Jason smirked. ‘Thank you, officers. Have a nice day.’
Darlene Michaels had just returned from the shops when there was a knock at the door.
‘Oh, it’s you. Got a fucking cheek, turning up ’ere unannounced, seeing as you blank all my calls these days. Fourteen times I rang you yesterday, ya no-good bastard.’ Darlene’s heart was beating like a drum as it always did when she and Jason argued. She loved him so much it bloody hurt at times.
‘I was proper busy yesterday. Sorry. Come ’ere,’ Jason said, holding his arms out. He was dying to get his end away, could feel his penis throbbing with anticipation.
Darlene pushed him away, her eyes glinting angrily. ‘I ain’t stupid. Been round the block a few times meself, ya know. Who is she? And don’t pretend there is no she, ’cause I know there fucking is.’
Knowing this was his chance to come clean, Jason chose his words carefully. ‘It’s not what you think. I’m in shit-street, Dar. Had a massive bust-up with me mum and I’ve moved out. I needed help with Shay, so I’ve got a pal helping me out. She’s a bird, but a proper plain Jane. I swear on Shay’s life I’m not banging her. I don’t look at her in the way I look at you. I’m just sort of using her, to be honest.’
‘Do I look simple? Well, do I?’ Darlene screamed. ‘No way is some tart gonna look after Shay without getting something in return. Got money, has she? You’re a slippery snake, Jason, that’s what you are. I knew you were up to no good, can always tell. Fuck off, go on. Get out my flat and life.’
‘Dar, please don’t be like this. You know as well as I do, sometimes in life we gotta put our kids first. That’s why me and you can never live together or be seen out, ’cause you don’t want Andy finding out. This bird means nothing to me – unlike you, who means the world. You gotta believe me.’
Screaming abuse and throwing punches, Darlene pushed him out the front door. ‘And don’t come fucking back,’ she bellowed.
‘Can I have another cuddle?’ Shay asked Carol. This woman was nice and Shay hoped she was her new nan. She was friendly and smelled lovely. She was nothing like her old nan, who swore constantly and smelled nasty.
Carol chuckled. The child had almost a feral look about her. ‘Go upstairs and look in the bathroom. There’s a black brush on the sink unit, you’ll be able to reach it. Go get it and I’ll give your hair a good brush for you. Would you like that?’
When Shay nodded and skipped off happily, Melissa shared her concerns with her mother over Shay not liking her.
‘She’s only a little girl, love, and it’s probably strange for her to see her father with a girlfriend. She’ll come round in time. You just need to be patient and persevere.’
Johnny entered the room. ‘How’s my two favourite girls?’ he asked, scooping Donte off the floor and lifting his giggling grandson above his head.
‘We’re fine, Dad,’ Melissa beamed. She was so pleased her father had finally accepted her son. ‘I don’t know what time Jase will be back. He said he had some things to sort out today.’
‘I know. We had a little chat last night,’ Johnny replied. ‘I can’t see him and Shay on the streets so I told him they can stay here until he sorts something.’
Melissa leapt off the sofa and hugged her father. ‘Thanks! You’re the best dad in the world.’
Jason Rampling pulled up on the Mardyke Estate and studied the ring again. It was simple, but nice. A bit like Mel in a way. He wasn’t looking forward to putting it on her finger though. The very thought gave him the heebies. Getting married was such a big deal and even though he planned on telling nobody, if Mel did accept the proposal, Darlene was bound to hear it on the grapevine, then chop his bollocks off.
Two years ago, Jason’s previous motor had been stolen off the Mardyke, so no way would he chance leaving the ring inside the car. He picked up an empty crisp bag off the floor, put the box inside and shoved it at the bottom of the carrier bag that held the bottle of drink he’d bought from the offie. He dropped his phone in the bag as well, then picked up the second box, the one he’d purchased in a different jeweller’s. He had to win Darlene over. His cock was urging him to.
Jason took the stairs two at a time and banged on Darlene’s door. He’d been ringing her all afternoon, but she’d been blanking his calls. He knew she would forgive him though. She always did.
Darlene flung open the door. She’d had a good cry earlier before tarting herself up to the nines. She’d known by how many missed calls she’d had that Jason would be back. ‘What d’you want? Said all I had to say to you earlier.’
‘You look nice. You going out?’ Jason knew she always pretended she was going out when they rowed, so decided to play along with her.
‘Yes. But where I go and what I do has sod-all to do with you any more. You worry about Plain Jane.’
Jason pulled the box out of his pocket and handed it to Darlene. She wore massive gold hoop earrings and had been vexed when she’d lost one last week. ‘An olive branch,’ he said.
Darlene glanced at the earrings, then handed them back to him. ‘I’m not being bribed, Jase. Neither am I being the other woman. You either knock things on the head with Plain Jane or it’s over between us, for good.’
Jason could tell she was warming, so told Darlene what she wanted to hear. ‘I can’t lose you, Dar, so I’ll knock her on the head. I love you, babe. You know that.’
Putting the bolts across the inside of the front door in case her son came home, Darlene grabbed Jason’s hand and literally dragged him into the bedroom.
‘Jason’s phone is still switched off. I hope he’s OK. He didn’t say he’d be this late,’ Melissa stated worriedly.
Carol looked at the clock. It had just gone eight and she was ready for bed. The tiredness and lack of appetite were becoming more difficult to hide from her family, and Carol hated them looking at her with worried eyes. ‘I bet he’s had a lot of things to sort out, love, and his battery has died. Might even be checking on his brothers and sister. Don’t worry. He’ll be home soon,’ she yawned.
Johnny was none too impressed. Jason had left here at dawn this morning and it didn’t take fourteen hours to travel to Hatten poxy Garden and back. Thank God they were looking after Shay, else Johnny would now be thinking his daughter’s wide boy of a bloke had run off with his five grand.
‘Your mum’s right, Mel. Jason told me earlier he had lots to sort out and wouldn’t be home until tonight,’ Johnny fibbed. He suddenly felt anxious. Had he put his wife’s happiness in front of his daughter’s?
‘Babe, I really do have to go now,’ Jason repeated, unclasping Darlene’s hands from around his neck.
‘So you’re definitely gonna tell Suzie tonight you won’t be seeing her any more?’ Darlene asked again.
‘Yes. Already told you that ten times. Same as I told you I rang my nan and she said she’d look after Shay for me.’ Suzie Smith was the first name Jason had thought of to blurt out, but his lies were now spiralling out of control. Sex with Darlene was always even more mind-blowing after an argument, but now his ball bags were emptied, he just wanted to leave.
‘When you coming round again?’ Darlene asked, pure desperation in her voice.
Jason gave her one last peck on the lips. ‘Soon. I promise, babe.’
‘Where have you been? I was worried about you, Jase. I thought you’d had an accident,’ Melissa gabbled, throwing her arms around her boyfriend’s neck.
‘I’m sorry. My sister rang me earlier, crying her eyes out. Kyle fell over and cut his head open so I had to take him up A and E. Then me phone died,’ Jason said, kissing Melissa on the lips.