by Carol Rivers
Bella felt the wind tug at her scarf as she left the salon. Her new pageboy style was protected, tucked into the collar of her raincoat. Soon she was entering the dimly lit foot tunnel that led under the Thames to the island and was well in time to collect Michael. The Christmas party at school was being extended until a quarter past four.
It was growing dark already, the thundery skies over London making the late afternoon seem even wintrier. As she reached the steps of the exit, the chill wind blew hard and with it a few spots of rain.
Parents were gathering when she arrived at the gates of Saint Nicholas. Everyone was dressed for bad weather and the bright lights of the classrooms twinkled as the children ran into the playground.
Bella waved to Michael. He was walking with a little girl whose shabby coat was a washed-out shade of purple. Her red hair was blowing around her small face and her eyes were as big as saucers.
'How's my big boy?' Bella hugged Michael. His serious little face was transformed by Micky's smile and looking into his blue eyes, she saw her own, but his expression was all his father's.
'Did you have a nice party?'
Michael nodded. His little figure was buttoned up neatly in his gabardine raincoat. He always dressed himself carefully and laced his shoes, tying a perfect knot. 'This is for you.' He pushed a folded sheet of paper in her hands. 'We made Christmas cards today.'
Bella read the big scrawled words, "To Mummy and Daddy", that it must have taken great effort to write and inside was a Christmas tree crayoned in green.
'Thank you, darling. I'll stand it on the mantel piece when we get home.'
Bella smiled at the little girl who was still standing there. 'Hello. Are you in Michael's class?'
'Her name's Teresa,' Michael said. 'And she's new.'
'Teresa's a lovely name.' Bella looked round for the girl's mother. The playground was empty now, the cries of the children fading in the distance.
A few raindrops danced down on Michael's nose and Bella hoped it wasn't going to pour.
'Why isn't your mummy here?' Michael said, echoing Bella's thoughts.
' 'Cos she's ill, I spect.'
'Oh, dear. I'm sorry to hear that. What's wrong with her?'
'Dunno.'
Bella searched the child's uncared-for little face. Her fringe was cut as though she had used scissors on it herself. She had such a sad expression that it went straight to Bella's heart. 'Where do you live?'
'Collier Street.'
'We'll walk with you, if you like?' It was out of their way, but Bella didn't like to leave her on her own.
Teresa nodded happily and Bella watched the children join hands. They ran ahead, laughing and playing in the wind. Ten minutes later they all arrived in Collier Street.
'That's my house.' Teresa pointed to one of the prefabs on the left- hand side of the road.
Bella's heart sank. There was no light coming from behind the drooping curtains and the place looked deserted. She hadn't been this way in years and it brought back memories. Once the asbestos prefabs had been the height of luxury. Now they were in a very poor state, covered in mould with all their iron parts rusting.
Bella sighed reflectively. To think that once, when she had lived at Bow Street, she had envied Gilda Ellis and her family who had been allocated a prefab. Now they were no more than damp old huts.
Teresa pushed the front door hard but it was shut tight. So Bella knocked and they waited. When at last it opened, she smiled apprehensively, ready to introduce herself.
But the words died on her lips as she stared at her mother. Mary Doyle's long red hair had turned grey and she wore an old coat buttoned up to her chin. 'Jay-sus,' she exclaimed, as shocked to see Bella as Bella was to see her. 'What are you doing here?'
Bella pulled herself together. 'I walked this little girl home.'
Mary looked at the child. 'Have you been in trouble again?'
'No, Mum. Honest.'
'Teresa is yours?' Bella blurted.
'And why shouldn't she be?' Grabbing the little girl's shoulders roughly, Mary pushed her daughter inside the house.
Bella watched in dismay as Teresa disappeared into the gloomy hall. 'How long have you lived here?' was all she could think of to ask.
'A year and it's a year too long. The council pulled down the old place and dumped us in a rabbit hutch. We're worse off than we were before. Not that you would care.'
'That's not true,' Bella said offendedly. 'Me and Terry slept rough for a week before we had a roof over our heads. And only then because we asked Micky for help.'
