Chapter Nineteen

It was Saturday evening, and Louise and Charley were having a standoff in Louise’s bedroom. At that particular moment, it wasn’t clear who had the upper hand.

‘I don’t want to be looked after by Matt, okay?’ Charley snapped at her mum. ‘I’m nearly sixteen. I’m old enough to look after myself.’

‘I know that,’ said Louise, running a comb through her wet hair, ‘but I might be really late. Besides, the law says that—’

‘You just want to go out. You’re so selfish, thinking of yourself all the time. No wonder you can’t find a man.’

‘Oi!’ Louise prodded Charley in the arm. ‘Less of the cheek or else you’re grounded.’ What was it with everyone, just lately? That was the second person who had called her selfish that week!

‘You won’t ground me because you’d have to stay in then.’

‘Oh, ha, ha. Anyway, there was a time a few weeks ago when you couldn’t wait for me to go out.’

Charley flinched, recalling that Saturday and the rumours that followed. It was really strange how no one ever called Sophie a slag, even though she had gone all the way with Owen, whereas she was still a virgin. Charley wondered whether it was because Sophie’s mum and dad were quite old-fashioned in comparison to Louise; they wouldn’t be seen dead in a nightclub. Charley, however, was accused of all sorts – could it be because her mother was made out to sleep around? It wasn’t fair.

But that had nothing to do with why Charley didn’t want to see Matt. She loved hanging around with him usually. They’d order in a takeaway, play a few games on Xbox and generally have a good laugh. Charley could never understand how Matt got away with spending so much time with them. If she was his girlfriend, she wouldn’t put up with him hanging around another woman’s house to look after her child. Not that she needed looking after, of course.

‘I’ll just be in my room or in front of the telly,’ Charley tried to reason with her mum again. ‘I don’t need Matt here.’

‘Maybe not, but he’s coming around nonetheless.’

‘Oh, whatever!’ Charley flung her legs off the bed and flounced out of the room and into her own.

‘Arghhhhh!’ She took her frustration out on the bed, beating down her fists as she hid her face in her pillow. Well, she’d just stay in her room and surf the net. She didn’t have to sit with him, even if he was here.

First, she logged on to Facebook to see if Alex was around. But he wasn’t. Neither was he answering her WhatsApp messages.

She closed the lid of her laptop with a sigh. It was going to be a long night.

Although it was a Saturday night and Jay and Nicci had gone out for a romantic meal, Jess was in her room. She lay curled up on her bed, squeezing her eyes tightly to stop tears from falling. There was silence all around her. The house felt as empty as she did. And her mind wouldn’t let go of the conversation she’d overheard between Ryan and Matt. They’d thought they’d lowered their voices enough for no one to hear, but she had caught every word.

Ryan was going to deny the baby was his. He’d also denied having any feelings for her. He’d called her a slapper. Said she’d been gagging for it. Matt had surprised her by siding with her, saying that Ryan was the bigger slapper of the two. He’d walked off then, and she had pretended to be busy when Ryan had looked worriedly in her direction.

Jess knew she might be able to win Ryan over. He needed attention as much as she did. But she realised now that getting involved with him had been a silly thing to do, a gut reaction because Laurie hadn’t wanted to know. She didn’t want to be anyone’s bit on the side anymore. And, let’s face it, did she really think after they’d slept together a few times he would fall in love with her and leave his wife and children to be with her? More to the point, had she been thinking at all?

Why couldn’t she find a man of her own? Would she always have to settle for someone else’s?

Jess turned over onto her back and ran a hand over her stomach. She had two people to think about now. This little thing inside her deserved more from its mother.

‘I won’t let you down, bump,’ she whispered.

As Jess contemplated her future that night, so too did Sam. She sat on the settee in her living room looking at, but not watching, some drivel on the television. Reece was over on the other settee, legs stretched out. He’d been asleep for over half an hour and it was only just gone eight o’clock.

It was strange to think that they’d only been back together for a couple of weeks. When he’d first got home, they’d been all lovey-dovey, spending time together and chatting over nice meals. But now they were sitting at either ends of the living room, with hardly a bit of conversation between them.

