Tough Love (14 page)

‘Bloody hell, Tony! That was exactly what I wanted, and you knew it.'

‘I thought you were breaking it to me gently.'

‘Really? Well, you're a bigger div than I gave you credit for, aren't you?'

Tony took Leanne's hand, but she pulled it away. ‘I didn't know,' he said.

‘I bloody well loved you, but you just went cold. I thought it was because you didn't want Markie to find out.'

Tony sat back in his chair. ‘Well, this is a fuck-up, isn't it? And I was going to see if you fancied going out for the night when I don't look like the Elephant Man any more, but I suppose that's not going to happen now, is it?'

Leanne sighed. Seeing Tony again had made her
realise how much she had missed him. ‘Well, it could, I suppose … The only thing is, you've got a wife.'

‘She doesn't understand me,' Tony quipped.

I've heard that before, Leanne thought. ‘In that case, yeah, why not? Let's go out.'

‘Great,' Tony said, winking at her with his functioning eye. ‘Whatever happens though, Lee, I don't want you to say anything to Markie about us.'

‘Not all this again, Tony. I'm twenty-five, I can't do it. If we go out on a date, who cares what my brother thinks?'

‘Look at the state of my face. Do you think he wants me going out with you?'

‘I don't care what he wants,' Leanne said.

‘You do.'

‘For now, Tony – but only for now. I'm not hiding any more.'

Tony nodded. ‘You shouldn't have to,' he said seriously.

‘
We
shouldn't have to,' Leanne said, and she meant it this time.

*

It was past ten o'clock when Leanne got back to the house and Jodie was sitting on the settee watching the TV and plaiting Kia's hair. ‘What you doing still up?'

Kia looked at Leanne, who saw straight away that the little girl was shattered. ‘Jodie said I could.'

‘She was wide awake,' Jodie said, ‘so we decided to watch some telly.'

‘Come on,' Leanne said, putting out her hand for Kia to hold. ‘Let's have you.'

Kia got up and walked past her mum into the hall. Leanne leant back into the room and whispered, ‘Little secret for you. She says she's wide awake even when she's completely knackered.' Jodie shrugged.

Leanne wasn't bothered. At least Jodie had agreed to look after Kia, and she played with her too. Tracy just gave her some ancient felt-tips and told her to colour in that day's paper.

As Kia trudged up the stairs, she asked, ‘Where's Nana?'

‘Oh, she'll be back soon.'

‘Poor Kent,' Kia said next.

Leanne's heart sank. Her little daughter was just like she had been at that age, feeling sorry for anyone on the receiving end of Tracy's whims. ‘Kent's fine,' she lied. ‘He just had to go and live somewhere else.'

‘He said that Nana was a bitch and that she'd used him. How can you use a person, Mummy?'

Oh God, Leanne thought. ‘How do you know he said that, Kia?' She tried to sound nonchalant.

‘He came round. He smelt funny. Jodie said that
it was because Granddad's your daddy and that mummies and daddies are meant to be together.'

‘Did she?' Leanne said, passing Kia her nightdress.

‘Yes.'

‘Let's go and brush your teeth.'

‘Why don't I have a daddy?'

Leanne felt as if someone had just kicked her in the stomach. Her daughter was gazing up at her trustingly. ‘Not everyone has a daddy, darling.'

‘I'd like one, though. How do you get one?' Kia's eyes were nearly shut with exhaustion.

Leanne was on the verge of tears but hid it. ‘It's not that easy, Kia. You've got a mummy and it's just you and me for now, OK?'

‘OK,' said Kia. ‘Where's my toothbrush?'

Leanne passed it to her. She hoped Kia would go to sleep and wake up the following day having forgotten the conversation they'd just had.

Tracy bent her head down to the hob and lit a cigarette. It was early but she was up because yet again she was dying of thirst. Tracy's hangovers were hellish. As she lifted her head, sucking in the first nicotine of the day, she saw Scott outside pointing at a newspaper he was pressing to the window. She tried to make sense of what he was trying to say, but he ran to the door and burst in.

‘Page five of the
Sun
,' he said, flicking to the relevant page.

‘What's she done this time?'

‘Not Leanne. You!' Scott said.

‘Me? Fuck off!' Tracy said excitedly.

