Carl shrugged. “Prob'ly deserve it,” he replied, knowing that he was going to get a battering no matter what happened. He reached into his pocket and felt for his weapon: he didn't want to use it against his brothers-in-arms, but they would leave him no choice.
“But ya young,” Richard told him with a wry sneer and rubbed his hands together. “I should fuck ya up.”
Carl bit his lip and watched Richard look at his two companions, nodding slowly. Richard walked forward, his eyes fixed Carl who retreated slowly in fear. “Let's shake on it?”
“I … I am not …” Carl stammered, but Richard held his muscular arm out and pointed his hand towards Carl. Carl looked at Richard and tentatively moved his hand to embrace Richard's olive branch. Carl's eyes were fixed on Richard's and their hands met and they shook firmly.
Richard patted Carl on the shoulder with his free hand. “Ya fuck my wife …” he started and watched Carl's eyes as his left arm swung wildly and smashed a blade into the side of Carl. He squeezed the fingers of the racist as his arm came in for a second and third time. “Ya fuck my wife, ya gonna die,” he told him and push him to the ground. He stood over him, his face smiling and plunged the knife into Carl's body.
Carl gasped as he was pushed away and felt his bleeding side to his body. He staggered back and shook his head. “Ya stabbed …” He breathlessly whispered.
“Yeah, over there is Gary. He's already dead. What?” He laughed and looked at the wide-eyed man. “You didn't really think you were the only fuckin' guy she'd screw.”
“But ...” Carl muttered and felt his legs give away, collapsing onto the floor. Richard passed his knife to one of his companions who wiped it on a towel and placed it back into a holder.
“And my wife,” he told the dying man as he advanced towards him. “She gonna have a very bad road crash tonight.” He looked at his two companions watching the scene and smiled at them. “Chuck his body in the sand-pit with that other cheating cunt.”
* * * * *
Liam looked across at Olivia lay on the bed and she grinned. “At least they know,” she told him and he shrugged.
“Dad was proper pissed off with me. Kept saying girls didn't want nancy boys.”
“I don't want a nancy boy, but to see you sucking on another guy, it was amazing,” she told him. “Real hot. And I know you only did it at first 'cause you were off your tits on … well whatever … but you weren't the last two times.”
“Yeah, I know,” Liam muttered. “And he went fuckin' mental on that as well. Sarah told 'im 'bout the drugs and he just lost it. I mean it's not hard stuff like crack or heroin but 'e weren't interested.”
Olivia smiled at her partner and stretched her legs. “I got a couple of lines left,” she said proudly and then stroked his arm. “Dad's not back 'til the weekend and Mum's at her boyfriend's house,” he told him. “We got all night and tomorrow if we wag school.”
Liam smiled. “Just the two of us.”
Olivia grinned. “You don't get away that easily,” she teased. “I reckon Brad and Evie would come over,” she told him. “They're bored and you know what Coke does to us.”
Liam laughed. “Well it makes me well interested,” he told her as he turned over on her double bed and put his hand over her, touching the hem of her skirt. “Get 'em over,” he told her, his eyes sparkling.
Olivia picked up her phone and paused. “Does your Dad know where you are?”
Liam scoffed. “Fuck no.” Olivia rolled her eyes and Liam scowled. “We had another row, he thinks I need to 'man up.'” Olivia ran her hands over Liam's bare chest and he looked at her. “I told him that we are into submission games and he just lost it. So fuck 'im.”
“You need to let him know you are here,” Olivia suggested and Liam shook his head. “Please.”
Liam snorted. “I'll send him a photo later,” he said with a grin.
“Liam,” Olivia pleaded and looked at him.
“He thinks he can rule my life,” the teenager ranted. “He needs to learn to stay the fuck out of my life. Keeps thinking that I should be like him and that me being bi or a bottom or whatever is a problem.”
“Pissing him off isn't the best way to get his acceptance,” Olivia told him and slid her hands into his trousers. “Just ring him before we start, I'll feel better. And if I am relaxed then I am so much hornier,” she teased and passed Liam her mobile phone. “Otherwise he could turn up when you're high and it'll be well fucked up.”