'So it was him you went to, was it?' Mary scoffed. 'I thought as much. Done well out of my misfortune, haven't you, girl?'
'Me and Micky are married, if that's what you mean.'
'Well, a curse on that lying git, that's all I have to say! Him and his brother, who took all the strength from my man and left me in the shit.' She drew a long, smoke-filled breath. 'So you, Miss High and Mighty, can clear off and look down your pretty nose at some other poor sod that deserves your pity. I don't want you round here and neither does my kid.'
Bella was angry now. As Mary went to shut the door, she put her hand on it. 'I don't pitying you, Mum, far from it. I wouldn't waste my time. But if it wasn't for my Micky preventing him from bashing your head in, you wouldn't be here now, even though you won't admit it. He would have killed you, me and Terry too if Micky hadn't stopped him.'
Bella felt Michael's eyes on her. She was ashamed of what she was saying and the heated words of their quarrel. How could she explain all the things that had happened in the past? He was just a little boy and this woman was his grandmother. If Teresa really was Mary's daughter, then her blood was the same as his.
Mary squinted at the little figure standing beside her. 'Your kid?'
Bella nodded. 'This is Michael.'
'Like peas in a pod, Teresa and him. Same eyes, same hair.' She laughed coarsely. 'You and me, both with kids. Except you are standing there in all your finery and him beside you looking like he walked out of 'arrods, whilst my poor girl has only rags. And all because you took away my Jack who is now dead and buried.' She screwed up her eyes. 'But a fat lot you care about us and that's the truth!'
'Jack's dead?'
'Gawd rest his poor soul.' Mary Doyle sniffed loudly. 'He was nothing but a cripple anyway. Drank his bleedin' self to death and left me to go out scrubbing floors, despite my poor health.'
'Mum?' The small voice came from the darkened inside of the house.
'What do you want now, girl?'
With the eerie echo of her own voice as a child, Bella watch as Teresa slowly appeared.
'I've wet me knickers.' A pool was forming on the floor at her feet.
A girl with dark hair was singing 'Santa Baby' and trying to sound like the popular singer, Eartha Kitt. Bella was watching her as she drew the attention from the men by twisting her hips in a snake-like dress of silver lame. Two other girls in fishnet tights and short red skirts were sitting astride a sleigh. The scene was supposed to be set amongst the mountains, but the scenery behind showed green hills and trees dotted with white paint. One of the antlers had fallen off of the cardboard reindeer's head.
Bella knew that none of the audience was bothered about detail. The Fortune Club in Soho was a hostess club and the men here had come to enjoy what was on offer, namely the alcohol and women.
Bella felt ridiculously overdressed. She was sitting at the table with Micky, wearing her new dress. It was midnight blue nylon tulle, full skirted, with a velvet bow tied at the back of the strapless bodice. The first cocktail dress she had ever bought. She had gone up West with Dolly to buy it last Saturday whilst Percy had looked after the three children. Now Bella wished she had never gone to the trouble. The club was full of old, sweaty looking men who were ogling the singer and the two girls. Beside them the hostesses sat drinking champagne. Or what really was, as she knew now, just tonic water and lemonade. She would rather have gone to the cinema to see The Barefoot Contes
sa but she didn't want to refuse Micky when he told her he had a surprise in store.
The girl finished her act and there was a half-hearted applause. Micky's was the loudest as he whistled through his teeth. The girl gazed across and smiled, stepping down from the stage on her high heels and crossing to their table.
'Hello Micky. Enjoying yourself?'
Micky grinned. 'Bella, this is Suzie.' He nodded to the stage. 'Go on then, give us another song, sweetheart.
Suzie winked and smiled flirtatiously as she left.
Bella's mouth had fallen open. 'What was that all about? Who is she?'
'The entertainment, of course.'
'But you know her.'
'Course I do. This is my surprise, Bells. You should be very proud of your old man. I am now the owner of the Fortune Club. Or at least part owner with old Ivor. Remember him? He used to run Club Afrika. Sold it about a year ago and bought this little gaff. Met him again by pure chance. Came to the garage one day to buy a car.'
