Bang Gang(47)

A car full of smiles and gestures, Nanna's face so happy. There were  only a couple of customers, hardly anything, Lorraine could definitely  cope.

I couldn't look at her as I rushed back to the counter and ditched my  apron. "Can I go?" I said. "Please? I know it's early but I'll make up  the time …  I'll come in early tomorrow if you need me … "

She was glaring, I could feel it. I grabbed my bag and my coat, slipped  it on as I made my way back out. I met Lorraine's eyes before I left,  willing her to let me go.

She sighed. "If you must."

Yes. Yes, I must.

"Thanks," I said. "I'll make it up."

I raced out to the car and dropped into the passenger seat with a laugh. "Drive!" I said. "Before Lorraine changes her mind!"

Darren nodded, then indicated, pulled out onto the street. I fastened my  seatbelt, cheeks burning at the memory of the car's cold bonnet against  my naked tits, my palms against the windscreen as Darren pounded me.  The smirk on his face told me he was remembering it too.

"Ooh, Jodie! We're going for a lovely drive!" Nanna said. She was so excited, giggling away as Darren picked up speed.

I loved him for making Nanna so happy. The girls, too. Loved him for coming for me.

He drove us out to the main Abergavenny road and put his foot down. The  car growled and surged forward, and I laughed, lifted my hands in the  air until the wind whipped them. The girls were laughing, and Nanna was,  too, and in the spirit of the moment I reached out and squeezed  Darren's knee.

He moved his hand from the wheel and gripped mine tight.

We were doing this. Us. Really doing it. At least, that's what it felt like.

The road through the Brecon Beacons was magical. Rugged mountains, moody  under the grey sky. The wind whipping my hair as Darren pushed the car  through the bends, driving hard enough that Ruby whooped in the  backseat. You're better than Clarkson, Dad! she said.

I watched his chest puff up. Oh to be so idolised by our little girl. I felt his pride.

My hair was a mess by the time we pulled up at home, but I didn't even  care. I sent the girls and Nanna on inside, said I'd be coming along  right after them.

"Thanks for the ride," I said to Darren. "It was great."

"Which one?" He smirked.

"Both of them," I admitted.

"Any time." He looked right at me, and I wondered if he was going to  kiss me, right there, right then, with the roof still down and the whole  street in clear view.

He didn't.

"Girls are on half term break next week, remember?" I said. "I guess Ruby has already booked herself in at the garage."

He nodded. "You know it."

I cleared my throat, made myself broach the subject. "Will she be  alright? I mean, if you have any …  services …  I don't want her to … "

"She'll be fine, Jo. She won't be seeing anything."

"Right," I said. "Ok, I guess I'll be seeing you."                       
       
           



       

"That you will," he said.

Come inside, have some dinner, stay with us …  it was on the tip of my tongue, but he put the car back in gear.

"Best be getting this thing back to Lee. Said I'd have her back by six."

I smiled, and bailed out. I gave one last look at the bonnet, and my  stomach did a flip. "Thanks again, Darren, for everything today."

"No bother," he said.

He beeped the horn long and loud before he disappeared out of view.





Are you ignoring me? Don't ignore me, Darren. We need to talk.

Another pissing message from Lorraine. I'd been ignoring them for days,  ever since I took Jo from work in the Audi. The stupid daft cow wouldn't  give it a rest.

I shoved my phone back in my pocket and helped Ruby hold the screwdriver steady.

"Like this, Rubes," I said, adjusting her fingers around the handle. "Get a better grip."

It was only a little job, a brake light bulb change, but she may as well  have been replacing an engine for the amount of pride she was taking in  it.

I nodded to Sally Vickers, the owner of the motor Ruby was currently  working on. "Our newest recruit," I said. "Best service you'll get."

She laughed. "She's really something."

I ruffled Ruby's hair. "Say that when you've got working lights."

"I know what I'm doing, Dad!" Ruby groaned.

She really fucking did as well, had them changed in no time.

