Danny held her tight. 'I know you'll be a good mum, babe. Me and you, we'll be the best parents ever, you wait and see. Fuck Jade, I know she's been good to you but she's got no right to interfere in our life, telling us to get rid of our little baby. Who the fuck does she think she is? I'm gonna have to say something to her, Bill, put her straight and that. I can't let this one go.'
Billie was mortified and wished she hadn't mentioned Jade to him. 'Please, Danny, don't say anything to her. I know she's out of order but she's only trying to look out for me. Anyway, she won't be around much longer. The house is up for sale, she's moving back to Somerset, so promise me, please don't say anything to her.'
Danny walked up to the bar without giving her an answer and ordered himself another two bottles of Bud. This deserved a celebration, this did. The wicked stepmother was moving, what a touch. Sitting himself back down at the table, he looked earnestly at Billie. 'I won't say nothing, on one condition.'
Billie breathed a sigh of relief. 'Whatever you say, Danny.'
'When she leaves, I want you to break all contact with her. She's no good for our relationship, interfering all the time. As for wanting to kill our baby, well what can I say?'
Billie shifted uncomfortably in her seat. 'It's not just Jade, is it, Dan? What about my little brother? I need to have contact with him.'
'Look, Bill, when your brother's old enough, he can come and visit, but I'm telling you now, when she moves, I want you to lose contact with the bitch. I'm not having her coming between me and you every five minutes, sticking her oar in, especially if we've got a family. It's not fair on me.'
Billie looked at his hurt expression, and felt awful. Why did she have to open her big mouth? 'OK, Danny, if that's what you want and you think it's best for us, I'll do it.'
'That's my girl.' Danny couldn't stop smiling. He liked getting his own way, it made him extremely fucking happy. Billie would very soon be totally reliant on him. He'd be her family, her friend and also her lover.
Billie Jo was his property and Danny was determined to share her with no one.
EIGHTEEN
Jade felt a mixture of horror and guilt wash over her when Billie arrived home and excitedly told her that Danny couldn't wait to be a dad. The horror was because she was sure she wasn't wrong about Danny. The guilt was more to do with Terry. She felt that if he was looking down on her, she'd let him down dreadfully. She should and could have done more.
Over the course of the next week or so that followed, Jade could feel an awkwardness between herself and Billie, and guessed straight away that Danny had something to do with it. Billie had spent as little time as possible alone with Jade and Terry Junior. Things finally came to a head when Jade, who was becoming increasingly pissed off with the situation, pulled Billie to one side.
'What's your problem, Bill? You've been treating me like a complete stranger in my own bloody house and I'm sick of pussyfooting around you. Let's sort this out, eh? Just tell me what I've done to upset you.'
Billie burst into tears. Sobbing freely, she told Jade everything that Danny had said. Jade would have loved to shake Billie into next week. She needed to make her realise what a conniving little shit her fella really was, but instead, she said nothing. There was no point slagging Danny off, it would make the situation worse. Instead, she took a kind, sensible approach.
'Look, Bill, if you want to keep in touch with me it's entirely up to you. When I move I'll call you on the mobile and give you my new address and telephone number. What you do with it is entirely your decision, but I want you to know, I'll always be there for you if you need me.'
Billie looked affectionately at Jade. 'I want to keep in touch with you, but it will have to be in secret. I'll have to call you when Danny's not around.'
Jade smiled weakly. 'If that's what you want, Bill, that's fine by me. What are you going to do about your job? Have you thought about that at all?'
'Not really. I suppose I'll have to resign. I don't want anyone else bringing my baby up, I want to do it myself. Once he or she is old enough to go to school, I'll go back to work, even if it's only part-time.'
Jade had always thought that Billie was quite a bright girl, but now she realised just how naïve she really was. She was no more than a child herself, bless her. 'Have you told Danny that you're planning to give up work? How are you going to manage money-wise?'
Billie shrugged her shoulders. 'I haven't told him about my job yet, but I will. We haven't had a chance to make any plans yet, but we'll get by, plus I've got that money coming to me on my eighteenth.'
