‘Is Queenie nice to you, love?’
‘Yeah, she is, Mum. Both her and Vivvy have been really kind to me. The house is a bit cramped because Brenda is living there with her boyfriend. She’s pregnant you know.’
The word pregnant made Mary’s stomach churn. She didn’t want Nancy to get herself into that situation. ‘I want you to promise me you’ll be careful, love. I would hate to see you get pregnant before you’ve even got a ring on your finger. That would really give your dad and brother something to kick off about.’
Nancy looked at her mother in bewilderment. ‘I’m not planning on getting up the duff, if that’s what you think?’
‘I know you’re not, love. But as your mum, I felt it my duty to warn you of the pitfalls of being in such a serious relationship at your age. If you do end up marrying Michael, I want it to be because you want to, not because you have to. Many young girls your age get caught in a trap, and believe me if you ever give birth out of wedlock to a child who is a Butler, then you will be trapped for life.’
Back at the hospital, Queenie, Vivian and Lenny were all still sat around Roy’s bedside. Lenny had sworn earlier that when his mum and aunt were out the room that he had seen Roy’s right foot move, but even though Queenie and Vivian had been staring at Roy’s feet for the past hour, they couldn’t see any sign of life.
About to launch into an anecdote, Queenie was stopped by the return of the young nurse who had gone off hours ago to find out how Colleen was. ‘Where is she? Is she OK?’ Queenie asked, anxiously.
‘Colleen is fine. She is resting at the moment, but we have decided to keep her in overnight just to keep an eye on her.’
‘Why? What’s a matter with her?’ Vivian asked sharply.
The nurse smiled. ‘You’ll have to ask Colleen that yourself.’
Queenie leapt out of her seat and pointed her finger in the young nurse’s face. ‘Don’t be playing games with me, darling, ’cause I’ll wipe that smile off your face in a minute. My sister just asked you a question. Now fucking answer her.’
The nurse took a step back. ‘Colleen’s pregnant, but don’t say I told you so in case you get me into trouble.’
Overjoyed by the unexpected news, Queenie hugged the terrified young nurse. ‘We won’t say a word, will we, Vivvy? Thank you so much for telling us, sweetheart.’
‘It’s a miracle, Queen. It really is,’ Vivian said, wiping a tear of joy from her eye.
Queenie couldn’t agree more. ‘It’s a gift from him upstairs, it has to be.’
‘Who’s him upstairs then?’ Lenny asked, perplexed.
Vivian tutted. ‘God, you silly bastard.’
The following morning Michael got up early and once again pleaded with Nancy to take the day off work so she could accompany him to Ipswich with his father.
‘No, Michael. I can’t just take time off like that. It isn’t fair on the other girls.’
‘But, we could have stayed in a hotel or bed and breakfast. I mean, how nice would it be to have a night on our own together? We haven’t even had sex since you moved in here, because you think everybody will hear us.’
Nancy sighed. It was so difficult to snuggle up to Michael every night and not be intimate, but she was an old-fashioned girl at heart. Michael’s sister had the bedroom next door to them and his mother was the other side. The thought of anybody hearing them make love seemed deeply wrong to Nancy, which is why she had insisted that Michael sleep with his back towards her.
‘Please do this for me, babe. I really want you to get to know my dad better as well,’ Michael said, with a sorrowful expression.
Torn between her job and her loyalties towards her boyfriend, Nancy made her decision. ‘OK, Michael, I will come to Ipswich with you. But, after today I can’t take any more time off in case I get the sack, all right?’
Pleased that he had got his own way, Michael grinned and hugged Nancy tightly to his chest. ‘Thanks, darling. You’re a star.’
When his dad turned up at the hospital, Little Vinny galloped towards him. ‘Where you been, Daddy?’
Queenie glared at her eldest son. ‘Yeah, where have you been? Call yourself a good father. You don’t know the meaning, boy. And what about your brother? You ain’t even visited him for days. Colleen’s pregnant and we haven’t even been able to tell you because you’ve been on the missing list.’
‘Pregnant! That’s amazing! Michael never said when he popped in the club.’
‘That’s because we didn’t find out until after Michael had left the hospital yesterday. Unlike yourself, that boy has been up here every day supporting us and Roy.’