* * * * *
“I've looked everywhere for you,” he said behind Natalie sat down on the path alongside the River Lune. “You don't make my life easy.”
Natalie glanced behind her. “I wasn't trying to be found.”
“What ya thinking?” Natalie stroked her forehead and said nothing. She felt movement behind her and the heavy coat of Adam being wrapped around her shoulders. “It's cold out here.”
“Is it?” Natalie asked and focused on the river. “I hadn't noticed.”
Adam took her hand in his and looked at her. “What ya thinking?”
“You wouldn't understand.”
“Try,” he told her and looked up at the moonlit sky. “Well I reckon you're worried, it's natural.” He waited for Natalie to speak but when she didn't he cleared his throat. “Can I tell you a story?”
Natalie looked at him out of the corner of her eye and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “If you must.”
“My Mum beat Cancer a few years back, we don't talk about it much but Dad was proper cut up about it at the time, and they supported each other through it. Mum didn't tell me or my elder brother, or sister, or anyone. They just tried to deal with it. Thought they were protecting us. Thing is, Eddie – sneaky little fuck that he is – he found out Mum was going to the 'ospital with Dad and we thought she was going to die when he found out she was seeing some oncy-o-logist. We knew some of what was going on, but not all of it. And that scared us. I had no-one to talk to and I dain't want to lose one of me parents when I was 12. All they needed to do was to talk to us instead of hiding it, but they just dealt with all on their own, and got stressed 'bout it, and we had no idea what was going on.”
She glanced over and pursed her lips. “So, I get it. I should talk. I just don't know what to say. It's my problem. And I am not sure if I want to talk to you anyway.”
“Yeah well, I was always told …”
“A problem shared is a problem halved. Only that's bollocks isn't it? I ain't giving you fifteen hundred quids of debt so it ain't halved.”
“Yeah, but we can fix any car problems, all you need to do is ask.” Natalie snorted at him and Adam took a deep breath while rubbing his hands together. “And you ain't the first person to lose their job?”
“I know … recession and all that. Fucking Tory cuts.”
“Well actually,” Adam started. “If the Labour Government…” He trailed off as Natalie glared at him and he shrugged. “Yeah, well, there are people who are losing jobs but they get by,” he told her airily.
“It's all right for you. Look I ain't been out of work since I was sixteen. Even at Uni I had a part-time job. I've been with the coaches since I was in my third year and been running that place since I graduated. I might have been an Operations Manager but I did everything.” Adam waited for her to speak and she wiped her eyes. “Bloody First in Maths and I all I get is some crappy job. And I can't even keep that,” she cried.
Adam gulped; he had only ever seen Natalie angry or happy: vulnerable was a whole new emotion and he bit his lip. “Look, I know you'll be proper annoyed with me for interfering, 'specially after what you said, but I phoned up my boss when you stormed out and he told me to tell you to arrange to come for an interview.” Adam scratched his nose and clenched his shaking hands together.
Natalie turned her head and looked at him. “Pardon?”
Adam shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah, well, he's slowing down and he wants someone between the factory floor supervisor, the logistics guys and wa
rehouse shit and himself – a sort of Operations Manager. And he has put out the ad, only got 'weak cunts' and 'bullshiting fuckwits' so I think you might be in with a chance.”
“Hang on,” Natalie scowled. “You actually want me to be your boss, right?”
Adam's face twitched. “Well, yes and well, I think it might be a nightmare, but I think you'd be good at it. And …” Adam shrugged as Natalie glared at him. “Well problem halved and all that bollocks.”
Natalie smiled through her tears and sighed, shaking her head. “Operations Manager. What does your company do?”
Adam squeezed her. “We make alarms and security systems. Put together in the workshop, or factory. Stored in the warehouse, shipped all around the world. There's a Sales Team but they are based in some offices away from us in the town centre, and there is a helpdesk based there.” He looked at her face. “They'll have their own manager.”
“Why don't you apply for it?”
Adam sighed. “I'm no good at that shit. I'm a workshop guy. I like dealing with people not numbers.” He watched Natalie twitch and continued. “and anyway, the Old Man wants someone bright and I'm not a Uni person, I've only just been promoted.”
