Queenie, page 40
Queenie beamed from ear to ear. She felt like that silly schoolgirl who’d had a crush on Daniel all those years ago. Not a grown woman with four kids who was nearing her forties.
‘So where do we go from here? I’m definitely moving back to London. I wanna be close to you. Will you meet up with me? Regularly?’
‘I don’t see why not.’ Queenie wouldn’t shit on her own doorstep, but could meet Daniel in the West End. Vinny liked Daniel, so even if she was spotted out with him, she knew Vinny wouldn’t kick off. Nobody could say anything really, what with Daniel being Mary’s son.
‘I know some lovely restaurants and hotels I can take you to. We can have early lunches, then spend the afternoons in bed,’ Daniel said with a twinkle in his eye.
‘You’ve got it all planned out, haven’t you, Daniel O’Leary? Your mum always said you could charm the birds from the trees. No wonder the women fall for you,’ joked Queenie. She was ever so excited though. The thought of having a passionate affair with Daniel in London filled her with joy. Life was too short to not take chances; especially the way Daniel made her feel. He brought her alive in more ways than one.
‘You know what you were saying earlier about Vinny and Roy opening their club? I’d love to be there. Can I come?’
‘Oh, I dunno about that. The whole family’ll be there, Albie included.’
‘I’ll behave, I swear. Patrick’ll come with me. Everyone knows how close you were to Mum. Nobody’ll blink an eyelid.’
‘I’ll think about it.’
‘I don’t want you to go home tomorrow. Can’t you stay a bit longer?’
‘No. I must go back with Patrick. You got a phone here?’
‘Yeah.’
‘I’ll give you my number. Don’t ring until after ten of an evening. Brenda’s in bed by then and the boys and Albie are usually out.’
The rest of the day passed quickly. Too quickly. Talking to Daniel was so easy, the conversation flowed like running water.
‘Patrick’s back,’ Daniel sighed, peeping through the curtain.
‘Don’t you say anything to him, Daniel. It’s early days and I don’t want anybody to know.’
‘You’ve told me that about fifty times already.’
‘And I’m telling you again.’
‘You’re sounding like Mum now.’
Queenie playfully punched his arm. ‘Now act normal.’
‘How’d it go?’ Daniel asked his brother.
Patrick shrugged. ‘So-so. I’ve told old McCarthy we’ll pay the total cost of the wedding, plus give him five grand on top for his trouble.’
‘Did he shake on it?’
‘No. He demanded ten, the canny bastard. Then Siobhan’s brothers turned up mouthing off, so I came away. We’ll sort it, don’t worry. The old man’s definitely calmed down. You stay holed up and I’ll come back next week with whatever dosh he fecking wants. Then you can travel back to London with me.’
Daniel winked at Queenie. ‘Can’t wait to get back to London. I’m bored here.’
‘Did you two have a nice catch-up?’ asked Patrick.
‘Yeah. Apart from Queenie begging for my hand in marriage, Patrick. I told her no, I’ve already been married too many times,’ chuckled Daniel.
Queenie felt herself blush. ‘Take no notice of him.’
‘I never do, Queenie. Jesus, you got far too much sense to ever get tied up with him.
‘Cheers for sorting stuff with the McCarthys, Pat. I’ll settle up with you when I get home.’
Patrick rolled his eyes. ‘And owe me the rest, I dare say.’
Daniel laughed. ‘Yeah. Something like that.’
Patrick glanced at his watch. He was starving. ‘You ready to make tracks, Queenie?’
‘Yes. Ready when you are.’
‘You got enough food to last you another week?’ Patrick asked his brother.
‘Yeah. I’m sick of eating tinned crap though, I need some proper meat inside me.’
‘You’ll be home soon. Just keep your head down, OK?’
Queenie felt awkward when Daniel hugged her in front of Patrick. ‘Bye then. It was lovely catching up with you, Daniel.’
‘Same ’ere. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Until the next time,’ Daniel kissed Queenie on the cheek and watched her walk down the path, never taking his eyes off her.
Queenie arrived home from Ireland in a daze and spent the next few days walking around as if in a dream.
