As the women made the meal they chatted about past times and reminisced about their respective youths. Susan was just another victim of careless people. People who lived careless lives.
In Susan’s bedroom Barry was trying to kiss her and she was nervous about her father.
‘Come on, Susan, I didn’t go through all this for nothing, girl.’
His Scots accent sounded sexy to her as did everything he said.
‘Me dad’s only outside the door, he’d go mad if he came in.’
Barry grinned.
‘He ain’t coming in here, lassie. Now will you pull your top out of your skirt before I have to go and find someone more available?’
The words were said jokingly but the threat was there nevertheless. He pinched her breasts hard.
‘I’ve missed these, Susan. The other girls’ are nothing in comparison.’
She basked in the compliment.
He kissed her hard on the lips.
‘I have your father eating out of my hand so stop your worrying, girl.’
Susan kissed him back with all the feeling of a young girl in love for the first time.
Barry knew he excited her even though he also knew she got nothing from the sex. He knew Susan would never, ever like it. It was not in her nature. She expected him to be in charge and would concentrate on keeping him happy.
‘In future you’re mine, you hear what I’m telling you? No one else can come near you, right?’
He looked down into her eyes and she knew he meant her father and nodded solemnly.
‘No one else, Barry, I promise you. I ain’t like that, honestly.’
She was apologising as she would all her life with him. Telling him that her father took her whether she liked it or not and that in future she would fight him, make him fight her for it.
But that meant she would be half murdered. So she decided there and then that she would go along with them both and keep them both sweet so she could have what she really wanted.
Barry Dalston.
He was like a shining light to her, a beacon to guide her. He would not know what was happening because she would not tell him. Her father would never stop. Because he did not want to stop, she knew that.
She would do anything for Barry Dalston. To have Barry Dalston. She thought he was worth it. More than worth it. She loved him. Really, really loved him. And all because he was nice to her, was presentable and someone everyone of their age respected.
He was a Jack the lad, a villain, a lovable rogue. He was the sort all girls in her environment wanted to hook, a man before he was supposed to be a man. A bloke who looked after you just by being with you. He gave you kudos and respect.
She did not see him as a younger version of Joey, a younger criminal with a selfish streak and a vicious temper. A coward really who conned people and tried to control them by fear and intimidation.
She saw only a handsome boy who cared about her in his own way. And for Susan McNamara, that was more than enough.
As he lifted her up the wall attempting to enter her she closed her eyes and imagined they were in a nice little flat with nice furniture and nice kids.
As he pushed inside her she winced and stroked the back of his neck, a caress that seemed to spur him on because he came almost immediately. He sagged against her. She felt the warmth as his semen trickled down her legs.
Barry looked down at her and smiled. Kissing her on the lips he bit into them, making her wince, and she knew he was leaving a mark for her father, a little reminder of who she really wanted. This depressed her momentarily until, seeing her expression, he pushed her head against his chest and whispered, ‘I love you, Sue.’
Overcome with joy, she nearly shouted out with glee.
‘I love you too, Barry, more than anyone in the world.’
He poked one finger gently into her cheek.
‘You see you do, girl, or you’ll know all about it, mate.’
As he pulled away from her to tidy his clothes she watched him. He was like a god to her and she felt he really was godlike. From his broad shoulders to his gorgeous eyes, Barry was everything a young girl could want.
Especially a young girl from her background and environment. As they left the room Susan was glowing. Her face looked almost pretty and her skin was radiant with health and vitality. June noticed it as did Ivy. Joey saw the change in her at once and decided that until the time was right he would lead them both on.
This young man would collar for him, take the heat and do the real work. Joey knew that opportunities like Barry Dalston came along only once or twice in a lifetime. If it all went pear-shaped it was young Barry who would do the bird. Then Joey would groom someone else.
He smiled at the lovebirds, noticed Susan’s swollen lips and the smile disappeared. But there was plenty of time to put a spoke in there; all Joey wanted at the moment was money.
Plenty of money.
And young Barry seemed to think he could provide it. June smiled at her daughter for the first time in weeks and Susan was grateful. But only because she didn’t want Barry knowing too much about the family set up. He would in time, of course, if he had not already sussed it all out.
As Ivy put another fried egg on his plate Barry looked up and smiled at her. Then he began to tell a story about his dead father and they all laughed in the right places. Susan felt as if her heart would burst with pride as she listened to him.
For all the pain she had experienced in the last few weeks, Barry was more than worth it. She was absolutely sure of that.
After all, Susan McNamara was in love.
Chapter Ten
‘Oh, Mum, you look lovely, really lovely.’
June basked in her daughter’s praise. She was glad now that she had listened to Susan and not Debbie. The pale blue fitted suit did wonders for her figure and brought out the colour of her eyes. It was the sort of suit a real lady would wear, someone who appeared in the pages of a magazine. With it she wore a pillbox hat of the same shade with a half veil that made her look mysterious and interesting.
For the first time in her life she felt like a million dollars.
Debbie sighed.
‘Well, I preferred the trouser suit but it does look nice, Mum. You look too posh for us lot to be honest.’
