by Martina Cole
Aiden Junior came into the kitchen. He’d been outside with the other young men, and Agnes watched as he poured himself another drink. He had inherited the best of Aiden and Jade’s looks and he was a real head-turner. Well over six feet tall, he had thick black hair and piercing blue eyes. He was a big man, broad-shouldered with a natural grace. But what really set him apart was his personality: nobody could ever say they did not like him. He was such a terrific guy, really friendly and open, respectful of everyone he came into contact with. Funny, genuine and kind, he was a favourite of everyone in his orbit. Coupled with his intelligence, he was the real deal.
Jade was so proud of him, as was Aiden. Reeva adored him because he had spent so much time with her. He also adored Reeva; he never went one day without talking to her on the phone or visiting her. He was her boy, and always would be − Reeva and her grandson had a real bond. Aiden Junior had infinite patience with his grandmother, no matter how outrageous she might act, or how much trouble she might be the cause of. Smiling at them, he went back out into the garden to join his friends.
Agnes sat at the kitchen table with her mum and Jade and poured herself a large glass of wine. Taking a gulp of chilled Sauvignon, she looked around her, satisfied that she had done a good job. The house was looking fantastic, and she had filled it with wonderful food and friends and family. The atmosphere was great, and the DJ was playing music that suited every age group. Her son, Colin, was a nice lad. He was growing up fast and she knew that she could not stop that, even though she would love to. She would quite happily keep him a baby all his life. She could see him in the garden with his uncles and his cousin, being made a fuss of because it was his birthday, his party. He loved being a part of the men’s world, and they spoiled him. He was like the family mascot.
‘Look at my Colin, Mum. He is eight! I really can’t believe how fast the time has gone.’
Reeva laughed her loud, deep laugh, the very same laugh that told everyone who loved her that she was already as drunk as a fucking lord. Porrick always said his mum was like Stingray, and then he would say seriously in an American accent, ‘Anything can happen in the next half-hour!’ They always laughed, but it wasn’t really a joke. Where Reeva was concerned it was a true statement.
‘How the fucking hell do you think I feel, Agnes? You lot have grown up so quickly, darling. One minute you were my babies. Now you are all fucking adults. Take my advice and you enjoy your boy while you still can.’
Jade laughed with her. ‘She has a point, Aggs. Believe me, the time goes so fast.’
Agnes smiled, and drank her wine. She knew as well as Jade did that Jade’s son had spent most of his childhood with her and her mother. Not that she would say that, of course, but it was the truth nonetheless. Jade had always been a hard worker and Agnes would never say anything in the least detrimental about that, but she had to admit her nephew had spent more time with her than he ever had with his parents.
‘I think you are both right. But he is eight already!’
Reeva was already pouring them all more wine. ‘Well, believe me, Agnes, you have done a marvellous job. He is a credit to you, darling. A really nice lad.’
Agnes knew that was the truth; she had been there for him since the day he was born − she had made sure of that. He saw a lot of her mother but she wasn’t his surrogate parent like she had been with Aiden Junior.
Timmy Clark walked into the kitchen and Agnes jumped out of her chair to greet him. She was always pleased to see him.
‘Oh, Timmy, I was worried you wouldn’t make it!’
Timmy Clark smiled. He was a very handsome man, with an easy way about him. That he looked like Colin was also a big part of his attraction for Agnes, and he had always kept in close contact with her and her son.
‘Sit down, Agnes, and relax, darling. I’m just going outside to see our young Colin.’
He kissed Reeva hello and spoke a few pleasantries to Jade before he walked out into the garden to see his nephew. He knew that Aiden and his brothers were out there, and he was quite happy to touch base with them all. It was hard for him to even look at Aiden O’Hara but he knew that he had no choice in the matter. He would never get over what had happened, but he had to put it behind him so he could be a part of his nephew’s life, if for no other reason. The fact that Aiden acted like there was nothing amiss had been difficult at first but now Timmy knew to just play the game.
