'No, it's not a tie either.' Joyce reached out for his hands. 'I can't give it to you yet, as, in a way, it's on order. And I'm afraid you'll have to wait about seven months till it arrives.'
The room was silent until Sean jumped up. 'Joyce, you don't mean? You don't! You do?' Suddenly he and Ashley were rushing forward and hugging her. It was only Ron who sat with a straight face, unable to comprehend.
'Ronnie,' Joyce whispered softly. 'I'm expecting.'
His jaw fell open. 'A baby?'
'Of course a baby.'
'A baby?' Ronnie repeated. 'You mean I'm going to be a father?'
Joyce nodded. 'That's the general idea.'
He reached out for her. 'I just can't believe it. Are you sure?'
'I've seen the doctor. He doesn't seem to think there's much doubt.'
'We're going to be uncles,' Sean said emotionally looking at Ashley.
'What will I be?' Michael asked.
'You'll be in charge!’ Ashley teased. 'And as such, will be given the privilege of changing the first nappy.'
There was another burst of laughter and Ashley ruffled Michael's hair teasingly as Sean hurried off to the kitchen in search of the glasses and the unopened bottle of cream sherry.
It was the last Friday in December and all through the week Bella was at a loose end. She missed the busy atmosphere of the coffee bar; the week between Christmas and New Year had seemed very long. Even though she had brought the accounts up to date, given the airey a spring-clean and was now entertaining her mother.
Mary had called with Teresa whilst Gus dug over the garden before the frosts. 'I suppose you'll be celebrating the New Year,' Mary hinted heavily as she parked herself by the fire. Teresa and Michael disappeared into the bedroom to play the Dansette.
'I've no special plans.' Bella shrugged as she poured the tea she had made into the best china. 'Just a quiet night in.'
'Good,' Mary said bluntly, 'as Gus and me are going up to the Rose and I thought I'd leave Teresa here.' As she was eating the slice of sponge cake that Bella had cut her, she added sourly, 'Not that after Christmas there's any money left over to buy a tipple.'
'I didn't think Gus liked the pub.'
'Sure, where else should we go, if not to the boozer? It's New Year's Eve. And I'd like to buy the poor bugger a drink seeing as all he's done for me.'
Bella opened her bag and took out three pounds. 'You'd better have this. But be sure to buy food first.'
Mary took it quickly, raising her eyebrows. 'I can't work miracles on a few quid. There's the larder to fill and I'm not back to work yet.'
Bella took out another two pounds and Mary grabbed it. As she was closing her bag there were footsteps outside.
'So he's home, is he?' Mary scowled as Micky burst in the door.
Micky glowered at the sight of his mother-in-law. 'What's she doing here?' he demanded angrily.
'It's Christmas, Micky, or haven't you noticed?' Bella stared at her dishevelled husband.
He ignored her and strode into the kitchen. Bella followed. 'Where have you been all week?'
He took a bottle of beer from the cupboard and opened it. 'Where I go or what I do is my business. I've told you that before.'
'But the last time we saw you was Boxing Day.'
He drank greedily from the bottle. 'What was the point of coming home?'
'To see your son of course.'
Micky laughed at her words. 'Michael wouldn't care if he never saw me again. You've turned him against me and you know it.'
Bella was shocked. 'That's not true, Micky.'
'You married the wrong brother, Bells, why don't you admit it?' He pushed his face up to hers. 'Michael thinks more of his uncle than he does of me. And who was it who done all that? I am looking at her now, standing right in front of me. What else has gone on behind my back?'
'Micky, stop it. You don't know what you're saying.' Fear crept up into her throat as he grabbed hold of her. 'You're hurting me.'
His wild eyes stared into her face. 'How much money have you got in your bag?'
'Wh … what do you want it for?' she stammered uncertainly.
'I need it, that's all. I'm short of ready cash and I know you must have some from the coffee bar.'
'But it's not mine to – '
'Where is it?' he demanded, shaking her roughly. 'You'd better cough up Bells, because if you don't, I'll chuck that old bat and her kid out and then I'll turn this place upside down till I find it.'
Bella felt her blood run cold as she looked into his gaze. This wasn't Micky. It was as if someone else had stepped into his body. What had happened to him? And why did he want money?
'All right, I'll get you some,' she said quietly. 'But please don't cause any trouble as the children will hear.'
'Then you'd better hurry, hadn't you?' He reached down into the cupboard and snatched up another bottle.
Bella didn't look at Mary as she went through. She didn't want her to witness how frightened she was. She prayed the children would stay in the bedroom playing their records.
There was fifty pounds in the cash box. She took it from her dressing table drawer. The amount was sufficient to pay all the January bills at the coffee bar. She began to take out some of it when a hand gripped her wrist.
'So this is where you hide it.' Micky grabbed the box and pushed her down on the bed. 'Quite the little hoarder, aren't we?' He took out all the notes and thrust them inside his coat. 'Is that the lot?'
'Micky, you can't take it all.'
'Why not? Look at how much I've given you over the years! It's about time you started paying your way. I'm fed up with watching my hard earned money frittered away on that old soak you call a