'Why should you want to do business with him?'
'Because he's sitting on top of a goldmine. I mean, look around you at the potential. It's a cracker.' Micky's smile faded. 'Well, are you going to congratulate me?'
'What for? I don't like this place, Micky.'
'What do you mean?' he demanded, suddenly sobering up.
'Why buy a club? You could have got another garage.'
'I don't want another garage. I want this.'
Bella looked into his eyes. 'Clubs are risky as Ronnie found out.'
Micky glared at her. 'Before you start on about Ronnie, I've already told him.'
'About this club?' Bella gasped. 'What did he say?'
'What does it matter what he said? Why are you always so bothered about his opinion, anyway? I bought into the Fortune with my own cash and Ronnie has no part in it. This drum is nothing like the Blue Moon. It's too small for anyone to want to take over. It will do me just fine, until such time as I want to spread my wings. But one day I promise you, the Fortune is going to make us very rich.'
'I don't want to be rich if we have to live dangerously.'
Suddenly Micky stood up. 'You are one stroppy mare, Bells.'
She looked round them, embarrassed at the disturbance they were making. 'I'm your wife and I don't like you shouting at me.'
'You might be my wife,' Micky retaliated, 'but you're not my minder. Now get your coat, we're leaving.'
Without speaking, Bella rose from her chair and walked sedately out to the cloakroom. But inside she was shaking.
Bella watched Micky drive away. The wheels of the car screeched as he sped off in the darkness, missing Lenny's car by inches. He had driven fast all the way home in an angry silence. She had expected him to come in with her but after she had climbed out he had just driven off.
She was worried. Very worried. Was he going back to the Fortune? Was he going to see Suzie again?
Bella shivered in the cold December night. She looked up at the big house and regretted Ronnie's decision to move out. He now lived in rooms with Joyce and she knew he was the only one who could influence Micky. What had he said to Micky when he told him about the Fortune? Whatever it was, Micky hadn't changed his mind.
Slowly she descended the steps. Light spilled out from the window and as she opened the door Lenny and Gina looked round. They were sitting in front of the big open fire.
'Where's Micky?' Gina asked.
'He had to go back to the garage.' It was a lie but the only one she could think of.
'At this time of night?'
'He forgot to lock it.'
Lenny got up and came towards her. He looked smart in his dark suit and waistcoat, his black wiry hair glistening with brilliantine. 'Is there anything the matter, love?'
'No, nothing.'
Gina got up and pulled her towards the fire. 'Sit down and tell us all about your night. I'll make us a cuppa.'
'I could do with that. How's Michael?'
'He's went to sleep all right despite Lenny telling him a story about a giant.'
Bella smiled. 'Oh, he would have loved that.'
Lenny urged her to the chair. 'Warm up, you look frozen.' He took her coat and hung it up, returning to join her at the fireside.
'Thank you for babysitting,' Bella said as Gina returned with a tray of tea. Gina had put on the standard lamp and a cosy glow enveloped them, spilling light over Michael's toys and his books on the table.
'Well, give us the low down,' Lenny chuckled.
'We just went for a drink that's all.'
'But you was all dressed up!' Gina exclaimed.
Bella decided not to say anything about the Fortune Club and just sipped her tea as she listened to Lenny telling her about Michael. She knew he loved children and Gina wasn't keen to have any which was one reason why she wouldn't consider a ring on her finger, or so she said.
'He's such a bright little spark, knows words in books already, don't he Gina?'
Gina nodded, widening her black eyes. 'Now who is this Teresa he keeps on about? All evening we had Teresa this and Teresa that.'
'What did he say?'
'That she's his best friend and you walked her home as her mummy didn't come for her. Then we heard that, for some reason, Teresa's mummy was cross when she opened the door. And then the poor little kid weed herself where she stood. Is this all true?'
Bella nodded. 'You'll never guess who Teresa's mother turned out to be.'
'No, but she sounds a mouthy cow.'
'It was Mum.'
'Your Mum?' Gina almost dropped her cup. 'No, I don't believe it.'
