‘Mrs Marshall, I don’t think now is a good time,’ said Kerry.
‘Ah! There she is!’ Diana pushed Kerry to one side and swayed with the effort, trying to maintain an upright position.
Kerry looked back towards the shops. Erin was standing on the path watching events unfold. She must have heard the crash too. He glanced up at the other flats. He could see a couple of faces at the windows, like theatre-goers in the balcony seats.
Great.
‘Erin, go inside,’ he called, jogging to catch up with Diana.
Erin folded her arms and stood her ground. No words needed, her body language spoke volumes.
Diana was making her way across the grass, her heels sinking into the soft turf, making her progress even more unsteady. She reminded Kerry of Storm as a toddler, just finding his feet but not being in complete control.
‘Erin Hurley! This is all your fault.’ Diana was shouting as she staggered. ‘You have brought nothing but misery to my family. Why did you have to come back? Go back to England. You’re not wanted here.’
Erin raised her chin, her arms dropped to her sides, but she didn’t budge.
Kerry swore to himself again. He wondered just how much Diana knew. Maybe Roisin had confided in her mother. Somehow he doubted it, however. Now wasn’t the time to mull this over. He needed to get Diana away from Erin.
‘Mrs Marshall, stop this. Not here. Everyone is watching,’ he said, trying to appeal to her vanity. ‘You’re embarrassing yourself.’
Diana leaned back, trying to focus her eyes on him. ‘Whilst I appreciate your concerns, Kerry,’ she said. ‘This has nothing to do with you whatsoever.’
‘Please, this is going to achieve nothing tonight. Let me take you home,’ he said. He looked over his shoulder. ‘Erin, why don’t you go inside? You’re making it worse.’
‘Me, making it worse?’ Erin gave an exaggerated huff. ‘I’m not the one causing the scene.’
‘You’re not helping!’ Honestly, women! ‘Just go inside. Please.’
‘While she stands there and rubbishes me for everyone to hear? I don’t think so.’
‘I’m taking her home.’ He turned his attention back to Diana. ‘Come on, Mrs Marshall, I’ll drive you.’
Somehow he managed to get Diana moving in the direction of the car. He hoped the Audi was driveable. It looked like the front bumper of Diana’s car had gone down the off-side of Jim’s, gouging a furrow from the rear wing to the driver’s door.
Somewhat unceremoniously, he bundled Diana into the rear of the car. He turned round to see Erin jogging across the grass towards him.
She looked at the side of her dad’s car.
‘Looks like she’s taken a giant can opener to it,’ she said.
‘Don’t be worrying about that now,’ said Kerry. ‘Can’t you go inside, out of the way?’
Diana must have spotted Erin, for she started shouting again. Kerry pushed the door shut as she tried to get out.
‘I’ll follow you in Dad’s car,’ said Erin. ‘You’ll need a lift back. As long as this heap still works.’
Kerry didn’t argue. It would save him having to call Joe out for a lift. ‘Okay, but stay parked up down the road a bit, where she won’t see you.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll be discreet.’ Erin went round and got in the car. It started up and she drove out of the parking bay onto Beach Road.
Diana had calmed down and when Kerry looked in the back of the car, she was slumped to one side. ‘Right, I’ll be taking you home now, Mrs Marshall,’ he said as he got in the driver’s seat. ‘You stay right where you are.’
Diana made an incoherent noise, which Kerry took as a yes.
When he reached the Marshall’s house, he was glad to see Erin had parked a few houses down. He swung the A3 into the driveway, coming to a halt outside the front door.
There were no lights on in the house, but Pat Marshall’s car was in the drive. Kerry rang the bell and banged on the door, before resorting to shouting through the letter-box.
Finally, a light went on in the hallway.
‘Mr Marshall, it’s Kerry Wright. I’ve got Mrs Marshall here with me!’
He could hear the lock and bolt being slid open and a bleary-eyed Pat appeared in the doorway.
‘Kerry, sorry, I was upstairs. Must have dozed off.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Is that the time? Nine-thirty? Don’t know what happened there.’
Kerry suspected that Pat, like his wife, had been on the booze. Shame it hadn’t had the same effect on Mrs Marshall and sent her off to sleep long before she got it into her head to confront Erin.