The School Gates (31 page)

Stephen’s casual, non-pushy approach to the biggest life decision she had ever been faced with made her smile.

‘No, no – you go ahead. I haven’t spoken to Lissy about it yet.’

‘So, you are considering it then?’ Stephen tentatively enquired.

‘Bugger, that’s them ringing through on the other line. Call you later.’

Gordon heard the commotion and walked through into the kitchen with just a white towel wrapped around his waist.

‘Chris? What the hell are you doing here?’ Gordon’s heart kick-started again.

‘You owe me fifty quid,’ Robbie said, grabbing his bag from the side.

‘You don’t deserve it,’ Chris said angrily.

‘Whoa.’ Gordon put his hand up. ‘Girls, back to your room, please. You can see Daddy Chris in a minute.’

The twins scampered out of the room, hand in hand.

‘Just pay me so I can get the hell out of here and you can play Happy Families,’ sneered Robbie.

Without a word, Gordon fetched his wallet and took out five ten-pound notes. Robbie stormed to the door, the cash in his hand. He was about to slam it, then poked his head back in, to snarl out one last venomous remark.

‘And just for the record, it was me who grassed up Inga too, the Polish whore. Your sweet little sister would be turning in her grave.’

Chris ran to tackle him, but Gordon held him back.

‘He’s not worth it. I gave him a second chance. My gut told me not to – but I was a bit desperate. He’s a horrible person. He hurt the kitten and now he’s threatened my beautiful girls. He’s not wrong about Jessica – she would be furious with me. But, sod all that for now and tell me what the hell you are doing here?’

‘The door was open, I heard the girls and wanted to surprise you all. Then I heard that bastard threatening Lily.’

Gordon went to say something, but Chris interrupted.

‘Let me carry on. Gord, I have missed you so much. And, being away from the girls too has made me realise how much I miss them too. The single life is all right, but if your heart is joined by a cord to someone, that cord won’t snap. You can try and break it by taking other lovers. But if it’s strong enough, it will always pull you to the heart of the person you should be with. I love you, Gordon Summers. I can’t be without you and I am hoping and praying that you will forgive me for leaving and be able to love me back too.’

Tears streamed down Gordon’s face.

Chris picked up the huge bouquet of flowers he had brought in and handed them to Gordon.

‘White roses, that’s a new one on me,’ Gordon said chokily.

‘They are the flower of light, the “I miss you” rose, the rose of pure intention. The flower of marriage.’ Chris got down on one knee.

‘Gordon Summers. You light up my life, you always have. You are a beautiful man inside and out. Will you marry me?’

Gordon knelt down too and hugged him tightly.

‘YES, YES of course I will.’

The girls came running into the kitchen. Lola saw that both men were crying and burst into tears.

‘Oh no, what’s wrong? Has someone died?’

‘Come here, both of you,’ Chris said softly. ‘They are happy tears. Now it’s group-hug time.’

The girls squealed as Gordon and Chris grabbed them and they all jumped around in a circle hugging each other.

‘So, Lily and Lola Summers, how do you fancy being bridesmaids?’

‘Who’s getting married then?’ Lola piped up.

‘We are, you doughnut,’ Gordon laughed.

‘Er, I didn’t know boys could get married.’

‘They can now.’

‘See? I knew it,’ Lily told her twin. ‘I have been praying so hard for Mummy to send Daddy Chris home to make you happy again, and she must have listened.’

‘Yes, darling, she must have listened.’ Gordon’s tears started again.

‘So can you please stop these happy tears and let Daddy Chris cook us some decent dinner at last.’

Chris whisked Lily up in his arms and kissed her.

It was a Sunday afternoon and Rosco’s was shut. Dana rang the bell to the boys’ flat. A beautiful dark-haired, dark-eyed girl with a shiny black bob came to the door. She had an amazing tan and was wearing a white caftan covering a designer black bikini. Even her slight pregnancy bump was perfectly rounded.

‘Ciao. Can I help?’

‘Oh hi, Tony didn’t mention that he had a sister.’

She laughed. ‘I am not his sister, I am his girlfriend.’

Dana thought she was going to be sick all over the girl’s perfectly manicured toes.

‘Pleased to meet you,’ she calmly carried on instead. ‘I work here sometimes, and I just wondered if I could have a quick word with Tony?’

‘Si, si, what is your name?’

‘Dana.’

‘Danna,’ the girl repeated in exactly the same way Tony said it to her. It made Dana feel even worse.

She shouted in Italian to Tony, who came running to the door as the glorious Fabia went back to her sunbathing in the roof garden.

‘Let’s go sit downstairs,’ he said hurriedly, praying that Dana wasn’t going to kick off.

‘I don’t understand. This had better be good.’ Dana was furious.

‘Dana, I made you no promises.’

‘But you lied – you aren’t single at all! Where did you hide her? You said I meant everything to you.’

‘You did. I loved being with you, but I had a big decision to make – and you helped me make it.’

‘So glad I could be of service,’ Dana spat.

‘I got together with Fabia when we were just sixteen, so, so young. She came over to live here, in England, but missed the family and Italy too much so went home. She gave me an ultimatum that either I come back to Italy or we split. I was so torn, as I love England. So we had a break. I love our business here and then I thought I loved you, Dana. What happened between us was so sweet. But, when your husband arrived and you left, I thought about it. I don’t want a woman who is capable of cheating on her husband. I want someone who is pure and honest, who I can trust and have a large family with. I went home to Italy soon after we had sex because I felt so guilty. And that was when I realised I had made a big mistake. We had missed each other so much, Fabia and me. We had both grown up, and when she told me she was pregnant I just knew she was the one. We are going to get our own place here and make it work.’