Aiden saw him and shouted happily, ‘Hello there, Timmy, me old mucker! Come over here and have a drink with us blokes.’
Timmy walked over to join them. He shook hands with everyone, and when his nephew ran to him and hugged him he said gently, ‘Happy birthday, Colin.’
Colin was thrilled to see his uncle and Timmy looked at his brother’s child wondering how Aiden could stand there year after year as if nothing had ever happened. That he loved this boy was blatantly obvious − Aiden had been a surrogate father to him from day one. But Timmy could not help but question Aiden’s motives. The child adored him, and he really did put himself out to see that this lad had everything that he needed, as he did for his sister. This house alone was proof enough of that. It had to be worth a million and that was a conservative estimate but, knowing Aiden, it was all in his name − another asset to liquidate should the need arise. He didn’t trust this fucker as far as he could have thrown him. Everything he did was part of his own fucking agenda.
Timmy Clark loathed Aiden O’Hara and would never forgive him for what he had made him do. He had had no choice − Aiden O’Hara had made sure of that − but to do what he had been asked just to save his own arse. How could he ever live with what he had done? Even worse was the fact that the circumstances had assured him of a notoriety that he had enjoyed for so many years, thanks to Aiden’s forward planning, of course. Timmy was revered because he had apparently murdered his own fucking brother in cold blood because he could not allow the death of such a wonderful man as Eric Palmer to go unchallenged. He hated that Aiden had been sure enough of him to know that he would do what was asked. It had been the hardest thing he would ever do but, as Aiden had pointed out, he had still done it. That was what Aiden was so good at: making people do what he wanted, and at the same time holding that over them. They were now in a devil’s alliance.
They worked together, and acted as if they were friends, but they were just playing a part. Over the years they had both managed to fool everyone around them. Timmy Clark had made sure that he would never give Aiden any reason to doubt him so he could stay in his nephew’s life and carry on with his businesses unhindered. The strange thing was, he could tell that Aiden actually did like him and he was willing to leave the past in the past. That was one of the kinks in that fucking nutter’s personality: he could just put what had happened out of his mind. He sent work his way, socialised with him. It was surreal. Timmy knew that as long as he never rocked the boat, Aiden was quite happy to deal with him as an equal in every way.
‘Our Colin is more like his mum, admittedly, but I have to say, there are times when he smiles and he looks just like his old man. Don’t you think so, Timmy?’
Timmy smiled easily. The scary thing was that Aiden was being absolutely sincere. ‘Occasionally, I have to admit he has a look of his dad. But I think he’s the spit of Agnes.’
He knew that was what Aiden liked to hear. And it was the truth; he didn’t have anything of his father in him really except his size. But then his uncles were mostly big men, except for Porrick, but he more than made up for his lack of inches with his psychotic personality. No one ever picked a fight with him twice. He was a legend in his own lunchtime for his uncontrollable temper. But young Colin walked like his father; he had the same gait as him. It could just be wishful thinking, of course. His nephew was the nearest thing Timmy had to family, and he felt an obligation to make sure that this boy had every chance available to him.
Porrick and Eugene were walking towards them with a tray of expensive beers and Patsy was already handing t
hem out to everyone.
‘Come on, guys, let’s toast the latest deal with Marvin Hendry and his posse.’
Aiden Junior leaned over his uncle’s shoulder and, grabbing a beer, he said jovially, ‘I will drink to that! I had the best fucking time in Jamaica with him. It was amazing! It’s a really dangerous place, mind. Like Marvin said, it’s still like the Wild West! But he looked after me well.’
Timmy could see that the boy was embracing his introduction to the real business, and Aiden was clearly proud of him − and so he should be. He was a great kid. Unlike his father, Aiden Junior had an innate sense of fair play and that was obvious to anyone who had any dealings with him. Patsy was laughing with him; there was a real closeness between them that anyone could see. Aiden Junior and his uncles were a tight band. For all Reeva’s faults, she had instilled a loyalty in her kids that would be hard to infiltrate.
