one.

  Aiden was fuming that he had been forced to cancel his meeting with the Clarks to try and sort out a load of fucking old fanny. What had possessed his sister, Agnes, to pick today of all days to cause fucking murders? He opened his arms out in a gesture of supplication, and they could see the anger in his face.

  ‘Are you taking the fucking piss? Have I missed something here?’

  Agnes could see that he was about to go off on one of his usual tangents and, before he could say another word, she shouted, ‘Have you not listened to a fucking word, Aiden? It is always about you! Everything in our lives has always been about you. Well, I’m not doing this any more. Tonight was the last time I will ever stand between Mum and her latest enemy, acting like a fucking referee. How Tony puts up with it, I don’t know. But I refuse to let you lot leave me in sole charge of her. And that means I’m not going to look after your son either. I am sick of it. I’m a big girl and I’m not prepared to spend my life cleaning up other people’s messes.’

  Aiden looked at his little sister. She was a good girl, and he loved that about her. She understood the importance of keeping herself decent. He could sense that Jade was watching him closely, expecting him to provide a solution. And, as angry as he was, he knew that this was his territory − that as the eldest they looked to him to sort everything out. If he was honest with himself, he should have made sure that it had never come to this. He had looked after them since day one, and that was why they revered him. He had to listen to them now, he understood that, but it didn’t mean he had to like it.

  This was the first time ever that they had confronted him, even criticised him. This was a big thing for his siblings and he had to do something constructive, show willing. Seeing his brothers stand together against him for Agnes wasn’t something he was happy about. One half of him was impressed by the fact they were so loyal to the little sister they loved. But the other told him that he could never really trust them. That was a learning curve in itself and it hit a sore spot.

  Jade could tell exactly what Aiden was thinking; she knew
him better than he knew himself. She understood just how fucking badly he would choose to take this; he would see this as a personal insult, a betrayal. He would never in a million years understand that his brothers were not being personal − that they were just trying to look out for Agnes. Unfortunately, everything in Aiden’s world could only ever be about him.

  Jade shrugged, as if there was nothing Aiden couldn’t sort out if he wanted to. ‘I think the boys have a point, Aiden, you know? We all love Reeva and she can be a fucking star for ages. But we know that it’s just a matter of time until she goes off on one again, and there will be another night just like this.’ She pulled Agnes into her arms, hugging her tightly. Agnes hugged her back; she knew how to play the game.

  Aiden sighed heavily; clearly he was on his own and that everyone had made their minds up.

  ‘Well, be fair, Jade. You are the one who always dumps Aiden Junior here, darling.’ He smiled easily.

  Jade nodded slowly; she wouldn’t lose her temper. ‘Absolutely, Aiden. I know how much he loves your mum. But you’re right. Will you tell him that he can’t come here any more?’

  Aiden looked into her eyes, and he could see that he had really upset her, that she had not appreciated him trying to place all the blame on her. He had hurt her deeply with a cheap shot. This was a fucking nightmare; his brothers were fronting him up, and now his Jade, to whom he knew he owed a fucking big sorry, was also trying to put him on the spot.

  ‘I know that she adores him, and he adores her. But when she goes off the grid like this, Aiden, we can’t expect Agnes to pick up the pieces. The drink we can cope with − it’s the amphetamines or the cocaine that really cause the trouble.’

  Eugene was watching Patsy’s reaction because, of all Reeva’s boys, Patsy was the one who could pre-empt Aiden. In truth, they all expected Aiden to turn on Jade. But he didn’t.

  Instead, Patsy said honestly, ‘Ball’s in your court, Aiden. What do you suggest we do?’

  Everyone in the room was quiet, holding their breath because, in reality, tonight had been like a declaration of fucking war. It was a criticism of Aiden − even though it was done in a placid and nice way. That was not something their brother would swallow without taking some sort of umbrage.

  Aiden was furious and it was only because Jade was looking at him so intently that he thought that maybe he should box a bit clever. This was, without a doubt, of significance to his siblings. That his mother was in a drunken and drugged stupor really wasn’t helping either. This was important to everyone here, except him. His reaction to this night would be of enormous importance to all of them in the future.

  Aiden was a lot of things, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew when it was necessary to play the part required. He knew that and he had to deal with this in a reasonable and competent manner even if he couldn’t care less about this shit. He took a deep breath and, letting it out slowly as he found a smile, he said seriously, ‘You are right, of course. Tonight was a fucking disgrace. But we all know what Reeva is capable of.’

  He looked at his siblings one after the other, finally allowing his gaze to settle on Agnes.

  ‘We should never have left you with so much responsibility, Aggs. And I will make sure that this never happens again, darling. You have my word on that.’

  Agnes grinned. This was exactly what she wanted to hear, even though she didn’t believe any of it. But she had witnesses and that was all that she really cared about.

  ‘Look, Aiden, I love having your boy here, you know that. But when Mum goes off, I need you lot to back me up. Fucking hell, we were nearly nicked tonight.’

  Aiden snorted angrily. ‘Like that would ever happen, for fuck’s sake. Like the local plod would fucking dare!’

