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

'Ronnie is going to open up the basement,' Bella told Gina, changing the subject discreetly. 'Me and Micky are going to move there as soon as Ronnie's had it done up. The airey - as it's known - hasn't been used for years, so it needs a bit of doing up. I think it's still got the duckboards on the floor to keep out the damp so it will need a good lot of heating.' She paused, her eyes softening as she thought of her plans to make a real home, the furnishings she would chose and the room full of toys she would transform into a nursery for the baby. 'At the moment we've got Mr and Mrs Bryant's old room upstairs, but when the baby comes we'll need more space and the airey has a lovely big sitting room, scullery and kitchen and three bedrooms. Quite enough space to meet out needs.'

'Will Terry move in with you?'

'I said he could, but he wants to stay in Ron's old room. He likes it there, next to Sean. And when Ashley's over they all have a good laugh.'

'Don't Ronnie sleep in it any more?'

Bella grinned and said softly, 'Most night he stays at the club with Joyce. Prefers it to going all the way back to her place.'

'The house of ill repute, you mean?' Gina smirked.

'It doesn't seem like it.' Bella shrugged. 'I've been over there with Joyce and she runs it smoothly. The girls are lovely too and Bernie and Sid keep any trouble out.'

'You sound like a Madam yourself.'

'It's a good business, Gina.'

'You thinking of starting up yourself?' Gina sounded alarmed and Bella shook her head quickly.

'Course not. I was just saying, it's a way to earn a living, same as anything else.'

'You know I can hear your Micky talking there.' She rolled her eyes expressively. 'Well, give me my cafe any day. I know I spend my life cooking and waiting on tables, but I'm only thankful I've got beer bellies sitting on chairs and I'm not lying under them.'

She laughed, but Bella was quick to enlighten her friend. 'Joyce doesn't work - not that sort of work - she's retired.'

'Doesn't Ron mind his girlfriend was in the trade?' Gina asked curiously.

Bella shrugged as she sipped from the glass of water in front of her. 'They've got a good understanding, being friends for so long.'

'Not like your Micky, then?'

'What do you mean?'

'Nothing. Just that he's on a short fuse where you're concerned.'

'It was only once. That twit Raymond Taylor,' Bella dismissed. 'But Micky trusts me and I trust him.'

'Well, take my tip and knock his jealousy on the head straight away. If you're not careful the old green eye can get out of hand.'

'Gina, we've not even been married a day, yet!'

'It's never too early to put your foot down. And when the baby comes along, men tend to get shirty about being ignored.'

'Well, I'll have all the time in the world to pamper him,' Bella said with a smile. 'Don't forget, I won't be a working woman, will I?'

Gina looked at her and frowned deeply. 'Is that what you want? Waking up to washing, ironing, cleaning and changing nappies all day? Tea on the table as soon as he comes home and the carpet slippers ready?'

Bella straightened her back and nodded. 'Well, I can't see Micky wearing carpet slippers, but yes, that's what I want.' She gave a hesitant smile and added softly, 'A home, a real home, is what I never I had, Gina.'

'I know, love. But you've got brains. Because you've come up the hard way you've had to use them an' all. You don't want to let them go to waste. That'd be a sin.'

Bella laughed, sliding her hand through the crook of her friend's arm. 'That's what I love about you, Gina, you've always got your feet on the ground.'

'Too true I have,' Gina agreed knocking back the dregs in her glass and chuckling. 'You can't trust a man further than you can throw him. And believe me, there are no exceptions to the rule. Speaking of which, your bloke is walking towards us, giving me the evil eye. So off you go and – what did you say you was going to do – pamper him?'

Bella laughed, her heart racing at the sight of her breathtaking husband. Gina was wrong on one point; there was an exception to the rule. One that she had found, anyway. Micky had always been her friend, her only ally in the darkest of times, her protector and her lover. And now he was her husband. She had loved him forever, would continue to love him and knew that he loved her in the same way.

In years to come she would remind Gina of this conversation. When she and Micky were an old married couple, and were still friends as well as lovers, proving their love had survived the test of time.

Chapter 17

PART TWO

August 1954

It was Saturday afternoon and Micky knew he should be getting out of the bed. He had been laying in it all morning since leaving home. But Leyla felt good next to him, the reason being she was dreaming sweet dreams. And he had been indulging too. The small black pellet in his cigarette had furnished him with a glorious lethargy, a sensation that was now crying out for more of the same. The heel-balls they had just smoked were of the finest quality, a fact Micky had proven for himself. His Limehouse contact, Weng-Weng, was to thank for this, though where he was buying the opium from, Micky had no idea. But he intended to find out. He had sampled it for himself and knew that it was kosher.

Leyla stirred beside him, her slender black body and full, young breasts always a turn-on as she moved against him. It was only when she opened her mouth that