‘I heard that you were out there on the pull every night!’
Aiden Junior was grinning happily. He had told everyone that he had already met the love of his life. Marvin’s youngest daughter had really bowled him over. She was eighteen and absolutely gorgeous. But he was quite happy to play the game. He had already worked out that his dad wasn’t too enamoured of his choice of girlfriend. He couldn’t really understand why. After all, his own brothers were black − one was Jamaican and the other one was African − so it was a bit weird that his dad was against it. But he knew that he was still a young man as far as his dad was concerned, and he could only assume it was because of that. Patsy and Eugene were trying to smooth things over for him and he really did appreciate that; his uncles were so good to him.
He could feel his father watching him and, as always lately, his father’s scrutiny made him feel irritated. He knew that his dad was a hard fuck, but that didn’t mean he had the right to dictate everything in his life. He was an adult, and he could do what the fuck he wanted to. But he knew better than to say anything in public, so he kept his own counsel and waited for what he knew was going to be a big event in not just his life, but also his father’s.
A few minutes later he was pleased to see Marvin Hendry, with his closest kin and his stunning daughter, Loretta, arriving. He watched as his Aunt Agnes and his mum welcomed them with open arms. Marvin liked Reeva and always made a big fuss of her, which, of course, she loved. He was aware that everyone around him was suddenly speechless and waiting for his father’s reaction; he didn’t give a flying fuck what he thought.
Waving at Loretta and her father, he motioned them to join them in the garden.
He knew what he wanted and he was determined to get it. He looked at his father and he saw him settling his face into a mask of ambiguity; no one on the outside would know that his dad was not pleased with this turn of events. In fact, his father was the first one to greet the newcomers, which he did with the carefully manufactured excitement that Aiden Junior had witnessed many times in his life before. He acted as if he had been waiting all night for them to arrive so they could finally be together. It was a real learning curve to see at first hand just how easily his father could fake any emotion he felt was needed. Marvin and his crew really believed that they were welcome, that they were honoured guests − which they would have been, of course, except for the fact that his father had such a problem with Loretta.
Loretta came straight to him, and he automatically opened his arms. As she settled herself into his embrace he had no doubt that she was the girl for him. She was beautiful, of course, with coffee-coloured skin and her mother’s thick dark hair. Her eyes were almond shaped and a deep hazel colour. She was tiny, just five feet tall, and slim as a wand; she wasn’t voluptuous, she didn’t have huge breasts or a big booty. But Loretta was just perfect for him, and he loved that he was so much bigger than her, that she was so tiny and so feminine. She was so lady-like.
He kissed her quickly on her lips, and was relieved to see his mum and his grandmother come out to the garden to join them all. Reeva loved Loretta and so did his mum. Agnes followed them out and made a big fuss of getting them all drinks, and encouraging them to feel free to enjoy the buffet.
Marvin Hendry was happy to see his youngest daughter looking so enamoured of Aiden Junior. He liked the boy, and saw in him a real decency and goodness that he knew was more than just his demeanour. Marvin Hendry couldn’t ask for a better mate for his Loretta. She was never going to win any prizes, she wasn’t an academic. She had no interest in university like his elder kids, and she didn’t want to train for anything except being a beautician. She was a good-looking girl who needed to be looked after. He believed that Aiden Junior could take care of her. As young as they both were, Marvin really did believe that these two had a genuine connection. He hoped he was right, because he wanted more for his girl than wanting to be with a fucking Yardie, with his slick talk and the hope that his association with his daughter would guarantee the ponce a place in his world. That was his biggest worry − that his daughter would succumb to a plastic Rasta with a cheap gun, and dreams of the big time. He could only hope that he was right about this lad.
Aiden O’Hara watched as his son and Loretta enjoyed each other’s company. He was well aware that Jade wasn’t impressed with him or his opinion of young Loretta.