Ordering Lenny to take his son outside, Vinny turned to his mum and aunt. ‘I haven’t been up here because I felt so fucking guilty if you want the absolute truth. I know deep down that my brother took a bullet that was meant for me which is why I went on a bit of a bender. But I’ve got my act together again now and there’ll be no more pissing it up, I’m gonna re-open the club, and I promise you faithfully whatever happens to Roy from now on, I will be there for him and for you.’
Queenie smiled. ‘That’s my boy.’
After picking Albie Butler up from the Royal Oak pub, the journey to Ipswich took over three hours as Michael insisted on stopping for a bite to eat on the way. Out of politeness, Nancy sat in the back of the car. Her dad had always insisted that men should sit in the front.
Flicking through the latest copy of
Jackie
magazine, Nancy hummed along to her current favourite chart song, Diana Ross’s ‘I’m Still Waiting’, which reminded her a bit of her relationship with Michael because it was about a couple who had first met at a young age.
‘You all right in the back there, babe? We’re in Ipswich now. What do you think of it?’
Nancy put down her magazine and stared out of the car window. The hippy look was all the rage where she lived, but she couldn’t see anybody in Ipswich sporting a cool hairstyle, or wearing flares. ‘It’s nice, but in a different way.’
Michael chuckled.
‘So, what do you think of my choice of woman, Dad? Do you reckon that she will one day make me a good wife?’
Sensing Nancy’s embarrassment, Albie turned around in his seat. ‘Don’t you be taking no notice of him, sweetheart. Has the gift of the gab like his old dad, he does. If you want my honest opinion, I think you are far too good for him.’
Nancy giggled. Even though it was plain that Michael’s father looked a bit dishevelled and was a heavy drinker, she couldn’t help but like him.
Denise Thompson felt like an idiot as she sat opposite her doctor and explained why she needed a letter as proof of her pregnancy.
‘What are you trying to tell me? Are you not in a relationship with the father of your child, then?’ Dr Patak asked in a bemused tone.
‘No, he has a new girlfriend now. But, he does have good morals, and I know as soon as I can prove to him that I am pregnant, he will be there for me and my child. I want you to address the letter to him and put your surgery number on it, so he can ring you if he doesn’t believe the story. I will deliver the letter to him personally.’
Dr Patak sighed. Writing letters to disbelieving boyfriends was really not part of his work as a GP. ‘You will have to pay for the letter,’ he informed Denise.
‘How much?’
‘Two pounds. Is that OK?’
‘Well, I suppose it will have to be. Can you write it now for me?’ Denise asked, impatiently.
‘No. I have a surgery full of unwell patients who need my time. Pop back tomorrow when surgery has finished and I will have it ready for you then.’
When Vinny took her to one side and told her he was arranging a surprise gathering at the club for Vivian’s birthday, Queenie was immediately against the idea. ‘Don’t be daft. We can’t have a party while poor Roy is in a coma and I never want to set foot in that club again.’
‘I didn’t say a party, Mum. It will be more of a family gathering. We can’t spend our whole lives in this hospital. It isn’t healthy for any of us.’
‘It’s a nice thought, Vinny, but I am not going back to that club. I just can’t.’
‘Well, how about I organize a little something at yours then? You haven’t got to do sod all. The staff at the club can do all the catering. Colleen will sit with Roy while you and Auntie Viv have a break. It will do you both good, Mum. Please say yes. It will do me good to have something to focus on as well.’
Queenie reluctantly agreed. When Vinny put it like that, how could she say no?
In Ipswich, Michael had just spent the past hour catching up with the uncle he didn’t remember. Bert was nothing like Albie. He wasn’t a big drinker, seemed quite normal in fact, and Michael hoped that Bert might prove to be a good influence on his father. ‘Right, Nancy and I had best be making a move now. Uncle Bert’s given me his phone number, Dad, and I will ring you in a few days to see how you’re settling in. Don’t lose that money I gave you, and don’t forget to change your details over with the DHSS.’
‘I’ll do it tomorrow. Thanks for the money, Michael. You’re a good lad.’
Michael had given his dad an envelope which contained five hundred pounds, and when he tried to give Bert the same to put towards his dad’s upkeep and the bills, he was surprised when his uncle refused to take it. ‘Please don’t insult me, Michael. I’m not short of a few bob and since my Ivy died, I’ve hated living alone. Having my brother stopping with me is a pleasure, and I certainly don’t want paying for it.’
