Melissa grinned. Those butterflies were doing somersaults in her stomach again. ‘I’ll speak to my parents, see what they say. But yes, I think you’re right. We can make it work. I really like you too, Jason.’
‘Mummy, look. Watch me,’ Donte shouted out.
When Melissa walked over to her son, Jason smirked. He didn’t love her, probably never would, but she was respectable and likeable. And if the gaff Johnny Brooks rented was big enough, she could look after his brothers and sister too. They could stay over at weekends; give them a break from his mother. He was a forward thinker, had it all planned out.
‘All right, Nan. I got you some Guinness, look. A whole crate.’
‘Me stomach’s playing up at the moment, I can’t drink ’em. Didn’t you get me any fags?’ Peggy asked, a disappointed look on her face.
Knowing full well his grandmother wouldn’t be satisfied even if he brought her the crown jewels, Jason grinned. ‘Nah, but I’ll bring some next time. Got something to tell ya. I’ve met a girl. Family have got a few bob an’ all.’
Peggy clapped her hands together like Bill Sykes out of Oliver Twist. ‘Tell me more. What’s her name? How old? Where’s she from?’
‘Melissa Brooks. She’s twenty-one and her father owns a builders’ merchants. Not the small one in Rainham that Andy Michaels used to work for. The other one off the A13 heading towards Aveley.’
‘I’m not sure of it, boy. Me memory ain’t so great these days. What’s she like? Is she pretty?’
Jason shrugged. ‘Passable. She’s a nice enough girl, though. Mother material for Shay.’
Peggy patted the sofa next to her and when Jason sat down, she squeezed his hand. ‘Looks fade in time anyway. A ravishing beauty, I was, when I married your grandfather. Even that mother of yours was a pretty child. It’s the ones who are ugly when young that improve with age, you know. Doris Shipton’s daughter was forty last week. Looks far better than she did when she was in her early twenties. Same goes for Clara Hedges’ girl. Ugly as a pig, that one, when it was born, but she has an attractiveness about her now.’
‘So what you trying to say, Nan?’ Jason chuckled.
‘Ya know. As long as she’s got a few bob, just put a bag over her head and hope for the best, lad.’
Melissa Brooks was incredibly excited.
Desperate to tell somebody her breathtaking news, she looked at the clock. Tracey was now speaking to her again and should be home from work by this time. She picked up the phone and was relieved when Tracey answered immediately.
‘Trace, you’ll never guess what! Jason only wants us to move in together.’
‘You what! Why? What exactly did he say?’
Melissa repeated parts of the earlier conversation. ‘He doesn’t want me to tell my mum and dad it was his idea though, so whatever you do, mate, don’t put your foot in it. How’s it going with Barry?’ Barry was Tracey’s new gangster boyfriend. ‘I spoke to Jase and he said we should go out in a foursome. We might have to cut down going out a bit now though. Not cheap moving in together, is it?’ Melissa gabbled. Her mother had always been a homemaker, had exquisite taste, and she took after her. She could almost picture her and Jason’s love nest already. It would have long cream curtains and big chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The sofa would have to be dark though, because of the kids’ mucky paws, and they could buy one of those big four-poster beds. That would be so romantic.
Having had her reservations about Jason since day one, Tracey decided to air them. ‘Not being funny, Mel – and please don’t think I’m jealous, ’cause I ain’t – but something about all this doesn’t ring true to me. I find it ever so weird he’s not even tried it on with you yet. That isn’t normal. Just be careful and don’t rush into stuff. I would hate to see you get hurt.’
‘The only reason he hasn’t tried it on, Trace, is ’cause we’ve got nowhere to go. We can’t do it in my house, or his flat. That’s why he wants us to get a place, you muppet. Then we can be together properly, all the time. He’s so romantic, Trace. Honest he is.’
Tracey sighed. She still found it hard to believe that Jason had fancied her friend over her. Unless he had problems with his eyesight, it made no sense whatsoever. As for Mel, she wasn’t as experienced or streetwise when it came to blokes as she was. She’d made a complete idiot of herself over Donte’s father and Tracey didn’t want her pal to make the same mistake again. Even though Tracey had a new man she liked, she could not help feeling a tad jealous over this latest news. ‘No man is perfect, Mel, always remember that. You don’t want to throw yourself in at the deep end like you did with Joel. You have to learn by past mistakes. Once bitten, twice shy.’
‘So, you don’t think I should move in with him then? Is that what you’re trying to say?’
Imagining Melissa and Jason cuddling up together on a shagpile rug in front of a burning log fire, Tracey’s lip curled. ‘No. Let’s be honest, Mel. You hardly know the bloody bloke.’
Johnny Brooks’s lip wobbled as he drove along in silence. Carol had finally opened up about her illness, the journey they faced, and it was breaking his heart. He wished he had the tumour instead, would swap places with his wonderful wife if he could. What had Carol ever done to deserve this? She was such a kind, loving, good woman who would fall over backwards to help others. How could life be so cruel?
‘I don’t want to die in hospital. I want to be at home with you. Can you make sure that happens for me? Even if they have to bring in one of those awful hospital beds and send in carers, I don’t mind. As long as I’m at home.’
Johnny bumped his Jaguar up a kerb and held his amazing wife in his arms. ‘You’ll be at home, my darling, where you belong. I can promise you that faithfully.’
Melissa Brooks paced up and down the lounge. She’d psyched herself up about what she was going to say, but was still dreading the words leaving her mouth. So much so, she’d decided to blurt out the news the second her parents walked through the door. If she didn’t and decided to leave it until tomorrow, chances were she wouldn’t have the guts to say it at all.
Five minutes later, Melissa heard her father’s Jaguar pull up on the drive and she braced herself for the inevitable. Donte was fast asleep. He’d had a wonderful time in the play area at the pub and had literally worn himself out. Melissa sat on the sofa twiddling her fingers as she always did when she was nervous. ‘All right? You’ve been gone ages. Where have you been? I’ve got something I need to talk to you about.’
‘Sit down, love. I need to speak to you about something important. You can tell me your news afterwards,’ Carol said. She had finally decided to take Johnny’s advice. Melissa had to be told at some point.
‘I’ll leave you to it,’ Johnny muttered, shutting the lounge door. He didn’t want to keep breaking down in front of Carol.
Melissa wasn’t stupid. Both her parents looked shell-shocked, so something bad had happened. ‘Is it Jason?’ Mel panicked. ‘Has he got another girlfriend?’
Carol sat on the sofa next to her daughter. She held Mel’s hands tightly in her own, and bit her lip to stop herself blubbering. She had to be strong now, it was the only
