After giving Rupert the details of a pub, Kevin watched him reading the agent’s blurb before saying, ‘I don’t think it’s any better than the others, but if you’re interested we can go to view it.’
‘The ones we’ve been to look at so far have been dreadful and this doesn’t look any better.’
‘I can’t find anything else and we may have to widen the field. An agent told me about a private club that might be coming up for sale, but it’s in South London.’
‘A private club sounds interesting.’
‘That depends on the price. It isn’t on the market yet, but it might be worth a look.’
‘We can do that now.’
‘It isn’t open during the day.’
‘Tonight then.’
‘All right, but we’ll have to be careful. If the owner’s on the premises and thinks there’s interest in the place before he’s put it on the market, it might encourage him to up the price.’
‘Don’t worry, I won’t say a word.’
Kevin hid a smile, thankful that his ruse had worked. The club he’d chosen wasn’t going up for sale, but of course Rupert didn’t know that. He still had another pressing problem, but hopefully the distance to the club held the key so he said, ‘As the club’s on the other side of the river it’s going to take us quite a while to get there. We may have to change trains and then hop on a bus.’
‘There’s no need for that. We’ll get a cab.’
‘That’ll cost a bomb and what about the return journey?’
‘I hate public transport. It’ll be a cab again and I don’t care what it costs.’
‘Since those thugs set on me, I’m not keen on hanging around late at night looking for a taxi. It’s a shame you haven’t got a car.’
‘I used to have one, but I was such a nervous driver and didn’t enjoy it. In the end I hardly used it so I let it go.’
‘It would have made things so much easier, especially if we end up buying the club. With the distance involved it wouldn’t be practical to come home every night. I’d have to live on the premises or close by,’ Kevin murmured sadly.
‘Can you drive?’
‘Yes, I passed my test many years ago.’
‘Then you must have a car, and this proves how useful it will be.’
‘No, Rupert, I can’t let you buy me a car.’
Kevin then found that Rupert wasn’t without guile as he said, ‘I’m not buying it for you. It’ll be our company vehicle.’
‘That’s all right then,’ he said, pleased that Rupert had taken the bait. This was still panning out perfectly, but he wasn’t going to risk rushing things. He wanted it all to come together at the same time, needing to be sure that he had Rupert’s money in his pocket when he torched Vince’s place. That done he planned to leave the country straight away, to live the good life abroad, but he still had to get to Adrianna. He had Vince’s address now, but he could hardly knock on the door. His only chance to speak to her would be when she left the house alone, and that meant watching the place.
The problem had been that Vince’s house was in an upmarket street, and on foot he hadn’t seen anywhere to keep out of sight. What he’d have now was a car to sit in and that would be just perfect.
‘We’ll be there in about ten minutes now,’ Derek told John on the drive to Winchester. ‘I expect your grandmother is already on the lookout for us.’
‘Great,’ John said, looking happier than he had all week. ‘I’m glad Ginger turned up before we left. I thought he might have run off.’
‘He was only under our bed and cats know where their grub is,’ Derek told him.
‘Will you keep an eye on him while I’m away?’
‘Of course I will,’ he said, knowing that John worried that Clive would tease his cat. He knew that John was still finding it hard to settle in Battersea, but he was beginning to make new friends at school and that was sure to help. Derek’s mind turned to other things. Next week he’d be taking over the stall, and on Monday he’d have to go to the wholesalers for stock.
‘There’s Winchester Cathedral,’ John said as it came into view.
It was a familiar landmark that served to show them that they had almost arrived, and shortly after Derek pulled up outside Emily’s house. He smiled when he saw that the door was flung open before they had got out of the car, Emily’s face pink with pleasure. ‘Oh, it’s lovely to see you.’
She was soon ushering them inside, and Derek was greeted by the familiar aroma of lavender furniture polish, mingled with fresh baking. ‘You’ve been making a cake,’ he said, licking his lips.
‘Yes, a Victoria sponge.’
As they walked into the kitchen Derek saw the cake resplendent in the middle of the table and soon Emily was placing a cup of coffee in front of him before cutting into it.
She gave a huge slice to Derek and then said, ‘Here’s one for you too, John.’
‘Thanks, Gran.’
‘Well, Derek, have you finished painting the shop?’ Emily asked as she sat down.