'Nor did I at first. This little girl Teresa is the spitting image of Michael. But the likeness didn't register at all. Why should it? It was the last thing I expected. When Mum opened the door you could have knocked me down with a feather. She said they got re-housed by the council in this dingy old prefab in Collier Street as they've demolished Bow Street.' She paused. 'And by all accounts, Jack is dead.'
'Dead? Are you sure?'
Bella nodded again.
Gina's smile was genuine. 'Well, that's one bit of good news, anyway. Has she shacked up with anyone else?'
'I don't think so. She's very bitter though and blames me and Micky for everything.'
'That's ridiculous!' Gina exploded. 'Jack Router was a bastard and she knows it.'
'I don't think she does. She's re-written history.'
'Well, give me five minutes with her and I'll soon put her straight. And I mean that an' all. I don't know the woman, but I do know what she did to her kids. Don't forget, I was the one who picked up the pieces and put them together again.'
'Is Teresa really his daughter?' Lenny asked, getting a word in for the first time.
'Yes, but she is a lovely little girl.'
'Does young Michael know who she is?'
'He doesn't really understand. He's only five yet.'
'Course he is, poor little mite.'
'What's this little girl like, then?' Gina asked curiously.
'As I said, she looks just like Michael. But she isn't cared for, washed or fed properly.' Bella looked down at her lovely blue cocktail dress that seemed even more inappropriate now than it felt at the club. 'All her finery', Mary had flung at her. The words lay heavy on her conscience.
'Did you give them money?' Gina guessed disapprovingly.
'A bit. She says she has to go out scrubbing floors. I felt so sorry for Teresa.'
'You know you're not responsible for her, don't you?' Lenny said kindly.
Bella sipped her tea, knowing that whatever anyone said, she did feel responsible. Teresa was her own blood, a little half-sister, and auntie to Michael.
'Are you going round there again?'
Bella shrugged. 'I might.'
Gina sighed, pushing back the elegant wave of black hair that fell across her face. 'I suppose you know what you're doing.'
Bella looked at them both. 'I wish you had seen the state of that little girl. It wa
s heartbreaking.'
'She will use that kid to manipulate you,' Gina warned.
'I know. But I'm not a complete fool.'
Lenny smiled gently. 'You're far from that, love. Now, we should let you go to bed and be on our way home. Is it worth us waiting for Micky?'
'No, it's late, you go.' She didn't want to tell them what had happened at the Fortune as Gina would throw a fit. It would be one too many outbursts to take in one day. She needed to be quiet now, kiss her son goodnight and then she would sit down and think.
Decide on what to do next.
At school the next day, Bella was dismayed to see Teresa dressed in the same old clothes and with a bruise on her cheek. 'How did you get that?' she asked.
'I fell over.'
'Are you walking home alone?'
'Yes.' Teresa smiled. 'You can come with me if you like.'
'Can we, Mum?' Michael asked.
Bella nodded and the two children joined hands as they made their way back to Collier Street.
When the door opened, Mary was holding on to the wall. Her face was dirty and scratched and her eyes looked as though they had fallen to the back of her head.
'Are you all right?' Bella asked.
'What's it to you if I'm not?'
'I was only asking.'
'I'm frozen and I've got a rotten chest.' She coughed loudly. 'There's no heat in the house and the money you gave me I spent on food. Never a mouthful for meself, but gave it all to her. Didn't I, Teresa?'
The little girl looked sadly up at Bella. 'I got bread and dripping for supper. It was lovely.'
'Did you buy her any clothes?' Bella asked.
'What? How am I supposed to walk all the way up the market after a hard day scrubbing floors?
'I'll take her then,' Bella offered, 'and save you the trouble.'
'We ain't no charity cases – ' Mary began, but Bella put up her hand.
'You know I can help you and I will. But on my terms, I won't stand here and argue. I've had enough of that. It's either yes or no, your choice.'
Mary's white face reddened as she spluttered, 'You've still got a tongue like a knife.'
'If I have, you know where I got it from.'
'Ah, have it your own way, girl. I don't give a toss what you do.'
