would want to hear. The problem wasn’t Alfie, the problem had always been his lifestyle. And there was no way he was ever going to give it up. It was what made him tick. It was in his DNA but bringing a baby into that life and all that came with it – the danger, the people, the uncertainty – it just wasn’t the way she wanted to live.
It hadn’t been an easy decision and as much as it hurt to the point it felt at times like a sharp object was pressing into her chest, it’d been the right one, and she knew however much she missed, loved and adored Alfie, doing the right thing for Mia had to come first.
Having cleaned herself up in the public toilets, Shannon was now almost skipping down the road. She smiled to herself as she felt the money that Alfie had given her in her pocket. He’d been a strange guy. An odd guy. He hadn’t been bad-looking, actually he’d been really handsome, but it was weird that somebody, especially a bloke, had given her something for nothing.
She’d half expected him to be waiting around the corner for her, playing out some pervy role-play, a fantasy; him acting as her stalker and chasing her along the streets, only for it to end up with them having sex down some dirty, cold alleyway. But he hadn’t been there. He was nowhere to be seen. And although she hadn’t wanted to get off with him and be forced to earn out the fifty quid he’d given her, she’d actually been slightly disappointed because it’d been nice just to talk to somebody who didn’t treat her like she was something nasty stuck to the bottom of their shoe.
Still, it didn’t matter because now she’d be able to buy some decent crack off her dealer, and not just one measly rock.
Just the thought of it made her lick her lips, but they were so sore. Bloody Charlie. Maybe she’d give him a few days to calm down and then go around and see if he would take her in again. This wasn’t the first time he’d thrown her out and she doubted it’d be the last. Anyhow, she wasn’t going to worry about it because today had turned out better than she’d ever expected it to. If she’d been with Charlie right now all she’d have been doing was sucking some stinking old fellow’s cock, but as it stood, she was going to be able to get high. She giggled to herself. Life really wasn’t so bad after all.
She didn’t even mind that she’d have to travel further this time, as her dealer had moved. Yes, she could get some stuff from round Soho but the problem with that was all the dealers knew Charlie, which meant he’d find out she’d bought some rocks, which would mean he’d want to know where she got the money from. Besides, her dealer’s crack was some of the best around, and that’s all that really mattered.
Delighted at the thought of what the rest of the day held, Shannon crossed over Samuel Street by Woolwich Dockyard, making her way to Warspite Road, which was on the other side of the dual carriageway.
Running across the busy road at the same time as her sticking two fingers up and screaming obscenities at the passing lorry beeping its horn, Shannon hurried along, pulling up the sleeves of Alfie’s jumper.
As she turned into the quiet road full of derelict houses and empty factory units, Shannon stopped in her tracks, before running around the side of an old empty warehouse. She stared, squinting through the bright sunshine as she watched a woman pushing a buggy along the alleyway.
She continued to stare, and she couldn’t be sure, but she thought it was … yes, it was. It was her. It was Bree. She hadn’t seen her for quite a while but now she was looking properly, there was no mistaking that face. The last time she’d seen Bree was ages ago. What was she doing round here?
About to wave, Shannon paused, and having thought for a moment, she stepped back into the shadows. Then, keeping her eyes firmly on Bree, Shannon pulled out her phone and dialled a number.
‘It’s me, I thought you might be interested … Guess who I’ve just seen pushing a pram.’
I’ve got a bit of time, I’ll be around in about half an hour. See u soon. Kiss to Mia. F x
Bree stared at the text in horror as she sat in the corner of McDonald’s finishing off her meal deal. Her heart raced and she didn’t know if it was the cheeseburger that was suddenly making her feel queasy, but she was overwhelmed with nausea as she got up and rushed out into the street.
She ran back across the road, pushing the buggy with Mia crying loudly as she sprinted past the grey railings at the top of Ruston Road, passing a young girl, who was clearly out of it on drugs and sitting with bloodshot eyes, sweating and shaking, slumped over on the pavement.
With the buggy bouncing all over, Bree dashed down the road, panic setting in.
Getting to the door, Bree’s hand shook as she rummaged in her bag for the keys. God, where were they? She didn’t have them. Shit … Alarmed and panic making it difficult for her to think clearly, Bree’s heart raced as she looked again at the bottom of her small clutch bag. She glanced nervously over her shoulder as she checked her pockets.
‘Mia, please don’t cry, Mummy’s trying to find something.’ She tried to smile at her daughter who was still screaming and, annoyed at herself for even thinking it was ever going to be okay to go out without Franny’s permission, she rocked the pram. ‘Sshhhh, Mia, it’s okay, darling, Mummy will get you inside soon.’ Her voice cracked with emotion and she fought back tears. She had no idea what she was going to do, and she was genuinely afraid of what Franny would say – what she’d do – if she found her out here.
Looking back down at her daughter, Bree suddenly gripped the pram and closed her eyes, an overwhelming sense of relief hitting her. The keys. Of course, she’d put them under Mia’s blanket. Grabbing them quickly, Bree fumbled and hurriedly put the right key in the lock, opening the outer entrance before rushing over to the door that led up to her flat.
Inside and aware that the clock was ticking, Bree tried to heave the buggy up the stairs, but it was too heavy and quickly she took Mia out, taking the stairs two at a time.
Throwing off the blanket, Bree placed Mia back into her cot before charging back down, dragging the empty buggy up and pushing it into the corner of the room where it was always kept. Checking she hadn’t missed anything, Bree heard her front door open.
‘Hi, only me!’
‘Hi, Fran.’ She could hear her voice on edge as she tried to calm herself, then looking down, horrified, she realised she still had her jacket on. Hearing Franny’s footsteps getting nearer, she furiously tugged it off, throwing it on the floor before kicking it under the chair.
Wiping the perspiration off her face and drying the sweat from her palms on the sides of her trousers, self-consciously, Bree smiled as Franny stepped into the room carrying a large shopping bag.
‘Hey, good to see you. It’s a nice surprise.’ Her voice trilled, and Bree wasn’t sure if it was paranoia, but it somehow sounded too loud for the small space. With all the running around the pressure was getting to her.
‘You look hot,’ Franny said gruffly.
Bree could hardly get her breath and it felt like she’d been stripped of air. ‘Me? Do I? I’m fine. Yeah, God yeah, totally.’
Franny’s gaze was unwavering. ‘If you’re fine, why do you look so flustered?’
Animated, Bree waved her