She wondered if they had made a mistake, or was it just taking her time to adjust to having Reece home full-time? Did they both want this to work but it was too damaged to fix – or perhaps things would settle down in time? It was bound to be awkward at first, but they could get through it, couldn’t they?

Reece gave a loud snore, waking himself up momentarily. He opened his eyes, caught her looking at him and winked before closing them again.

Sam sighed. She felt as lonely now as she had been before Reece moved back for good. Except now she felt crowded too. Fighting for space to call her own. It just seemed so strange having him home again.

If this was what being part of Reece and Sam was, she wasn’t sure if she’d ever get used to it again. Or if she even wanted to.

As soon as he got to Louise’s house that evening, Matt wanted to know what was wrong with Charley. He’d noticed she’d been cold with him for a week or so but he hadn’t got a clue what he’d done to upset her. Usually when he came to look after her, she’d fling her arms round his neck in greeting and he would tease her affectionately. But tonight, she was in her room and even when he shouted up to her, she didn’t reply.

‘Where’s Charley?’ he asked Louise while he made himself a coffee.

Louise, who was busy finishing off her make-up at the kitchen table, shrugged. ‘In her room, I suppose. I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but she’s really annoying me lately. It’s as if she doesn’t want me to go out and enjoy myself.’

‘Perhaps she doesn’t want you to go out,’ Matt replied. ‘Have you ever thought that she might want to spend some time in with you?’

Louise stopped applying her mascara and glared at him through the enhanced eyelashes on one eye. ‘I don’t go out that often.’

‘Come on, Louise. You go out most weekends.’

‘I work all week too!’

‘So do I but I don’t feel the need to get off my trolley drunk every Saturday.’

‘That’s because you’re a bore.’

‘Thanks for that.’

‘Well, I don’t know another man who stays in as much as you, despite doing a favour for me. And what about Lorraine? What does she say about it?’

‘About me being at your beck and call all the time? Or about me not wanting to get bladdered every Saturday night?’

‘You know what I mean.’ Louise pumped the mascara wand in and out of the container.

‘If I did go out every weekend, then you wouldn’t be able to, so I’d quit while you’re ahead.’ Matt’s voice was cold as he stirred his drink. He took it into the living room.

Louise followed him, wondering if she’d been a little too hard on him.

‘What’s up?’ she asked. ‘You’re not usually this grumpy. Have you fallen out with Lorraine?’

Matt sat down and grabbed the television remote control. ‘If you must know,’ he said, ‘we’ve split up.’

‘Oh, no.’ Louise sat down next to him, her heart all of a flutter. ‘When did this happen?’

‘Last night.’

‘Any particular reason why?’ she pressed.

Matt shrugged. ‘It wasn’t really working for me.’

Louise paused. She wanted to say that he could spend as much time around here as he liked but she knew he didn’t want to hear that. He’d probably think that she meant using him for even more babysitting.

‘It didn’t have anything to do with me and Charl, did it?’ she asked.

‘No. I won’t let any woman dictate to me who I can and can’t see.’

‘That’s good to hear,’ Louise said, realising that actually it seemed that it did. ‘I mean, for Charley. She really enjoys having you around.’

‘Apart from this last week.’

‘I know, I’ve seen the way she’s been acting around you. Have you said something to upset her?’

‘No. I don’t know what’s wrong but she’s been really funny since I saw her in the market. I can’t think–’

‘What’s the matter?’ Louise prompted when Matt stopped.

‘Nothing.’ Matt frowned, remembering the last time he’d seen Charley. It was just after he’d been in the stock room with Ryan and Jess. Had she overheard them talking?

‘Has Sam forgiven you yet?’ he changed the subject.

When Louise had blurted out about the secret wedding, Sam had been furious. But Nicci had been delighted, hadn’t stopped talking about it since. She’d rung Jay immediately and cooed down the phone at him. At least for now, she had no idea where the reception was being held. They had managed to keep that secret. And, said Nicci, now she had time to enjoy it too.

‘I’m not getting the silent treatment any more,’ said Louise. ‘Me and my big mouth. At least Nicci doesn’t know everything that’s happening on the day.’

