enough to be wed, if not wise enough.’
‘Stupid, sentimental git!’ Tilly exploded. ‘What they supposed to do fer money? Neither of ’em’s got a pot to piss in. We got no room to have them here and the Lovats are worse off’n we are.’
Tilly transferred her glare to Alice, who had been standing still and silent in a corner of the room, watching and listening in fascinated dread to this latest upset in the Keiver household. Alice had been awaiting this showdown. For weeks past she’d feared it to be looming menacingly just a few days away.
‘You know anything about all this?’ Tilly demanded.
Alice shook her head and her anxious gaze darted back to Sophy. It wasn’t wholly a lie. She’d guessed, of course, at the awful truth as soon as she’d noticed Sophy’s belly getting bigger. But Sophy had said nothing and acted quite normal. She hadn’t confided in her even when she’d hidden the bottle of gin under the bed. Alice had just thought she’d started to drink because she was showing off now she’d got a good job.
So all the time Alice had hoped and prayed that she was wrong and Sophy was right: her sister might be getting a fat boozer but she couldn’t possibly be pregnant because she’d always done it standing up with Danny, so that was alright.
It was a Sunday afternoon in late January and despite the freezing cold weather a lot of people would be about in Campbell Road. That wouldn’t stop Tilly causing a rumpus out there in front of them. You kept to yourself and dealt in private with what you could, but when you couldn’t you might as well let the whole world know what you were up to, and why. That way they’d know you weren’t a mug and easily messed with. Tilly started for the door, rolling up her sleeves to her elbows as she went.
‘I’ll go next door. You stay here,’ Jack directed her grimly and stepped in front of her. It wasn’t that he feared for his wife’s safety. He knew she could look after herself, as did most people who’d been about The Bunk long enough to get on the wrong side of her. But he was still head of the household and as such it was his place to confront Danny.
‘I’ll be right behind you then,’ Tilly said forcefully. She let Jack go out then grabbing Sophy by the wrist she jerked her forward. ‘You can come ‘n’ all,’ she barked. ‘You’ve had your fun, now see what it cost. After that I’m gonna pay you fer this.’
‘Looks like trouble’s on its way.’
Geoff Lovat had made that muttered observation before turning from the window and staring meaningfully at his older brother. Unfortunately Danny missed his warning. He seemed to be lost in a world of his own and continued gazing at the cold tea cupped between his palms.
Their parents, ever alert to the word trouble, had both shot up from the table and elbowed Geoff out of the way. His mother had got there first. She was faster on her feet than his crippled father. Soon Bert had caught up and was squirming for a space at the window so he could peer out.
Moments before Geoff had been watching the street scene, yawning. Then he’d spotted the Keivers and his jaw had clacked shut. Jack Keiver was marching ahead with his wife right on his heels, dragging Sophy by an arm.
Instinctively Geoff had guessed what the problem was. He knew that when their parents had been getting a skinful on a Saturday night in the Keivers’ place Danny had been getting to grips with Sophy in their place. It hadn’t happened for a while now, probably because Sophy had panicked when she’d guessed she was up the duff and put a block on it. Often on a Saturday evening Geoff had been obliging enough to take himself off to give the lovebirds more time alone. Geoff had been glad to get out of the fleapit and hand over responsibility to Danny for their young brothers and sisters while he met a few mates for a crafty drink and smoke.
Finally Danny looked up. Geoff realised from his bleak expression that his brother had already guessed he was in for it and it was too late to try and scarper.
Margaret Lovat swung back to glower at her oldest son, her face taut with disbelief. She’d just caught a glimpse of Tilly Keiver’s savage features and Sophy’s beetroot-red face before they disappeared from view into the hallway below. No explanation for such a scene was needed. Not when Danny was looking cornered and had an odd, apologetic expression hooding his eyes. There was only one reason she could think of why a mother would drag a howling teenage daughter towards the house where the girl’s sweetheart lived.
‘The Keivers are on their way looking like they’re on the warpath. Sophy’s with ’em. You want to tell me why that might be?’ Margaret whipped at Danny.
‘What’s goin’ on?’ Bert Lovat asked, looking puzzled as he limped back to the table to get his cup of tea.
Margaret shot her husband a despising look. Already she could hear the tramp of boots on the stairs. The next moment the door was taking a hammering fit to have it out of its frame. ‘Got anything ter say?’ Margaret asked Danny, her eyes bulging furiously at him, her lips a thin white line.
Danny did have one word to say. ‘Shit!’ It exploded through his teeth and his eyes closed.
‘I reckon that’s what you’re in alright,’ his mother told him. ‘But remember this … you’re stopping here with us. Your family here needs you more’n them next door. You ain’t goin’ nowhere.’
‘Danny Lovat, come out here now,’ Jack shouted through the door.
Without allowing her husband’s demand time to work Tilly followed up with, ‘Open the fuckin’ door, or it comes off its hinges.’ She rattled furiously at the doorknob.
‘Get the kids in the back room,’ Margaret said to Geoff as she went to the door and unlocked it. She was sent stumbling back as the Keivers burst in.
Jack held his arms out to either side in a futile attempt to keep Tilly in check behind him. ‘I’ll see to it,’ he snapped at her from a corner of his mouth as she banged forcefully against his restraint.
‘You know why I’m here, don’t yer?’ he said to Danny.
Danny pushed himself up from the table and nodded. His eyes darted to Sophy’s blotchy, puffy countenance. It was obvious she’d taken a lot of stick already. He knew he ought to act the man, say something to protect her, but all he managed to mutter was, ‘I thought we was always careful.’ He frowned apology at Sophy.
‘You weren’t careful enough, were you, yer bastard,’ Tilly thundered. ‘She’s three months gone ‘n’ been bringin’ up her guts every morning this past week.’ After a small pause to suck in breath she roared, ‘And what d’you mean by getting her gin? Daughter of mine knows better’n to start drinkin’ at her age …’
‘Pity she didn’t know better’n to keep her legs closed at her age, ain’t it,’ Margaret retorted sourly.
Jack caught Tilly under the arms and dragged her back as she lunged towards Margaret. ‘Everyone calm down,’ he said through his teeth then followed that with a heavy sigh.
Margaret slammed the door shut in the faces of the gawping neighbours who’d been steadily gathering on the threshold to listen. Entertainment such as this was enough to give the pubs a run for their money on a Sunday dinnertime.
‘Danny says he was careful,’
