The Feud (29 page)

Looking at Jimmy O’Hara’s outstretched hand, Eddie didn’t know whether to break it or shake it. Not wanting to make a scene, he did neither. ‘I can’t stop. My Jess is expecting me back. We’re having people round for dinner later,’ he said abruptly.

As Eddie stood up, Jimmy nodded to Alice to make herself scarce. ‘Go and get the drinks,’ he ordered.

Alone with Eddie, Jimmy faced up to him. ‘I know you probably think your old boy’s death was something to do with me, but it weren’t. Life’s too short to hold grudges and if I was gonna retaliate for your father shooting mine, I’d have done it in an honourable way. At one point, I was desperate to get my revenge, but
I’m not fiery like I used to be, Eddie. Losing my Alice gave me the kick in the bollocks I needed. My family come first now and I don’t want no feud with anyone. I would never jeopardise losing Alice and my kids again, ever.’

Eddie stared into Jimmy’s eyes. He was quite an expert on reading people by their behaviour and expressions and he came to the conclusion that O’Hara was either telling the truth or was a fucking top-drawer liar. More confused than ever about his father’s death, Eddie said his goodbyes and left the pub.

Later that evening, Jessica smiled as Eddie launched into yet another one of his anecdotes. She’d been worried that tonight might be too much for him but, thankfully, she had been wrong. Eddie was on top form and she was relieved he was back to his old self.

‘There’s plenty more to eat in the kitchen. Is anyone still hungry?’ she asked.

With everyone telling her they were full to the brim, Jessica started to clear the table. She had chosen an Italian menu for the dinner party and the food had gone down a treat.

Eddie poured his friends another drink. He was a bit unsure about Polly, Raymond’s bird. The girl was pleasant enough, but spoke with a plum in her chops.

‘No more for me, thanks, Eddie. Three is my limit,’ Polly told him firmly.

With everybody sorted, Eddie took a glass of wine out to Jessica in the kitchen. ‘She’s a funny one, Raymondo’s bird, ain’t she?’

Jessica smiled. ‘I wouldn’t put her with our Raymond in a million years, but as long as she makes him happy, that’s all that matters.’

‘Do you reckon he’s fucking her? I can’t imagine her in the sack, can you? Oh, Raymond, please hurry up and shoot your load, the butler will be here soon,’ Eddie said, mimicking Polly’s posh tones.

‘Sssh, they might hear you,’ Jessica scolded him.

Eddie could be such a piss-taker at times and she didn’t want him upsetting the wonderful evening they were having. Eddie tilted her chin and kissed her. ‘I think we should up our baby-making sessions from this week onwards – what do you say?’

Jessica sighed. Tonight, she was more worried about the two she’d given birth to than about creating another. ‘I don’t like Frankie and Joey being allowed to stay out round their friends’ houses. It worries me sick. I mean, we don’t even really know the parents.’

Frankie and Joey had gone to a sixteenth birthday party. The party was miles away, in Fulham, and Jessica had been dead against them going from the start.

‘But Mum, Dionne, was my best friend throughout most of my school years. It’s not her fault that her parents have moved to Fulham. I’m not going on my own, am I? I’ve got Joey to take care of me. Her mum said we can stay in the guest room and she’s going to call you to confirm,’ Frankie whinged.

Jessica discussed it with Eddie and, in the end, they had decided to let the twins go. She hadn’t been able to get hold of Dionne’s mum, but had spoken to her older sister, who had confirmed the arrangements.

‘Shall I give them a call? Make sure they got there all right,’ Jessica asked Eddie.

She had insisted that they take their father’s mobile phone so she could contact them to put her mind at rest.

Eddie shook his head. ‘They’re nearly sixteen, Jess. We
need to learn to trust them, not check up on them all the time. They’re good kids: they’ll be fine, trust me.’

Joey and Frankie stood near the bar. The gay club was an eye-opener for both of them and they were overwhelmed by the atmosphere. The Dionne story had been a cover-up and their friend, Paige, had done a wonderful job pretending to be Dionne’s sister.

‘He’s nice. Look, the tall one with the blond hair who’s looking over.’

Joey shook his head. ‘Nah, he ain’t my type.’

Frankie smiled. She had promised Joey months ago that she would come to a gay club with him and this was their first visit. She could sense her brother’s excitement; he was like a kid in a sweet shop, bless him.

‘Talk to me Joey, quick. I’ve got some meaty lesbian making eyes at me.’

