Kimberley Chambers 3-Book Collection: The Schemer, The Trap, Payback. Kimberley Chambers

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СКАЧАТЬ worse still, somebody had raped her?

      Feeling terribly sorry for herself, Angela clung to her elder sister. ‘I think I’m pregnant, Steph. In fact, I know I am!’

      Later that afternoon, Stephanie was sitting in Old Dagenham Park repeating the conversation she had had with her sister to Tammy.

      ‘Shit! What’s she gonna do? Did she say if she’d already done a test?’

      ‘Yeah. She said she sold some of her records to Downtown in Romford to pay for it. She reckons her period is over three weeks late and the test came up positive,’ Steph explained.

      ‘You’re gonna have to tell your old lady, Steph. I mean, Angie’s gonna need to be checked out by her doctor and stuff, and if you don’t tell your mum, he will. Surely, it’ll be less of a shock if it comes from you?’

      Stephanie flicked her cigarette butt away and put her black woolly gloves back on. The cold December air was bitter and there was a frost on the grass which made it look white rather than green. ‘I can’t tell me mum. She will go mental. She thinks the sun shines out of Jason O’Brien’s arse because his parents go to church, and finding out he’s got Angie up the spout is enough to give her a heart attack. I didn’t know whether to tell Lin; she would probably know what to do for the best, but her and Angie don’t really get on and I can’t chance her telling me mum. I swore to Ange that I wouldn’t say anything and I can’t break my promise to her.’

      About to remind Stephanie of all the times her younger sister had broken promises to her, Tammy opened her mouth then quickly shut it again. Slagging Angela off wasn’t going to help in this particular situation, so what was the point of doing so? Deep down, Tammy was quite pleased that Angela had bitten off more than she could chew for once. If anyone deserved to be up the duff and in shit street it was that horrible little slag. ‘So, has she told Jason yet?’ Tammy asked.

      ‘No, she ain’t told anyone apart from me. Is that Jacko walking across the field over there? It is, ain’t it?’

      Tammy stood up to get a clearer view. The figure was a fair distance away, but Jacko had a distinctive swagger when he walked and there was no mistaking it was him. ‘Jacko,’ she yelled.

      Stephanie also stood up. ‘We’re over here, Jacko,’ she screamed, waving her arms frantically.

      Tammy watched Jacko run towards them. She still thought he was gorgeous, but had convinced herself he was only interested in Steph, which helped her immensely in suppressing her feelings towards him.

      Wayne was panting as he reached the girls. ‘Jesus, I need to start playing football again, rather than just watching it. I’m so unfit. What yous two doing sitting ’ere? You been on the lash?’

      ‘Nah, Steph’s got a family crisis, so we’ve just been talking about that,’ Tammy replied.

      Stephanie glared at her friend to warn her not to say any more.

      ‘What’s up? Tell me and I’ll try and help you,’ Wayne said, sitting down on the bench in between the two girls.

      ‘Tell him, Steph. Jacko’s our mate, he won’t say nothing.’

      ‘My lips are sealed, I promise,’ Wayne said, holding Stephanie’s gaze.

      ‘You’d better not tell anyone Jacko, ’cause I’ll never speak to you again if you do. It’s me sister; she’s got herself up the duff.’

      Wayne’s face immediately turned a deathly shade of white. ‘Fucking hell, it ain’t mine, is it?’

      ‘No. She’s been going out with Jason O’Brien and the silly pair of buggers have been at it, but ain’t been using nothing. What am I gonna do, Jacko? I have to help her. I’m the only one that can.’

      Relieved that his nan and grandad had drummed into him the importance of always using a condom, Wayne asked Steph to give him all the information she had. When she had finished, he squeezed her hand. ‘Right, first let’s go to the chemist and get another pregnancy test. You can help her do it, make sure she ain’t got it arse upwards, or she ain’t lying.’

      ‘She wouldn’t lie about something like that, surely?’ Steph said.

      ‘Jacko’s right. Look at all the lies Angie told him,’ Tammy added.

      ‘But, I’ve only got 50p. I spent all me pocket money on Christmas presents the other day.’

      Jacko stood up. ‘I’ve got some money. Come on, let’s go to the chemist up the Heathway.’

      The following morning, Angela did the test, then held Stephanie’s hand as they waited for the result together. It was a Saturday, Barry would be calling soon, so to take their minds off the test result, Stephanie told her sister to read his latest letter. ‘What do you think? Do you reckon he’s getting off with that Sally girl?’ Steph asked, when Angela handed her the letter back.

      ‘I don’t know, sis, but even if he ain’t, you can’t tell me Barry’s gonna go all through next year and not get off with any girls. That’s why I think you should have a bit of fun yourself while he’s away. You ain’t gotta do it with anyone, but you can still have a laugh with other boys. Eighteen months is a long while to wait for anyone. Now, let’s check this test. We’ve waited long enough, ain’t we?’

      Stephanie did the honours and was horrified to find that Angela had been right and the test was positive. For once, she had hoped that her little sister had been telling one of her awful lies.

      ‘What am I gonna do now? I don’t wanna keep it. Will you help me, Steph?’

      Stephanie hugged Angela close to her chest. ‘Of course I will help you.’

      Hundreds of miles away, Barry Franklin gingerly hauled his aching body out of bed. He’d been laid up for the past four days since hurting his back whilst lifting barrels in the cellar. His mother had barely made him a cup of tea, and if it hadn’t been for his pal Sally popping in on a regular basis with food and drinks for him, he’d have probably dehydrated, then died of starvation.

      ‘Where are your mum and Jake?’ Sally asked, as she helped Barry shuffle along the hallway.

      ‘No idea. Me muvver poked her head around the door yesterday morning and I ain’t seen hide nor hair of her since.’

      Sally raised her eyebrows, but said nothing. She didn’t like Marlene one little bit and thought she treated poor Barry appallingly.

      ‘Thanks for coming round and helping me get to the phone, and thanks for the sandwich and coffee,’ Barry said, gratefully.

      ‘No worries. Now, I’m gonna go and tidy up your room while you ring your Stephanie. Give me a shout when you are done and I’ll help you get back into bed.’

      Thanking Sally again, Barry picked up the phone. His mother had forbidden him to call Steph on her landline but, seeing as he could barely walk, it was the only way he could now speak to his girlfriend. He would tell his mum afterwards and offer to pay for any calls he’d made.

      Barry grinned as he heard his beautiful girlfriend’s voice. ‘You all right, darling? I can talk to you for longer today as I’m ringing from home. I’ve done me back in and I’ve been in СКАЧАТЬ