‘But you cheated on your partner too.’ Dana had tears in her eyes.

‘Yes, and I will be forever guilty. But we were on a break and our love is strong enough to go on, I know it is, and she will never know.’

‘Unless I tell her, of course.’

‘And how exactly would that benefit you? I will never be with you, Dana, so please don’t cause unnecessary hurt. And if your love is strong enough with Mark, you will save your marriage too. You love your big house up on the hill with all the trimmings. I know you can make it work.’

‘He knows, Tony. He wants me to leave and is getting full custody of Tommy.’

‘I don’t understand. How could he possibly know that you had slept with me? Bruno did such a good cover.’

Dana stood up, ignoring his question. She knew that if she were to say just three words, they would destroy two more lives – so she chose three different words instead.

‘Be happy, Tony.’

It was a scorching day in late June and Eliska had jumped straight into her paddling pool after school. Alana sat on a chair at the side with her feet dipped in the cold water.

‘I wish we had a swimming pool, Mummy. I love it when it’s hot.’

‘One day we might, darling, if I keep working hard.’

‘I wish you’d marry Stephen, then we could be a real family. He’s so funny. I can pretend he’s my daddy then.’

Isobel, adorned in a long sarong and huge floppy sun hat, walked over and caught her granddaughter’s last comment. She looked knowingly at Alana and sat down on a chair next to her.

Eliska carried on playing.

‘When does he go?’

‘Next Friday.’

‘It’s only three weeks until the end of term,’ Isobel said. ‘They will probably just be drawing pictures and playing. She won’t be missing anything important.’

‘Mother! Stop it.’

‘I have been such a useless mother, I know that, Lani. But if I am to give you just one piece of decent advice, make it this. Follow your heart – that stubborn, locked-up heart of yours. If not for you, for that beautiful girl of ours.’

‘Joan? It’s Charlie Lake here.’

‘Charlie? I thought we’d seen the last of you.’

‘I need to see you just one more time, Joanie. And I promise that there is nothing sinister here, but it is really important that I see you alone.’

‘Sounds ominous.’

‘It’s all good, I promise.’

‘So why can’t you just say what you want to say on the phone?’

‘Because I need to give you something. Look, I’ve gotta go, so I’ll see you on Bart Baker’s bench in Denbury Park at eleven a.m. on Sunday.’ And with that he hung up.

Dana walked with a heavy heart to the park. Who’d have thought that one single moment of lustful madness could cause so much hurt and upset. She sat on the swings where she had sat with Tony and swung gently. She put her hand to her tummy; she wasn’t even three months yet so she was well within the realms of getting rid of the baby. She heard screams as some children ran into the recreational area. A mum put her two year old in the swing next to her and the tiny tot shouted with delight.

Dana smiled as she got up and went over to sit on a bench in the corner.

She had lied to Mark. She couldn’t deny an abortion had crossed her mind, but how could she possibly get rid of such a gift after trying for so long. It would be hard, there was no doubting that, but nothing was impossible. She would just have to manage.

There was no going back now so tomorrow she would start making plans to find a flat and a job.

When Mark had told her about getting back with Carol, she didn’t even cry. It was then she realised that she was no longer in love with him. It even shocked her, how cold she could be. And, if she was really honest, there was no way she could have slept with someone else if she was in love with Mark. She had never considered it before this year.

But who’d have thought Mark would get back with his ex-wife? Yes, they were the same age and they shared Sidney in common. Evidently, over discussing his woes about his ailing marriage, he realised that he still did have feelings for her. She had never remarried and had always held a torch for Mark. Distressingly, even Tommy didn’t seem that upset as he had an instant brother.

Mark had agreed to give Dana one hundred thousand pounds in cash and joint custody of Tommy. She knew she was owed more, but she also knew it would be a massive fight to get it. After all, she was the one who had been unfaithful and was pregnant with another man’s child!

Feeling sad and lost, she started to walk up the hill. Thankfully, the house was empty. She would pack and make a quick exit, she decided. The thought of a massive goodbye to Tommy, suitcases in hand, would be too much to bear.

Alana had kindly said she could stay with her until she had sorted somewhere to live, so she would go there tonight.

Birds were singing in the trees and the sun shone brightly. It was time for Dana and her little Italian bambino to follow her dreams now.

The airport was heaving with summer revellers and Alana tutted. She normally flew business class and wasn’t used to having to deal with the hoi polloi as she called them.

She checked in her small case in and looked up for her gate number.

She saw him before he saw her. Handsome, kind, reliable and sexy. He was reading a newspaper and had a coffee by his side. She went and quietly sat beside him.

‘You could have told me it wasn’t a private jet.’

Stephen turned to her calmly. ‘There wouldn’t have been enough room for your shoes.’

He then put the paper back up to his face and slowly pulled it down to reveal his now smiling eyes.

‘You’ve just made an old man very happy.’

‘Don’t get too excited. I’m only coming out for a week initially. To have a look, check out some schools. See what I might be letting myself in for.’

‘If you love it as much as I love you, then we are on to a winner.’ Stephen gently kissed her on the lips.

And with that Alana Murray did something she did very rarely. She started to cry. In fact, she started to sob. Stephen held her to him tightly to avert the stares of other passengers.

Then, as if nothing had happened she sat up and blew her nose, adding, ‘I take it we will have a cleaner, darling?’

– Chapter Twenty Eight –

‘Bart bloody Baker,’ Joan said under her breath as she searched for the bench in the park. She hadn’t realised there were four of them – and it would have to be the one furthest from the gate on this boiling hot summer’s day. On reaching it she let out an ‘Aw.’

In memory of Bart Baker, chief coach and scallywag of Denbury United 1920-2000.