Natalie tapped him on the knee. “Sounds like a big promotion. I won't get it,” she told him. “But ...”
“But he is expecting you to make an appointment to see him. He likes strong characters and …”
“And?” Natalie asked and Adam shook his head.
“Nah, well … ummm … you get the idea.”
Natalie looked back over the river and squinted in the darkness. “I want to go home.”
“Sure, umm, do you want something to eat?”
Natalie shook her head. “No. I know you meant well but I've had a really shit day and I just want to go to bed.”
“Oh right …” Adam said smirking.
“Alone,” Natalie told him seriously and he started the long walk back with her to her home. “But you can have your coat back.”
“I'm fine,” Adam lied, his teeth chattering and body shivering. “Honestly, I'm fine, you keep it until I walk you back.”
Natalie sighed. “You ain't comin' to bed with me.”
“Yes, I know,” Adam groaned. “Dya think I only think 'bout sex?”
“Yes,” she said. “But thank you, I think.”
Chapter XVII
“Tabitha,” Sarah cried and held out her arms at the girl emerging from the hospital.
“Where's Lara?”
“Mum's got her.” Sarah dragged Tabitha towards her and embraced her, hugging her tightly. “You OK?”
“It's just a check-up,” Tabitha reminded her and Sarah nodded, her heart beating quickly. She puffed and rubbed her hands, looking at her partner. “Are you OK? You look on edge.”
“Me. No. I'm fine, just been to town. I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be? I'm not on edge, why would I be on edge?” Sarah ranted.
Tabitha gripped Sarah's hand and stopped her from walking into the road. “Right, what's up?”
Sarah was shaken from her daydreaming by a truck going past her and looked at Tabitha. “I'm fine,” she dismissed her partner airily. “Of course I am fine.”
Tabitha scowled and rubbed the back of Sarah's hand. “You are tetchy. I'm fine, babe. Just want to get Lara and snuggle up in bed with …”
Sarah pulled her towards a small park on the other side of the main road and Tabitha howled in protest as Sarah led her across the busy thoroughfare with scant consideration for the traffic that passed inches from them.
Tabitha wrenched her hand from Sarah's as they reached the pavement on the other side of the road and crossed her arms. “Right, what is going on? You are acting weird.”
“I am not weird,” Sarah replied, bouncing up and down, and grabbed Tabitha's hand, dragging her into the tiny park. She looked around and stopped on the grass, kneeling down in the twilight and looking into her partner's eyes. “Tabitha, will you marry me?” Sarah reached into her pocket and pulled out a diamond ring, slipping it onto the Black girl's finger.
Sarah looked expectantly, the moist earth soaking into her trousers and her hands trembling as she held out the ring case. “Marriage?”
Sarah bit her lip and nodded. “It's February 29th, I am allowed to ask.”
“But … wow.”
Sarah smiled as Tabitha took the £750 ring and tilted it, watching it sparkle in the sunlight. “So, is that a yes. Are we engaged?” Sarah asked impatiently.
Tabitha nodded and wiped her eyes, sniffing. “It's … um … so unexpected.”
Sarah giggled and slipped the ring onto Tabitha's ring finger, her face ablaze with glee. “Is that a yes?”
“What will your folks think?”
“I don't care,” Sarah said honestly. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me, Tabs. Please?”
Tabitha sniffed and nodded, wiping her eyes. “Yes.”
Sarah beamed and Tabitha gestured for Sarah to get up from the mud, glancing at the muddy knees. Sarah threw her arms around her fiancée, hugging her tightly.
Tabitha was nearly thrown into the rose bushes as Sarah spun her around and then nearly bounced on the spot as they broke their embrace. “I got to tell Nat,” she cried.
“Can we get my daughter first?” Tabitha pleaded and Sarah sighed.
“I s'pose so,” she teased and grabbed her partner by the wrist running back down towards the main road.
“Hey Dad,” she cried out as she burst into his house and looked at her father mopping his shirt. “Surely, you're old enough to not spill shit down you,” she teased and watched as her father turned around with a snarl. “Hey Dad. We're engaged,” she said triumphantly. “Look.”
