going to fit into my wedding dress. What’s up with you? You’re normally a greedy cow with Chinese, but you’ve hardly eaten anything,’ Steph said to her friend.
Tammy sighed. ‘I was just thinking of Richard, or should I say Tricky Dicky? I wonder what he’s doing now? He was going out with some business associates tonight.’
‘You’ll be seeing him soon enough and I’m sure he must be trustworthy. He would hardly have asked you to move to Spain with him if he were seeing other girls, would he? So, am I still gonna meet him next week? What day’s he coming back?’
‘I’m not sure yet, but you’ll definitely meet him before the hen night.’
Stephanie grinned. ‘Only three weeks now till Wayne makes an honest woman of me. I’m so excited. My mum can’t wait, especially now she knows Wayne’s dad’s definitely not coming. She was dreading him being there because of what he did.’
Wayne’s father had been locked up in 1978 for murdering Wayne’s mother. He had got life, but had been let out after thirteen years and had since started a new life abroad. Wayne had had a fall-out with his dad soon after his release. They’d gone out drinking one evening, the subject of the murder had arisen and a massive argument had ensued back at the house. Wayne hadn’t seen his father since. He had tried to track him down to invite him to the wedding, but Lenny Jackman had disappeared without trace. Wayne had heard through the grapevine that he had moved to Greece, but nobody knew if that was true or false.
‘So, has Wayne given up searching for his old man now?’ Tammy asked.
‘Yeah. To be honest I don’t think he would have bothered getting in touch with him again if we weren’t getting married. Never mind, his nan and grandad will both be there, and seeing as they virtually brought him up, that’s all that matters. I did tell Wayne to try and contact his sisters again, but he wasn’t interested. He said they were adults now and if they had wanted to find him, then they would have.’
‘How are the legendary Doris and Bill?’ Tammy asked, laughing. She had met Wayne’s dysfunctional grandparents at a couple of parties in the past, and found them highly entertaining.
‘They’re still exactly the same. Never sober or without a fag hanging out of their gobs. Actually, Wayne’s arranged for us to go for a meal with them the weekend after next. If Tricky Dicky’s about, it would be great if you and him could come along too. I’m sure Wayne wouldn’t mind and you’d be doing me a massive favour.’
‘If Richard’s back, I’ll do my best to twist his arm,’ Tammy promised.
‘You’re definitely bringing him to the wedding with you, aren’t you? Me and Wayne getting married, eh. Who would ever have thought it?’
Without any warning, Tammy started to cry.
‘Whatever’s wrong?’ Steph asked, squeezing her best friend’s hand.
Tammy took a deep breath and waved a hand in front of her face. ‘Take no notice of me. I’m just pissed and thinking of how much I’m gonna miss you when I leave England.’
Stephanie stared fondly into her friend’s eyes. If she didn’t voice her fears now after they’d had a few drinks, then she might not get another chance. ‘Please don’t think I’m being selfish when I say this, Tam, but I am worried about you. You’ve only known this Richard for a couple of months and it is so unlike you to do anything rash. Are you sure you’ve thought this through? I mean, what does your mum and dad say about it all? And your sister? Being a policewoman, surely she must be worried about your welfare?’
‘Richard ain’t a mass murderer, Steph. He’s a lovely bloke, and if I hadn’t thought it through properly, then I wouldn’t be going. I know I haven’t known him long, but I knew he was the one the first time he kissed me. As for the sex, it’s amazing. You just know these things, don’t you?’
‘But what about your job? You’ve got such a good career, Tam.’
‘A career ain’t everything, Steph. Look at you. You’ve got two beautiful kids, a handsome man, a wonderful lifestyle. That’s what I want, mate. I don’t wanna be sitting in an office till eight and nine o’clock every night working me tits off. I want a life!’
Finally understanding her pal’s reckless decision to elope with a man she barely knew, Stephanie moved around the other side of the table, sat next to Tammy and hugged her. ‘You go for it, girl. I wish you all the happiness in the world, babe, I really do.’
Danny MacKenzie looked at Wayne Jackman in amazement as he spoke of his financial difficulties. Danno had always thought that Wayne was loaded.
‘I thought you’d cracked it with that gym, Jacko. You were telling me only last year how much dosh it had made you,’ Danno said.
Potter and Cooksie sat quietly as Wayne explained the situation. They knew nothing about running a business, so were happy to just listen rather than butt in.
‘Everything was sweet, Danno. I was raking it in up until last summer and then it all started going tits-up. That other gym opened down the road and took away tons of me custom. Then a big chain of sports shop opened up near my sports shop in Barkingside. It’s got even worse this year as there’s another gym just opened in fucking Wanstead. What with the wedding and everything else, I’m on me arse, mate.’
‘We don’t mind chipping in with the bill, Jacko,’ Potter offered, as he munched yet another poppadom.
Wayne shook his head. ‘Don’t be daft, I ain’t penniless. I’ve got collateral, I’m just a bit short of readies at the moment. Getting married is not cheap. But I’ll pick meself up again, I always do.’
‘So, does Steph know you’re in schtuck, mate? Can’t you postpone the wedding until next year?’ Danno asked Wayne.
‘I can’t postpone it, Steph would be devastated. To be honest, it’s all my fault we’re in this position. Me and Steph had discussed getting married for years, but because of one thing and another, we never got round to it. On Valentine’s Day last year, a pal of mine got hitched. Me and Steph went to the wedding and she loved it. She said getting married on Valentine’s Day was the most romantic thing she had ever seen. Things were still going well for me then, so I started arranging the wedding as a surprise. By the time I told Steph on Christmas Day, my businesses were both in trouble, but I’d already organized and paid deposits for everything by then.’
‘That’s such a shame, mate.’ Cooksie said, sincerely.
Wayne stared at his pals. They were the oldest friends he had now, so he’d chosen to spill his guts to them rather than anyone else. ‘If I tell you something, promise me you won’t say nothing to Steph?’ he said.
When all three men vowed not to, Wayne continued. He turned to Danno. ‘You know I sold me house in Collier Row to move to Chigwell?’
‘Yeah,’ Danno replied.
‘Well, I sold it and rented because I had to. I’ve told Steph that we’ll rent in Chigwell for six months before we buy, so we can make sure we like it before we take the plunge. But, the truth is, I was in so much debt, I didn’t have much choice. When things hit rock bottom last year, I borrowed money against the gym and the shop. Even that new BMW I’ve bought is on the never-never.’
To say Danny was astounded was an understatement. He knew a few blokes who knew Wayne, and all of them had been under the impression that he was a millionaire at least. ‘I can lend you a few bob, mate. How much do you need to tide you over?’
Wayne immediately shook his head. ‘Thanks for the offer, Danno, but I’m a man not a mug. This cash-flow problem I’ve got is just a temporary hitch and, in hindsight, perhaps I should have come clean with Steph. She bought our little Tyler an outfit that cost two hundred sovs the other day, and the money she’s spent on the bridesmaids’ clobber, you don’t wanna know. The price of her wedding dress was absolutely scandalous, but what can I do? I love the girl, it’s the biggest