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

'I'd have worn my top hat and tails if I'd known,' Percy said as he gazed around him. 'The invite just said refreshments after.'

'Ronnie and Joyce put it on for us as their wedding present,' Bella admitted. 'They've even paid for us to stay overnight in a hotel.'

Dolly rolled her eyes as she appeared, hearing Bella's last words. 'Oh Percy, that's so romantic.'

'It will be your turn next,' Bella reminded her friends. 'I'll have to be a matron of honour because I'll be an old married lady!'

They all started laughing as Gina and Lenny walked into the club with Terry. He was wearing a smart suit and tie that Ronnie had taken him to a gents' outfitter in Poplar to buy. Bella had parted his hair on one side and applied Brylcreem to keep it in place, although it was still thin and fell out in lumps. He was smiling, looking at everyone and everything and Bella's heart went out to him. Like Micky, he missed the still and working with Lenny and now they were living at Piper Street, he had nothing to do all day.

Suddenly Bella felt someone beside her. She turned expectantly, hoping to find Micky there. But it was Joyce and Ronnie, Sean and Ashley and some of their friends. Introductions were made and congratulations given. Soon the room was filled to capacity, faces she knew and those she didn't, but to Bella, it didn't matter, these people were her life now. She wanted Micky to be beside her though, and she searched the room for his tall figure. Right up to the moment the registrar had married them, she had been unable to believe that Micky really wanted her. In her heart she felt that married life had been thrust upon him because of the baby. But Ronnie had assured her that his brother was a family man at heart, even though Micky was reluctant to admit it.

At last she saw him, standing at the bar. He was head and shoulder above the group of men and she felt a wave of love and pride. He was so handsome that she couldn't believe he was really her husband now. She was his wife and no one could take that away from her. As Ronnie had put it at the last family meeting, the Bryants were respected in the East End. They had been tested and come through the worst.

'Ronnie has done you proud,' Gina said as she swallowed the last of her gin, smacking her lips together as she returned her empty glass to the table.

Bella smiled at her friend's flushed cheeks, jarring slightly with her tangerine dress. It was a beautiful shade of orange though and suited Gina's Spanish colouring. As they sat together in a cosy corner, watching the guests eat, drink and be merry, Bella felt the baby move inside her. Inadvertently she placed her hand over her bump.

'Kicking a ball around is he?' Gina asked perceptively. 'Well, at least you know it's a boy.'

Bella smiled. 'I'd like a son for Micky of course. But little girls you can dress up, spoil a bit.'

'Whatever you have is going to be spoilt rotten with a family like the Bryants. Just look at them over there, like the blooming Mafia!' She nodded towards the group of men standing at the bar drinking, smoking and talking together. Bella studied her husband and two brothers-in-law and nodded.

'I'm still trying to convince myself I'm married to one of them.'

'Don't try too hard. It will dawn on you soon, I promise.'

'Oh, Gina, I know you don't trust Micky, but things are going to be different from now on.'

'Course they are, love. I'm just an old cynic. You know I miss you, girl. The place is not the same without you.'

'I miss you too.'

'Lenny does his best, but he don't look as good as you in an apron. He's not a natural mover, that's for sure and I'll be drawing my pension before he manages to serve a proper breakfast. Still, at least I've got him where I can see him. And, if I'm honest, if he was to settle down to the business, I might consider making us legit.' She put up her hand as Bella's eyes widened. 'Don't get excited now. It's only an if. Lenny has a streak in him for branching out into the unknown. It's a natural trait of dishonesty that I'm working to eradicate and at the moment, because he was scared after the fire, he's behaving himself. But as you can see – ' she sighed as she looked at the all male contingent surrounding the bar, 'he's thick with your Micky and in their case, the pair of them together spell trouble.'

'Ronnie won't let that happen.' Bella sounded confident as she watched Lenny and Micky laughing. She felt that Gina was over critical of Lenny, who was doing his best to please her. He had been happier at the still, but Bella would never point that out to Gina. It was more than her life was worth.

'Ronnie's a good geezer,' Gina nodded. 'So is Joyce. I like her.'

'She's been very good to me. I would have liked a mother like Joyce.'

Gina stared at her thoughtfully. 'You ever heard from your old girl?'

'No, and I don't expect to. Why should I? She chucked me out and told me she never wanted to see me again.'

'She might feel different now.'

Bella said nothing as she tried to hide the feelings inside her that welled up when she thought of Bow Street. She had been tempted, it was true, to go round there, tell Mary that she was getting married and Ronnie had even asked if she wanted him to accompany her. But she had decided against it, as much for Terry's sake as her own. He was happy now, happier than he had ever been, had been given Ron's old room at Piper Street