Family Drama 4 E-Book Bundle

She switched into the act, her eyes becoming wide with fear. That was better, the trigger he needed, and now he walked towards her again.

‘No, please!’ she begged.

He grabbed Eva, ripping the clothes from her body before throwing her on the bed. He wanted to pummel her, punch her, but had to hold back, yet even so, her cries of mock pain drove him to ecstasy.

It was quick, too bloody quick, and annoyed, Kevin threw money onto the bed. If he got his needs regularly, maybe he’d be able to last longer, but at least he had a few bob now and would be back. Without saying a word to Eva he left.

It was one o’clock in the morning when he drove down the side entrance, parking in the large yard at the back of the café. He was quiet as he made his way upstairs, but despite that, his mother appeared in her bedroom doorway.

‘Kevin, where on earth have you been? I’ve been worried sick.’

‘Don’t start, Mum. I got held up, that’s all.’

‘Held up. Where?’

‘Er … the car had a flat tyre.’

‘But surely it didn’t take long to change it?’

‘For Christ’s sake, leave it out, will you! I ain’t a kid, you know,’ Kevin shouted as he stomped off to his bedroom.

Only a few minutes later he heard raised voices. His mother was berating his father again, taking her angst out on the old man. He despised him, despised his weakness. What sort of a man let a woman rule him – hit him – belittle him? Why didn’t his father stand up to her?

As a kid he’d thought it normal, but as he got older it became apparent that in other households it was the man who ruled, not the woman.

His home was different and he hated it, hated seeing the way his father kowtowed to his mother. With this hate came fear. Was he the same? Was he less than a man, like his father?

Yes, his first trip to Soho had introduced him to sex, but it hadn’t really taken away his fear. The tart was paid to do as he asked; paid to be submissive.

In between trips to Soho he’d taken a few girls out, usually the obvious types, and had played the big man. Yet deep down he was still nervous, especially if they showed a bit of spunk and stood up to him. When that happened he dropped them like hot potatoes, and so girls came and went, giving him the reputation of a ladies’ man, one that he enjoyed.

His mother’s voice rang out again and, hearing it, Kevin’s determination was renewed. Not for him someone like his mother. Not for him a woman with a forceful personality. If the day ever came, and he doubted it, that he got married, he would make sure his wife was a pretty little thing. Someone meek and mild, who would have no chance of dominating him.

Chapter Six (#ulink_dd8aa7d3-3ef5-5434-9ae5-94d92969ea90)

‘I’m home, Gran!’ Derek Lewis called as he stepped into the small terraced house. It was Monday and he’d been delayed, but now hurried upstairs. ‘Are you all right?’

‘I’m fine,’ she said.

Derek gazed down at his beloved gran, and frowned worriedly. She still looked frail, despite the doctor saying she had only a touch of bronchitis. Connie Lewis was a tiny woman, grey-haired and thin, but she was wiry and rarely ill. ‘Sorry I’m late but I had a bit of stock to pick up. Have you had your medicine?’

‘Yes, and stop looking so worried. I think I’ll be well enough to come downstairs tomorrow.’

‘We’ll see.’

‘We won’t. If I have to stare at these four bloody walls for much longer, I’ll go batty.’

‘All right, keep your hair on. I’m off to make us something to eat. What do you fancy?’

‘Something light. Perhaps a boiled egg, with bread and butter.’

‘You need more that that. How about a pork chop with mashed potatoes?’

‘No, thanks, but you have a chop. Is it your night for the gym?’

‘Yes, but I don’t want to leave you if you still feel rough.’

‘I told you, I feel fine, and a fraud for laying here.’

‘Are you sure you’ll be all right on your own?’

‘Gawd, Derek, will you stop treating me like a bleedin’ invalid? I ain’t ready for the knacker’s yard yet.’

There was a spark in her eyes now and Derek grinned. When his mother had been killed during the war, he’d come to live with his gran. At the time he’d been ten years old, a lost and frightened little boy, but she had taken him under her wing, showering more love on him than he’d ever received from his flighty mother.

He’d questioned Gran about his father, but she fobbed him off so many times that he’d given up asking. It was only as an adult that he found out why. On his birth certificate, the space for listing the father’s name was blank.

Derek bent forward, planting a kiss on his gran’s papery cheek. ‘I’m off to put your egg on.’

‘It wouldn’t suit you, love.’

‘Very funny, and if you’re cracking jokes you must be feeling better.’

‘I am, and put plenty of butter on me bread.’

As Derek went downstairs he found his thoughts turning to the café and the new waitress. Pearl looked such a frail little thing, too frail to be working for Dolly Dolby. When she fainted and he’d carried her to the kitchen, she was as light as a bird, her huge eyes full of fear as she looked at him. Well, she had no need to fear him. In fact, he was determined to look out for the girl.

In no time his gran’s egg was ready, and having spread the butter thickly on the bread, he carried the tray, complete with a cup of tea, upstairs. ‘There, get that down you.’

‘Thanks, pet, and what are you having?’

‘I think I’ll pop into the chippy on me way back from the gym. It ain’t good to spar on a full stomach.’

‘Derek, you’ve had fish and chips three times this week!’

‘It won’t kill me, Gran. You’ll be up soon and no doubt shoving vegetables down me throat again.’

‘I will, and I’ll make sure you eat the lot.’

They smiled at each other. Then Connie tapped the top of her egg, and Derek went to the bathroom for a wash. He stood looking at his face in the mirror over the basin. For a moment a frown creased his forehead. Boxing had certainly taken its toll, and was that the start of a cauliflower ear? Yes, maybe, but what did it matter? He’d never been much to look at in the first place.

An hour later he’d given his gran another cup of tea, and was ready to leave. ‘Are you sure you’ll be all right on your own?’

‘Derek, for goodness’ sake just go. Those kids you’re helping along will be waiting for you.’

‘All right, I’ll see you later,’ he called, clattering back downstairs and out of the house.

In no time he reached the gym, a few kids crowding round him as soon as he walked in. His eyes flicked round the large room, noting a few other nippers having a go on the punch bags, their thin arms making little impact. A couple of blokes were sparring in the ring, a trainer watching them avidly, but other than that the place was empty.