Daniel rang her as they’d arranged. They chatted for ages every night, until Albie or one of the boys came home and she had to end the call.
Queenie knew Daniel was the love of her life, but the sensible side of her was wary. She wasn’t about to jump from the frying pan into the fire, not when she had the children to think about, but she couldn’t wait to see him again.
Queenie’s latest daydream was interrupted by Viv. ‘What’s a bleedin’ matter with you? That’s the second time today you’ve forgot to put sugar in my tea,’ complained her sister.
‘Sorry, give me your cup. I ain’t been sleeping well, if you must know.’
‘What, over that Peter? Don’t be losing sleep over him, Queen. He got what was coming to him, love,’ snapped Viv. The whole area was talking about what might have happened to the lad.
‘No. Not over Peter. I still feel guilty over the letter Mum wrote me. I want to visit Mum in the morning, apologize to her for the way I made her feel. Mary was my dear friend, but you only get one mother, Viv. So from now on, Mum is the only one out the two I shall talk about. Would you come to the grave with me?’
Viv squeezed her sister’s hand. ‘Of course I will. You’ll feel better once you go there too. Tell Mum what you’ve just told me. We’ll take her some fresh flowers an’ all.’
‘Thank you,’ smiled Queenie.
‘You sure there’s nothing else you ain’t telling me? You’ve lost weight. And you came back from Ireland glowing with happiness. Did you by any chance see Daniel while you were over there?’ Viv was well aware of the crush Queenie had had on Daniel when they were growing up.
‘Only briefly. He don’t change. Left a girl standing at the altar recently. Her family are seething, and they aren’t people to be messed with, so Daniel’s lying low. That man has spent that much time in hiding, he might as well have been sent down for a ten-stretch!’
Viv laughed. ‘He was always one for the girls. A proper heartbreaker. ’Ere you know who he reminds me of? Your Michael. He’s another Daniel. You sure you two have never had an affair in later life and you forgot to tell me,’ joked Viv.
Queenie smiled. Her sister was close, but had the wrong son. She would usually tell Viv all her secrets, but what had happened between herself and Daniel was sacred. Never to be spoken of to anyone. That’s how special it had been – and still was.
Albie Butler trudged dejectedly towards home. Since calling it off with Maureen, he had nothing to look forward to. Nothing whatsoever. He was even debating whether to get in touch with her again, but Vinny’s threats to kill her kids had chilled him to the bone. It wasn’t fair. A son was meant to be scared of his father, not the other way around.
Having had nothing but beer money the past few days, Albie had finally earned enough to buy a small bunch of flowers to leave outside the cafe for Peter. He could only afford the cheapest bunch, so had nicked a few from the graveyard to bulk up a bit. He didn’t want to look tight or skint.
The police had announced yesterday that Peter had been strangled before he’d been dumped in the Thames. The whole community was in shock. The lad had had a bit of a dodgy reputation for flashing and touching up young girls, but even just looking at him you could see he wasn’t the full shilling. He was like an older version of Lenny, Albie thought.
There were lots of people milling about outside the cafe, including Jack and Ethel, Peter’s parents, who were reading all the lovely cards left with the flowers.
Albie laid his bunch, shook Jack’s hand, hugged Ethel and said how sorry for their loss he was. As he turned to leave, he saw Vinny standing there with a huge arrangement, smirking at him.
Albie went to turn on his heel, but Vinny grabbed his shoulder. ‘You ever cheat on Mum again, you’ll end up in the Thames an’ all,’ Vinny whispered in his ear.
Albie looked at his monster of a son in horror. He guessed there and then that Vinny was responsible for Peter’s murder. ‘I won’t, I promise.’
Vinny winked. ‘Sensible decision.’
After numerous phone calls from her son, begging forgiveness, Queenie decided to allow him back inside the house. He’d stayed upstairs at the snooker club ever since their argument and seeing as the opening night at the club was on the horizon, Queenie felt it was time to listen to what he had to say. She also had a lot to say to him too.
Vinny arrived at 8 p.m., as she’d told him to. Brenda was round Viv’s, watching TV with Lenny. She’d slung Albie out, given him some money to go back down the pub, and Roy and Michael both had dates this evening.
