The School Gates (30 page)

‘But listen, we’re not thinking straight here,’ the ever – shrewd Alana chipped in. ‘Mark will have to you give you an allowance for Tommy, and if you get divorced, he will have to pay up.’

‘I stupidly signed a pre-nup.’

‘Oh Dana, that’s not in the rules.’

‘I know, I know but I was so young – and as for a child allowance, what if he does take my boy? Alana, I can’t bear to think about it. What a fucking mess. And the sad thing is, I’m pregnant and I should be so happy but I don’t think I’ve ever felt so bad in the whole of my life.’

‘He may come round. Go home tonight and thrash it out. Say how ridiculous you have been and that you want him to forgive you. Blame it on the drink, blame it on anything you like. You need to stay there for a while whatever, and sort things out or you’ll be on the bloody street.’

‘He’s not that unreasonable.’

‘He might be, as you’ve done the dirty on him – and God forbid he does take Tommy. With no divorce settlement, you’re going to be a single working parent – and that isn’t easy, I can tell you.’

‘OK, right. I’m going to go home now, clean the house from top to bottom. Get flowers, his favourite meal and do my best to save this marriage and myself.’

‘I’ve got to get on, but before you go, I need to tell you my news quickly,’ Alana said. ‘Stephen has asked if I will move to Cyprus with him – give up work and just be with him.’

‘Wow, that’s amazing! So when are you going? ‘

‘I haven’t made up my mind if I am, yet.’

‘Alana, you have to go. A massive life-change like that with the man you love – it’s what dreams are made of. If you don’t go, I shall.’

Alana laughed. ‘I’ve got two weeks to decide so that I can get Eliska into a new school over there in time.’

‘I will miss you, honey, but I think you have to go.’

Alana looked flustered. ‘I know, I know. Right, I must get on. Text me later if you can, and let me how it goes.’

Charlie Lake was persistent that he and Joan meet up again. Unbeknownst to him, Mo was coming along too.

The women were sat armed and dangerous with two skinny lattes when he arrived.

‘Maureen? What are you doing here?’

‘Well, I believe we are discussing me and my son.’

‘Forgive me,’ he said immediately. ‘Firstly, I am so sorry for your loss. Are you OK?’

Maureen sighed deeply. ‘I’m fine, thanks, but do you know what? Losing Ron has made me look at the big picture and I’m not lying any more. Charlie is your son. He knows now that Ron was not his real father, but he has said he doesn’t want to know anything about his real dad. In his eyes, although Ron was far from perfect, he brought him up to the best of his ability, and sees no point in meeting someone who is going to be a nigh – on stranger.’

‘I understand, I guess. He’s a fine-looking lad, just like his father used to be.’

‘How do you know that? You’ve never met him!’

‘I sneaked into the back of the crematorium – wanted to see him with my own eyes, and as soon as I did, I knew. He looks so like me when I was a youngster.’

‘I can’t believe you did that! But yes, he is a handsome boy.’

Charlie carried on. ‘And then weirdly, I went to the pub opposite and some Welsh girl was in there on her own and started telling me the story of how sad it was that young Charlie’s dad was not really his, and then I really did know for sure.’

Joan and Mo looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Ffion the canary had been singing again!

‘So what is wrong with you then?’ Mo asked. ‘Joan tells me you are not well too.’

‘Now this is the worst part: I am going to be honest with you now. There is absolutely nothing wrong with me. Just seeing you the other day and thinking back to what fun we had and how much I did care for you, Maureen... I wanted to know. I mean, we are not getting any younger and then seeing what happened to Ron – I would hate to get to my deathbed and wonder if I had a son. I’m getting married again as well, ain’t I, and I know Hannah wants to start a family, so I would get caught up in that…’

He paused, then raising his voice slightly continued, ‘It was wrong to have pretended I was ill, and I am so sorry. Especially after finding out that your husband was dying. But forgive me for just wanting an answer.’ He took a slurp of his coffee. ‘Do you think, Maureen, there is any chance me and young Charlie could be friends?’