Scott spread out the page for her to see. ‘Super (strength) Gran', the headline read. There was a picture of Tracy in the park, with Kia on the swings. Tracy was smoking a fag and drinking from a can of super-strength lager. She read aloud, ‘“Leanne Crompton's mum was a sight for sore
heads as she pushed her granddaughter Kia in the park in their home town of Bradington. Leanne, who was nowhere to be seen, has recently moved back to Bradington after her career hit the rocks. Kia, seven, whose paternity is a hot topic of gossip, but has never been confirmed, seemed happy enough to play with her fag-ash granny …” Fucking cheek! I wouldn't mind but that was the only drink I had all day,' she said, as if the world had gone mad.

‘Leanne's going to kick off when she sees it.'

‘I don't bloody think so,' Tracy said. ‘I've been minding that little 'un for her anytime she wants.'

The door from the hall opened and Leanne walked in. Tracy folded the paper and shoved it under the table. ‘What's up?' Leanne asked.

‘Nowt,' Tracy said. ‘You in court?' she asked, trying to change the subject. Leanne was wearing a suit, something her mum had thought she'd never see.

‘Primark. Twenty quid for the lot. What d'you think?' She gave them a twirl.

‘Very nice. I've always said you can carry anything off.' Tracy nodded approvingly.

Leanne looked at her suspiciously – Uh-oh, overdid it. Rumbled, thought Tracy – then grabbed the paper from under the table. ‘What page?' she asked Scott.

‘It's not you –'

‘Page!'

‘Five,' Scott said sheepishly.

Tracy threw him a look. Hopeless, she thought.

Leanne took in the picture of her mum and Kia. Tracy pre-empted the attack. ‘All I try to do is help and look what happens. I get put in the papers because you're famous. I never asked no one to take my picture. I was just minding my own business, doing a bit of
free
child-minding.'

‘Swigging at a can of super-strength while you were looking after your granddaughter,' Leanne interjected.

‘That's right. Twist everything,' Tracy said.

‘I'll get a child-minder,' Leanne said. Tracy threw her a murderous look. ‘To save you the embarrassment of being followed by the paps.'

‘No, no. I don't mind looking after Kia. I'll just have to keep an eye out,' Tracy said.

‘No need, Mum. I start work today. I'll get a child-minder for after school, and I'm sure Markie will be flexible.' Leanne folded the paper and threw it aside.

‘Markie?' Tracy said.

‘I'm his new PA.'

‘Well, I'm sure that'll be interesting,' Tracy sneered.

‘I'm sure it will,' Leanne agreed.

Kia peeped round the door in her school uniform. ‘Ready, Mummy,' she said.

‘Right,' Leanne said. ‘We've had our breakfast, haven't we, mate?' Kia nodded. ‘So we're off. See you later.'

Tracy waited until the front door had closed before she said, in all seriousness, ‘I give my life to my children on a plate and what do I get? Grief, that's what.'

Scott threw her a look.

‘What's the face for?' she asked. ‘Bloody hell, I can't do right for doing wrong. I'm off back to bed.' She pulled her towelling dressing-gown round her and stomped up the stairs.

*

Leanne walked into Markie's office. She wasn't sure how Markie had managed to keep his finger in so many seemingly legitimate pies during his time inside, but the fact that he and Mac Derbyshire had an office in the smarter part of town and Markie was still co-owner of two of Bradington's nightclubs, a takeaway and two hair salons (these were the businesses Leanne knew about) testified to her brother's influence and Mac's belief in him as a partner.

‘A'right, sis, get the kettle on,' Markie said, winking at her. He was sitting behind a desk, struggling with a pile of papers.

Leanne wanted to launch into him about Tony
but bit her tongue. ‘So, this is my office then?' she asked.

‘Pretty much. You've got the run of it. There's the other two admin girls Mac has downstairs but I want you to do all my stuff and get involved in promotions. If you want to. I think your name's still got a lot of clout round here. It'll pull the punters in. But settle in and see what you think.'

‘I don't know the first thing about being a PA.'

‘I don't give a shit. You know how to answer a phone, stick stuff in a file, and keep an ear open for anyone trying to have one over on me. That's all I'm interested in,' Markie said.

