‘Whatever you want. It’s down to you. Eddie was your man; you can decide what to do with her.’

She took a long drag on her cigarette and gazed at him through narrowed eyes. ‘You mean it? Anything?’

‘It’s your call, Kel.’

Kelly Gissing settled back in her chair and gave a nod. ‘That sounds fair enough.’

29

Petra paid for the two gin and tonics, picked up the glasses and carried them over to a table in the corner. The Bell was quiet tonight; it was a Monday evening and everyone had spent their cash over the weekend. Still, it felt nice to be in her old local again, to see the familiar walls and hear the East End voices.

‘Ta, love.’ Colleen raised her glass. ‘It’s good to have you back.’

‘It’s good to be back.’

‘Shame about your Kelly, though. Poor kid. How’s she bearing up?’

‘Oh, so-so. It’ll take her a while, I suppose. You don’t get over something like that in a hurry.’

Colleen shifted her bulk on the chair, making herself more comfortable. She’d put on a fair bit of weight since Petra had last seen her and now with her large bosom, bright red cheeks and flowery dress she resembled one of those ladies in the saucy postcards they sold down at the front in Bournemouth. ‘And what about your Roy? What does he think of you coming back?’

Petra gave a snort. ‘He ain’t my Roy no more and I don’t give a damn what he thinks. Not much he can do about it, is there? Not when my Kelly says she wants me here.’

‘You should never have left, love. Not in my opinion. That house was as much yours as it was his. I couldn’t stand it seeing some other woman living under my roof. It’s not right, not right at all.’

Petra nodded furiously. It was a relief to have someone she could share her anger and frustration with. Wayne wasn’t interested, and she couldn’t burden Kelly with it all. ‘Especially that little trollop. You should see the state of her. She don’t get up ’til lunchtime and then she swans around in her dressing gown, tits hanging out for all the world to see.’

‘Well, she’s a prize bitch that one. And she’ll lead Roy a merry dance, mark my words. That type always do.’

Petra, eager for some dirt on the woman who’d replaced her, leaned forward with a gleam in her eye. ‘Why? Have you heard something?’

Colleen gave a shrug of her heavy shoulders. ‘You only have to look her, darlin’. She won’t last. She’s the type who’s always around for the weddings, never the funerals.’ Then, aware of what she’d just said, she quickly patted Petra on the hand. ‘Oh, sorry, love. I wasn’t thinking. I forgot about Eddie. I didn’t —’

‘I know. Don’t worry about it. It’s on Friday as it happens, the funeral I mean. Ten o’clock at St Luke’s in Kellston.’

‘Your Kelly’s going to be glad to have it over and done with. I know I was when my Jack passed.’

‘It’s not the same, though, is it?’

‘How do you figure that?’

Petra grinned at her friend. ‘My Kelly thinks she’s lost the love of her life whereas you couldn’t stand your Jack.’

Colleen sniggered. ‘Well, that’s true enough. He was one nasty bastard and I wasn’t sorry to see him six foot under. The happiest day of my life was when the old bugger dropped dead. They’re all sweet as honey until they get that ring on your finger and then they show their true colours. Ain’t one of them worth a jot. Ain’t a man in the world worth breaking your heart over.’

‘You’d never think about getting hitched again then?’

‘Not in a million years. I’ve got my kids and my grandkids and they’re all I need. I mean, Jesus, the dog’s better company than that old sod ever was.’ Colleen took a slurp of the gin and licked her lips. ‘No, there’s no way I’d ever walk down that road again. I’d rather stab out my eyes with red-hot needles.’

‘You’ve got a point. I’d be happier doing time than living with Roy.’ Petra looked around the pub and sighed. ‘Although I do miss London. Bournemouth’s nice enough but it’s not home, if you know what I mean. I’ve been thinking of moving back.’

‘You should. It hasn’t been the same without you. You could sell your place and get a nice little flat.’

Petra wrinkled her nose. ‘Oh, I don’t fancy some poky little flat. I like a bit of room to breathe. To be honest, I just want my old house back. That’s not too much to ask, is it?’ She heaved out a sigh. ‘Trouble is, I’ve got to get rid of that tart first.’

‘She ain’t gonna leave without a fight.’

‘Tell me about it.’

‘I mean, she’s on to a good thing, free board and lodgings and cash coming from the yard. She can do what she likes so long as Roy don’t get to hear about it. Course you could just kick her out and change the locks but I reckon that wouldn’t go down too well. How about your Wayne? Couldn’t he help you out?’

‘Fat chance. She’s got him wound round her little finger, same way she has Roy. And our Kelly’s in no fit state to do anything. No, I’ll just bide my time and see what happens. You never know what’s round the corner.’

‘God will provide,’ said Colleen.

‘Well, that would be a first. He ain’t done much for me up to now so I won’t hold me breath.’

The two women stayed chatting until closing time when they left the warmth of the pub, braved the bitter wind and walked together to the corner of Raleigh Road where they went their separate ways. It was almost midnight by the time Petra got to the house, unlocked the door and went inside. She could hear the television and the sound of voices as she hung up her coat in the hallway.

In the living room, she was met with a cosy family scene. Wayne was sprawled in an armchair, and Kelly was curled up on the sofa with her head against Sharon’s shoulder. Petra felt a surge of anger seeing her daughter so close to that filthy little tart. It got under her skin. It really rankled. If anyone was going to comfort her daughter, it should be her.

‘You all right, love?’ Petra asked pointedly.

Kelly raised her eyes and gave a nod. ‘How’s Colleen?’

‘Same as always. She sends her best.’

‘We were just talking about the funeral.’

‘Oh, yeah?’

‘We thought we’d go in Sharon’s car. There’ll be more room for us all.’

Petra’s eyebrows pulled together in a frown. She glared at the bitch before returning her gaze to Kelly. ‘She’s not coming.’

‘Of course she is.’

‘No way.’

‘Why not?’

‘You know why not.’

Sharon looked from one to the other. ‘Jesus, I am here, you know.’

‘Worst luck,’ snarled Petra. ‘This is a family funeral and you ain’t family. So just keep your nose out of it, huh?’

Sharon’s upper lip curled. ‘It ain’t up to you who goes to Eddie’s funeral or not. You can’t say one way or the other. If Kelly wants me to go, I’ll go, and that’s the end of it.’

‘I wouldn’t be so sure of that.’

‘Just grow up, Petra. This ain’t about you. Think about your daughter for once.’

Petra put her hands on her hips. Gin usually made her maudlin but tonight it was inflaming her rage and making her feel even more bitter and resentful. ‘Oh, yeah? And how much thinking about her where you doing when you were shagging my husband behind my back?’

‘Christ, you’re not still banging on about that, are you? For fuck’s sake, it was years ago. It’s time to get over it, darlin’.’ Sharon smirked. ‘And let’s face it, if he’d been getting what he needed at home, he wouldn’t have had to look elsewhere for it.’

‘Look for it? From what I heard you were giving it away.’

Sharon leapt up from the sofa, eyes blazing. ‘Shut yer mouth, you old cow!’

‘Make me!’

Wayne, sensing that bloodshed might be on the horizon, hauled himself to his feet and inserted his body between the warring women. ‘For fuck’s sake, can’t you two give it a rest for five minutes? What about Kel? This ain’t helping her none, is it?’