The Traitor. Kimberley Chambers

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СКАЧАТЬ lipstick and possible foundation. Her heart turned over. Surely Jed wouldn’t be unfaithful to her. How could he have been up to no good when he’d been stuck at the hospital all night?

      Realising the water had stopped running, Frankie threw the shirt back onto the floor and dashed into the kitchen area to make a start on the breakfast.

      ‘You ain’t ate much. What’s a matter?’ Jed asked, as he finished his last mouthful. Frankie knew she had to say something. She wasn’t the type to stay schtum and brush things under the carpet. She needed peace of mind.

      ‘I need to ask you something, Jed, and please don’t lie to me.’

      ‘What?’ Jed asked, as he leaned across her and nicked the sausage off her plate.

      ‘I know you were at the hospital last night, but did you go out afterwards?’

      ‘Whaddya mean? I had a beer back at Sammy’s with my family. Spit it out, what’s the problem, Frankie?’ Jed said, acting annoyed.

      Frankie began to cry. ‘I was going to put your clothes in the washing machine, when I noticed your shirt smelt of women’s perfume. It’s covered in lipstick and make-up as well.’

      As bright as a spark, Jed had an answer within seconds. ‘You silly cow. I told you all my family were at the hospital last night, didn’t I? There was loads of me aunts and girl cousins there that I ain’t seen for years. Because Billy was in such a bad way, everybody was hugging one another and crying. The lipstick and whatever else you thought you saw or smelt obviously belongs to either an aunt, a cousin or both.’

      Frankie felt incredibly stupid as Jed took her into his arms. He’d been sitting at his sick cousin’s bedside all night and she felt awful for doubting him. ‘I’m sorry, Jed. I think because I feel so fat and ugly at the moment, I’m worried you’ll go off with someone else.’

      Jed smiled. The baby weight didn’t suit Frankie, but even though she looked far less attractive than when they’d first met, he still fancied her.

      Feeling himself harden, he unzipped his jeans and unleashed his penis. He put Frankie’s hand on it and spoke gently to her. ‘I love you Frankie, but you can’t go around accusing me of stuff I ain’t done. My cousin nearly died last night. Watching Billy suffer like that was awful, really awful.’

      Frankie sank to her knees. Jed loved her sucking him off and she had some serious grovelling to do. Jed held Frankie’s head and thrust himself as far as he could down the back of her throat. As she began to choke, he grinned. That’d teach her to fucking snoop.

      Joyce took the last of the sausage rolls off the baking tray and carefully arranged them on the silver platter. She had been cooking, baking and preparing all day and at last she was finally finished. Joyce prided herself on her homemaking and culinary skills. Today she had made a special effort because her friends, Rita and Hilda, were coming over.

      The house had now been officially signed over to Joyce. Even though the circumstances were horrific, Joyce was thrilled finally to own such a wonderful property. Of course, she’d swap it for her old house in Upney tomorrow if it brought her Jessica back, but Joyce had to face facts: Jessica was gone for good, bless her soul.

      Joyce had added her own touches to the property in the last couple of weeks. She had painted the hallway a different colour, replaced the kitchen table for a smaller one and she’d had a beautiful picture of Jessica blown up and framed, which now took centre stage on the main wall in the lounge.

      Glancing at the kitchen clock, Joyce decided it was time she started getting ready. Not only were her friends coming tonight, but also Joey, Dominic and Stan’s mate, Jock.

      After the initial shock of discovering that her grandson was gay, Joyce had now embraced the fact. So what if Joey was different? There were many actors, singers and politicians who were the same way, and even one of the Kray twins was rumoured to be gay.

      Joyce had purchased a book, read up on the subject, then digested and accepted homosexual culture. She hadn’t told Stanley that Joey and Dominic were coming tonight. Her husband was an old-fashioned old fart and if he’d known their grandson was bringing his boyfriend over, he wouldn’t have invited Jock.

      Joyce smiled as she admired her new red frock. Tonight she would show off her new house and also tell everybody that Joey and Dominic were a couple. Being open was the only way forward and Joyce was sure that once her friends accepted the boys’ sexuality, then so would Stanley.

      Eddie, Stuart and Bertie Simms were glued to the screen. An old western was on the telly and the film was the bollocks. Bertie nudged Ed as he spotted one of Barry Macarthy’s mates heading their way.

      It was now common knowledge among the lags that Big Bald Baz had completely lost his eyesight. It was also common knowledge that he was seriously depressed and suicidal.

      Annoyed that he’d been interrupted while watching such a good movie, Eddie glared at Baz’s mate. ‘What?’ he asked sarcastically.

      ‘I thought you should know – Baz’s dead. He slit his wrists this morning with a razor blade.’

      Eddie nodded, then casually looked back at the telly. As Baz’s mate left the room, Ed turned to Stuart and Bert. ‘It’s a miracle the fat cunt could find the razor blade or his fucking wrists. I thought he was meant to be as blind as a bat,’ he said in a deadpan voice.

      Tickled by Ed’s comments, both Stuart and Bertie Simms burst out laughing.

      Frankie smiled politely at Jimmy O’Hara as he explained to her that he was breaking in a new horse. She didn’t have a clue what he was talking about so, rather than be rude or come across as thick, she decided to nod her head at appropriate moments.

      ‘You need to be brutal with ’em, Frankie. Show ’em who’s boss. Did you know that a horse has a brain the size of a pea?’

      When Alice and Jed walked into the room, Frankie was relieved. It was obvious that Jimmy had had a couple of beers too many and he was nigh on boring her to death.

      Alice smiled as she put the plate of sandwiches in front of Frankie. ‘Help yourself, darling.’

      ‘Oh, I’m fine thanks, Alice. Me and Jed went to Pizza Hut this afternoon. I still feel stuffed.’

      ‘You’re eating for two, Frankie. You need to keep your strength up for that chavvie of yours. Now, eat,’ she demanded, as she lifted the plate off the table and thrust it in front of Frankie’s nose.

      Not at all hungry, Frankie felt obliged to take a couple of sandwiches and nibble at them. Even though Alice had stopped the cookery lessons, Frankie still found her very domineering and scary. She hadn’t mentioned this to Jed. At the end of the day, Alice was his mum and she would hate to hurt his feelings.

      Jed and Jimmy were now deep in conversation so, swallowing a mouthful of her sandwich, Frankie desperately tried to think of something to say to Alice. Not having much in common with the woman, she decided to concentrate on the terrible car accident that Jed’s cousin had been involved in the day before.

      ‘Terrible news about Billy, wasn’t it, Alice? Jed’s been so upset,’ she said.

      Alice was confused. ‘What, my Billy? What you on about?’

      Frankie shook СКАЧАТЬ