East End Angel Part 24

There was now wedged between them an unspoken question about his other girlfriends. Kathy realised Lottie hadn't been referring to Nick's wife just then. Kathy had been curious as to his past loves: such a handsome and successful man would have women after him. But as Nick had minded his manners over her relationship with David, Kathy felt she'd no right to be nosy about his previous affairs ... other than perhaps to make sure all of them were over. She'd hate to think he'd be mean enough to two-time her. She'd wanted to be fair with him and David, and hoped to be treated with equal courtesy.

'Finished with all of them some time ago. I was unattached before you agreed to go out with me,' Nick said. He sat back in the chair, watching her steadily. 'And my solicitor tells me my divorce should be finalised in a matter of days now.'

'Oh ... sorry ...' Kathy blurted thoughtlessly, startled that he'd read her mind.

'I hope that's not true.' Nick took one of her hands in his. 'I wanted us to go out and celebrate when I'm officially a free man.'

'Of course I'm glad you'll be single, but celebrating isn't very kind on your wife,' Kathy pointed out.

'Blanche wasn't always kind on me,' Nick lounged back in his chair again. 'Not that it matters one way or the other any more.'

'Well ... here's tea,' Lottie announced, squeezing sideways through the door with a tray laden with refreshments. 'Don't think you can beat a bit of jam sponge, do you?'

'My favourite,' Kathy said with a smile.

'Oh, I was wondering if you'd take a look at me kitchen tap while you're here, Nick. Meant to ask you last week.' Lottie put down her cup. 'It's leaking all over the window ledge.'

Nick finished his cake and stood up. He gave his mother a sardonic look as he went out.

'Course he knows I just want to get him out of the way so we can have a girls' chat.'

Kathy smiled, wiping crumbs from her fingers. 'That was delicious cake.'

'I do make a good Victoria sponge. So you're a nurse then?' Lottie launched straight away into her interrogation.

'A nurse and a midwife,' Kathy confirmed.

Lottie looked impressed. 'Bet you have to deal with some rough families round these parts.'

Kathy nodded, the Potters immediately springing to mind. She recalled that Lottie knew Charlie Potter of old. 'Charlie Potter's wife was a patient of mine.'

'I feel very sorry for Ruby being married to him.' Lottie grimaced her disgust for the man. 'I'd like to say he went downhill after his first wife died Miriam was her name but he was unpleasant even as a kid.'

'I know first-hand that he's a vile character,' Kathy said. 'Nick told me he came into your shop and caused trouble.'

'He needs locking up, in my opinion. Not that he's been back to bother me since Nick saw him off.' Lottie sat forward, determined to lighten the conversation. 'Another cup, Kathy?' She shook the pot. 'There's enough left and it's still warm.'

'Not for me, thanks anyway.'

'Nick likes you very much.' Lottie beamed her approval. 'Oh, he's not discussed you, don't think that, he never talks to me about ... such things.' She'd remembered to be discreet.

'I like him very much too,' Kathy said with a shy smile.

'Good ... that's what I wanted to hear.' Lottie gave a satisfied nod.

'So ... did she tell you all about my bad habits?' Nick asked as they drove away from Lottie's place.

Kathy laughed. 'I get the impression she dotes on you and probably wouldn't admit you had any bad habits.'

'I don't ... of course ...' Nick said, straight-faced, lighting up a cigarette. 'Are you going to introduce me to your folks?'

'Eventually. They might not be the sort of people you'd expect.' Kathy frowned out of the window.

'Families never are, Kath,' Nick said. 'I'd still like to meet them.'

'My dad's a bit ... dodgy,' she blurted out, then fell silent. 'I don't mean he's been in prison or anything like that.' She sighed. 'But, he could have been arrested at times had he been unlucky.'

'Sounds like a man after my own heart.' Nick smiled behind the cigarette clamped in his lips.

'No ... he's not; I hope, he's not anyway,' Kathy added vehemently. 'He caused a lot of trouble for us once.'

Nick took her hand from her lap and held it. 'All right, we'll leave introductions for another day.' She felt the light touch of his lips on her hand and turned her cheek to caress his fingers, wordlessly thanking him for his comfort and understanding.

His wife must be kicking herself for losing him ... the phrase stuck in Kathy's mind as she settled back for the drive home.

Blanche slammed her bedroom door, hoping that her argumentative parents might take the hint and shut up, giving her some peace and quiet to read her book. Half an hour ago, she'd been sitting downstairs in the front room, listening to the BBC National Programme on the wireless, but their bickering had drowned out the music. She'd taken herself off to bed with much huffing, hoping to escape the noise. But their m.u.f.fled voices had penetrated the ceiling until she'd pulled the pillow over her head, then jumped up in exasperation.