Joey slung his arm around Frankie’s shoulder and ordered another drink. ‘Maybe you’re really into a bit of pussy. I mean, you don’t seem to get very far with boys, do you, Frankie?’ he said, winding her up.

Frankie glared at him. ‘Fuck you, I’m not into women. I’m just fussy. I mean, look at the boys around our way, the ones that have asked me out. Would you fancy them?’

Joey shook his head. He had finished with David a while back and, apart from him, there’d been no one else local to catch his eye. In a way, he could understand Frankie’s dilemma. ‘What type of bloke do you actually want?’ he asked his sister.

Frankie shrugged. ‘We’ve been brought up with a certain lifestyle, Joey, so I’m hardly liable to date some mug. I want a bloke that’s gonna make me laugh, treat me like a princess, like Dad always has. To be honest,
I suppose I’m looking for someone who is a bit like Dad. You’ve always been closer to Mum, but I ain’t.’

Joey laughed. ‘So you’re looking for a scar-faced, top-class villain. That should be easy – why don’t I just place an ad in the local paper for you?’

As usual, Frankie appreciated her brother’s wit. The pair of them had realised at an early age what sort of family they were part of, and often had a joke about it.

‘Joey, you’ve pulled again and this one is nice. He’s that gorgeous, if it turns out he ain’t a woofta, then I’ll have him. Look, standing over there, to your left.’

Looking around, Joey spotted the bloke who was staring his way. The guy was older than him, probably well into his twenties. ‘Wow,’ Joey mumbled, as he felt his stomach lurch.

Mr Gorgeous was well over six feet. He was wearing light stonewashed jeans and a tight-fitting white T-shirt. He had a perfect body, face and physique and was an absolute out-and-out sort. Aware of Mr Gorgeous smiling at him, Joey turned away. He felt like a fox startled by headlights. ‘He’s a lot older than me. I dunno,’ he said dubiously.

Frankie burst out laughing. ‘He’s fucking amazing, what is wrong with you? Please don’t tell me you’ve dragged me all the way here and now you’re shit-scared to go for it.’

Glancing back at the mystery bloke, Joey quickly looked away. ‘Go and get us another drink – and get me a double,’ he ordered his sister.

Waving her money at the barman, Frankie couldn’t stop smiling. Her brother was such a funny bastard at times.

‘All right? My name’s Lisa. First time here, is it?’ asked a hefty woman with a skinhead.

Frankie nodded. ‘I’m here because of my brother. He’s gay, not me.’

The woman smiled. The newcomers all said that. In denial, the lot of them. ‘Let me buy the drinks,’ the skinhead bird said.

Frankie refused. ‘Thanks, but no thanks,’she said curtly.

The woman smiled at her. ‘It’s not unusual to be curious. You’re only young and sometimes it takes a while to come to terms with what you was born to be.’

Frankie snatched the drinks off the barman. ‘I am not a fucking dyke, so will you sod off and pester someone else,’ she said angrily.

Realising that his sister wasn’t happy about something, Joey went to her rescue. ‘Is everything OK? What’s the matter?’

The shaven-haired woman scowled at him. ‘Your sister’s got issues, love,’ she said, walking away.

As Frankie repeated the conversation, Joey couldn’t stop laughing. ‘Don’t laugh – it ain’t fucking funny. She thought I was a lesbo,’ Frankie said, fuming.

Too busy winding Frankie up, Joey didn’t notice Mr Gorgeous walking his way.

‘Hi, my name’s Dominic. Can I buy you a drink?’

Her brother’s startled expression amused Frankie immensely. ‘His name’s Joey and, yes, he’ll have a large vodka and orange. I’m Frankie, his twin sister, by the way.’

Dominic shook Frankie’s hand and smiled. ‘And what would you like?’ he asked.

‘I’d just like my brother to meet someone as handsome as you and get himself laid,’ Frankie replied, grinning at Joey.

Joey was horrified. Frankie could be such a cow at times. ‘Take no notice. My sister can’t help having a mouth like a sewer,’ he said awkwardly.

Dominic squeezed Joey’s arm. ‘Your sister can shout up the drinks. Come and dance with me,’ he said.

Joey was petrified as he followed Dominic onto the dancefloor. His silly liaison with David was nothing compared to the way this guy made him feel. Dominic was a man, not some confused schoolboy.

Chatting to a transvestite at the bar, Frankie watched her brother with interest. He and Dominic had been dancing for over ten minutes now and were getting on like a house on fire.

As the DJ changed the tempo, Dominic took Joey in his arms. ‘Are you OK?’ he asked gently.