  Agnes had no intention of making this easy for her brother. ‘Hang on a minute, you. I was the one dragged into it, not you, Aiden. I am the one who has always had to sort out her shit. I have been doing it since I can remember. I’m the girl, so you all leave me to sort Mum out. I’m sick to death of it. I want a life too, you know.’

  Aiden sighed heavily; it was taking all his willpower not to lose his shit.

  ‘Well, what exactly do you want, Aggs? I’m not a fucking mind reader.’

  She felt she had won at last.

  ‘What I want is a wage. A decent wage. You know I had to leave school to look after her but I need a life too. So, money and help with Mum when she goes off the rails. That’s all. I deserve that and more, Aiden.’

  He was more annoyed than he thought possible − was she taking the fucking piss? She didn’t need to cause this fucking aggravation to get what she wanted − all she had had to do was ask.

  ‘I want a guarantee that if Mum even looks like she is going on the rampage one of you lot will come as soon as I call.’

  Aiden shrugged in agreement.

  Tony felt like kissing Agnes; this was what he had wanted for years. They all knew that one day Reeva would go too far − that it had not happened already was a miracle. And Jade knew that Agnes had needed to bring her brothers’ attention to the fact that she was left in sole charge of Reeva. When Reeva went on one it wasn’t exactly an easy fucking ride, and it was something that they avoided like the plague. Jade was as bad as the boys in some respects; after all, she left her son in this house five nights out of seven − more if she could get away with it. But that wasn’t because she didn’t love her boy, it was because she needed to keep her eye on Aiden. He had a chip on his shoulder these days, and there was nothing she could do to change the situation. Eric Palmer knew it too, and that was the real concern.

  Aiden looked over each person in the room closely. They were each in no doubt that he felt that he had done what was expected − and that he wasn’t happy about how it had gone down tonight.

  Agnes felt a moment’s sorrow for him, but she quickly swallowed it. This was her only chance to make them see what was actually going on in her life, how shit it was that she was expected to shoulder her mother’s lunacy on a regular basis. She didn’t regret a second of it. For the first time ever, she had made her brothers stop what they were doing and admit that she had the rough end of the stick. She deserved not just their affection, which she knew she had always had, but also their time, and more importantly, their interest − that was something she had not had from any of them for years. That was why she had needed to cause so much aggravation this night. If she wasn’t careful, she would get lost in her mother’s world of violence and alcohol and she was determined that was not going to happen to her. She did what everyone expected from her and what she knew was the right thing to do, but she was fucked if she was going to carry on doing it without any of her brothers recognising just how difficult it was for her.

  Chapter Seventy-Two

  Jade got into the passenger seat next to Aiden, and, as she put on her seat belt she said airily, ‘That was a turn-up for the books.’

  Aiden pulled away from the kerb with a screech of tyres; he was not amused at all. ‘Oh, I don’t know, I think you might have had a hand in that fucking nonsense, Jade. You and Agnes are as thick as thieves.’

  Jade didn’t say anything for a while. Aiden was more than aware of his shortcomings; she didn’t need to remind him. They drove through the night together in silence. Jade knew when to keep quiet and when to press home a point.

  ‘She looks after our boy, Jade, you know that as well as I do. I wonder if it’s good for him, you know, being around my mum so much.’

  Jade sighed gently. She had known he would say that to her and now it was her job to placate him, make him feel good about himself. She had just had to wait for him to start the conversation − she knew that he would talk to her first. That was how she coped with him on a daily basis; it was like an intricate puzzle that she played twenty-four hours a day.

  ‘Look, Aiden. I pick him up and take him to school, and it’s not like he is at the local fucking comprehensive, is it? We both work long hours, and that’s the truth. We just dropp
ed the ball for a while. Agnes is a star and she’s the reason we let our lad stay there, because of her sensible head. I know she picked a bad time to put forward her case. But fucking hell, your mum was so out of it tonight she couldn’t even defend herself.’

  Aiden knew that she was not just telling him the truth, but that she was saying it in the way that he wanted it. Jade was absolving him of any kind of wrongdoing. She knew what he needed.

  ‘I fucking hate her at times, you know? All my life I have had to fucking either live her down, or sort out her fucking antics. But she is me mum. She loves us, and she adores our lad. If she could just stop going off on one of her massive benders . . .’

  Jade didn’t say a word; neither of them was ever going to say what they really thought. It grieved her that she had to play a game with this man of hers. She always had to swallow her pride and temper her natural reactions because she could not stand it if she lost him. Without her beside him, he would completely fuck up everything they had worked for. Eric Palmer depended on her to keep Aiden on the right track, but she understood how hard that was for a man like Aiden.

  ‘Listen, Eric’s ensconced the Clarks in the club. It’s not too late. We can meet them there. And, think about it, Aiden, it wouldn’t do any harm for them to think that they weren’t our priority, would it?’

  That was exactly what Aiden wanted to hear; it appealed to his ego as Jade had known it would. It saddened her how low she was willing to go to keep this man and his ego onside.

  Chapter Seventy-Three