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

Micky - now - today?' Bella felt she couldn't wait a moment more. The month they had been separated felt like a lifetime.

'Jump in the motor and I'll drive you.'

Bella looked anxiously at Gina. 'Is that all right?'

'Don't ask me.' Gina looked disapproving. 'You're a big girl now. And anyway, I'd be wasting my breath, wouldn't I?'

'I need to see him and you know why, Gina.'

'Well, I think you're a stupid bitch, but you have my blessing.'

It was the best thing that Gina had ever told her.

Ronnie was standing with Micky in the backyard of Piper Street and his temper was rising. There was a young girl sitting in the front room who Micky had used over the years for his own gain and although Micky wouldn't see it like that, it was the truth. His nature was to exploit when it suited him, even his own family as Ronnie had discovered personally. Micky was a law unto himself but it had taken the recent events to open Ronnie's eyes. Now as he looked as his brother and watched the colour drain from his face, he was determined to see fair play done.

'I don't even know if it's my kid!' Micky raised his hands exasperatedly. 'Just because she says it is, I am supposed to believe her?'

'You know it's yours, Micky,' Ronnie answered shortly. 'She wouldn't look at anyone else. She only has eyes for you, always has.'

'Then what was she doing with that prat Raymond Taylor?'

'Nothing, as I understand it.'

Micky looked insulted. 'What would you do if it was Joyce who was seeing someone else?'

'That is a different situation,' Ronnie replied. 'We are business partners first and foremost. And trust each other.'

'I don't trust any female,' Micky said scathingly. 'They've always got an ulterior motive.'

'And you haven't?' Ronnie demanded, his tone incredulous. 'The kid has no idea you were using her at the still, as you and Lenny used Terry and Sean. Odds on she is ignorant of the fact you have been servicing Ivor's women and God knows how many others.'

Micky's face darkened. 'I dunno what you mean.'

'Your presence at Club Afrika has been well and truly noted as I discovered when I chased up Sammy's whereabouts.'

Ronnie watched his brother in grudging admiration as he coolly took a packet of Players from his pocket. Lighting one, he deliberately turned his back and walked casually away. 'There's no law against enjoying yourself, bruv.' He leaned against the yard wall, savouring the tobacco. 'You've got your own way in every other respect. I am minus my business, my future income, you should be happy.'

'The hooch was poison, Micky, and you know it.'

His brother suddenly stepped forward. 'Listen Ron, it was you who buggered off to France in the war and didn't give a toss about me and Sean. We were left trying to earn a crust whilst flaming Adolph nearly wiped us off the face of the earth. We had to survive in your absence, build up what Dad had left us. And we did it. Sean and me. With no thanks to you.'

'I was called up, Micky. I had no choice.'

'Course you did,' Micky returned, disgust in his voice. 'You could've ducked and dived, found ways to stay at home. But no, as usual, you had to play the conquering hero. Well, me and Sean survived the war, but we did it in our own way and would be continuing to do so if you hadn't stuck your oar in with Sammy.'

'You manufactured a volatile substance, Micky.'

'The Yanks didn't care! Why should you? Anyway, I don't believe my booze done in Tony Stratton. It was Sammy's word against mine and you believed him.'

Ronnie felt his temper snap as he listened to the same old record being played. Micky heaped the blame on anyone else's shoulders and put himself in the clear. But not this time. He exhaled slowly to calm himself, watching his breath curl in the fresh air. He walked over to his brother and looked into his eyes. 'I am not arguing with you Micky. If you are intent on going your own way, then so be it.'

Micky's eyes glittered. 'You won't tell me what to do, Ron. No one will.'

'Then we had better call it a day.' Ronnie narrowed his eyes, seeing Micky in a new light. 'Take your clobber and get the hell out of here.'

For a moment Micky stared back at him unable to believe his own ears. Then laughing, he shook his head. 'You can't throw me out.'

'I can and I will if I have to.'

'Mum would disown you.'

'Mum's not here.'

Micky dropped his cigarette, his eyes searching Ronnie's as real fear suddenly spread over his face. Ronnie knew that Micky was considering the possibility that he meant what he said and it was not going down well.

'I never said I was against you.' Micky's gaze wavered and Ronnie knew that for the moment, he had won. It was a back-down, but he was not going to let Micky off the hook.

'The East End is not what it was when we were kids, Micky. There are major outsiders threatening to carve chunks out of our turf for themselves and their own. So I want no misunderstandings. You resume your business, go your own way but if you do, it will not be from under this roof.' Ronnie stared long and hard at his brother. He had given him an ultimatum, one that was long overdue. It was the making or the breaking of the Bryants and they both knew it.

Chapter 16

It was a dazzling morning in May and Bella looked radiant. Though she didn't have a long white dress and train to walk up a church aisle in, she was deliriously happy. Her wedding dress, made by a seamstress friend of Joyce's, was calf length white and buff chiffon, with a Peter Pan collar and three-quarter sleeves. It was gathered at the waist to hide her bump and fell gently around her legs.