‘Look, he has said he doesn’t want anything to do with you, for the moment anyway. He’s just lost his dad, so let’s respect his wishes, eh? You know what life is like. When things settle down and even when he becomes a dad himself, maybe then he’ll think differently.’

‘Such a shame. But you’re right – I can’t just blunder my way into the boy’s life. Anyway, I’d better go. Hannah is waiting for me at home for my suit-fitting today, although I see no point as I’ve still at least a stone to lose.’ He stood up and kissed both ladies on the cheek.

‘Be lucky.’ He winked and then he was gone.

Joan and Mo sat there in quiet disbelief for a moment.

‘Do you know what, Joanie? I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I made the right choice in Ron, don’t you?’

Joan smiled. ‘You certainly pick ’em, love, that’s for sure.’

Dana checked herself in the mirror as she heard Mark pull up on the drive. Ever since he had confronted her he was driving himself to the train station. She was wearing the dress he loved her in and had had her hair cut especially. For tonight was the night she was going to save their marriage.

‘You look nice – been out shagging someone special?’ was Mark’s opening line.

He noticed the beautiful aroma of giant pink lilies and went to the fridge to get himself a beer.

‘Do you want one?’

‘No, thanks. I want to talk, Mark. There’s wine cooling and snacks on the outdoor table as it’s such a beautiful evening.’

Mark rubbed his head and followed her out.

Dana took a sip of wine and grabbed a bread stick. She had to make sure this wasn’t her last supper.

‘Why are you drinking? You’re pregnant, Dana.’

‘I’m just having a glass to settle me. I don’t want us to split, Mark. I know we can work this out.’

Mark poured her wine on to the grass.

‘So you do care then?’ Dana said nonchalantly.

‘Of course I bloody care, you stupid trollop. This is just the saddest, most surreal situation. All you’ve ever wanted was another baby and now I’m sitting here and it’s not mine. I would love it if I could see past that fact, but I can’t, Dana. I would never trust you again. You know what I’m like and I know it’s a big fault of mine. Just seeing someone catch your eye at a party used to set me off. To have to look at a child and know it was conceived outside our marriage – well, I just can’t do it.’

‘I’m going to have an abortion.’

Mark nearly choked on his beer. ‘You what?’

‘I said I’m going to get rid of the baby.’

‘You don’t mean that for a second.’

‘It’s all booked. I go tomorrow morning. We can then put the whole sorry episode behind us.’

‘Just like that. So the poor little bastard will be gone, but the fact that you are a dirty cheating whore will be with you forever. Dana, I deserve more than that. And do you know what? If you do have an abortion, I will think even less of you. We have tried for years to have a baby and the fact you can cast a little life away just like that to keep you in the life you’re accustomed to, is… is disgusting. You’re pathetic, you and your silly little games. It would take more than a clean house, fresh lilies and a sexy outfit for me to want you back.’

Storming towards the French doors he turned round. ‘It’s over and I mean it. I want you out of here by the end of the month. I’ll see you right, but Tommy won’t be coming with you.’

Gordon put the key in the door; his last flight from Cannes had been delayed and he could tell by Robbie’s voice that he had not been amused when he called to tell him.

‘Daddy!’ Both girls ran to meet him. ‘Robbie made us stay for After-school Club and we didn’t want to.’

Gordon was feeling tired and stressed. ‘Don’t tell tales, girls.’

‘I had to go to the Youth Club for a meeting,’ Robbie said in a surly fashion, coming out to meet him.

‘It’s fine. Rob. I know you have to stick by your calendar.’

‘He left us at the swings when he went to get cigarettes too.’

‘Now that is a complete lie,’ Robbie burst out on seeing Gordon’s expression.

‘It isn’t. We waited for you for ages.’

Robbie shook his head truculently.

‘Get to your room the pair of you, and get ready for bed,’ Gordon demanded.

Kat and Alfie were meowing loudly for food and started squirming round Robbie’s legs. He kicked out and caught Kat on her back leg and she yelped.

