home early,’ Jason lied. He was actually quite relieved he’d been unable to perform, for the simple reason he didn’t want to hurt Melissa. He wasn’t a nasty person deep down and if he did find a better prospect and dump Mel, he didn’t want her to feel used. She was a nice person and did not deserve that.
‘I’m gonna ring my dad, see if they’re on the way back. Donte might as well come home if we’re just watching TV.’
‘Cool. Love spending time with the little man – and you, of course. That’s why I can’t wait for us to get our own gaff. Be like a proper little family then, won’t we?’
‘I won’t be moving out any time soon, Jase. Not now my mum’s ill. No way am I leaving her while she’s got cancer.’
Jason sighed as Melissa left the room. Thank God he hadn’t given her one. Because if she wasn’t prepared to move out and look after his kid, then she was sod-all use to him.
Johnny Brooks picked up Donte’s plastic spade. ‘Granddad’ll show you how to build castles,’ he said, chucking some sand inside the bucket and patting it down. Because of the unusually warm weather, the beach was busy and as Johnny played with his grandson and clocked lots of other families doing the same, he could have kicked himself. He’d been such a grafter over the years, had worked six long days a week to build up his thriving business, and it was only now Carol was dying he could see how pointless that was. Why hadn’t he spent more time with his own children when they were younger? He and Carol could have had hundreds or even thousands of unforgettable days out if only he hadn’t been working all the time. And now it was too late. Well, almost. He was determined to cherish every minute they had left together. Business could wait.
Carol munched on a bag of chips and thought how wonderful the sea air smelled. Since she’d been handed her death sentence she had begun appreciating all the small things in life that she’d once taken for granted.
‘Nana, look,’ Donte said, excitedly pointing to his sandcastle.
Carol smiled broadly. She might be dying, but watching Johnny and Donte bonding made her feel like the happiest woman alive.
Hours later, Johnny sat Donte in his special chair on the back seat and clipped the seatbelt. His grandson was sleeping, having worn himself out on the beach. ‘You getting in the car, love?’ he asked Carol.
‘Look at that sun going down, Johnny. Doesn’t it look spectacular? Can we sit on the wall a minute and watch it.’
Johnny sat on the nearby wall and squeezed his wife’s hand. ‘I think we should make a list, don’t you? Write down all the things you want to do, so we don’t forget them.’
‘Well, swimming with dolphins won’t be one of ’em. Not unless you’re planning on buying me a rubber ring!’ Carol kept cracking jokes to keep Johnny’s spirits high. She was petrified of water, couldn’t swim.
‘Next nice sunny day we’ll definitely go strawberry picking, and I’ll give that guest house in Cambridgeshire a bell tomorrow, book us in for a couple of nights. We can go back to that tea shop you loved. I’ll treat you to those homemade scones with the cream and jam again,’ Johnny smiled. He actually felt like sobbing, but kept a stiff upper lip. He would save his tears for when he was alone, that was the manly thing to do. Johnny stared intently at the sun going down. ‘If you had one big wish, you know, something to happen before the cancer wins, what would it be, Carol?’
‘To be at those school gates at Donte’s first day, but that isn’t going to happen, is it? Breaks my heart to think I won’t see him grow up. But I’ll be looking down on you all, watching from heaven.’
‘What else?’ Johnny asked. If he could grant his wife her final wish, he was hoping it might ease his own guilt. He rued the day he’d ever met Shirley Stone, he truly bloody did.
‘To see our Melissa settled and happy. My biggest dream ever was to see her get married. As you know, I do love a wedding and I would’ve made a great mother of the bride. I just hope she stays with Jason and he treats her well in life. Not going to see her get hitched now, I know. But I want you to promise me you will give her a wonderful wedding. No expense spared. I want our Mel to have the best.’
‘I promise,’ Johnny whispered, kissing his wife on the cheek. A plan was forming in his overactive brain, but he wouldn’t mention it just yet. He needed to speak to Jason first.
‘Dad, Dad, wake up.’
The prodding on the arm finally woke Jason and he sat up, rubbing his bleary eyes. Three nights on the spin he’d been out on a mission to find a suitable mother to raise Shay but none he’d met had fitted the bill. Getting it wrong wasn’t an option; he had to get it right or he might as well carry on as he was.
‘Nan’s got a man in her bed, Dad,’ Shay announced.
Jason jumped up. His mother had brought a nonce home last year who’d touched Barbara inappropriately. Jason had gone ballistic when his sister had admitted what happened, and had told his mother if she wanted to get laid in future she should go round the bloke’s gaff. In Jason’s eyes, putting your kids at risk was an unforgivable act of selfishness.
Elton was sitting on the sofa, eating crisps. ‘Mum’s having sex,’ he said bluntly.
Hearing grunting noises coming from his mother’s bedroom, Jason banged on the door. ‘Get that geezer out of ’ere now before I fucking sling him out.’
‘Mind your own fucking business, you. My flat and I’ll do what I like in it,’ Debbie yelled.
Jason opened the bedroom door and immediately wanted to vomit. His mother was kneeling on the bed, her arse looking bigger than the moon, with some no-mark giving her one from behind. Jason grabbed hold of the bloke by the neck. ‘There’s four young kids in this flat. Get dressed and get out, you worthless piece of shit.’
Debbie leapt off the bed and flew at her son. ‘You got no right barging in ’ere shouting the odds. Fuck off, go on. I want you outta my home and take your bastard daughter with ya,’ she screamed, punching Jason hard.
‘Don’t you hurt my brother,’ Kyle yelled, squaring up to his mother. Babs was sobbing she was so scared. Elton and Shay watched the events unfold in silence.
Jason was laid-back as a rule, rarely lost his temper. But when he did, he completely saw red.
The bloke said nothing as he got dressed and sloped off. He had a wife indoors, didn’t want any grief.
Deborah put on her filthy dressing gown. To say she was livid was an understatement. Who did Jason think he was, her keeper? She marched out the bedroom and into her son’s. ‘Take your shit and go. Go on, I want you out,’ she shouted, taking Jason’s clothes out the wardrobe and throwing them on his bed. She would miss the money he brought home, but she wasn’t being dictated to by anyone. Especially a brat she’d spent ten hours giving birth to.
‘You’re a disgrace as a human being and a mother. Bringing blokes back ’ere when you’re pissed and letting your kids hear all sorts. Have you no bastard shame? It weren’t that long ago you dragged a nonce home that mauled Babs while you were comatose in your stinking pit. Them little ’uns deserve far better, and so does