‘I couldn’t start until all the second-hand stuff was taken away, but yes, it’s all done, with cream walls and the white woodwork that Pearl wanted. It’s just as well it’s finished because I’ll be opening my stall on Monday.’
‘Now that Mum’s got rid of all that junk, the shop looks huge,’ commented John.
‘It’ll need to be,’ Derek said. ‘No doubt Pearl’s told you what she’s going to sell now, Emily?’
‘She has and I think it’s a wonderful idea. I can just imagine it. Easels to display paintings on, others to sell, along with stocks of watercolour and oil paints, not to mention all the other paraphernalia that both budding and experienced artists might need. And Pearl said that’s just one craft that she intends to cater for.’
‘It’s a far cry from selling second-hand stuff, that’s for sure,’ Derek said, hoping that Pearl knew what she was doing. Buying china for his stall would cost peanuts compared to stocking the shop. With that and the refurbishments it would probably use up most of the money they had left, but as long as Pearl was happy, it was fine with him.
‘I can’t wait to see the shop,’ Emily said. ‘When it’s stocked and ready to open I’ll come down for the weekend. I have something to tell you all, but it can wait until then.’
Curious, Derek asked, ‘Can’t you tell me now?’
Emily smiled, her eyes sparkling as she said, ‘No, and I don’t want to hear another word about it.’
‘Fine, if you can keep it to yourself it can’t be that import ant,’ Derek joked, thinking that with Lucy and Clive using the spare room, Emily would have to sleep on the sofa.
‘I’ll work on her, Dad,’ John whispered conspiratorially when he thought his gran was out of earshot. ‘She’ll tell me.’
‘I heard that and I won’t,’ she chirped.
Derek rose to his feet. ‘As much as I’d like to join you in persuading your grandmother to spill the beans, I’d best be off. Your mother has a list of things still waiting to be done so I’d best get a move on.’
John and Emily said their goodbyes and as Derek drove back to Battersea his thoughts turned to Kevin Dolby again. Derek hadn’t been happy when his old pal, Tommy Harris, told him that Kevin had been in the area and sniffing around for information on Vincent Chase.
Derek couldn’t work out why. Vincent Chase had once lived in the borough and had been a fence, but according to Tommy, the man had moved on to bigger things now.
He frowned, wondering what Kevin was up to – but if he was involved with Vincent Chase, so much for his religious conversion, Derek decided.
It was Sunday morning, and Pearl was feeling nervous as she went with Derek to see his gran. She hadn’t seen Connie for years and as they approached the old lady sitting in a high-back chair, fingers twisted with arthritis, and her face lined with deep wrinkles, Pearl hardly recognised her.
‘You’re here then,’ Connie said. ‘Sit down. I’m not craning my neck to look up at the pair of you.’
‘How are you, Gran?’ Derek asked.
‘The same as I was the last time you came to see me.’
Pearl took a deep breath and then said, ‘It’s nice to see you, Connie.’
‘You ain’t changed much,’ she said shortly before focusing on Derek to ask, ‘Did you bring me some Turkish delight?’
‘Yes, here you are,’ he said, taking a paper bag out of his pocket.
‘Thanks, love,’ Connie said, stowing it in her cardigan pocket.
‘It looks nice here,’ Pearl commented.
‘It’s not too bad,’ Connie agreed, ‘but there’s nothing like yer own home. You’ve done all right though. By persuading Bessie to leave you her place, you’ve fallen on your feet. She was a silly old woman who never could see through you, but I sussed you out from the start.’
Pearl looked sharply at Derek, and it was he who answered. ‘Gran, Pearl had no idea that she was going to inherit Bessie’s place. As I told you it came as a complete shock, especially when there were strings attached.’
‘One string, Nora, and now you’re lumbered with her, Derek.’
‘She’s no trouble, Gran.’
‘I’d have thought with bringing up another man’s kid you’ve got enough on yer plate. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and no doubt the son will turn out as rotten as his father. More fool you for taking him and her on, but no doubt she’ll dump you now that Kevin Dolby is back on the scene.’
Pearl rose to her feet. ‘Derek, I’m going home.’
‘Sit down, you silly mare,’ Connie said. ‘I’m only speaking the truth and there’s no need to be so touchy.’