Vinny had a posh carrier bag with him which he put down in the hallway. Queenie guessed this was another gift for her, but she didn’t want buttering up, she wanted a proper apology.
‘Thank you for allowing me inside the house, Mum. How was Ireland? Did you have a nice break?’
‘Yes thanks,’ Queenie snapped. She was still so hurt over the way Vinny had spoken to her and was determined not to make this easy for him.
‘I’ve barely slept or eaten since our argument. I am so sorry, Mum. I don’t know what came over me, I love you so much – too much, perhaps. I’ve had a long, hard think and know in my heart that nothing is going on between you and Freddie Angel.’
‘Oh, you’ve seen sense at last, have ya? That’s good,’ Queenie replied, her voice laden with sarcasm. ‘You know full well Freddie has always been a friend of the family. He made a fuss of you, Roy and Michael when you were growing up. How dare you accuse me of shagging the man! Yes, he once had a soft spot for me, but that was donkey’s bloody years ago. He asked me out before I met your father and I didn’t want him then. What makes you think I’d want the man now?’
Vinny looked at his feet like a naughty schoolboy. ‘I was wrong. I know that. Honestly, I can’t apologize to you enough.’
‘I am so disappointed in you, Vinny. Since the day you were born, boy, I’ve had your back. Look at all the times I stuck up for you and gave you alibis. You cried on my shoulder after that Yvonne Summers turnout and I drummed it into you that your future was all that mattered. Then I dug you out of a massive hole when you attacked poor Bonnie Tarbuck. I even looked her mother in the eye and lied so you could keep your reputation intact. My heart went out to Bonnie’s mum after that girl hung herself, but I did it for you. Everything in my life, I’ve done for you. Yet you have the front to accuse me of being manipulative and raising you the way I did for my own gain. I wanted you to make something of your life for you, not me. I didn’t want to see you working in some poxy factory or ending up a useless bum like your father.’
‘Please forgive me, Mum. I was jealous. I couldn’t bear the thought of Freddie wooing you, touching you.’
‘But he didn’t do any of those things, you silly bastard. I told you that. We’re friends.’
‘I know that now. I saw him out shopping with his new lady a couple of days ago. They were holding hands.’
‘Oh well, at least Freddie took my advice – something you’re not very good at.’
‘Please, Mum. Look at me. Without you, I’m nothing. I take back all I said, every single word. I was so angry that morning, I drank half a bottle of Scotch and my mouth ran away with me. You are the reason I’ve bought that club. You’ve made me into the man I am today. I swear on my life, I will never treat you or speak to you again in such a way. I was bang out of order and I know it. I also know I have issues that I need to sort. I think I’m damaged goods. All that shit with Macca, Marnie, Yvonne, Bonnie – it’s had a lasting effect on me. I ain’t the full shilling, I know I ain’t.’
Queenie softened. ‘There’s nothing wrong with you. Come ’ere, give me a hug.’
‘Do you forgive me? The club opening won’t be the same if you don’t come.’
‘Yes, I forgive you. But I swear to you, Vinny, you ever speak to me like that again, that’s the end of me and you. I mean that, an’ all. I also want you to bring me that gun you were waving around the other day. I will look after it for you. You’re not in a good frame of mind and I don’t want you doing anything stupid.’
Vinny smiled. ‘Good idea. I bought you a present to wear at the opening night. Wanna see it?’
‘Go on then.’
When Vinny pulled the jacket out of the posh carrier bag, Queenie stared at it in awe. Nobody down her street had a real fur jacket. ‘Oh, it’s beautiful, Vinny. I love it!’
‘Try it on, Mum.’
Queenie did as asked. It fitted perfectly. ‘Thank you. I love it.’ She did a twirl before looking at herself in the mirror.
Vinny grinned. ‘Only the best for my mum. Roll on Friday week for the grand opening. I can’t bloody wait.’
‘Me neither. Oh, and by the way, I’ve invited Patrick O’Leary. It was very nice of him to pay for me to go to Ireland and visit his mother’s grave. He’s bringing his brother with him.’
‘Great stuff. I always liked Patrick and Daniel. Top blokes.’