‘Rob, there was no need for that. Let me take a shower and we’ll have a quick drink unless you’ve got to go.’

‘I’ve got an hour, that’s all.’

While Gordon was washing away his day in the shower, the girls appeared in their pyjamas. Lola was carrying a purring Kat.

Lily stuck her tongue out at Robbie as she made her way to the fridge.

He dragged her over to him by the arm, threatening her: ‘If I ever hear you telling tales again I will…’

‘You’ll what exactly?’

‘Daddy Chris, Daddy Chris!’ the girls shouted in unison.

– Chapter Twenty Seven –

It was a tearful goodbye in the Collins household when Charlie had to leave for London to go back to work.

‘It’s been so lovely having you here, son.’

‘I’m going to miss you, Charlie.’ Rosie swung on his hand. ‘But I’m going to be a big girl and look after Mummy.’

‘Good girl.’ He gave his sister a big hug and kissed his mum. ‘I’ll be home a lot more now, I promise. And you’ll soon be getting the money back I owe you. I’ll work hard and save every penny.’

‘There’s no hurry with that. We’ll manage, we always do. Now, what time train are you getting?’

‘It goes in thirty minutes.’

‘So you’re not going to see Ffion before you go then?’

‘No, why would I?’

Mo was pleased. Ffion wasn’t a bad girl. Just a bit young and naïve, and in her eyes not really marriage material for an only son.

Joan and her brood bumped into Charlie as he was being waved off down the road. Joan wished him well and hurried into Mo’s.

She was so at home there that she flicked on the kettle and lined up cups and glasses.

‘Girls, go out in the garden,’ Mo said. ‘I’ll bring you some squash.’

“You all right?’ Joan gave her friend a hug.

‘Do you know what? Weird as it may seem, I feel at peace. I mean, I’ve been trying to escape from the silly old bugger and then he dies on me anyway. And now he’s gone, I do miss him. But I also feel I can move on with my life properly now.’

‘It’s only natural for you to miss him. I mean, he has been your life for the past twenty-four years, through thick and thin.’

‘True. And even young Charlie seems to have turned over a new leaf. But I won’t hold my breath with him.’

‘I don’t know, Mo, maybe now Ron’s gone he will make more of an effort. By the way, have you spoken to Ffion yet? About letting the cat out of the bag, I mean?’

‘No, I will when I get back to work on Monday. But to be fair on her, she didn’t know it wasn’t a secret. I was at a real low when I told her, so it was my own stupid fault. I shall ask her not to mention it to anyone again though. I mean, the odds of her bumping into Charlie senior too.’

‘Yeah, I know – but things happen for a reason, I’m sure of that. Everyone who needs to know knows now, and nobody seems too distressed by that fact.’

‘Everyone except Rosie, that is.’ Mo got the milk from the fridge. ‘She doesn’t know yet, but I’ve decided to wait until she is older and then tell her so she understands properly.’

She offered Joan the biscuit tin and then said: ‘Blimey, I’ve just realised I haven’t thought about calories for weeks.’

‘And just look at you, sexy lady. You must be at target weight now, I reckon, Smashing Sally will be mortified you’ve done it without attending any of her classes.’

‘I don’t want to go again. I lost two stone and gained a strange ex-boyfriend.’

Joan laughed. ‘I don’t mind whether we go or not, honestly. If we keep up with our weekly walking I’ll be happy, as that all helps with the diabetes.’

‘I am so broke, I’m actually taking in my old clothes so they fit.’

‘Poor you. You look fantastic though, mate. Onwards and upwards now, eh?’

They chinked tea cups.

Mo grinned. ‘Onwards and inwards, you mean.’

Alana was sat at her home office desk waiting for a conference call to start when Stephen phoned.

‘Hi darling, got to be quick, got a con-call in a minute. How are you?’

‘Fine, fine. It was just to say I am booking my flight to Cyprus for a week Friday and wanted to know if you would like me to book for you two too?’