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

like milk into a bucket. When he saw Bella and Terry, he stopped work. 'Afternoon,' he nodded, tilting back his cap.

Bella smiled. 'Are you from the council?'

'Indeed I am.'

'Oh, that's good. We've been waiting for you to come.'

'Mind yer nice clothes now, 'cos this stuff is diabolical. Can rot your skin if you're not careful. I'm giving a second dousing, just to make sure I've got all the little buggers.'

Mary appeared on the doorstep and folding her arms, frowned at Terry. 'So this is me long lost son, is it?'

Bella urged Terry forward. 'Say hello, Terry.'

'What's the matter with him?' Mary demanded when Terry refused to speak. 'Ain't he got a voice?'

'Yes he has. Can we come in?'

Mary shrugged and glanced at the man from the council. 'You stopping for tea, Gus?'

'Don't mind if I do.'

They all went inside. Bella was shocked at the transformation. All the doors had been painted a nice cream colour. There was even some new wallpaper on the walls. She was pleased to see that her letters to the council accompanied by the doctor's entreaty had resulted in action.

Bella also noted the new furniture had arrived; beds and wardrobes, a couch for the living area and a small square table and four wooden chairs for the kitchen.

Mary led the way to the kitchen. 'Sit down, I'll put the kettle on.'

Brushing down his overalls, Gus took a sheet of newspaper from his pocket and placed it on the chair. 'I'd offer to take off me boots, but more would come out of them than's in the bucket outside.'

Terry sat beside Bella. He was still very quiet and Bella could tell nothing from his expression. It was so warm inside the prefab that her summer frock clung to her. Were the mugs clean that Mary was lining up on the drainer? Or home to old dregs as they used to be at Bow Street?

'So when will you be finished the fumigation?' Bella asked Gus politely as a mug landed heavily on the table in front of her and the tea splashed over the sides.

'End of this week.' Gus gulped his drink, blinking his small, friendly eyes.

'How's my poor, sick girl?' Mary asked.

'Doctor Cox said she's doing well. How long will it take for these fumes to wear off?'

'Give it a week,' Gus replied, realising it was only him that could answer the question. 'Meanwhile keep the windows open, let in the fresh air and you'll never know I've been here.'

'Haven't got much food,' Mary grumbled. 'Ain't been well enough to go out and I've got no money.'

'You know I'll see to all that.' Bella felt embarrassed in front of Gus.

'I'm a vegetable man meself,' he said suddenly. 'Got an allotment, a few flowers and greens. I'll bring some bits with me tomorrow if you like, Mary. In fact, if you want, I'll plant a few spuds out the back. Nice to just go out and pick 'em for yourself and the kid.'

Mary was smiling again and quickly Bella finished her tea. She felt they were in the way here. 'We'd better be going.'

Terry stood up quickly. Bella knew he was anxious to leave. It was as if Mary was a complete stranger to him.

'Does that boy ever say anything?' Mary demanded loudly.

'Sometimes. He's just shy.' She smiled at Gus. 'It was nice to meet you, Gus.'

He nodded, standing up politely. 'You too, missus.'

On the corner of Collier Street, Bella looked up at her brother. 'Are you all right, Terry?'

'Yeah.'

'You didn't say very much.'

'Don't like it there.' Terry looked frightened, his big eyes going back along the street.

'Nor do I much. But it's better than it was. Are you walking home with me?'

He dug his hands in his pockets and shook his head. 'No. Going to Sean's.'

Bella sighed. Terry was showing his anxiety in the only way he could. Though he had taken to Teresa like a duck to water, this meeting had upset him. However, it was something he would have to get used to and in time she was sure he would. 'Well, you'd better get along then.'

' ' Frew the tunnel,' he said, pointing in the opposite direction.

Bella smiled; it was the most he had said all day, but that was Terry. She went on her toes to kiss his cheek. 'Here you are, take this nougat with you.'

Terry's eyes lit up as she pushed the small brown paper bag in his pocket.

'Go straight to Sean's, won't you?' she said again, making sure he was paying attention.

He nodded and she watched him amble off, taking the road to Island Gardens, where he would navigate the foot tunnel to Greenwich. She waited, waving to him when he glanced back. He was twenty years old, but still a child. At least now he could be trusted to go to places on his own. He no longer dropped cigarettes or started fires. Working at the garage had made him more responsible. But it would take time for him to trust Mary again. To think that he had been the one who didn't want to leave Bow Street! "Terry don't want to run away," he'd said over and over again. Now she was sure he would never want to return there, even if the cottage was still standing.

Bella arrived back at the airey and found Gina waiting on the steps. Once inside, Gina looked around. 'Well, I can see he's not here,' she sighed as she collapsed into a chair. 'But then I didn't think he would be.'

'Who's not here?' Bella asked in confusion.

'My Lenny.'

'Why should he be here?'

'It's a long story. Where are the kids?'

'Next door until two o'clock.'

Gina looked very pale. Bella could see it was taking a great effort to speak. 'Lenny's left me. He walked out and took his suitcase with him.'

'But why?' Bella gasped.

'We had another row over the business. He's always saying he's fed up with being a skivvy. He said he couldn't stand it any longer.'

'How long has he felt like that?'

Gina