Christmas to Come: a heartbreaking coming of age saga set in London's East End Carol Rivers (best sales books of all time .txt) 📖

venture, she soon lost them. Over the summer, trade increased to the point where they had to employ more help. Tina, the young girl who had helped in the early days, returned to work.

Bella had come to a decision. She had invested all her savings into the coffee bar, every penny that she'd saved over the years. The family was happy for her, but not Micky, who had warned her she would regret her decision. Even Mary and Gus who were now living together in the prefab, called in to see what the coffee bar was like. Bella served them knickerbocker glories from the new ice cream machine and Espresso afterwards. Gus played the juke box and Bella was amused to see Mary talking to the teenagers.

In September, Bella became an official partner. There was a small celebration one Saturday morning. Bella had prepared twice as many sandwiches and the baker had delivered large trays of coconut Madeline and succulent rum baba.

Ronnie and Joyce made a glamorous appearance; Joyce wore a French pleat in her dark hair complimented by her Harrods lightweight styled coat, gloves and matching handbag in pale lilac. Even the youngest boys stared at her whilst the girls giggled as Ronnie smiled at them. Dressed in a blue blazer and clean cut white shirt, he looked very handsome.

'Congratulations you two,' Joyce said as she hugged Gina and Bella. 'Do you know they're lining up outside?'

'We could do with more seats,' Gina chuckled. 'There are plenty of bums to sit on them.'

'Then knock down that wall and extend into the kitchen,' Ronnie suggested and everyone stared at him. 'Convert the yard to the cooking area. Put plans in now and you'll treble your custom for the second half of the year.'

'Are you interested in the project, Ron?' Bella enquired.

Ronnie grinned. 'I've knocked down enough walls for strangers and you're family. So if you want it done, it's done.'

'Yes, please!' Bella and Gina cried together. 'We want to look like the Moka in Frith Street and the Mocamba in the Brompton Road.' Bella had gone up to the city and knew exactly what they wanted the coffee bar to look like. 'How much is it going to cost us?'

'I'll work out something,' Ronnie told them ruefully. 'I might develop a big appetite for Espresso.'

Everyone was laughing, but in just a few moments Bella had realized that the future could become very profitable indeed. Every instinct told her that as long as they listened to the customers and made changes when they had to, there was nothing to stop them. Nothing at all. Not even Micky.

The following day was Sunday, but Ron still sent his men. He knew a name in the planning office and in just over a month, the refurbishment was all done, with little interruption to the business. The customers were as excited as Bella and Gina.

Soon they were attracting the city custom; musicians, artists and actors among them. Creatives who liked to think they were trendy and attracted the young people to their work and lifestyles.

The teenagers loved the atmosphere. Bella hoped that now they had been proved successful, Micky would take more of an interest in her work and dreams for the future. But alas, there was no sign of that.

'You'll come to us for Christmas dinner, won't you?' Joyce enquired one day as the holiday approached. As usual, Michael and Ronnie had gone to the park with the football and Joyce and Bella were dressing the tree in the front room.

'I'd like that.' Bella didn't mention Micky. He was rarely at home and on the rare occasions he was, he drank heavily and smoked non-stop, leaving a smell that polluted the house. She left the windows open, even if it was very cold.

'You know,' Joyce mused as she hung a dainty silver bell on the Christmas tree, 'this really seems like home now. Do you know that Ronnie once almost changed his mind about living here?'

'I had no idea.' Bella wondered if that change of heart was due to what happened with Terry? The old house had its ghosts and she lived with them every day. However, now she felt Terry was at peace. Something he had never been in real life.

'And to tell the truth,' Joyce continued. ' I didn't think I could ever be satisfied playing at the housewife. I always thought I'd get back to doing something, other than helping Ron with the business. But the past five years have been so happy that - ' she stopped, a flush on her cheeks. 'I've discovered I'm happy being Mrs Ronnie Bryant.'

Bella knew her sister-in-law was deeply in love with Ronnie and all he represented. He was hard worker and believed in being a family man. The couple were content living in Piper Street although they still had the choice of living anywhere they liked. If only she had the same thing with Micky, Bella thought longingly. She wanted to make a fuss of him like she used to. Like Joyce did with Ron. She wanted to cook him dinners and watch him sit in front of the television with Michael and drink mugs of hot Cocoa. Bella was so proud of their son. He was now at the grammar school. Micky didn't seem to realise how bright he was. And those family occasions that she tried to create for his sake, were far and few between.

Then there was the coffee bar. She longed to boast a little and win Micky's approval. She wasn't jealous of the women he slept with as she knew they came and went. She had long ago become resigned to Micky's amours. She still held a faint hope that if she could make him see what a joy his family could be, their love could be revived.

Bella gazed around Joyce's home enviously. It was all so fresh and modern. Mrs Bryant's big polished table still remained but a new set of modern dining chairs had been