Jade unenthusiastically agreed with her. She'd done all she could to advise and help Billie and could do no more. 'If I was you, love, I'd get out and about this weekend and try and find yourself a nice little flat or something. I'll still lend you the money that I promised you. The estate agent rang me today and said they think they've sold this place, so I'm going up to Somerset at the weekend to see if I can find myself a property. The quicker you find yourself a place now the better, Billie, and then we can both move on and start our new lives.'
Billie nodded and decided to ask Carly if she would go flat hunting with her on Saturday. Danny was at work, and wouldn't be able to get the time off. Carly was the only other person that Billie had told about her unplanned pregnancy and although the girls didn't see as much of one another out of work as they once had, they were still very close.
Carly and Jamie's relationship had cooled off around about the same time Billie had found out she was pregnant and although Carly was gutted, she was glad Jamie still wanted to be friends with her. Luckily they hadn't become lovers, so there was nothing stopping them from being good mates. Carly secretly still held a torch for Jamie and hoped that one day they would maybe rekindle their romance.
Jamie had been really fond of Carly, but he knew he'd end up hurting her. He couldn't get over the way he felt about Billie Jo. From the first moment he'd set eyes on her, he'd wanted her more than anything else he'd ever wanted in his life, but Danny had then stepped in and that was that. When Danny told him that Billie was pregnant, Jamie felt like somebody had stuck a knife in his guts and twisted it round.
Unable to deal with his feelings and hating Danny more and more, Jamie jacked his job in on the stall. Danny treated girls like shit. Jamie knew for a fact that he was still shagging other birds, even though he was with Billie. He felt physically sick at the thought of Billie being pregnant with Danny's child. It broke his heart to see the two of them together and picturing them with a baby was even worse. Jamie would have treated Billie like an absolute queen if she'd been his. Instead she'd chosen Danny.
Well, that was life. He'd accepted his fate, but he certainly wasn't going to stick around to watch Danny fuck Billie's up. He'd end up killing him. He might be three years younger than Danny but he was no mug! A week after saying goodbye to the markets, Jamie landed himself a position as a junior in a money brokers in Liverpool Street.
'Fantastic prospects for the future,' said the guy who interviewed him. Jamie was determined to throw himself into his new job and forget all about Danny, Billie and the baby. A new start was just what he needed and he looked forward to being a big success.
Carly was more than happy to help Billie with her flat hunting and both girls spent their dinner hour poring over rented accommodation ads in the local paper. Billie was surprised at just how expensive the properties were in the areas she was interested in. She therefore started looking at less appealing areas which were more affordable. Jade had kept her promise and lent her money. After that she and Danny were on their own.
Danny had told Billie not to worry about money. 'Pick what flat you want, babe,' he told her. 'I earn all right off the stall and I've just started doing some other bits and bobs as well. I might even give the markets up soon. I can earn much more money doing other things.'
He was a bit evasive when Billie enquired exactly what other things he would be doing, so she left it at that. Danny always see
med to have plenty of money in his pocket and Billie trusted him implicitly. Her dad had always been evasive about money. At the end of the day, men were men. They were the breadwinners and best left to their own devices.
Billie arranged to view five flats which she believed were in her and Danny's price range. After the first three, she was beginning to wish she hadn't bothered. All she'd been shown so far were complete and utter shitholes. The fourth flat she viewed seemed like Buckingham Palace compared to the other three and as soon as she walked through the door, she decided there and then that she was going to take it.
The flat was in Chadwell Heath, which was just on the outskirts of Romford. Situated at the end of a quiet street, the flat was fully furnished, newly decorated and modern-looking. Being a ground-floor flat, there was also a little garden, with a couple of flower beds and a washing line. Billie paid the required deposit and advance rent and took the keys on the spot.
The following weekend, Billie had the horrendous task of saying her goodbyes to Jade and Terry Junior. Danny and one of his pals had already moved her stuff out in a battered old van during the course of the week. There wasn't that much at Jade's to move, as the majority of her possessions were still at her mother's.