She couldn’t see it from his point of view. He didn’t want his only son to tie himself down at such an early age. He was twenty, for fuck’s sake. The girl was eighteen years old, and ripe to trap him. She had the personality of a fucking mannequin. She was pretty − he could not dispute that − but she wasn’t exactly a fucking news reader. She would be hard pushed to fill in a job application without help. Even Marvin had said as much − not that he would remind him of that.
Marvin Hendry still held all the cards, because it was his fucking contacts who were in Colombia and calling the shots. That was something Aiden could not change to his advantage. He needed Marvin Hendry, and Marvin knew that.
Although, in fairness to him, Marvin had never used that in any way that could be construed as disrespectful. He had always given Aiden his due. That was what made this situation so fucking awkward. Unlike Marvin, he didn’t see his son tying himself to Marvin’s daughter as a fucking result. He just couldn’t get his head around it. Why his only son, who had the world at his feet, would think that tying himself down at such a young age was even fucking remotely sensible, he didn’t know. She was a nice girl, but she was not what he wanted for his son. No, he saw his boy as marrying class. And he could − they had more than enough money to do that for him. His boy could have his pick; his grandchildren could be fucking part of the real moneyed class. That was what he had always envisaged for his son. Not a fucking half-caste girl from Jamaica whose only fucking asset was her father’s fucking relationship with Colombian drug barons. But he knew that he had to play along, and hope that he could talk his son into using his fucking brain, and not selling himself cheap.
Jade was watching Aiden; she knew exactly what was going through his head, and she actually felt a terrible sorrow for him. He never allowed for real life − it never occurred to him that his dreams could only ever be fulfilled if the people involved were as interested as he was. She liked Loretta, and she knew that her son was already on a love job. Unlike his father, her son didn’t see what was in his best interests. He didn’t plan every step of his life, wondering what would bring him the most money, or kudos. Her son just wanted to be happy. He had not inherited his father’s belief that everyone in the world was only there to be used by him. Her son was a nice guy, and she loved that about him. She loved that he was a nice person who didn’t have hardly any of his father in him except for his good looks. They were chalk and fucking cheese.
Marvin Hendry was holding court, which he did often and well. He could tell a story, and he could make people laugh. That was a big part of his attraction; he was a man who had the creds needed, but he didn’t feel the need to ram that knowledge down people’s throats. He was quite comfortable in his own skin, and he
laughed at situations where people didn’t realise who he was at first. He was a man who didn’t need to be constantly feted.
He was also a man that Jade could not help admiring. He was handsome as fuck, but that was nothing unusual in her world. Handsome men were ten a penny; what she liked was Marvin’s outlook on life. He was a man to be reckoned with, in more ways than one. But what Jade liked about him was that he was an interesting and basically gentle man − at least where women were concerned. All his baby mothers were looked after and given the utmost respect. He had always taken responsibility for his children and made sure they were a big part of his life. So he was handsome and dependable.
That was a dangerous combination because she was attracted to him − she had been since they had first been introduced.
Reeva was drunk as a skunk and Tony, bless him, was trying to keep her in line. The music had been turned up, and the DJ was now playing old-school reggae. That was Reeva’s cue to dance and just forget that she was the mother of five children, and a grandmother to boot.
The garden was lit up with lanterns, and it looked really beautiful. The gardens were landscaped, and it bothered Agnes that she didn’t know anything about the plants, or the trees. Aiden had engaged a gardener who arrived three times a week and who she made tea for. That was her only involvement in the garden! Looking at it tonight, she was aware of how big it was, and how gorgeous it looked. The French windows were open, and everyone was outside. The DJ was very good; he had them all up dancing and, for the first time in years, she was sorry that she didn’t have a man of her own. Couples were dancing in the lamplight together. Her nephew, Aiden Junior, and his girl were hanging on to each other for dear life, just happy being there together. Her son was standing with his uncles. Porrick had given him a sneaky sip of lager and she knew that he didn’t like the taste, but he loved acting grown up with everyone. It was his night, his birthday party, and she wanted him to enjoy it and remember it all his life.
