You’re going to be OK, aren’t you?’
This was the hardest part for Carol, so she tried to dress it up as best she could. ‘Unfortunately, the cancer is too far advanced for them to operate on me, Mel. But you know me, I’m a fighter.’
Melissa was startled. ‘You’re not going to die though, are you?’
Carol held her daughter in her arms. ‘I’ll try my very best not to. But we all die one day, sweetheart. And that’s a fact.’
Jason Rampling was too busy having his penis sucked to answer the phone.
‘Who keeps ringing?’ Darlene Michaels hissed. Jason brought out a jealous side to her that only her ex-husband had in the past.
‘Don’t stop. Carry on,’ Jason groaned, grabbing the back of Darlene’s head.
Darlene waved Jason’s phone in the air. ‘Who the fuck is Mel?’
Cursing himself for forgetting to turn the poxy phone off, Jason snatched it out of Darlene’s hands. ‘Mel is short for Melvyn. Mel lives in Barking, buys loads of films off me.’
‘I don’t believe you. Ring the number back, go on,’ Darlene spat.
‘Getting sick of you not trusting me, Dar. I ain’t seeing no one else, how many times I gotta tell you that?’
Darlene leaned back against the pillow. She tossed her long hair backwards and lit a cigarette. ‘I will find out if you’re messing me about again, Jase, and I swear, if I do, you’ll fucking regret it this time. So will the silly tart you’re seeing. I’ll have both your guts for garters!’
Melissa was all in a panic. If she wore the low-cut white top, would Jason think she was a slapper offering herself on a plate to him? He’d called her back about an hour ago and said he’d be round by one. Her parents had taken Donte to the seaside and would be out till late. Six outfits she’d tried on and still she could not make her mind up. She’d lost weight, but was nowhere near as skinny as Tracey. Would he think she was fat if she got undressed? Mel hoped not. It wasn’t as if she could even turn the lights off.
The sound of the doorbell decided Melissa’s outfit and she ran down the stairs in the white top and tight jeans. ‘My mum and dad have gone out for the day and taken Donte with ’em, so we have the house to ourselves. I thought we might watch a film or something. Want a glass of wine? I’ve already opened a bottle. Or do you want a beer? Are you hungry? I can make you a sandwich or something if you like?’
Sensing her nervousness, Jason kissed Melissa politely on the cheek. It was obvious by the top she’d chosen to wear what she was hoping for, but he wasn’t particularly in the mood. Darlene had sucked all his energy and sperm. ‘Slow down, babe, eh? Let me get in the door. Knackered, I am. Shay wasn’t well last night, so I hardly got any sleep,’ he lied.
‘Oh no. What’s wrong with Shay? Is she OK now?’
‘Yeah. Seems to be. Just one of them twenty-four-hour bugs, I think. A few of the kids over the Mardyke have had it. That’s another reason I need to get Shay off that poxy estate. Full of disease, that place is. The amount of junkies’ needles you find in the lifts and on the stairs is horrific. One of the neighbour’s kids ended up with HIV. She’s only five, poor little mare. You spoken to your parents about moving out yet?’ Jason had already decided if Melissa had changed her mind, then he was going to trawl some bars and clubs over the next few weeks to see if he could strike gold elsewhere.
Melissa’s eyes welled up. ‘You know I said my mum was ill? Well, she’s got cancer, and I think she might be dying.’
Jason put his arms around Melissa and soothed her fears. ‘I will have a beer after all. Your poor mum. Such a lovely lady. Let’s cuddle up on the sofa and you can tell me all about it.’
Melissa nuzzled against Jason’s chest. He always smelled of the most gorgeous expensive aftershave. Feeling amorous, she leaned in for another kiss. This was the first time they’d ever been alone in a house together. ‘Shall we go to my room?’ she suggested.
‘I’m a bit knackered to be honest, babe. And say your mum and dad came back early? I would hate them to find us in a compromising position. That’s disrespectful in their house.’
Melissa felt humiliated. She could tell when they’d been kissing that Jason’s mind was elsewhere. ‘You don’t fancy me, do you?’ she blurted out.
‘Of course I fancy ya. You wouldn’t be my girlfriend if I didn’t. But I also respect your parents, Mel. Your mum’s ill. Imagine how bad that would be if they caught us at it.’
‘They won’t. They’re visiting my Uncle David and won’t be back until teatime at least. But if you’re tired, forget it. Tracey said it was odd you’ve never tried it on with me and I’m beginning to think she was right.’
‘Tracey’s just jealous ’cause she wanted me herself,’ Jason said, grabbing hold of Melissa’s hand and placing it against his penis. Knowing he had little choice, he led her up the stairs.
‘Awww look, Johnny. He’s shattered,’ Carol said. They’d stopped off on the way to tell her brother David she had terminal cancer and it had been sad and upsetting all round.
‘He’s a great kid, love. I’m sorry, ya know – for being such an arsehole in the past.’
‘You’re not an arsehole, just a stubborn old git at times.’ They were now having a drink at the Peterboat in Leigh-on-Sea and Donte was snoring while curled up on the seat. ‘I’ve decided I can’t tell Mark over the phone, Johnny. I want to visit him and tell him in person,’ Carol informed her husband.
Johnny was thoroughly peeved with his son at present. They’d been so close when Mark was growing up. They’d worked together too, until Mark had walked away from everything for a tart he’d met on holiday. They’d argued over that and now Mark rarely contacted him any more. He still rang Carol occasionally, but not as often as he should. ‘No way are we driving to Newcastle, love. I will contact Mark, tell him to visit us. Then we can explain the situation together.’
‘OK. I feel fine today you know, a bit tired now, but other than that I feel like I’m twenty-one again.’
Johnny stroked his wife’s rosy cheeks. She was as beautiful as the day he’d met her. Kind, mischievous eyes, and that cheeky raucous laugh. ‘I love you. Far more than you’ll ever know.’
Carol took a deep breath to try to keep her emotions in check. ‘Not as much as I love you, Johnny Brooks. You may be a tosser at times, but deep down you got a heart of gold. Promise me when I’ve gone you’ll always look after Donte for me. Knowing you’ve got his back, I’ll be able to rest in peace.’
Tears in his eyes, Johnny’s lip wobbled. ‘I’ll take care of our grandson, don’t you worry about that. Always.’
‘I’m really sorry, Mel. It isn’t you, honest it ain’t,’ Jason apologized. He wasn’t used to suffering from erectile dysfunction and guessed his little problem was down to his romping with Darlene earlier.
Melissa felt humiliated,