June ignored the barb. Debbie was getting to be a right sarcastic little mare and it was beginning to get on her nerves.
‘You’re not wearing that, Debs, surely?’
Susan’s voice was high.
Debbie turned in front of the mirror and shrugged.
‘What’s wrong with it?’
Susan shook her head sadly.
‘What’s right with it? You look a right whore. Wear the dress I bought you. I want this day to look lovely in all me photos. Please, Debs. Just for me.’
‘Fuck off, Susan. Anyone would think no one had ever been married before. I ain’t schlepping round in a lemon cotton short-sleeved dress for no fucker. I’d never live it down. All me mates would be laughing at me.’
‘Yes, you fucking will, Debbie, or you ain’t going.’
No one was more surprised than Debbie at her mother’s words.
‘Susan’s right, that dress looks classy and you’ll wear it, lady. You’ll also get that make up off. This is a church wedding, not a fucking disco.’
Debbie sighed heavily.
She looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a denim dress that fitted where it touched and a pair of high platform shoes. Her short fat legs were exposed to their utmost and she looked ridiculous.
Her make up was thick as usual, and inexpertly applied, too much being the order of the day. Fashion was very important to Debbie, whether the current fashion suited her or not.
‘I ain’t telling you again. Get changed and have a bath, you dirty little whore.’
Debbie was fuming now.
‘How could I have a bath with Fatty in there all morning, and then you until now?’
Susan and J
une laughed.
‘Come off it, Debs, washing’s never been one of your favourite pursuits, has it?’ Susan teased.
‘Why can’t you speak fucking English like everyone else?’
Debbie stormed from the room.
June sighed.
‘She’s a right ponce her, always arguing. I don’t know where she gets it from, I really don’t.’
Susan raised her eyebrows but did not answer. She wanted her wedding day to go without a hitch.
‘Your hair looks beautiful, Susan. Mind you, you always had nice hair even as a kid.’
June’s sixteen-year-old daughter turned awkwardly in the chair because of her heavy pregnancy and smiled.
‘I’m glad I had something going for me, Mum. Me boatrace left a lot to be desired.’
Today Susan’s face had been made up by a beautician and her hair had been professionally styled. It was piled on top of her head with curls all around the outside. A halo of paper flowers had been woven through for the veil to be attached, and with her skin glowing from her pregnancy she looked almost beautiful.
June stared at her.
‘Pity Barry didn’t get out of prison earlier. You’re big, girl. There’s no hiding that lump.’
Susan patted it happily.
‘I don’t really want to hide it, Mum. Barry loves it. He kisses it every day.’
Ivy came in then. She was dressed in a light green dress and coat with a straw hat and pale gloves and shoes, looking every inch the mother of the father of the bride.
‘It’s fucking roasting outside, girls! What a glorious day for a wedding. Your hair looks lovely, Susan, you look really special.’
Susan smiled at her.
‘So do you.’
She knew her grandmother was only fishing for compliments.
‘Put your fucking teeth in, Ivy, your face looks like a collapsed paddling pool.’
‘Up yours, June, I will when I’m ready. They’re killing me, these new ones. Me gums are bleeding with them.’
Ivy’s teeth were a bone of contention and everyone avoided talking about them if they could.
‘Where’s the men? Has anyone checked on them yet?’
June snorted.
‘They left here yesterday at nine in the morning, fuck knows where they are now. They’d better be ready and that Barry had better be in a fit state to say his fucking vows because it was him and his mother who pushed for a church do. Scottish Catholics in the family, Jesus wept! And him the biggest thief this side of the water. Mind you, that’s why the Bannermans like him, they’re all religious fanatics.’
Susan sighed.
‘Barry’s mum is the one who really wanted it but I did an’ all. It seems fitting somehow to do it in the eyes of God.’
June shook her head sagely.
‘But marrying him and being lumbered for life is a foolish thing to do, girl, you mark my words. He’s already unfaithful, he treats you like a nothing, and more importantly he doesn’t give you much money. Just exactly what are you getting out of this except a new name?’
Ivy was annoyed and it showed.
‘She’ll get what you got, June: a man. Someone to take care of her and look after her and her kids. Now will you shut the fuck up for two minutes and stop putting the kibosh on everything? I reckon you’re just jealous.’
‘Jealous of what? Her? Don’t make me laugh. I can see what her life’s going to be and so can you.’
June stormed from the room and Susan dropped her head on to her chest. ‘She’s been funny all morning, Ivy, take no notice of her.’
Her grandmother nodded.
‘Remembering her own wedding day and realising she’s over the hill, that’s what’s eating at her.’
‘Maybe, but don’t antagonise her today, I want it all to go really well.’
‘You’re getting a good man there, I hope you realise that, Sue? I bet he’s good in the kip, eh?’
Susan laughed despite herself.
‘You’re terrible you are.’
Ivy laughed.
‘In this get up I might even pull meself. Who knows, eh?’ She roared with laughter and Susan laughed with her. ‘How’s the house coming on, love?’