Liam laughed from the couch. “Hey, if it's the bride's family that pays, does that mean you have to go half each?”
Sarah grunted from the side of the room. “So who pays for your gay Civil Partnership then?”
Liam scowled. “I am not gay,” he said firmly. “Actually Olivia and I were thinking the other day of getting engaged ourselves.” George's eyes widened and Liam shrugged. “But congrats sis.”
“Yeah,” George said, getting up and holding his arms out. “Congratulations.”
* * * * *
Natalie stretched her feet under her desk and looked over at the whiteboard hanging in her office – she had never had an office before all to herself and then at the two walls covered with posters. If she stretched out her hands, she couldn't touch both sides of her desk at the same time – it was a big desk and Natalie Porter felt she had arrived.
She leant to her right, hooking her middle finger over the wood and then pushed her body onto the surface, desperately trying to touch the other side at the same time when there was a knock on the door. “In,” she cried, sitting up straight in her chair and she saw the face of Adam in the doorway.
“Nat, you wanted the attendance sheets for last week,” he told her, passing them to his new Operations Manager. Natalie grinned and smiled back at him.
“Actually I wanted them to go to Jo for the weekly report,” Natalie replied in a business-like tone and she flicked through a few of them. “But I'll pass them on once I've had a read.”
Adam loitered and looked at her. “How is it?”
Natalie lowered her voice, as if she was being bugged covertly and looked at her ex-house mate and work colleague. “Really good. Mr Rogers has been brilliant, and I've got dozens of ideas to improve the admin 'round here. Proper positive stuff. I need to talk to you 'bout some of them,” she told him and Adam grinned.
“How about dinner?” Adam asked rubbing his shaking hands and Natalie shook her head. “On you 'cause you're earning fuck loads more than me.” Natalie licked her lips and sighed. “But we never did have your birthday meal, did we?”
“No we didn't … but I've been told to invite you tomorrow to the house after work. Sarah and Tab want to see you again and Sarah's cookin'.”
“Me?”
&n
bsp; “Yeah, I can't believe it either but cha wanted,” Natalie waved her hand in a circle as a dismissive gesture and her eyes narrowed. “Why was Tom absent or late every day last week?”
“Ahhh. Yes, we … he's …” Adam gulped and sniffed. “He's got some home trouble, ya know. It's hard for him and …”
“And he doesn't need any trouble at work?” Natalie enquired of the nervous supervisor.
“Exactly.”
Natalie smiled and looked at him. “Tell him I completely understand,” she said with a smile. “And if he is late or absent one more time, he won't have any work to worry about.” Adam nodded and Natalie took a deep breath with a shrug. She nodded towards him and gestured him to leave which Adam was happy enough to do.
* * * * *
“Liam, Olivia,” a female voice cried and the young man adjusted his trousers and opened his girlfriend's door. “Hello, Mrs Marshall,” Liam called and walked to the balcony overlooking their winding staircase.
“What's up Mum?” Olivia cried, coming up behind her boyfriend and squeezing her hands around his waist.
“I'm … ummm … going out for night,” the elegant woman told her. “Your father should have been home but he is staying in London. His mistress must be obliging,” she said tersely and looked up the stairs. “Is Liam staying the night?”
“Ummm … yeah,” Olivia replied with a coy smirk.
“Cause he stayed last night and the night before and the night before.”
Olivia adjusted her facial expression and looked at her mother wrapping a scarf around her. “Yeah, well, he ummm … helps with my homework.”
“Yeah well,” her mother replied with a snort. “If he stays much more then he might as well move in and get his own toothbrush.”
Olivia beamed. “Oh Mum, that's great. I've told him to move into my room. You don't mind?” She asked and squeezed Liam, not waiting for a response. “Come on, let's go and get some clothes from your house,” she cried and her mother looked up the stairs at her excitable teenage daughter.
“Look Olivia, I think we need to ...” Her voice trailed off as her phone vibrated as she answered it immediately.
“Yes Troy. I'm coming. Five minutes. Yeah, sorry. OK. No, it won't. OK. Of course I'm not. Yes, I know the rules. OK bye.” She looked back up the stairs and shook her head, closing the door behind her as she left.