Peter had invited Adele round to his flat for a few drinks and a chat. She was curious as she’d got the impression on the phone that the chat was about something important.
When she arrived at the flat, Peter welcomed her, brandy at the ready as usual. She sipped her drink, drawing comfort from the warmth of the brandy as it slid down her throat and radiated inside her chest.
‘I got the feeling you had something important to talk about,’ she said.
‘Yeah,’ said Peter, staring pointedly at her. ‘I’ve had an idea.’ He paused before carrying on. ‘Look sis. I know you’ve been finding it tough, and I’m a bit worried about you spilling the beans. I’m not being funny, but it will land me in the shit as well if you do and I can do without…’
‘I won’t,’ Adele cut in.
Peter held up his hand to silence her. ‘I can’t take that chance, Adele. I need you out of the picture.’
Adele paled. What was he suggesting?
‘You spoken to John lately?’
‘Yeah, I managed to patch things up and we still keep in touch. Why? Why are you asking?’
‘Well, now he’s not around I get to see our mam more. So maybe it’s a good time for you to go down to London and join John.’
Adele knew that the word ‘he’ referred to their father. ‘Dad’ wasn’t a word that Peter often used. ‘But she still needs me, Peter,’ she said.
‘She’ll be all right. It’s about time she learnt to stand on her own two feet. You’re too soft with her. She plays you like a fuckin’ fiddle.’
‘But… I don’t know.’
‘You want to go, don’t you? I know how you feel about the guy. You’ve told me.’
‘But, you don’t know her like I do, Peter. She’ll go to pieces. Anything could happen.’
‘Will she ’eck. I can go round there now he’s gone, so she won’t be all on her own. Anyway, you can always ring her.’
‘It’s not the same though, is it?’ said Adele who could sense her brother becoming irritated.
‘Look, Adele,’ he said. ‘I’m not fuckin’ asking, I’m telling you!’ He took a deep, calming breath before continuing. ‘You need to go. I can’t have you spilling the beans. Being with John will take your mind off what happened. But don’t get a fuckin’ attack of conscience when you’re with him. You don’t tell anyone. OK?’
‘And if I don’t go?’
‘Don’t ask me that question, Adele. You won’t like the answer.’
Adele felt a stab of fear.
She nodded, knowing she didn’t have much choice in the matter. ‘All right,’ she said, ‘I’ll do it.’