Queenie smiled, then looked at the clock. Daniel would be calling her soon. ‘You get off now, Vinny. Thank you again for my lovely fur coat. It’s truly beautiful.’
‘My pleasure, Mum. I’ll nip round to the club and bring the gun straight back to ya.’
‘Erm, actually I’m tired, boy. It’s been a long day. Drop the gun round to me in the morning and in the meantime, I’ll think of the perfect hiding place. That OK with you?’
‘Yeah, sure.’ Vinny held his mother close to his chest. ‘Thank you so much for forgiving me. I know I don’t deserve it.’
Queenie stroked her firstborn’s cheek. ‘No. You don’t. But that’s what loving mothers do. Oh, and by the way, whenever Peter’s funeral is, we’ll need to attend together, you know that, don’t you?’
Vinny smiled. ‘Yeah. No worries.’
Daniel O’Leary rang at ten on the dot. ‘I’m missing you so much. I can’t wait to see you again. Patrick’s coming back to Ireland with the McCarthys’ dosh next Thursday, so we’ll travel to London early Friday, then come to the club opening together.’
‘I can’t wait to see you either. Please act normal at the club though. Viv isn’t silly. She picks up on most things. We need to give it a bit of time – I think I’ve made my decision, Daniel, it’s just my boys – you know.’
‘I won’t let you down, I promise. I’ll act like you’re just a family friend at the party. Then how about I book a hotel room for us the following day? We can have a bit of lunch, spend some quality time together.’
Queenie had butterflies again. Daniel sounded so genuine and she felt exactly the same way. They could make a life together, it felt so right.
‘OK. I usually go shopping with Viv on a Saturday, but I can pretend I’m meeting up with Doreen, an old friend of mine.’
‘Cushty. So when we getting married then?’
‘Don’t start all that again,’ laughed Queenie.
‘I’m not joking. I mean it.’
‘You’re a very impatient man. Anyone ever told you that?’
‘Yeah. My mum. I’m not joking though. I let you go once – big mistake. I’m never letting you go again.’
Queenie felt a warm glow inside her. It might have taken her many years, but finally she knew what being in love felt like.
EPILOGUE
I’m singing along to the radio as I pack my little case. I’m ever so excited; feeling on top of the world. Tonight, I will proudly watch my eldest two open their first club. Then tomorrow, I will be spending the day with Daniel. I’ve told the family that Doreen Laine has invited Eliza and me over to her posh house for a meal as her husband is away and we’ll both be staying over.
I’ve always hated liars, but I’m getting quite good at living a lie. Case of having to, really. The chance to sleep with and wake up with Daniel for the first time ever is an opportunity too good to miss. I can’t wait for him to hold me again and to feel him inside me. Just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine. Daniel has woken something in me that I never knew existed in the first place.
‘I didn’t know you liked Herman’s Hermits, Mum,’ laughs Michael.
I’d never been a fan, it’s true, but their latest, ‘I’m Into Something Good’, reminds me of Daniel. Same with the Honeycombs’ ‘Have I the Right’, the Searchers’ ‘When You Walk in the Room’, the Kinks’ ‘You Really Got Me’, and Jim Reeves’ ‘I Love You Because’. So many songs in the current top forty could have been written for me and Daniel.
‘Stop singing, Mum. You’re doing my head in,’ complains Brenda.
I smile. Nothing can dampen my mood today. My boys have achieved their dreams and for the first time in my life I am head over heels in love. Viv is suspicious, she knows there’s something up. I haven’t let on, I keep insisting I’m happy because I have finally made peace with Mum.
‘Don’t just barge in. Knock first,’ I scold Albie. I am sitting at the dressing table in my underwear, putting my make-up on. I bought some new undies this week. Not sexy – I would feel silly at my age wearing anything too provocative, so I purchased pretty ones instead.
Albie sighs. ‘I’ve only come in to get me suit. You ain’t got nothing I’ve not seen before, love. I am your bleedin’ husband.’
Not for much longer, I think to myself. I must’ve spoken to Daniel on the phone for fifty or more hours since leaving Ireland and I’ve made a pact with him. If he treats me right and I feel I can trust him, in six months’ time I will ask Albie for a divorce.