Flopping down again onto her stomach on the mattress, she positioned the novel open on a pillow, but after a moment sighed because she couldn't concentrate. She knew her irritation with her parents with everything in her life had escalated when the post arrived yesterday. She s.n.a.t.c.hed at the folded letter she'd been using as a bookmark, skimming it angrily away over the bed coverlet.

As the volume of her mother's shrieked abuse increased, Blanche elbowed herself upright with a curse. She couldn't stand much more of it! She grabbed up the decree absolute and tore it in two, scrunched it in a fist, then lobbed it onto the floor. A moment later, she'd dived after it and pieced the bits together to reread it, even though she knew it word for word.

Just a thought of Nick could make Blanche forget all the other men she'd had, especially Charlie, d.a.m.n him! That night she'd got caught out with him in the shed had really put her parents at each other's throats. But she didn't feel guilty over it; she blamed them. If they'd been more of a help persuading Nick to take her back she'd never have got involved with Charlie Potter in the first place.

Already Blanche's vow of chast.i.ty was wearing thin; a nice-looking fellow had come in the shop with his wife during the afternoon and winked at her. She'd winked right back. Of course, nothing would come of it: he'd looked henpecked when his wife snapped at him because he'd not been complimentary enough about the frock she'd chosen.

Blanche paced restlessly, considering whether to get dressed and go round to see one of her old school friends, just for something to do. Maude Grisham still lived with her parents, just a stroll away. Of course, the Grishams would probably wonder what the h.e.l.l she was doing calling so late. Blanche looked at her watch; it was nine thirty. Suddenly she was determined to go out, even if it was just for a walk to tire herself out. She jumped up and pulled her skirt and blouse off the chair to get dressed, then hesitated and threw the garments aside. Suddenly she knew where she was going ... and she wasn't visiting him in those old things. She reckoned she had one last chance to win Nick over, and only one way of doing it ...

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE.

'What the h.e.l.l are you doing here?'

'Well, if you ask me in, I'll tell you.' Blanche tilted her head, hoping she looked demure and serious instead of hungry for his touch. She licked her lips, her breathing slowing in excitement. Nick had obviously been getting ready for bed, so she couldn't have timed it better. If she could get inside the house she'd be halfway there ...

'Don't see the point in this, Blanche ...'

'Well, I do! I think the least you owe me after getting me pregnant is five minutes of your time now it's goodbye for good.' Blanche lowered her lashes as though blinking back tears and tightened the belt on her coat.

'Five minutes, that's all,' Nick sighed. 'And don't expect me to run you back home afterwards.' Wearily, he opened the door wider.

Blanche hurried inside before he could change his mind and bar her way. In the hall she turned, waiting for him to close the door. She eyed his unb.u.t.toned shirt, pulled out of his trousers in readiness to be removed.

Nick was aware he was under scrutiny, and he suspected Blanche had more on her mind than reminiscing one final time. He'd received a letter yesterday and he reckoned his ex-wife had got one too. She was about to start again on the merry-go-round of them getting back together and was hoping he'd ask her to stay the night.

'Ain't going to work, Blanche,' Nick said, sounding quite sympathetic because she meant nothing to him, and he wished she felt as apathetic about what they'd once had as he did.

'You don't know what I'm gonna say,' Blanche purred, sashaying closer. She ran a single fingernail down his naked throat, close enough now to him to drink in the scent of the citrus soap he liked. 'Can I go in there?' She jerked her head at the open doorway.

Nick looked at his watch, shrugging. 'You've got three minutes left so make it quick. If you think I won't kick you out 'cos you'll have a go at turning on the waterworks and waking the neighbours, think again.' Suddenly Nick felt his patience evaporate. He wished now he'd not let the daft cow in. He strode past her and into the sitting room, searching in a pocket of his trousers for a packet of Players. By the time he'd got the cigarette alight and turned back to her, she'd shut the door and taken off her coat.

Nick shook wildly at the match burning his fingers and bringing him to his senses. Blanche was stark naked and from the smug look on her face obviously thought he'd lunge for her. He nearly did, but his hands would have gone to her throat rather than the t.i.ts she was thrusting his way.

'You always wanted me, Nick ... can't say that ain't true. You got me in trouble, remember, 'cos you wouldn't take no for an answer.' Blanche swayed herself closer, tongue caressing her top lip. 'You owe it to me to give it another go ... and I owe it to you to give you everything you need.'