Wondering if Bert would still be saying that in a month’s time after his father had staggered home pissed on a daily basis, Michael shook his uncle’s hand.
‘Don’t forget the letter, Michael. Can you let me know what your mother says about it?’ Albie asked.
‘Yes, but I’m not sure when I will give it to Mum yet. I don’t want to do it at the hospital, so will have to wait for the right moment.’
Albie nodded. ‘I’ll just leave it in your capable hands, boy.’
Pleased that he was now in his mother’s good books again, Vinny took his son back to the club with him. Money was no object to Vinny these days. His dealings with Ahmed had seen to that. The club was a lucrative enough business on its own, but importing heroin into the capital had made him richer than his wildest dreams. However, he needed to re-open soon. He had promised his mum and it was what Roy would have wanted, too.
‘Can I speak to Mum on the phone? I miss her, Dad,’ Little Vinny whinged.
His son’s words cut deep into Vinny’s heart. Not once had Little Vinny ever said he missed him and he had brought the ungrateful little bastard up. About to tear him off a strip, and remind the boy where his loyalties should lie, Vinny was saved from losing his rag by the shrill ring of the phone.
‘All right, mate. It’s Paul. How’s Roy?’
‘Still the same. I’ll be opening up again soon. I’m still paying you full whack, though. You won’t be out of pocket,’ Vinny told his doorman.
‘It weren’t that I was ringing for. I just thought you should know that my younger brother Scott was in the Grave Maurice last night. That Terry Smart was in there. Pissed up, he was, and spouting his gob off something chronic about you, apparently. He was even joking about Roy waking up as a spastic. I just thought you should know the score, mate.’
Absolutely fuming, Vinny thanked his loyal employee, then immediately rang Ahmed. ‘Mate, you know that little plan we was speaking about the other evening and we agreed to wait a while?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, I’ve changed my mind. We need to set the ball rolling now,’ Vinny hissed.
‘Leave it with me and I will sort it for you.’
‘Cheers, mate. The sooner the better, eh?’
‘Count it as done.’
Michael and Nancy were in a hotel in Suffolk. It was nowhere near as opulent as the previous one they’d stayed in but it was comfortable and clean. Having already made love to Nancy once, Michael was about to do so again when Nancy started questioning him about them getting married. Quickly losing his erection, Michael propped himself up on the pillow with his elbow. ‘I love you, Nance, you know that, but we don’t want to rush into things, do we? Getting hitched is a massive step, and it ain’t like you’re up the duff or anything, is it? If you was, then I suppose we would have to get wed.’
‘But, you was the one who first mentioned it, Michael. When we spoke about my parents chucking me out, you said don’t worry, we can get married.’
Desperate to avoid their first lover’s tiff, Michael stroked Nancy’s beautiful face. ‘And I meant it, babe, but what’s the rush? I can’t think straight with my brother being in a coma, let alone plan a poxy wedding.’
‘I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m sure my mum would be happier if we got married rather than lived in sin. As for my uptight dad and brother, well, they would have to accept our relationship if they realized we were that serious about one another. Obviously, we won’t discuss it in detail while Roy is ill, but we can start arranging it when he is better. I’m sure your mum and Auntie Viv would be thrilled as well, Michael. They both said to me the other day that they love a wedding and think I’ll make a lovely bride. I am positive they were hinting.’
Suddenly feeling like a wild bird who was now in captivity, Michael leapt out of the bed. He was only twenty-one for Christ’s sake and even though he adored Nancy, he was far too young to commit himself to her for the rest of his life. Say he got bored with her like he had all the others?
Watching Michael’s reaction to the thought of their marriage was a wake-up call for Nancy. She might be young, but she wasn’t stupid, and some of the little quips she had heard from Michael’s family made it obvious to her that Michael had had many girlfriends. Desperate not to lose the lad she loved so much, Nancy made her decision there and then. That pill she had recently asked her doctor to prescribe her, she would stop taking immediately. If trapping Michael was the only way to get him down the aisle, then trap him she would.
Many miles away in Wormwood Scrubs prison, Johnny Preston was sat alone in a cell. Thanks to nerves, then his stupidity at trying to calm them by getting drunk, he was now looking at a long sentence. If Roy died, he might even get life. Feeling absolutely dreadful, Johnny put his head in his hands. Deborah had asked for a divorce earlier thanks to Joanna grassing him up and now he’d lost everything: his reputation, his freedom and his family.