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

'She's all on her own.'

'Where's her mum?'

'I don't know. She goes off somewhere. Uncle Ronnie, I reckon we should send for the doctor.'

'That bad, is it?' Ronnie said calmly. 'Well, stop worrying. We'll sort it out.'

Bella took her son in her arms. She knew what he had seen today had upset him just as much as it had upset her. 'Listen, I'm going with Uncle Ronnie and I want you to stay here with Uncle Sean.'

'Can't I come?'

'Not today.'

'Will the doctor make Teresa better?'

Bella kissed his forehead. 'Yes, I'm sure he will.'

Later, when Bella was sitting in Ronnie's car, she folded her hands together and sighed. 'You'd better be ready for a shock, Ronnie. This isn't just any little girl, she is a relative, close family. But Michael is too young to understand that at the moment.'

Ronnie took his eyes briefly from the road. 'A relative?'

'She's my half-sister,' Bella said quietly. 'Teresa is Mum's little girl.'

He looked astounded. 'Mary Doyle is her mother?'

'I know it's hard to believe, but yes. They don't live in Bow Street now. A year ago the council demolished the cottage and moved her to Collier Street. Jack Router died from the drink and left her pregnant. Mary's only just sent Teresa to school and she was put into Michael's class. That's how it all happened.'

After a pause Ronnie sighed. 'What has Micky to say about all this?'

'I haven't told him yet.'

'I think you should.'

Bella sighed deeply. 'He won't like it I know.'

'Has Mary shacked up with anyone else?'

'No, but she's as bitter as ever and hasn't got two pennies to rub together.'

'Is she still on the game?' he asked sharply.

'No, I don't think so. She said she's scrubbing floors.'

Ronnie drove them in silence; Bella knew he would never forgive Mary for her sins of the past and now she had brought another unwanted child into the world. A little girl who was suffering the same agony as she and Terry had gone through.

Bella watched Ronnie hammer on the door until Mary finally opened it. 'I've brought a doctor to see Teresa,' Bella said nodding to the tall, brown-haired man standing beside her. And you already know Ronnie.'

'You can all clear off. I don't want nothing to do with that scum,' she hissed, pointing at Ronnie. 'And anyway, my Teresa don't need a doctor.'

'I looked through the window.'

'You nosey cow.'

'You'd better let us in Mum. I told you once I'll support you, but only on my terms. If you turn us away now, you'll never see a penny again.'

Mary swayed, leaning against the door. Her eyes were glassy and unfocused, her skin blotched by dirt and stale make-up. Bella strode past her and Ronnie and Dr Cox followed.

'Meter's empty,' Mary slurred after them. 'So don't expect any light.'

Ronnie found the meter and pushed in some coins. The prefab walls were so damp they had tidemarks running round them. The smell of mould was everywhere.

Dr Cox went into the bedroom and bent down to the little girl lying on the mattress. Gently he folded back the dirty cover.

'How long has she been like this?' he asked Mary sharply.

'Oh, she's always coughing. And what do you expect living in a place like this?' Mary slumped into an old armchair in the corner, her head lolling to one side.

'This place is filthy,' Bella said. 'Don't you ever clean it?'

Mary cackled drunkenly. 'What's the point? You can't clean away damp. This is how the other half live whilst you eejits enjoy yourselves in your nice posh houses.'

Bella saw her mother was wearing the same old brown coat that she had worn before Christmas. Her hair hung down in matted tangles from her head and something crawled across her collar.

'You've not changed, Mary Doyle.' Ronnie's voice was filled with disgust. 'Not that I believed you ever would.'

'Judge me, would you, you bugger!' Mary pointed a finger stained with nicotine. 'It was you that interfered in my life and took away the only soul that ever cared about Mary Doyle and her kids. You made him a cripple and I'll never forgive you for that. He was my man and he looked after us until you decided to stick your oar in.'

'This child is very sick.' Dr Cox put away his stethoscope. 'She is suffering from malnutrition and a serious chest infection.' He stared at Mary. 'Where is her father?'

Mary was too drunk to reply and Dr Cox looked at Bella.

'He's dead,' Bella told him.

'What about relatives, friends?'

'Just me. Teresa is my half-sister.'

He nodded slowly, letting out a long sigh. 'She can't stay here, obviously. Her lungs are congested and she'll need penicillin to clear them. If there's no where else for her to go, I'll admit her to hospital.'

'I'll take care of her,' Bella said at once. 'Just tell me what to do.'

'My girl's going nowhere!' Mary shouted suddenly, trying to push the hair from her eyes. 'She's my kid, not yours.'

'So what is your suggestion?' Dr Cox demanded. 'Are you capable of looking after her? Can you provide good food, warmth and care?'

Mary waved a filthy hand. 'Ah, be off with you, you quack! Can't you see I'm ill meself.'

'Nothing that sobriety won't cure,' he replied, shutting his case with a snap. 'If you fail to cooperate, I shall call the authorities and inform them of the suffering you have imposed on this child.'

'Threats to her are like water on a duck's back,' Ronnie growled as he slid his hand inside his coat. 'There is only one language that Mary Doyle understands.' Opening his wallet he took out a five-pound note and dropped it into her lap. Then he walked over to Teresa and lifted her gently into his arms.

'You think money will buy me? His money?' Mary cried as they all went out.

'Are you saying you don't want it, then?'

'Jay-sus, girl, you have a hard heart. You'd leave your poor mother to fend for herself, would you? Sure, you won't even know if I die.'

Bella felt sick at