A horn peeped outside. Louise jumped to her feet, checked her appearance in the mirror above the fireplace and pouted. She turned back to Matt and planted a kiss on his cheek.

‘Thanks for babysitting. I won’t be too late,’ she said. ‘Are you stopping over or going home?’

‘That depends on how late you are.’

But Louise was already gone.

Matt went to the window and once the taxi was out of view, he headed upstairs to see Charley. From the landing, he could see her through the half open door. She was lying on her bed, watching television. He knocked on the door and she glanced at him icily before returning her eyes to the screen.

‘Can I come in?’ Matt stood on the threshold.

Charley shrugged.

‘What’s wrong, Charl? It’s not like you to ignore me.’

‘It’s because you hurt me.’ Charley drew her knees up to her chest and hugged herself.

‘I hurt you?’ Matt raised his eyebrows. ‘Have you heard something that you shouldn’t have?’

‘If it was a good thing to hear, you wouldn’t be asking me that.’

‘I don’t follow.’ Actually he did, but Matt needed to be sure.

‘I always thought having no dad around was good because I got to spend time with you. You’ve always been like a dad to me, someone who I could have a laugh with.’

Matt noticed the subtle change from present to past tense. ‘What is it, Charl?’

Charley had tears in her eyes, obviously struggling to keep in her emotions. ‘I thought you cared for Lorraine. And my mum? I thought you cared for her too.’

‘Well, I did care for Lorraine but that’s over between us now.’

That threw Charley for a moment. ‘Oh.’

‘And I do care for your mum. You too.’ Matt leaned forward to tilt up her chin. ‘I hate to see you upset.’

‘Well, you won’t have time for me, or Mum now, will you?’ Charley pulled her head back. ‘Not now that you’ve got Jess pregnant.’

Matt closed his eyes for a moment. He knew it. Bloody Ryan Pellington!

‘You got Jess pregnant and then you wouldn’t stand by her,’ Charley continued.

‘I didn’t get Jess pregnant.’

‘Yes, you did. I heard you talking about it. You, Ryan and that – that bitch.’

Matt bit on his bottom lip as he wondered how to get out of this one. If he lied to Charley, he’d run the risk of losing her respect forever. But if he told Charley the truth, not only would he land Ryan in it too, but he’d then be in trouble with Louise for covering up for him – and not telling her that her own brother had cheated on his wife again. And if any of this got back to Ryan’s wife, Sarah, then all hell would break loose and she might even take the twins away from their father. He couldn’t have it on his conscience. There was too much at stake.

‘If it wasn’t you, who was it then?’ Charley asked.

‘I – I can’t tell you,’ he stuttered.

‘It was you! You’re just trying to deny it!’

‘No, it wasn’t me. It’s …’ Matt couldn’t say Ryan’s name.

But Charley wasn’t stupid. ‘Uncle Ryan?’ she gasped. ‘He got Jess pregnant!’

Matt was still at a loss as to what to say. ‘You need to let the grown-ups sort this out, Charl.’

‘But Ryan is married to my auntie Sarah! How could he do that? And ... oh, no. He was the one denying everything, wasn’t he?’

Matt didn’t answer that. ‘Just think how Sarah would feel if you went over there blurting all this out? She won’t want to believe you.’

‘You’re wrong. I’m her niece! And I know he’s done it before. I might not be grown up but I do know these things.’

Matt stayed quiet then. He could only dream of the pain this would cause Sarah after the last time.

‘I think you should talk to your mum about this in the morning,’ he said.

‘But you were covering for him.’

‘No, I wasn’t really. I didn’t want Sarah to get hurt.’

‘But he met Jess anyway, didn’t he?’ When Matt said nothing, Charley shouted, ‘The sneaky bastard.’

Although Matt agreed, he tried to reason with her. ‘I’ll speak to your mum first and see what she wants to do. Maybe it’ll sort itself out but we mustn’t make things worse for Sarah, okay?’

Charley nodded. She felt stupid now that she’d jumped to conclusions.

‘I’m sorry,’ she told him, shame-faced. ‘I guess I didn’t want to lose you either. I like that you come round all the time and I was scared that you wouldn’t.’

‘Does that mean I have to suffer some dross on the television downstairs then?’