'f.u.c.king h.e.l.l ...' Nick sounded agonised. He wasn't feeling quite so c.o.c.ksure he could refuse what she was offering. He hadn't slept with a woman since Joyce Groves, because he loved Kathy, had guessed she was a virgin, and was waiting till she was ready to take things further. If Kathy found out he'd slept with his ex-wife, she'd finish with him, no doubt about it. But he was human too, and no man could deny that his ex-wife had a luscious figure on her, and all he had to do was stretch out a hand and get some release ...

Blanche sensed his steady gaze on her body and rushed at him, winding her arms about his neck and rubbing together their hips. 'The others meant nothing to me, darling. Honest, Nick, every time I was with Charlie, I thought of you ...' She plunged her mouth upwards, grinding her lips on his.

Nick caught her wrists and forced her back, shoving her away, glad she'd mentioned Charlie Potter just as he'd felt the throb in his groin overtaking his reason. The idea of having a woman Potter had recently been with made him feel sick to his stomach and had killed his desire.

Nick strode to the crumpled coat on the floor and swiped it up before hurling it at Blanche. 'Get that on and get out before I f.u.c.king chuck you out, you silly tart.' He carried on into the hall without stopping and flung open the door.

Blanche was almost home before she'd conquered her wrathful weeping. Nick's rejection had been humiliating, but what had really started her bawling was the knowledge that she couldn't have what she wanted. Nothing in her life was right: she hated her job, she hated living with her parents, and she deserved better. She wanted a man who'd give her nice things and an easy ride, and she'd lost out on two such meal tickets. She now accepted Nick was a lost cause and Wes had gone back to his wife ...

She sniffed, used her knuckles on her eyes to dry them while thinking of Wes. Once he'd been putty in her hands, until May Silver stuck her oar in. But Blanche had heard that Wes's wife had been in hospital ... so perhaps poor old Wes might be missing out on his conjugals. Blanche's lips twitched. Her smile grew smug as a couple of youths on the opposite pavement whistled and catcalled. Instinctively, Blanche swayed her hips, knowing they were watching her. She felt so full of herself she was tempted to swivel about, open her coat and give them a flash before turning the corner for home. Laughing to herself, she reckoned that in the morning she'd just pop in Wes's office and tell him she was sorry to hear about his wife being poorly ...

'Are you hungry, young lady?'

Pansy nodded.

Reg Donovan squeezed the small hand in his. 'Me too. Your Auntie Matilda's getting us a few chips to put in our bread. You'll like that, won't you now?'

Pansy nodded, returning light pressure to the fingers enclosing hers.

'Hope she puts lots of salt and vinegar on 'em,' Reg said.

Reg and Pansy had been to the corner shop for a loaf of bread and a bag of broken biscuits to dunk in their teas, and were now heading home. Ruby was indoors feeding her baby and Peter was running an errand, fetching a bucket of coal for Beattie to earn himself a couple of coppers. But soon they would all congregate in the front room for a meal when Matilda returned with the hot chips.

At first, Reg had been dubious about having a family lodging with them. He'd feared the overcrowding would lead to friction between him and Matilda: in the past they'd had fiery arguments although their relationship had mellowed in the last few years. Despite them being packed tight as sardines, Reg had to admit to being pleasantly surprised at how much he enjoyed the children's company.

'h.e.l.lo there, sweet'eart.'

Pansy wriggled her fingers in Reg's hand, dragging back as though to flee.

Reg eyed the man and woman blocking the pavement, sensing trouble. They seemed to have sprung out of thin air. 'And who might you be?' he demanded.

'Tell the paddy who I am,' Charlie taunted his daughter. 'Oh ... that's right, she can't now, can she, 'cos the cat's got her tongue.' He leered at Reg, revelling in the Irishman's wary expression. 'I wouldn't know that about Pansy, would I, unless I was her pa.' He jerked a thumb at Violet. 'This here's the kids' nan. Peter about, is he? He'll be wanting to see his old man.'

Charlie lunged at Pansy, intending to drag her to his side, but the child scooted behind Reg, hiding from her father.

'You can't take her before I've spoken to her mother.' Reg was doing his best to protect the girl behind him. He knew that the reason Ruby Potter and her children were camping in theirs was to escape a man who was a brute and a bully.

'Needs some discipline, that one,' Vi snapped, raising a hand, miming a cuff. 'Had too much of her own way fer too long.'