Danny had assured her that he was going to pay Chelle a visit very shortly and get all of her belongings for her. 'I'll go and see your mother, Bill, and get all your stuff for you. She won't argue with me, you'll see.' Billie loved it when he spoke like that. He was so manly and reassuring.
Packing up her final few belongings, Billie put them into her big pink sports bag and walked down the stairs. Jade was going to take her to her flat and have a look around. Danny had already moved his own stuff in and tonight would be the first night they'd spend there together as a couple.
Jade was pleasantly surprised as she entered the flat. It was a pretty little place with a nice outlook.
'Right, I'd better make a move now, Billie,' she said putting her coffee cup on the glass table. 'Terry Junior's tired and I've got to start packing my own stuff.' Jade had found a nice little house near her parents and was moving in the following weekend.
Billie felt the tears forming in her eyes as Jade got up off the sofa. 'I wish you wasn't moving, Jade. You've been so good to me and I don't know what I'm going to do without you.'
Both girls hugged one another tightly. Jade was crying too. Now come on, Bill, you'll be fine. You've got my mobile number, and as soon as I get my new landline on, I'll text you the number, OK?'
'I've done what you said, Jade,' Billie said between sobs. 'I've put your number down under a different name, so Danny won't know we're still in contact. Whenever he's at work I can call for a chat. We won't lose contact, I promise.'
'Whenever you call me, Billie, don't worry about the cost. I'll ring you straight back. I think it's best if you contact me. I don't want to ring you at all, in case Danny's about. I don't want to cause you any grief.'
Billie picked up Terry Junior and held him tightly. Kissing him, she took in his scent. Her tears fell freely onto his dark curly hair. 'I wish I could come and visit you, Jade, but what with the baby on the way and the situation with you and Danny, I don't see how I'm going to get up to you.
Maybe in time, Danny will come round and allow me to visit and ring you.'
'Maybe he will, love,' Jade lied. She knew full well that the little shit Billie had got herself roped up with would do no such thing. Jade hated everything about Danny, she really did. He was one cocky little bastard. Last week he'd come round to the house to pick up some of Billie's stuff whilst she was at work. While he was there, Jade had overheard him bragging to his mate about some bird he'd recently shagged. It certainly wasn't Billie he was referring to, as he'd told his mate that the bird was in her forties.
He'd shut up when he heard Jade reach the top of the stairs, but it was too late, she'd already heard. The sad thing was, it hadn't really shocked her.
After saying their final farewells, Billie stood at the door and waved Jade off. She then ran into her bedroom, lay on her bed and sobbed her little heart out. She had to release all of her tears before Danny arrived home. He'd go apeshit if he came home and found out Jade had been there. She'd pretended that she was getting a cab, because he'd said he didn't want Jade knowing where they lived. She hadn't dared tell him it was Jade's money that had got them the bloody flat in the first place. She'd pretended that the money had been lying dormant in her building society, and that her dad had put it in there before he died.
Jade pulled up onto her drive, took Terry Junior out of his baby seat and let herself indoors. She still had tears rolling down her face as she poured herself a glass of wine and sat down on the sofa. She was going to miss Billie Jo so much and the thought of not seeing her for ages was unbearable. Apart from Terry Junior, Billie was her last and only link with Terry.
After a while she looked into her mirror. Her mascara was all over the place. Topping up her wine glass, she said a little prayer. She wasn't particularly religious, especially after the bad luck she'd had so far in life, but she wasn't praying for herself, she was praying for Billie Jo.
'Please, God, take care of that girl,' she said quietly. 'Look after her and her baby, and keep her out of harm's way.' Jade had never known anyone so young to experience such bad luck. A drunken mother who couldn't give a shit about her. A wonderful father cruelly taken away. A no-good flash little shit called Danny entering her life and then, to top it all, getting up the duff the first time the poor little sweetheart decided to have sex. Jade sank the remainder of the wine in her glass and crawled into bed. She never got drunk, but tonight she'd bloody well needed to.
Lying in the dark, she couldn't get Billie Jo out of her mind. She had a strong feeling within her that Billie's run of bad luck was about to get a whole lot worse. Call it a gut feeling, call it what you like, but Jade knew she was right, she could feel it in her bones.
