Family Drama 4 E-Book Bundle. Leah Fleming

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СКАЧАТЬ I’m fine,’ she lied, forcing a smile as she stepped out of his arms.

      With Derek she was safe, his home a haven, and with him her feelings were under control.

      By three thirty they had enjoyed a delicious Sunday roast, but since she’d arrived Pearl could sense a strange atmosphere. Connie was unusually quiet, and Derek seemed on edge. She was been thrilled when Connie handed her a card and present, and though she thought it appalling, she thanked her profusely for the long, old-fashioned flannelette nightdress.

      ‘You’ll be needing that with winter coming along,’ Connie said.

      ‘Yes, I’m sure I will, and thanks again. It … it’s lovely.’

      ‘Here’s my card, Pearl. Come into the front room and I’ll give you your present.’

      There was a grunt of displeasure from Connie, and Pearl frowned, wondering what was wrong as she followed Derek out of the room.

      ‘Sit down, love,’ Derek said, his face flushed.

      Pearl sat, and at the same time Derek kneeled in front of her. With her heart beginning to thump she saw him pull a small box out of his pocket. Pearl guessed what was coming and gulped, her breath caught in her throat. He was going to propose, but now that the moment had arrived, she found herself wanting to jump up and run. Since moving in with Mo and Emma, she was enjoying life. She loved going dancing, loved being with girls close to her own age, loved the music, the excitement. If she accepted Derek’s proposal she would have to become a staid, married woman. Was she really ready for that?

      ‘Will … will you marry me?’

      Pearl’s eyes fixed on the ring. She thought about Kevin, how she was still attracted to him, but an attraction that was over-shadowed by fear. Derek, though, was offering her what, until now, she thought she wanted: a home where she would be part of a family, cherished and loved for the first time in her life. Still she hesitated, but then Derek spoke again.

      ‘I don’t expect you to marry me right away, love. I thought maybe in about a year, when you’re eighteen.’

      A year, they would wait a year, and she smiled with relief before saying, ‘Yes, all right, I’ll marry you.’

      ‘Oh, Pearl, that’s great.’ And, leaning forward, he pulled her into his arms. She closed her eyes tightly as he kissed her, but thankfully it was brief.

      ‘There’s only one thing, Pearl. It’s me gran. I’m all she’s got and I’d hate to leave her on her own. Would you mind moving in here with us when we get married?’

      ‘Of course I wouldn’t. It’s what I expected and what I want.’

      He jumped to his feet and, taking her hand, he dragged her back to the kitchen. ‘She said yes, Gran,’ he cried, ‘and we’re getting married in a year.’

      Connie smiled thinly. ‘Congratulations.’

      There was a restraint in Connie’s manner and Pearl frowned. Perhaps she was worried about being left on her own. ‘I’m happy to move in here with you and Derek when we get married.’

      Connie nodded, but she hardly spoke until Derek left the room half an hour later. After a quick look to ensure that the door was closed, she leaned forward. ‘You’ve changed lately, Pearl, and you’re not seeing much of Derek. You’re out and about with Emma Price, no doubt meeting lads of your own age. Derek’s a lot older than you, and the truth is I expected you to turn him down. A lot can happen in a year and I just hope you ain’t gonna change your mind.’

      ‘I won’t change my mind.’

      ‘I’ve told you before. I don’t want my Derek hurt.’

      ‘I won’t hurt him.’ As she said these words, Pearl really meant them. She would marry Derek and make him a good wife. She was just relieved that she had a year of freedom first.

      Kevin banged on Nobby Clark’s door, still in a foul mood. He was smarting that Pearl had turned him down again. Since that first time, she felt like his property and his fists clenched at the thought of her sleeping with Derek Lewis. His jaws ground. Right, sod her, if she wanted Derek she could have him and he’d never ask her out again. In fact, he really would make a play for Emma Price. She wasn’t a bad-looking girl, but then again, she was a bit lippy. He remembered how she had intervened at the dance and he frowned. Emma wasn’t like Pearl; she seemed fearless and not the sort of girl he could control. In fact, he thought, changing his mind, it might be better to give her a wide berth.

      His trips to Soho were costing him a lot of money, and that was something he was short of at the moment. Once again his fists clenched in anger. With Pearl as his girlfriend he would’ve had what he wanted on hand, and could have taught her a few tricks.

      Nobby Clark opened the door, forcing Kevin’s thoughts to one side. ‘Hello, mate, can I come in?’

      ‘Yeah, I suppose so.’

      As Kevin stepped inside he saw Dick Smedley, but the man offered no welcome.

      ‘Watcha, Dick, how’s things?’

      ‘What do you want, Kevin?’

      ‘I’ve come to see if you’ve got a job in the offing.’

      ‘I thought you didn’t want to work with amateurs again.’

      ‘Yeah, that’s what you called us,’ Nobby said as he sat at the table.

      ‘Look, I’ve told you before, I didn’t mean it. I was unnerved that night and you can’t blame me for that.’

      ‘Maybe, but you seem to forget that I’m the boss and I want a bit of respect.’

      Kevin hid his feelings. If he wanted back in, he’d have to suck up to Nobby, but it went against the grain. The bloke was a loser and couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery, but the need for money was paramount. ‘I know you’re the boss, Nobby, and we couldn’t do the jobs without you. As I said, I lost it, but it won’t happen again.’

      ‘What do you think, Dick? Shall we let him back in?’

      ‘I still ain’t happy about that night. He was shit scared, and so keen to get away that he almost drove off without us.’

      ‘I didn’t. I’d never do that.’

      ‘I only just managed to get into the back of the van before you shot off.’

      ‘I admit I was keen to get away – that alarm was deafening – but I wouldn’t have left you behind.’

      Dick’s eyes narrowed, but to Kevin’s relief he said, ‘All right, I suppose I’ll have to take your word for it.’

      Nobby smiled tightly. ‘We’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, Kevin. We need a driver so you’re in. Take a seat and we’ll tell you what we’ve got planned.’

       Chapter Twenty

      When СКАЧАТЬ