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 wants to move back to Piper Street.'

Bella was surprised. 'I thought you were looking for a nice big house in the country?'

'So did I.'

'Why did he change his mind?'

Joyce smiled a distant smile. 'Sean and Ashley have bought the hairdressing shop and flat off Ron. This place will be empty, apart from you and Micky, that is.' She paused. 'If Ronnie suggested it, would you consider moving upstairs?'

Bella was caught off-guard by the question. 'I don't know, Joyce. I love the airey. It's where Michael's grown up and there's plenty of space. I have to admit though, that with Sean and Ashley gone, the house would seem very empty. There would only be Terry left upstairs and he couldn't stay on his own. He'd come down with us, I expect.'

'Oh, I see.' Joyce sounded disappointed.

'You were really looking forward to a fresh start, weren't you?' Bella said gently.

Joyce nodded slowly. 'Selfish of me, isn't it? I'm no snob, but for once in my life I wanted to splash out, go a bit grand with my own place.'

'Have you talked to Ronnie about this?'

Joyce sipped her drink thoughtfully. 'I began to, but then I realized how much it meant to him to move back here, to his roots. Perhaps he's trying to recapture the past?'

Bella had given thought to this subject too. She had asked herself if the bond she had forged with Teresa and her efforts to build bridges with Mary was an attempt to revisit her childhood. To put things back the way she would have liked them to be. But in her heart of hearts she knew that would never be possible. Was Ron trying to do the same too?

'I don't know what you'll decide,' Bella said firmly, 'but one thing I do know and that is that Ron loves you dearly. He won't make you unhappy and your life will become richer wherever you live.'

Joyce put down her drink and nodded. 'Yes, I suppose it doesn't matter where we live.' She looked round the room and began to smile. 'Though if we was here, we might have our differences when it comes to decoration. The furniture is as old as the hills. I've got my own taste, as Ronnie knows well.'

'I'm sure you'll make it look lovely,' Bella agreed as she heard the sound of Michael's laughter outside. 'And to think you and I will be neighbours. Oh, Joyce, I couldn't ask for more.'

'Do you mean that?'

'Of course I do.'

Joyce grasped her hand. 'Now don't forget to look surprised when Ronnie makes his announcement.'

Lenny was trying not to compare the squalid, cramped surroundings of Suzi's bedsit to the spotlessly clean accommodation he was used to. He had never really appreciated Gina's housekeeping, mostly because he had been forced to maintain that standard. It was not in his nature to be fussy. At the warehouse he knew where everything had been, even though on the surface it looked a mess. When he'd been tinkering about with his formula, he'd been at his happiest, despite the occasional spat with Micky. As he lay on the back-breaking put-u-up, listening to the noise of the street below, the flashing neon lights lit up the dark room. The smell of beer and cigarettes rose up from the premises beneath, a strip club. Outside its doors there was always the local brass mouthing it off. Soho was alive twenty four hours a day. It didn't sleep and nor had Lenny slept properly since he'd landed here two months ago.

Micky had promised to find him another gaff, but it had never materialized. He wanted to get out of this dump as soon as possible, but he had no money. He was used to nice clean sheets, a good cup of Rosie and a substantial fry-up. Suzi's kitchen which consisted of one cupboard, a draining board, sink and two electric rings, provided none of these. She called herself a singer and actress. Well, you could have fooled him. She brought more blokes home from the Fortune than she had hot dinners. There was always a permanent fag-fog in the room. Her bed was a tip and there was always someone ready to climb in or out of it. As the put-u-up he slept on was only hidden by a curtain, he was always on edge. As soon as he heard her come in he would crawl into his clothes and walk the streets. The only peace he got was when she went to work, from eight o'clock in the evening until two in the morning. He made sure he got himself some kip then. Though it was like sleeping on razors. He was ready to leap out of his make-shift bed the moment he heard her key in the lock. His nerves were in shreds. He never knew what mood she was in. On a high or low, sober or sick. It was the drugs that Micky was giving her. Lenny hated them, what they did to people. He had seen and learned a lot since he'd left Gina.

Lenny sat up, his ears alert for the sound of high heels on the rough wood of the stairs. As soon as he heard the cursing he knew it was Suzi. He jumped up and pulled on his trousers. By the time she opened the door, he was struggling into his vest. He grabbed his coat and shirt and pulled the curtain back.

'Who the hell are you?' an angry voice demanded.

Looking into the face of one of her punters, Lenny knew he'd had enough. This would be the last night he spent here.

'Oh, leave him alone,' Suzi shouted, pulling the man back as he stepped towards Lenny. 'He ain't in my bed is he? He's a paying guest.'

'You sure?' the mountain of flesh demanded.

Suzi put her hands on her hips. 'Well, what you waiting for?'

With as much dignity as he could muster, Lenny hurried out of the door.

He was going to find Micky. And he