than enough time for you to screw up again.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to ask how well Steve would have coped with a baby at nineteen. But he already knew what the answer to that would be. Steve, brought up to respect family pride and tradition, wouldn’t have shoved his head in the sand.
“Actually, we’re planning a trip to Cornwall next weekend,” Heather said. “We’re telling the in-laws about the baby. And we’ll be discussing the possibility of us moving down there.”
“What, permanently? You? What would you do for shopping?”
“There’s always the internet. Anyway I’m sure I’ll have more important things on my mind. Steve’s folks haven’t been in the best of health lately and I don’t think they can cope with the business any more. Or that ridiculous big house. Steve would hate to see it sold outside of the family.”
“What about big brother Malcolm?”
“I suspect Malcolm will be pleased to have the problem off his hands. He’s too busy making dosh in the City. And we can hardly go on living here, can we? You can imagine a toddler climbing those railings and ending up in the river. Anyway, having a baby changes most people’s priorities.”
Joe drained the last of his tea, ignoring the little dig.
“Do you want something to eat? I’ll be cooking for Steve anyway. He’s bound to have the munchies after all that booze. You didn’t say, who’s this friend you’re waiting for?”
“Nobody you know.” Joe frowned again at his watch. “Food would be nice but I’m getting a bit worried about her. I expected her back way before now.”
“Her?”
“It’s nothing like that. I promised to give her a lift as far as Cheltenham, that’s all.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Actually, I think it’s time I went out to find her.”
Keen to escape from Heather’s eagle eye, he slammed out of the flat into a wall of torrential rain. Where was it all coming from? He was thoroughly sick of getting wet. And the wind was taking a turn for the worse, the new trees along the river were almost bent in half. He’d only brought the one jacket and he’d lent that to Lisa but he had a couple of dry sweatshirts in his holdall in the car.
He was about to pop the boot when he heard a whimper coming from the shadow of the bin store. Lisa launched herself at him, sobbing and shivering like a bird.
“I told him about the baby and he just laughed at me. He didn’t even remember my name.”
“Why didn’t you ring me?”
“Couldn’t. No phone. Forgot it was pinched with my bag. I’ve been looking for your car.”
What could he do but wrap his arms around her? The heartless bastard had clearly done the dirty before he’d chucked her out. Joe could smell it on her as her slender body pressed against him, desperate for warmth and comfort. When she looked up at him with those huge trusting eyes, he knew he was treading on very shaky ground.
Needing to let go of her to clear his head, he kissed her forehead and eased her away from him as gently as he could.
“Don’t cry. You’re safe now. But this bloody rain’s dripping down my neck. Let’s get you inside. My sister will let you have a bath, give you something to eat.”
But Joe hadn’t bargained for Heather’s indignation. She turned on him as soon as Lisa was out of earshot in the bathroom.
“Bloody hell, Joe! What do you take me for? Her make-up’s all over your shirt.”
He glanced down. His blue shirt was smeared with black mascara. At this rate, he’d have no clothes left.
“She was upset. What was I meant to do? I only met her this morning. She was wandering the streets of Scarborough with no money to get home.”
“So you rescued her? That’s a new one. Would you have been so keen to rescue an ugly old crone?”
“Give me a break, will you? I’m trying to do the right thing here.”
“I didn’t know you
It was on the tip of his tongue to ask how well Steve would have coped with a baby at nineteen. But he already knew what the answer to that would be. Steve, brought up to respect family pride and tradition, wouldn’t have shoved his head in the sand.
“Actually, we’re planning a trip to Cornwall next weekend,” Heather said. “We’re telling the in-laws about the baby. And we’ll be discussing the possibility of us moving down there.”
“What, permanently? You? What would you do for shopping?”
“There’s always the internet. Anyway I’m sure I’ll have more important things on my mind. Steve’s folks haven’t been in the best of health lately and I don’t think they can cope with the business any more. Or that ridiculous big house. Steve would hate to see it sold outside of the family.”
“What about big brother Malcolm?”
“I suspect Malcolm will be pleased to have the problem off his hands. He’s too busy making dosh in the City. And we can hardly go on living here, can we? You can imagine a toddler climbing those railings and ending up in the river. Anyway, having a baby changes most people’s priorities.”
Joe drained the last of his tea, ignoring the little dig.
“Do you want something to eat? I’ll be cooking for Steve anyway. He’s bound to have the munchies after all that booze. You didn’t say, who’s this friend you’re waiting for?”
“Nobody you know.” Joe frowned again at his watch. “Food would be nice but I’m getting a bit worried about her. I expected her back way before now.”
“Her?”
“It’s nothing like that. I promised to give her a lift as far as Cheltenham, that’s all.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Actually, I think it’s time I went out to find her.”
Keen to escape from Heather’s eagle eye, he slammed out of the flat into a wall of torrential rain. Where was it all coming from? He was thoroughly sick of getting wet. And the wind was taking a turn for the worse, the new trees along the river were almost bent in half. He’d only brought the one jacket and he’d lent that to Lisa but he had a couple of dry sweatshirts in his holdall in the car.
He was about to pop the boot when he heard a whimper coming from the shadow of the bin store. Lisa launched herself at him, sobbing and shivering like a bird.
“I told him about the baby and he just laughed at me. He didn’t even remember my name.”
“Why didn’t you ring me?”
“Couldn’t. No phone. Forgot it was pinched with my bag. I’ve been looking for your car.”
What could he do but wrap his arms around her? The heartless bastard had clearly done the dirty before he’d chucked her out. Joe could smell it on her as her slender body pressed against him, desperate for warmth and comfort. When she looked up at him with those huge trusting eyes, he knew he was treading on very shaky ground.
Needing to let go of her to clear his head, he kissed her forehead and eased her away from him as gently as he could.
“Don’t cry. You’re safe now. But this bloody rain’s dripping down my neck. Let’s get you inside. My sister will let you have a bath, give you something to eat.”
But Joe hadn’t bargained for Heather’s indignation. She turned on him as soon as Lisa was out of earshot in the bathroom.
“Bloody hell, Joe! What do you take me for? Her make-up’s all over your shirt.”
He glanced down. His blue shirt was smeared with black mascara. At this rate, he’d have no clothes left.
“She was upset. What was I meant to do? I only met her this morning. She was wandering the streets of Scarborough with no money to get home.”
“So you rescued her? That’s a new one. Would you have been so keen to rescue an ugly old crone?”
“Give me a break, will you? I’m trying to do the right thing here.”
“I didn’t know you
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