'Ron's mum wouldn't approve of my taste,' Joyce admitted, breaking in to Bella's train of thought. 'Ron told me his dad was never allowed to bring in new things. She liked the house as it was. She was really house proud.' Joyce bent down to hang another little silver bell. 'I never knew her but I would have liked - ' Suddenly she put her hand to head.
'Joyce, are you feeling unwell?'
' I just came over a bit dizzy.'
'Sit down.' Bella helped her to the sofa. 'You're probably doing too much.'
Joyce blinked her eyes and carefully rearranged her already perfectly groomed hair. 'Actually, I'm praying this is good news.'
Bella looked at her and frowned. 'You don't mean - ?'
Joyce nodded. 'I've missed a period. I know it's early days, but what if it's true? Oh Bella, I long to have a baby now. It will be Ronnie's and I know how much he wants to be a father.'
'Joyce, that's wonderful.'
'I'm not going to tell Ron until Christmas Eve. It will be my Christmas present. I'll see the doctor first, to confirm it of course.' She looked at Bella, her face full of hope. 'Oh, I'm so sorry, this is selfish of me. I know you and Micky would like another child.'
'I'm quite happy,' Bella said lightly, taking Joyce's hand and squeezing it.
'You mean as a working woman?'
'Babies aren't the top of my Christmas list. Only your baby. I'll be an auntie! Now I can go out and buy lots of baby clothes.'
'But only white or yellow!'
Suddenly they were laughing and hugging and Bella knew that this Christmas, with or without Micky, was going to be a very special one.
Lenny stood in the shadows. He had watched the coffee bar for months now, careful never to let himself be seen. It had become part of his life, ever since his release. The evenings had drawn in and the darkness gave him good protection. Each night he watched all the youngsters laughing and talking as they left and said their goodbyes on the street. Sometimes he heard the music drift out and this made him sad. It made him think of the days when he and Gina used to lie in bed on a Sunday morning and turn on the wireless. Gina had a lovely singing voice, full of passion. Just like the way she made love. The strange thing was, it had taken prison to bring him to his senses. There, he'd had time to work it all out. To come to the realisation, she was a good woman. The best. Her bossiness was just her way of getting things done. He'd resented that. Resented her success as he'd never had any of his own. Other thoughts had tormented him while he'd been away. Had she found a new man? Was there a new love interest in her life? Had she replaced him?
What a fool he had been! The regrets were legion. Why had he let Micky convince him he was wasting his time at Gina's? Micky had put ideas into his head. Massaged his ego in order to get what he wanted.
"You're letting her rule you," he'd insisted. "She'll drive you into the ground. You're worth more than the broom she sticks in your hand to push each day." Micky had finally convinced him that stealing from an old girl who was half barmy, was the way to go. The irony was that yet again he had escaped detection. Just like the warehouse. Instead he had frittered away the money and had been caught trying to nick a lorry. A lorry of all things! What was in his mind? It was full of old tyres and he'd had this notion he'd get money for them. Two years he'd gone down for. For a load of old rubber!
Lenny turned up his collar, threadbare and rough. He watched Gina move amongst the tables, washing them down, lavishing care on that bloody great machine behind the counter. He smiled then. That was his Gina.
He watched every night. Watched until the lights went out. Then he was tempted, oh so tempted, to go over and look in the window. What would she say to him? What would he say to her?
"Hello, girl. I like the swanky new kitchen. No rotten veg now to sweep up?"
Huh! She'd probably kick him out of the door. But he couldn't help dreaming of his Gina with her black hair swept up behind her head, her eyes flashing and always ready with a quick answer. How he missed her. He missed everything about her. He was forty-six now, a down-and-out with a receding hair line, empty pockets and a gut full of ulcers.
He was an ex-con, living in a hostel, reviewing his life which amounted to sod all. He couldn't turn back the clock. And he'd better get moving if he didn't want his collar felt. The coppers would think he was casing the joint.
Shrugging his shoulders under the old coat, Lenny moved stealthily away. The shops were full of bright Christmas lights. Some kids on the corner were singing carols. He didn't want to be round here any more. He had to move on with his life. But he was lost.
And he couldn't find his way back.
Chapter 26
The big polished dining table was extended to its fullest and places set with the best china and cutlery for Christmas dinner. Joyce and Bella were in the kitchen preparing the food and Michael and Ronnie were watching television. The smell of roast turkey was pervading the house as Sean