Charley grinned.

‘It does, doesn’t it?’ Matt clicked his fingers with the wave of a hand. ‘Damn. We should have had this conversation later on.’

Charley knew then how wrong she’d been. Matt had wanted to get this mess sorted out with her as soon as he could. How could she have doubted him?

‘Shall I run to the shop and get us some goodies?’ she suggested.

Matt nodded. ‘It’s a deal.’ He held out his hand and she shook it. Then he gave her a hug. ‘I’d never do anything to hurt you. I love you like you were my own daughter.’

Charley felt a lump in her throat. One day she hoped to find someone as lovely as Matt. But more importantly, she could clearly see that Matt loved her mum dearly.

She just wished her mum would see that she had someone special right underneath her nose.

Louise had been out for two hours, yet she was still sober. She’d gone into Hedworth to meet up with Melissa from work but couldn’t relax into the night. For the first time in ages, she wanted to be at home. She wished she was sitting on the settee with Charley and Matt eating pizza and sharing a bottle of something chilled. She glanced at her watch. It was too early to admit defeat.

Melissa had spotted someone she knew as soon as they’d got to this particular pub and had been off once they’d bought drinks. It was someone Louise vaguely recognised but couldn’t be bothered to go and chat to. She glanced around the bar, its clientele of mixed ages. In front of her were two women and two men out together as couples. To her right, two teenagers getting to know each other just a bit too much, considering they were out in public. To her left were a couple in their mid-forties laughing about something or other. She sighed.

Everyone seemed to be with someone.

For as long as she’d been going out in the pubs and clubs around Hedworth, Saturday nights had been known as couples’ night. Friday nights were nights out with friends, so it never seemed as obvious that she was lonely. But Saturdays, when it was imperative to have a man or risk feeling out of place, Louise felt her loneliness. What did she have to do to find a decent man?

Tears welled in her eyes as she caught a glimpse of Melissa. It looked like she was exchanging phone numbers with the guy now.

And what did she have to look forward to? It would just be another boring week, working on the market stall and going home to sit on her own while Charley stayed in her room and chatted to her friends online. Louise would love to have someone show a bit of interest in her. She wasn’t bad-looking for her age. She didn’t dress slutty – well, not too obviously anyway. She was clean and tidy, and so was the house. She worked hard for what she had and had a good sense of humour.

She laughed inwardly at her thoughts. It sounded as if she was reading a profile on a dating site.

Melissa rejoined her after a few more minutes, a huge grin plastered on her face. ‘That was Simon,’ she shouted above the background noise. ‘He’s going to call me in the week and arrange a night we can meet.’

‘How flipping wonderful,’ Louise shouted back sarcastically.

‘WHAT? I can’t hear YOU!’

‘I said, that’s great.’ As Melissa was pacified with this answer, Louise decided she’d had enough and called it a night.

Charley was asleep on the sofa when she arrived home just before eleven. Matt was watching a football match. He indicated his surprise with raised eyebrows.

‘I know, I know.’ Louise sighed. ‘I must be getting old. I wanted to come home.’

‘Do you have a thermometer?’ Matt gasped comically. ‘I think you must be coming down with something.’

Louise grinned. ‘I’m making a cuppa. Want one?’

‘Sure. Although I think you might need something stronger … I have something to tell you.’

‘Oh, that doesn’t sound good.’

Matt followed Louise into the kitchen so as not to wake Charley.

‘Let me guess.’ She grinned. ‘You’ve had a call from Lorraine and she’s pregnant so you’re stuck with her.’ But then she turned away abruptly. Although she made a joke of it, inside she prayed it wasn’t true. She didn’t know what she’d do without Matt popping in as much as he did, plus helping her out with Charley, being there whenever she needed him.

‘It isn’t me who got someone pregnant,’ said Matt. ‘It’s Ryan.’

Louise turned back quickly. ‘What!’

‘Look, I shouldn’t be telling you but Charley overheard us talking. It’s why she’s been funny with me.’ He sighed. ‘It’s Jess who Ryan has knocked up.’

Louise covered her mouth with her hand.

‘That’s not the worst of it. Sarah knows about the affair too.’