In life some people are born with luck. Others are forced to make their own. Billie Jo had a long road ahead of her. Only time would dictate the exact distance.
NINETEEN
Six Months Later
Rolling up a slice of ham, Michelle shoved it into her mouth, whole. So what if she'd put on a bit of weight recently? She didn't care any more. She was rich, fat and happy and who needed anything else?
Getting rid of Nathan had done her the world of good. Apart from the occasional bunk-up, she missed nothing about him. He'd been OK, as an accessory, but bar that he'd had no other qualities. A wimpy, boring ponce was the best way to describe him and after months of debating what to do, she'd dumped him last week via a text message. He hadn't even replied to it, the tosser. Deciding she liked being single again, she smiled as she picked up the tray.
'I've done you some lunch, Danny,' Michelle said, waving a plate. French stick filled with ham and salad was Danny's favourite.
Danny hauled himself out of the swimming pool and flopped onto the sun lounger. Taking a can of Stella out of the cool box, he opened it and downed half the contents in one greedy gulp. The sun was at its peak now and Danny glanced at his glistening body, admiring what a lovely colour he'd built up this summer. Brown as a berry he was and he knew his tan made him look sexier than ever.
A tanned Adonis, he thought, modestly.
'Cheers, Chelle. I poured you another glass of wine, girl. I put it on that little table.'
'Thanks, love,' Chelle replied fondly.
Flopping onto a sunbed next to him, Chelle prepared herself for another one of their afternoon drinking sessions. Murder they were, her and Danny together. Complete piss artists, the pair of them.
A lot of things had changed in Danny O'Leary's life over the last six months and the most surprising thing of all was the close friendship he'd built up with Michelle. It had all started months back when he'd gone round there to act as peacemaker between Billie and her mother. Ever since then their friendship had gone from strength to strength, although Chelle still refused to al
low Billie back into her life.
'I can't get over her going behind my back and becoming pals with the slag and the devil's child,' she insisted. Billie's pregnancy hadn't exactly softened the situation. 'Fuck me, Dan, it was bad enough being a mum, you don't honestly think I'd be jumping for joy at the thought of being a granny, do you? Christ, I'm only young, talk about spoil your street cred. The girls down the gym will have a field day with this,' she'd choked, when he'd broken the news.
Danny thought that Chelle was hilarious. He admired her honesty and spent hours on the piss with her.
Deep down, she was a bit of a geezer bird. Chelle could match him drink for drink and had a male type of humour. She was a proper laugh, a real fucking character. Billie didn't have a clue about the unusual friendship, Danny kept it well hidden from her. Billie would go apeshit and what she didn't know couldn't hurt her.
From an outsider's point of view it must have seemed a strange old set-up. Young, handsome fella, rich old bird, but it wasn't like that at all. It was an innocent relationship with nothing sexual involved whatsoever. Danny felt really at ease with Michelle. He could talk to her about anything and everything. She was an extremely good listener. He told her loads of stuff about his upbringing. He'd opened his heart about his mum being on the game, the beatings he'd taken as a kid off of one of the many 'uncles' that he'd been surrounded by. He even told her stuff about his own relationship with Billie Jo. Michelle listened but didn't judge, and Danny liked that.
Michelle, for her part, was enjoying the friendship just as much as Danny and looked forward to his visits and their notorious drinking sessions. She enjoyed having a bit of male company around the house. He was a handy little sod, and had repaired many bits and bobs around the house for her. Chelle was useless. She had no idea how to change a plug or even a light bulb, so having Danny at her beck and call was a godsend to her. She still regularly knocked about with Hazel and the girls from the gym, but apart from them Danny had become her only friend. She could really talk to him and sometimes he reminded her of Terry, when he was young. She'd told him so much about herself. She had spoken about her marriage, her husband's death, finding out about Jade, her awkward relationship with Billie Jo, absolutely everything. Chelle found talking to Danny very therapeutic. It was almost like a counselling session, without a nosy stranger involved.
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