‘The truth is I don’t want anything to do with Kevin, and you know nothing about my son. He’s a fine young man and I’m very proud of him.’
‘I am too, Gran. You should meet John, he’s a smashing lad.’
‘Yeah, yeah, so you’ve told me before, but he’s still Kevin Dolby’s kid, not yours, and I don’t want anything to do with him, or her,’ Connie spat, nodding in Pearl’s direction.
Pearl had heard enough and fled. Connie hadn’t wanted reconciliation; she had just wanted to attack her verbally; to see her face to face after all these years and make her feelings clear.
Derek had caught up with Pearl and said, ‘I’m sorry, love. I had no idea she was going to come out with all that rubbish.’
‘It isn’t your fault.’
‘She had no right to talk to you like that.’
‘Derek, I once hurt you and she can’t forgive me. I understand how she feels. If anyone hurt John, I’d find it hard to forgive them too. But despite what your gran thinks, there’s no way I want to go anywhere near Kevin.’
‘I know that, love,’ Derek said as he took her arm. ‘Come on, let’s get out of here.’
‘No, I’ll go home, but you go back to see your gran,’ Pearl insisted. ‘You’re all she’s got and she’s just trying to protect you.’
‘My gran should hear you now and then she’d realise what a wonderful woman you are.’
Pearl was touched, hugged Derek, and then urged him again to go back to his gran. He had only just disappeared out of sight when someone tapped her gently on the arm.
‘Hello, Pearl, how are you?’
‘Err … I’m fine.’
‘I don’t think you recognise me. It’s Ann, Ann Haynes. I used to live in the same street as Connie Lewis.’
‘Mrs Haynes, of course. How are you?’
‘I’m not too bad, love. I know we only met once or twice, but I’ve heard that Bessie left you her shop. I’m ever so pleased for you.’
‘Thanks. Bessie was a lovely woman and I miss her so much.’
Ann smiled sympathetically then said, ‘I know I shouldn’t have been listening, but I overheard what Connie said to you. Don’t take any notice, love.’
‘I’ll do my best not to,’ Pearl said, but knew it would take some doing to forget the things that Connie had said. ‘Bye, Mrs Haynes. It was nice to see you again.’
‘Bye, and take care.’
Pearl thought it was nice of Mrs Haynes to come and speak to her, but she still felt so sad as she walked home alone. She was disappointed that Connie still felt the same about her, and doubted that her opinion would ever change.
Grim-faced, Derek sat down opposite his gran. ‘I can’t believe you spoke to Pearl like that. You said you wanted to put the past behind us, but instead you dragged it up.’
‘You’re blind when it comes to Pearl, but I’m not. Now that Kevin Dolby’s around again, I know what’s going to happen and I wanted to let her see that I’m well aware of what she’ll be up to. Mark my words, you’ll be out of Bessie’s place soon and Kevin will be in.’
‘That’s rubbish, and let me tell you, if it wasn’t for Pearl I wouldn’t be sitting here now.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘I was leaving, and after that performance I had no intention of coming back. Pearl has been through enough. The last thing I wanted was for her to be hurt again.’
‘It’s you I’m worried about, not her.’
‘Yes, that’s what Pearl said. Despite all the venom you threw at her, she said she understands how you feel and persuaded me to come back to see you.’
‘Huh, that’s probably because she knows you’ll need a shoulder to cry on soon.’
‘You’re wrong, Gran. The last thing Pearl wants is to have Kevin Dolby back in her life,’ he protested. Yet he was unable to help recalling that not long before they left Winchester, he’d had the same fears.
‘You’ve always been a mug when it comes to Pearl, but you’ll see that I’m right.’
‘Stop trying to protect me. I’m a grown man, not a child, and I’m just about sick of this. I’ve had enough for one day and I’m going now.’
‘Bring me some more Turkish delight when you come again.’
Derek couldn’t believe his ears. She had taken it for granted that he would visit her again … yet when all was said and done she was still his gran. ‘All right,’ he said, ‘but I don’t want to hear another word against Pearl.’
‘Fine, but don’t come crying to me when she lets you down again.’
Derek didn’t want to hear any more and just said goodbye. He knew that Pearl didn’t want Kevin back in her life, and he’d been daft to think she would. Yet as he’d had his doubts, was it any wonder that his gran did too?