Joey nodded. Truthfully, he felt anything but OK. His heart was beating like a drum, his palms were sweaty and he was talking rubbish. ‘I think I’m a little bit nervous. I’ve never done anything like this before,’ he admitted.

Dominic smiled at him. This boy was so different from any of the others he had ever met. He was innocent and gorgeous. Aware that Dominic had an erection, Joey didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Conscious of Joey’s predicament, Dominic brushed his lips against his. He smiled and spoke softly. ‘Relax Joey. I’ll be gentle with you, I promise.’

Joey and Dominic’s relationship developed quickly and, within a few weeks of meeting, both of them were head over heels in love. The situation was awkward. Dominic lived near the Angel in Islington. He had a demanding job working as a money broker in the city. Joey was studying for his GCSEs and finding time to see one another regularly was virtually impossible.

On a healthy wage, Dominic had his own property, a two-bedroom flat. He kept begging Joey to stay over, but Joey had only been able to do so twice.

Dominic had a very manly voice, so Joey had given him his home telephone number and had told his parents that he and Frankie had met a new mate. Desperate not to arouse suspicion, he told Dominic to ask for either him or his sister if his dad or mum answered the phone.

‘Oi, oi! So how was last night, then, lover boy?’

Joey smiled as his sister entered his room and sat on the edge of his bed. He had spent the previous night at Dominic’s and told his parents he was staying at David’s to revise for his exams. ‘It was wonderful,’ Joey said, beaming.

‘Well, give us the gory details, then.’

Joey ordered Frankie to shut the bedroom door. He had stayed around Dominic’s once before, but his nerves had got the better of him. Last night, he had actually done it and had enjoyed every second. ‘It was fantastic, Frankie. Dom’s got a body to die for and his willy is absolutely enormous.’

Inquisitive by nature, Frankie was desperate for more detail. ‘So, what exactly happened then? I mean it ain’t like a girl and a boy, is it?’

Joey felt his cheeks redden. ‘What are you like, you nosy cow? I’m not discussing the ins and outs – it’s private.’

Frankie laughed at Joey’s embarrassment. ‘Go on, tell me more. Did you go all the way this time?’

‘Yes, and that’s all I’m telling you, so don’t bother asking me no more questions.’

Joey being gay didn’t bother Frankie one iota. She enjoyed winding him up, but was also genuinely pleased that he had met someone he liked. She had always got on better with boys than girls and would have hated Joey to have gone out with some bimbo she hated. That would have made her extremely jealous.

‘So, did you come?’ Frankie asked, desperate to know more. They had always had such a close, open relationship. Joey told her everything and vice versa.

‘Yes, of course. Now, can we shut up about it now, ’cause Mum’s calling us.’

Jessica smiled as the twins bounded down the stairs. ‘What are you laughing at?’ she asked Frankie.

‘Nothing important. Joey was just telling me about the biology homework he was doing last night.’

Jessica tutted. ‘You wasn’t being rude, Joey, was you?’

‘Of course not, Mum,’ Joey replied, kicking his smirking sister under the table.

‘I wanted to talk to yous about your birthday. You’re
sixteen soon and Dad and I asked you ages ago what you wanted to do. Have either of you decided yet?’

Joey nudged Frankie. Their parents had wanted to throw a big party at home and invite all of their friends. The twins were totally against the idea. There was no way Joey could chance inviting Dominic, and Frankie reckoned it would be as boring as hell. There was a new place where everyone was going called the Berwick Manor. It had started a rave night on a Friday and the twins were desperate to go there.

Frankie smiled at her mum. ‘We have thought about it and we’ve decided we want to go out with our friends on the Friday, which is our actual birthday, then maybe have a smaller party here with you, Dad, Nan, Grandad and the rest of the family on the Saturday.’

Jessica found it hard to hide her disappointment. ‘Why don’t you want the big party for all of your friends? Dad could have done a barbecue and all your mates could have brought their costumes and had a swim.’

Frankie decided to be truthful. ‘Our friends like drinking, not swimming, Mum. They’ll laugh at us if they come here and only get offered soft drinks. We can still have a barbecue – we can do that on the Saturday with the family.’

Defeated, Jessica shrugged. She didn’t mind the twins having the odd drink or two, but she wasn’t about to let their friends do the same. Say one of them got drunk and was ill, how would she explain that to their parents? It would make her and Eddie look awful and tarnish their responsible reputation. ‘OK, I’ll let your dad know,’Jessica said miserably. The twins were at an age now where they wanted to do their own thing.