pretend to her that I’m going to the launderette. How will I get to Ipswich by train, Michael? Do you know what station takes me there?’
For the first time in ages, Michael felt dreadfully sorry for his father. Having to leave London and never return because you were frightened of being murdered by one of your own kids was horrendous. ‘I’ll tell you what, Dad. Why don’t you let me drive you to Ipswich? I’ll get Nancy to take a day off work and she can come for the ride too. It will be nice to see Uncle Bert again, and also I’d like to know where you are living so I can pop down and see you from time to time.’
Choked up because one of his family was being so kind to him for a change, Albie let out an uncharacteristic sob and put his arms around his youngest son. ‘You’re a good boy, Michael. The best. Please watch your back with Vinny, won’t you?’
Wiping the tears away from his own eyes with the cuff of his shirt, Michael cleared his throat. ‘Right, I’d better get inside and see how Roy is now. See you tomorrow at two.’
‘Oh, that reminds me. Inside your letter, there is also a short letter for Roy and Brenda too. Make sure you give or read them to ’em one day. But, only when you feel the time is right, of course.’
Nodding, Michael walked away.
Disappointed by her mother’s reaction to her good news, Karen decided to give her neighbour Debbie a knock.
‘Aw, Kaz, I ain’t ’arf gonna miss you, but I am pleased for you at the same time,’ Debbie said, when her friend finished explaining the situation.
‘I wish I could say the same about my mum. I thought she would be thrilled for me, but I just rang her and she said I was a silly girl for rushing into things.’
Debbie chuckled. ‘She sounds just like my mum.’
‘You must come round when I move in. There’s enough room for you and the kids to sleep over,’ Karen said, referring to Debbie’s sons.
‘Oh, I’d love to. Anything to get me away from this shithole for a day or two. Honest, Kaz, I am so thrilled for you. Vinny is incredibly handsome. In fact, on both occasions I’ve met him, he has literally charmed the knickers off me.’
Laughing at her mate’s way with words, Karen put her hand inside the carrier bag she had brought with her. ‘I got this, although I dunno what it tastes like. It’s fizzy wine. I thought we could open it to celebrate my news.’
Debbie ran into the kitchen and came back with two cups. ‘Sorry I ain’t got no glasses. The kids broke the few I had.’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Karen said, pouring the drinks out.
Grabbing a pen and paper, Debbie handed it to her pal.
‘What’s that for?’
‘To write your new address down, you div.’
‘Oh, that’s another thing my mother had a go at me about. I was so excited when I went to view the property, I didn’t look at any road signs. It’s in Beckton, I know that, but I’ll have to ask Vinny for the exact address tomorrow. I’ll give it to you then.’
Debbie held her cup aloft. ‘To new beginnings, eh?’
Karen smiled broadly. ‘And health and happiness.’
When the police left the hospital, Queenie took Michael to one side so she could have a word in private with him. The officers had popped in to inform her that they had charged a man called Johnny Preston with the attempted murder of Roy, and he would be appearing in court to be remanded in custody the following morning. ‘Is he to do with that little tart Judy, Michael? Don’t lie to me. I deserve to know the truth, and his name rings a bell,’ Queenie said.
‘Yeah, Johnny’s her brother.’
Queenie was furious. ‘This is all your bastard of a father’s fault. If he hadn’t have suffered from wandering cock syndrome my Roy would still be as fit as a fiddle, not lying in a fucking coma in hospital.’
After the emotional conversation he and his father had just shared, Michael couldn’t help but stick up for him. ‘This ain’t Dad’s fault, Mum. This is revenge for Vinny killing that Dave Phillips. Preston was there when Phillips got stabbed.’
‘Yeah, and why did that happen? To do with your father humping Preston’s sister, if I remember rightly.’
‘Preston only came to the club because Vinny went round his sister’s gaff and threatened her. He just wanted to have it out with Vinny, but Vinny being Vinny had to go one step further and murder his fucking mate. There’s no way Preston meant to shoot Roy. It would have been Vinny he wanted dead, so if you want someone to blame, then blame your own son.’
Queenie was furious that Michael had sided with his father rather than his brother. ‘You should be ashamed of yourself, you. Been a wonderful brother to you, Vinny has. Who do you think put food on the table when you and Brenda were young, eh? Well, it weren’t that useless drunken old man of yours, that’s for sure.’
Very nearly blurting out what Vinny had planned to do to Roy at his own engagement party, Michael shut up as he saw Brenda and Dean walking down the corridor with his cousin.
‘Where’s Vinny, Mum? Is he here? Really annoyed with him, I am. He promised me faithfully when he dumped Little Vinny on me and Dean yesterday that he would pick him up first thing this morning and we ain’t seen hide nor hair of him. Dean’s taking his nan out for lunch and I’m going shopping with Susan, so you’re gonna have to look after him. He ain’t my bloody responsibility.’
‘Is Roy dead yet, Nanny?’ Little Vinny asked innocently.
‘No, he is sleeping, and how many times have I told you not to ask that question, eh? What’s the matter with you? Do you want your Uncle Roy to croak it, do you?’
Realizing that his mother was stressed out and in a foul mood, Michael picked Little Vinny up. ‘I’ll look after him. I’m taking Nancy out for a bite to eat after she finishes work, so he can come with us, can’t you, boy?’
Watching her grandson and son share a hug, Queenie quickly forgave both. Michael had a heart of gold, and Little Vinny was far too young to understand what a coma was, or the seriousness of his uncle’s condition.
‘Right, me and Dean are gonna go now,’ Brenda said.
‘Oh, no you are not, young lady. You go and see your brother for five or ten minutes first. You didn’t visit him all day yesterday.’
‘That’s only because I was stuck indoors babysitting. I was gonna come up here last night. How’s Colleen today? Has she eaten or slept yet?’
‘Colleen ain’t well. She collapsed earlier next to Roy’s bed. The doctors are doing some tests on her, apparently. It’s probably just stress, or lack of sleep and food, but they haven’t come back and told us anything yet. Viv asked a nurse to find out what was going on about an hour ago, but she never came back either.’
‘Right, I’m gonna make tracks, Mum. Give your nan and aunt a kiss, Vinny.’
Queenie hugged her grandchild, then turned to Michael. ‘Do us a favour, love. Before
