“I’ll come in for one,” said Caleb.
“Cheers,” said Kevin. His pleading eyes were turned on Faith and Vance.
“Fine,” sighed Faith, turning off the engine. “Just a quick brew.”
“Great,” he grinned.
As they got out of the car, Faith and Vance glanced at each other, not looking forward to this. Their mother Rose was the only one who knew about their relationship and had tried to convince them several times to give it up before anyone found out. Both had refused and Rose had finally given up trying but it had damaged their relationship with their mother. Faith thought Rose was only so concerned because if it ever came out about their relationship then everyone would know that she’d been complicit in the abduction of Faith from her real family when she was a baby. Only Vance and Rose knew Faith was a cuckoo in the nest. The rest of the family didn’t have a clue.
The moment Caleb stepped through the door, Monty, Abi’s googly-eyed chihuahua, rushed to greet him and attempted to mount his leg.
“Urgh, get off,” he said, shaking his left leg until Monty was forced to release him.
The little dog ran back into the living room and sat in the middle of the floor, regarding Caleb lustfully.
“He’s really missing your legs,” commented Jason. “He’s been humping all the furniture like mad since you moved out.”
“Why isn’t he at Abi’s flat?” said Vance.
Abi had moved in with her boyfriend Michael two months ago. Kevin and Jason were the last of the siblings still living with their mother.
“Because she and Michael have gone away for the night,” said Kevin. “Monty gets nervous if he’s left on his own and pees everywhere.”
“So Mum’s a dog babysitter now?” said Vance with a raised eyebrow.
“I can understand why he gets nervous,” said Caleb. “It’s hard going from living in a house full of people to being on your own.” He looked down at the floor when they all regarded him questioningly.
“Are you having a hard time living on your own?” Kevin asked him with a slow grin. “Do you get scared at night? Do you leave the light on to ward off the bogeyman?”
“Shut it Kev,” he glowered.
“Hello boys,” beamed Rose when she saw all her sons gathered together in the small living room. “And Faith,” she added, smile faltering. “How lovely to see you. The family all being together is becoming rarer,” she said, accusing gaze settling on Faith.
“Because we’re so busy,” she countered.
“I know dear but it’s important to make time for family.” Rose looked away as Faith’s dark eyes bored into her, the only pair of dark eyes among them all.
“Michael’s taken Abi out for a romantic night at a hotel,” said Rose, breaking the awkward moment.
“Why do they want to fork out for a hotel when they live together?” frowned Jason.
“To keep the romance alive.”
“Sounds like a waste of money to me,” he sniffed.
“Just because the most you’ve ever bought a date is a gin and tonic and a pie,” Caleb told him. “Doesn’t mean everyone else is the same.”
“Are you planning on taking Lil away for a dirty weekend?” grinned Jason.
“No,” sighed Caleb. “She doesn’t like leaving the pub.”
“You mean she only wants you for one thing and when that’s done she loses interest.”
“Do you want a smack in the mouth?” thundered Caleb, causing Monty to hide under the coffee table.
“All right, take it easy,” Vance told him, patting his shoulder.
Caleb nodded angrily. His long-term fling with their local landlady twenty years his senior was a sensitive subject. He was head-over-heels in love with her but she didn’t like to get involved with a man for longer than a post-coital cigarette.
“Michael’s definitely a keeper,” said Rose. “None of Abi’s relationships have lasted this long before.”
“They do seem to be very much in love,” said Faith.
“I don’t know how he puts up with her,” said Kevin.
“Who wants a cup of tea?” said Rose.
“I’d rather have a lager,” replied Jason.
“Me too,” said Kevin.
“I’ll stick to tea,” said Caleb, Vance and Faith nodding in agreement.
The siblings ranged around the plush brand new sofas that were so large they took up most of the room. Faith thought it sad that she and Vance always chose to sit as far apart as possible. Had they been a normal couple they could have sat together, arms around each other or holding hands. She envied other couples their freedom to express their feelings publicly for each other. She was willing to bet none of them appreciated that freedom.
“So, what have you been up to?” Rose asked her children once they all had their drinks. “Have you been out somewhere together?”
“Just to the club,” replied Vance.
“Any special reason?”
“No. Just work.”
Rose was aware what sort of business her children were involved in. As her husband had been involved in a similar sort of business for their entire married life, albeit nowhere near as successful, it failed to bother her. All their family’s money, from the very day she’d married Wilf Chambers, had come from criminal activity but what her children were now into was very heavy duty and it scared her. Already their lives had been threatened and Faith had almost been killed. The Chambers family was now highly respected around town but there were people jealous of what they had and would try to take it, as had happened to their employers countless times, who had been forced to use frightening levels of savagery to defend themselves and what was theirs. Rose did not want that fate for her children. Now Abi was working with her siblings all her children were caught up in the criminal world. Not one of them would have a decent, legitimate life. They were all in too deep.
“Don’t
