If Bessie hadn’t felt so ill, there was no way she’d have stayed in bed, and even now she complained constantly about the shop being shut and her loss of trade.
Pearl looked in the cupboards. She wanted to persuade Bessie to eat something, and pulled out a tin of soup.
In no time Pearl was on her way back upstairs with the hot-water bottle tucked under her arm as she carefully balanced a tray.
Bessie refused the soup, only taking the cup of tea. ‘It’s gonna be a bleak Christmas for you. I’d planned to cook us a nice dinner and maybe stick up a few decorations, but I just ain’t been up to it.’
‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘Still, I expect you’ve been invited to Dolly Dolby’s.’
‘Yes, but I’m staying with you.’
‘There’s no need for that. At least at Dolly’s you’ll get a decent Christmas dinner.’
‘I’m staying with you,’ Pearl repeated firmly.
Bessie sighed heavily. ‘All right, and you’re a good kid. I’m gonna miss you when you get married.’
‘I’ll miss you too, but don’t worry, I’ll pop over to see you as often as I can.’
Bessie patted the back of Pearl’s hand. ‘I know you will. As I told you, we were destined to meet.’
‘Yes, but what else has your second sight shown you?’
‘Nothing,’ Bessie said, her rheumy eyes becoming veiled. ‘Now bugger off and leave me in peace.’
‘I will when you’ve had your medicine.’
The old lady’s lips tightened with annoyance, causing Pearl to smile as she poured cough mixture into a teaspoon. Unmarried, with no living family, Bessie was fiercely independent and resented having to be nursed. She put on a hard and cantankerous front, but Pearl knew this was just a veneer that hid her kind, soft nature.
Pearl held the spoon to Bessie’s lips. ‘Here, drink this and I’ll go, but I’ll be up to check on you again.’
The old woman grimaced as she swallowed the medicine. ‘Yuk.’
Pearl pulled the blankets over Bessie, saying as she left, ‘I’ll be back soon.’
Bessie just nodded, her eyes already drooping, and when Pearl went into the living room she found it freezing. She hurried to light a fire, screwing up old newspaper to place in the grate. After adding kindling, and a few nuggets of coal, she was pleased when it lit straight away.
After waiting a few minutes, Pearl piled on more coal, and then sank onto a fireside chair, holding her hands out to the warmth. The flames flickered and danced merrily, mesmerising Pearl as time ticking by.
Reluctantly Pearl finally stood up, her legs mottled and red with heat as she went to check on Bessie, finding the old woman asleep. She peeped in on her several times during the next few hours, and then just before seven a knock on the shop door had her hurrying downstairs to see who it was.
A smile lit her face. ‘Kevin,’ she cried, thrilled when he gave her a swift kiss as he stepped inside.
As Kevin walked into the living room he was surprised to find it empty. ‘Where’s Bessie?’
‘She’s in bed with bronchitis.’
‘So – we have the place to ourselves.’
‘Well, yes, I suppose so.’
Kevin smiled with satisfaction. He and Pearl had only been alone in his car, and in the small space it was unsatisfactory. When he called round to Bessie’s, she never left them alone, and his mother was the same. It maddened him. The silly bitches didn’t seem to realise that they were bolting the stable door after the horse had bolted. He lowered himself onto the sofa, arms outstretched. ‘Come here.’
As Pearl sat down, Kevin kissed her passionately, and as usual she melted against him. So far he had resisted revealing his preferences, deciding that he didn’t want to frighten her off, but once they were married she’d learn a thing or two. He’d dominate, show what a man he was. With Pearl he always felt in control, but that wasn’t enough. With his need to overpower, he wanted resistance, but she was always so soft and compliant.
‘Kevin, have you had any luck finding a job? I really do want to move away from here.’
‘I’m looking, but I ain’t working for peanuts.’
‘I can work too.’
‘Oh, yeah? And what about when you drop the sprog?’
‘Others manage.’
‘Look, I’ve told you I’m trying to find a job, so just shut up about it.’
‘All right. I’m sorry.’
Pleased that she didn’t nag, he smiled. ‘Come on, we’re on our own so let’s make the most of it.’ His head dipped, once again kissing her passionately, nipping her lower lip and hoping to hear a yelp of pain.
There was no resistance and his frustration mounted. He paid the girl in Soho to fight, to beg for mercy, and God, he missed it.
Pearl snuggled up to him again, but he pushed her roughly away. She was bloody useless! Her eyes widened, and on such a short fuse it was enough to set him off. He growled as he grabbed her, his teeth sinking brutally into her neck.
‘Ouch! No, don’t, you’re hurting me!’
The fear in her voice drove away the last of his common sense. She had dared to protest and he loved it. ‘Shut up and get on the floor,’ he snarled.
‘Wh … what?’
‘I said get on the floor.’ Kevin shoved Pearl off the sofa and as she landed with a thump he swiftly knelt over her, laughing gleefully at the shocked expression on her face. Without preamble he yanked up her skirt, his eyes feasting for a moment on the bare skin that gleamed whitely where her stocking tops ended. Then, unable to wait, he tore at her underwear.
Pearl’s hands fought to hold him off. ‘Stop it – oh, please, Kevin, stop!’
Her white face staring at him wide-eyed with fear spurred him on. He raised a hand, slapping her across the mouth. ‘Shut up – bitch!’
With another yank her knickers came apart, and as she cried out again he fumbled with his trousers. With a swift movement he thrust into her, grinning with delight at her yelp of pain.
She writhed in protest beneath him, increasing his enjoyment until he lost control. He was in a world of his own now, pounding into her without mercy, but it was quick – too quick. Disgusted, he flopped on top of her for a moment before rolling onto his side.
Pearl scrambled away, rising quickly to her feet, hands held over her mouth in horror as she stared at him. As he rose to his feet, she cried out in fear, ‘No … no, don’t come near me!’
It was the terror in her voice that suddenly brought him to his senses. He wanted Pearl as his wife, a wife he could rule, but now he may have blown it. ‘Christ, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.’
‘That … that was like rape.’
Kevin wanted to laugh, but fought to keep his face straight. Little did she know that it had been tame compared to what he got up to in Soho.
It was play-acting there, he knew that, but by paying for it he was able to resist his urges. Urges that made him want to rape women – to hurt them – to make them see that he was a man.
At seventeen years old he’d done it, attacked a girl, but he’d nearly been caught. After that he’d been too scared to try it again, yet deep inside he knew that if he hadn’t discovered Soho, his needs would eventually have driven him to strike again.
Kevin