Ivy was impressed that they had already been given a council house. That was because Barry had dropped a few quid on the housing officer and he had arranged it all for them. The house was lovely and just down the road from her. A double pleasure so far as Ivy was concerned.
‘It’s been decorated and the furniture’s in. It looks lovely. Barry’s even had someone in to dig the garden. Oh, and guess what? He bought me a vacuum cleaner and a washing machine.’
Her grandmother sighed with happiness.
‘You are a lucky girl, you know. He’ll go places him. You mark my words.’
‘I do love him.’
Ivy grunted her agreement.
‘Of course you do. What’s not to love about him, eh? He’s a bundle of manhood him. I wish I was you tonight, I ain’t had a bit since the old King died.’
She roared with laughter once more.
June came back into the bedroom with a bottle of champagne and some glasses.
‘Come on then, get this down you. Barry left it yesterday, said to get you half pissed so you looked in a good mood.’
They all took a glass and Ivy held hers up in a toast.
‘To Susan and Barry.’
They chinked glasses and drank the cold bubbling wine. Susan finished hers and laughed. This really was the happiest day of her life. In a few hours she would be Mrs Barry Dalston and she could not wait.
Barry opened his eyes and squinted. His mouth was dry and his eyes felt as if they were glued shut. He could smell himself, a mixture of sweat and alcohol so strong it made his eyes water and helped to open them properly.
He was in the new house, he knew that much from the wallpaper. In his bedroom, the one he would share with Susan.
A movement beside him made him look round. To either side of him a woman lay asleep and Joey snored at the bottom of the bed.
Memories assailed Barry as he tried to remember what had happened the night before. He saw fleeting images of strip clubs, a gambling den and a brothel in Paddington. He felt the bile rise inside him and swallowed it down.
His head hurt and his face was aching. Then he remembered the fight. Sitting upright he felt his face over and sighed with annoyance. He had at the very least a black eye and a swollen mouth. His mother would slaughter him if he didn’t look perfect for the priest.
Joey stirred and sat up slowly. His eyes were red-rimmed but his face was unmarked.
‘All right?’
It was his usual form of address.
‘What’s it fucking look like, Joey? They’ll kill me. Me mother, Susan, June. All of them.’
Joey shrugged and rubbed one of the women’s legs to wake her up. ‘Come on, you, up and out of it. You’ve had the best, now leave some for the rest.’
‘Where the fucking hell did we get this pair of old dragons?’ Barry said peevishly.
One green eye opened and a voice that could crack concrete said stridently, ‘You weren’t fucking complaining last night, sonny.’
He kicked her from the bed until she fell on to the floor.
‘I was fucking paralytic last night, darlin’, that’s why I never complained. Who in their right mind would fuck either of you sober?’
The woman stood up and with as much dignity as she could muster said nastily, ‘Same same, mate, same same.’
‘Go on, fuck off, and take your twin with you. I assume you’re related because no two people could be that ugly by accident.’
Joey laughed at the woman’s outraged expression and so did Barry.
‘You still owe us money.’
Barry was out of the bed, making the woman wince.
‘Are you telling me you expect us to pay?’ His voice had risen about five octaves with shock.
The other woman began to wake up. She stretched
out her arms and yawned, her breath sour as her body.
‘Where did we get you two from, if you don’t mind my asking?’ Joey put in.
As they began to dress the two women ignored him. He watched anyway. They were about thirty with heavy legs and flat chests, but the taller of the two had nice hair and eyes.
‘Come on, girls, where did we get you from, eh?’
The taller one answered him.
‘The Valbon if you must know, and we’re not transvestites. We were on our night off and you talked us into a night’s work. So pay up.’
‘Bollocks! Get dressed and piss off.’
Barry walked from the room, his head splitting.
‘Get them out, Joey, and I’ll make us a cup of tea. Me mother stocked us up yesterday.’ Then, running back into the bedroom, he glared at the small clock on the bedside table. ‘Fuck me! She’ll be here soon with me cousins to lay out the food for the reception. If she sees this pair she’ll do her fucking pieces.’
‘Relax, boy, we’re nearly dressed. You just give us our dosh and we’ll go quietly as little mice.’
It was a threat and Barry knew it. Taking the taller woman by her hair, he began to drag her from the bedroom. At the top of the stairs he bellowed, ‘Do you want to walk down them or shall I fucking kick you? The choice is yours, darling.’
The blonde prostitute came out of the room like a bullet. Holding their shoes and bags and coats she forced her friend down the stairs. At the front door she looked up at Barry and cried, ‘We were off work with the clap so happy wedding day, you wanker.’
He was halfway down the stairs after them before he realised he was naked. Taking his cock in his hands he groaned.
‘It looks all red, Joey.’
Joey laughed his head off.
‘I ain’t surprised. You nearly wore them two out, son. That’s old tom talk. Now make the tea, for fuck’s sake. Me mouth feels like the bottom of a bird cage.’
Joey started to tidy the bedroom. The sheets were smeared with everything from lipstick to semen, but still he made the bed. After a couple of minutes the urge to pee was growing strong and he lurched towards the toilet. As he peed he felt a stinging sensation and swore under his breath.