I rang Mia once Sally was off, she answered in a flash. Good girl.

"Where are you?" I said.

She sighed. "Daisy's. Same as I was last time you called."

"Righto," I said. "Call you later."

Buck shook his head. "Leave the kid alone," he said. "Jesus, Trent, you can't check up on her every bloody hour."

"Yes I fucking can," I said. "She's twelve."

"Nearly a teenager," he said. "You'll be cramping her style, man."

"Too damn right I'll be cramping her fucking style," I said. "That's my fucking job."

I slapped him on the back as I passed, and he rolled his pissing eyes at me.

I'd been wary of letting Mia off on her own this school holiday, even if  she was joined at the hip to Daisy and a load of other kids whose names  I'd never pissing heard before. Jodie said it was to be expected, that  all her friends were doing it, that we had to trust her to live a little  for herself. I can't say I liked the idea, though.

She may have looked older than her years, but she was still only twelve.  Thirteen, Jodie kept saying. Almost thirteen, Darren. She should be  playing tea parties with Mr Fluff and watching cartoons, not traipsing  round the village without anyone to keep an eye on her.

Relax, Jodie kept saying. It's only the village, Darren, she'll be fine.

I was calling her on the hour, every hour, and I'd keep bloody doing it, too.

My phone pinged again. It was Lorraine a-fucking-gain.

Darren?! I wasn't joking. I need to talk to you.

I sent Ruby over to help Hugh, and lit up a cigarette.

I'm busy, I replied.

Busy fucking Jodie? Chasing her around like a sappy little spaniel? I get it, Trent. More fool you.

Another message. You'll want to hear me out.

I thought about deleting her number, sending her one final fuck off  message and leaving it at that, but another message pinged before I  could.

It's about Jodie.

I replied quickly. Probably too quickly. What about Jodie?

She stalled for a couple of minutes that felt like fucking hours.

In person only, Darren. This isn't for text.

Bitch.

A blot on an otherwise perfect fucking landscape.

A few days from the rally weekend and things were looking good. It was  always hectic when the kids were off school, but Jodie had managed to  slip out twice to mine already this week.

It was becoming a regular thing.

So regular that this play it by ear shit needed to come to a head one  way or another. But I was nervous, like a stupid teenager, scared of  blowing my chances by handling things too hard too soon.

I had a habit of doing that.

All I pissing needed was for Lorraine to put a spanner in the works.  Rather she come to me than try to screw things up Jodie's end. Fuck  knows what the bitch wanted from me.                       
       
           



       

Although I had an inkling.

Tonight, I said. Come to mine. You'd best not be shitting me, Lorraine.

I got back to work and didn't give the cow the courtesy of another fucking thought.





I swung the door open without any niceties, ignoring the fact that  Lorraine was dressed in her finest with a bottle of wine in her hand.  Like I ever fucking drank the stuff.

"What do you want?" I grunted.

She tutted, brushed past me and went to the kitchen like she owned the  place. She took out two glasses and uncorked the bottle, pouring two  hefty fucking measures. She held hers up.

"It's been a while, Darren. Cheers."

I pushed the second glass away from me, shunted it across the counter.

"What's this about?"

She smiled, pretended this was a regular thing. Like fuck it was. "It's about you. Me. Us … "

I couldn't hide my disgust. "There is no us, Lorraine. There's never been an us … "

"No," she said. "Because there's always been a Jodie, and I'm sick of it  Darren, I'm sick of watching you chase after her like she's Mother  fucking Mary, like she can do no fucking wrong."

I laughed. "Mother fucking Mary? I think she'd surprise you."

"No," she snapped. "I think she'd surprise you."

Her eyes twinkled, that smug grin plastered on her face as she sipped at  her wine. She was a know it all, but I was done. I'd had enough of this  shit.

I pulled my cigarettes from my jeans. "I'm gonna have a smoke. You've  got a couple of minutes to either drink your wine and get out of my  face, or tell me what the fuck you're really doing here."