Read Online Smokeheads by Doug Johnstone - Free Book Online Page A

the door.
    Outside it was a shivering, clear morning. Seaweed and brine smacked him in the face as he walked back to the B&B. He thought about what Ash said. Worse than beating your wife meant one thing, and his stomach knotted at the thought of it.
    He remembered the punch from Joe then the feel of Molly’s lips, then tried to shake his mind clear to think about today. This morning was his big chance to persuade Roddy, to turn his life around, and here he was hungover and thinking about her.
    He was on the beach now, plastic junk littering the sand. He could smell diesel and rotting fish mixed with the salty air and residual whisky fumes in his nose. He spotted Ethan leaning against a low wall outside the B&B, putting his mobile away.
    ‘How’s Debs?’
    Ethan looked up and frowned. He seemed to size Adam up then decide something. ‘Not great, actually.’
    ‘No?’
    Ethan sighed. ‘I never told you guys, but we’ve started IVF.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Three years we were trying for kids, no joy. All the tests came back fine, but it just wasn’t happening. It’s been frustrating.’
    ‘I can imagine.’
    Ethan looked up. ‘With all due respect, I don’t think you can. Anyway, we started treatment, but she’s just found out the first cycle didn’t work.’
    ‘Shit, Ethan, I’m sorry.’
    Ethan rubbed his temple and squeezed his eyes tight. ‘Two grand down the toilet, and we need to wait months to try again.’
    ‘Two grand?’
    Ethan raised his eyebrows. ‘I know. I wouldn’t care about the money, but the shit’s hitting the fan at work as well.’
    ‘Yeah?’
    He gave Adam a tired look. ‘You know what it’s like at the moment, RBS are all over the fucking news. They’re sacking nine thousand staff, you think that won’t affect us?’
    ‘I presumed you were safe.’
    ‘No one’s safe. Chat is that half our department is getting the chop. Chances are either me or Debs will get the bullet. Maybe both.’
    ‘Jesus, I had no idea.’
    Ethan shook his head. ‘That’s because I don’t shoot my mouth off all day like some people we know. Honestly, Roddy’s got a real cheek having a pop at me last night about money and risks. It’s because of morons like him that me and Debs are in this mess. If either of us gets sacked, we’re screwed. Can’t pay the mortgage or the car loan, and we just wasted two thousand quid on some useless eggs.’
    ‘I’m sorry, Ethan, I really am.’
    ‘The stress won’t be helping Debs, either. She’s taking it all pretty badly. Maybe I should just head home.’
    Adam shook his head. ‘You’re here now, you might as well try and make the most of it. Could be your last jolly in a while. You’ll be home by tomorrow night anyway. Would it really make that much difference to get back a day early?’
    ‘I suppose you’re right.’ Ethan took a deep breath and tried to smile. ‘So, I take it you’ve been at Molly’s all night?’
    Adam made a noncommittal face.
    ‘She seems nice,’ said Ethan.
    ‘She is.’
    ‘That sister of hers is a loose cannon.’
    ‘Yeah, I just saw her,’ said Adam. ‘She threatened to rip my balls off.’
    ‘Sounded through the wall like she was doing that to Roddy all night.’ Ethan laughed then looked at Adam. ‘What about Molly’s ex?’
    ‘What about him?’
    ‘He’s a piece of work.’
    ‘Yeah.’
    ‘Can’t believe we got barred from the only decent pub in town on our first night.’
    ‘That’s what happens if you fight a copper.’
    ‘He started it.’
    Adam shrugged, the Clash song going through his head. They stood in silence, gulls gliding on thermals high overhead. Eventually Ethan spoke.
    ‘I know you all take the mick out of me for being a boring sod,’ he said. ‘Always checking in with the missus.’
    ‘We don’t.’
    ‘Come on, I’m not a bloody idiot. Just because I’m married and settled doesn’t mean I’m not the same person you were at uni with.’
    ‘I know that.’
    ‘It’s just that my