'Don't reckon we've been introduced.' Matilda had come up behind the group, newspaper-wrapped chips under an arm.

She stared at Violet Potter rather than at her male companion. 'Cat got your tongue now, has it? Well, I'll start in that case. My name's Matilda Keiver, and this here's me fiance, Reg Donovan.' Matilda took Pansy's hand, patting it rea.s.suringly while drawing her forward. 'And this little gel's the daughter of a friend of mine. Course, that don't include you.' She pointedly stared at Charlie. 'Reckon you must be the wife beater and this here's yer grannie, is it?'

Vi threw back her head and roared a laugh. She'd seen the woman approaching and had thought she looked tough and mouthy. Vi reckoned she could handle herself with the best of them, even Matilda Keiver, who seemed belligerent and her junior by a few years. She started rolling back her sleeves in a businesslike way. 'You'd best let go of me granddaughter, 'cos she's coming home to the East End. So's that b.i.t.c.h of a mother of hers, soon as I find out where she's hiding herself.'

'Well, that's a shame, 'cos I say they're staying right here with me till Ruby says otherwise.' Matilda locked eyes with Vi.

The standoff ended abruptly when Vi charged, head down, b.u.t.ting Matilda in the chest, scattering her bundle of chips onto the ground. Violet tried to follow up her unusual tactic with another, pummelling at Matilda's b.r.e.a.s.t.s rather than her face.

Matilda had had enough sc.r.a.ps with men and women to be ready for anything. The flying a.s.sault had winded her but she was strong and compet.i.tive. Vi was a couple of inches shorter than Matilda but her body was solid as rock and not easy to shove away. While the woman's head was lowered Matilda took great relish in bringing her knee up and smashing it into her opponent's stubby nose.

Vi howled, tottering back just as Reg sprang to a.s.sist his fiancee and earned himself a scolding for his trouble.

'You guard Pansy,' Matilda bellowed. 'I can handle this old maggot with one hand behind me back ...'

Charlie had no qualms about hitting women and he'd step in on his mother's behalf without a second thought, but his wife must have seen the commotion because she was running up the road towards them with the baby bouncing in her arms.

'You reckon you can handle me, do yer? Let's have a see, then ...' Vi spat on the ground, circling to get into position to attack Matilda.

Polly Wright craned her neck out of her window to glimpse what was going on in the street. Brawls were commonplace in the Bunk and were appreciated by folk as a momentary diversion from their miserable existence. Polly frowned, having spotted Stan pacing to and fro at a distance from the spectacle. She'd not expected him to be back over so soon. Feeling curious, she set off outside.

'What's that all about?'

Stan stepped on his dog end as his wife joined him. 'Vi wants her grandkids back home. Her daughter-in-law's done a flit over here and Matilda Keiver's been putting them all up. I'm staying out of it.'

Polly looked again at the fighting women. She'd never bothered to go over to the East End and investigate her rival. Now she gave Violet Potter a long stare and chortled, 'Bleedin' h.e.l.l, Stan, that's an ugly old mare you've saddled yerself with.' She stuck her hands on her hips, a.s.sessing the scene: a couple with a baby were having an arm-waving bull and a cow, and Reg Donovan was doing his best to pull Violet and Matilda apart while protecting the crying child. 'Feel sorry for the daughter-in-law; bet she wishes they'd just p.i.s.s off and leave her alone. How'd her husband find out where she'd skipped to?' After a short silence, Polly turned to Stan. He averted his face.

'You bleedin' weasel,' she said. 'Staying out of it, are you?' she parodied. 'Well, I ain't ...'

Polly walked towards the action, carefully avoiding slippery mashed chips. She was within a yard of flying arms and legs when Vi swung a hook, making Matilda grunt and stumble. Polly nipped in neatly, sending her husband's lover reeling to the ground with a short sharp jab to her face. 'That's fer sending the coppers after me son, but you're welcome to me old man.'

Matilda held her sides, breathing heavily. 'I almost had her then ...'

'Yeah, know yer did, Til,' Polly said, shaking her stinging fingers.

'Thanks, Pol ...' Matilda gasped.

'My pleasure,' Polly said, and strolled, smirking, past Stan on her way back home.

'I'm so sorry, Mrs Keiver,' Ruby mumbled, tearfully.

'No need to be sorry, luv ...' Matilda was wiping her sweaty face with a hanky.

'I'm going back with him.' The uproar had frightened Paul, and Ruby rocked the baby against her shoulder to try to pacify him.

'You ain't doing no such thing!'