It sounded fair enough to Leanne, but she was desperate to say something about Tony. As she made the tea she shouted to Markie, ‘See Mum made the papers today? Can of lager and a fag on while she was pushing Kia on the swings.'

‘You can't buy class,' Markie shouted back.

Leanne brought the coffee through and put the mugs on the desk. ‘I bumped into Tony the other day,' she said, trying to sound casual.

‘Yeah? What did that mong want?' Markie said, without looking up from his paperwork.

‘Someone's battered him, but he didn't even mention it.'

‘No? Well, why would he?'

‘You don't know what happened to him, do you?' Leanne asked.

‘Quit the cute routine, Leanne. You heard him say he knew what was going on behind my back.'

‘So what? You had him done over?'

‘Listen, Lee, there's stuff you tell your mates.'

‘And there's things you don't do to your mates. Like beat them up.'

‘Am I taking a lecture on life here before you've even clocked in?' Markie said, glancing at his watch.

‘No,' Leanne said, trying to hide her anger. ‘I was just saying.'

‘Well, things with me and Tony are fine. As long as he doesn't darken my doors again he'll get to keep his head on his shoulders.'

‘Right,' Leanne said, then ventured bravely, ‘Tough talk.'

‘Yeah? Well, you'd better get used to it.'

Leanne raised an eyebrow and cocked her head to one side. ‘I'm grateful you're giving me a job, Markie, but let's not get funny with each other before I start, eh?'

Markie picked up the papers and passed them to his sister. ‘All right. Stick them in a file, then I'll tell you what else needs doing.'

Tony had been right, she thought. Markie didn't want anything to do with him. But she wasn't going to tread on eggshells with her brother for ever just because Tony wanted her to. For the time being, though, she'd keep her mouth shut and sort out the filing, like a good little PA.

*

It was Sunday morning and Jeanine hadn't shown up for work. Lisa, who had just about mastered the art of putting on a nappy, was joggling baby Blest up and down, singing ‘Get The Party Started' by Pink. She wasn't sure why she was doing this but Blest seemed to like it.

Jay came into the kitchen, dishevelled, a towel wrapped round his taut torso.

‘What time did you get in?' Lisa asked.

‘Dunno,' Jay said, scrutinising the contents of the fridge. ‘We got any orange?'

‘Where were you last night?' she asked again.

‘Panacea, Hilton. We didn't get bothered, though.'

‘We?'

‘Yeah, “we”. D'you think I went out on my own?'

‘Who's “we”?'

‘Me, Joel Baldy and some of the other players. Team-building. We'll be in the papers this week. Got papped.'

‘Did you do the look?' Lisa had decided that Jay looked far better in photographs if he made sure his left side was in profile, closed his mouth and put his tongue to the inside of his lips, affecting a slight pout.

‘Yeah. Think I pulled it off.'

Lisa nodded, approving. ‘Listen, Jay, there's something I need to tell you.'

‘What?' Jay asked. He broke off from swigging at a milk carton.

‘I met Leanne this week.'

Jay stared at her. ‘What?'

‘I went to that dump she's moved back to and offered her some money to keep her mouth shut.'

‘And?' Jay asked, plainly wanting her to spit it out.

‘She told me to shove it. Said she didn't need our money.'

‘What else did you think she'd say?' Jay said, slamming down the milk carton.

‘I thought she'd thank me and take the cheque.'

‘There's no story in that, is there?' Jay cried, pulling at his hair. ‘What if someone saw you? What if you were photographed?'

‘We weren't. And why exactly are you having a go? In case you haven't noticed, it's me who sorts out the damage limitation in this marriage and you cause the damage. So don't get all uppity. It won't wash.' She thrust Blest at him. He took her, then held her as if he'd been passed a bag of snakes. ‘Say hello to your daughter. She's not sure what you look like.' Lisa stormed out of the room.

The kitchen phone rang, stopping her in her tracks. The only person who called on a Sunday morning was Steve C their publicist. She stalked back in, past Jay, who seemed suddenly terrified.

‘Hello,' Lisa snapped into the receiver.

‘It's Steve. Bad news,' he said, cutting to the chase. Lisa had grown used to Steve's straightforward approach to delivering bad tidings.

‘Go on,' she said, her eyes boring into Jay.