another drink. Pearl was still upstairs with Bridie, screaming blue murder. Handing Dave his brandy, Chelle sat opposite him at the kitchen table.
‘You’re going to have to sort out return tickets or a hotel or something for them two upstairs. I can’t have them round me no more, Dave, and they probably won’t want to go back home till after his funeral.’
Dave looked at Chelle and realised just what a callous bitch she really was. Her husband had just died and she hadn’t even shed a tear. All she was bothered about was getting rid of the two old biddies upstairs. Keeping his thoughts to himself, Dave decided to take Pearl and Bridie to a local hotel first thing in the morning. They’d be better off away from Chelle; at least that way, they could grieve in peace.
Dave’s main concern was Billie Jo. He felt so sorry for the poor little fucker, her old man had been her life. ‘Where’s Billie, Chelle?’
‘She’s in the garden. She wanted to be on her own.’
Dave found Billie staring lifelessly into the swimming pool.
‘Billie, I’m so sorry, love. I really don’t know what to say to you. He idolised you, your father, and I want you to know, whatever happens, I’ll always be about for you.’
Sobbing, Billie threw herself against the hardness of Dave’s chest.
‘My dad was the best dad in the world. Why did this have to happen, Dave? I don’t believe in God any more. He doesn’t exist, I know he doesn’t.’
Trying to find the right words to comfort her wasn’t easy for Dave. All he could do was try his best.
‘Life ain’t fair, Bill. I loved your dad. He was my best pal and I’m gonna miss him big style. You’ve got to be strong, girl. He loved you more than anything and you have to be strong for his sake.’
Sobbing, Billie pulled away from him.
‘I can’t. If he’s dead, I want to die too. I can’t live without him, I just know I can’t.’
Lost for words, Dave squeezed her hand.
Taking off his jacket, he put it round her shoulders and made her sip some of his brandy to warm her up. Leading her back into the warmth of the house, he sat her down and suggested that she go and stay at Tiffany’s. He knew without a doubt that she’d get far more love and kindness there than she would in her own home.
Dave rang Tiffany’s parents and explained the situation. He was relieved when they welcomed Billie with open arms, insisting that she could stay as long as she wanted. Dave dropped Billie off early in the evening, and then he took Pearl and Bridie to a nearby hotel. They’d insisted on going straight away, as they’d both said they couldn’t spend another night under the same roof as Michelle. Popping back round to Chelle’s, Dave was relieved to see that Hazel, her best mate, had come round to stay with her. Clocking they were on the piss, Dave felt he’d done his duty and said his goodbyes. ‘I’ll pop round tomorrow, Chelle. If you need anything before then ring me.’
‘Thanks, Dave.’ Chelle didn’t know how she felt as he left the house. She was glad Hazel was there, as while she had company she wouldn’t have to examine her true feelings.
Michelle knew that she’d truly loved Terry and even though their relationship had been on the rocks for a long time, her heart was with him, it always had been. An awful part of her felt relief. She wasn’t silly and knew that in time he’d have left her and she’d rather him be dead than suffer the humiliation of being publicly dumped.
The gruesome task of identifying his best pal’s body left Dave heartbroken and shellshocked.
Sitting in his Shogun, he rested his forehead on the steering wheel and cried. He’d had to be strong all day for everyone else’s sake; now it was his turn to grieve. Terry’s injuries had looked dreadful and Dave had heaved as he’d left the mortuary. Dreading what he had to do next, Dave scrolled through his phone. Jade had to be told and he was the only person in a position to tell her.
He’d rather have told her face to face, but he was fucked if he was driving all the way to Somerset.
Pacing up and down the room, Jade looked at the clock. The past couple of days had been just dreadful and she knew something had to be wrong. Being in Somerset wasn’t helping. At least if she was at home, she could have searched for him herself.
Her gut instinct told her something awful had occurred. Terry would never blank her calls or not contact her. As she turned to her parents, she prayed that there was a simple explanation.
‘Will you take me home first thing tomorrow? I need to be local in case something’s happened to him.’
Mary and Lenny glanced at one another and nodded. They feared the worst but didn’t want to comment.
Jade picked up her mobile and dialled Terry’s number for what seemed like the thousandth time. His answerphone, yet again. Wondering if the police had finally caught up with him, she sat down, put her head in her hands and cried.
Hearing her ringtone, she leapt up full of hope. Recognising the number, she spoke silently to God as she answered.
‘Dave, is that you? Have you heard anything yet?’
‘I think you’d better sit down, Jade.’
Jade felt the colour drain out of her face as she sat on her parents’ armchair. ‘What’s happened to him, Dave? Please tell me he’s OK, he is isn’t he?’
‘I’m really sorry to have to be the one to tell you, Jade, but he was involved in a fatal accident Boxing Night. The police reckon he probably died instantly. He was found early …’
Jade collapsed before Dave had finished the sentence.
MICHELLE SPENT THE next couple of days going through the motions. Hazel hadn’t left her side and was staying with her till further notice. Suzie, Julie and numerous other well-wishers had called in to offer help and pay their respects. All in all, Chelle seemed to be coping pretty well considering the circumstances.
Billie was still staying at her friend’s house, which suited Chelle down to the ground as she didn’t have a clue how to comfort her. She’d never been very good at the emotional side of motherhood, and it was too late to start now. Anyway, why should Billie soak up all the sympathy? It was her husband that had died, therefore it was her people should be feeling sorry for, becoming a widow at such a young age. Chelle spent the next two days constantly drinking, sleeping, laughing, crying and reminiscing. It was on the third day that things began to go haywire.
Two coppers arrived early in the morning to inform her that the case was now closed. Apparently, Terry had been over the limit and had tested positive to traces of a class A drug found in his system. Michelle couldn’t believe it. She might be a pisshead, but she’d never had any time for drugs and she certainly had never had an inkling that her husband took them. Chelle was told that Terry’s body was now ready to be released and was asked if she’d like some counselling.
‘Do I look like someone who needs to sit and discuss my business with a complete fucking stranger?’ Chelle replied angrily. Snatching the bag of belongings that had been inside Terry’s car, she ushered the Old Bill out of her house.
Chelle got straight on the phone to Davey Mullins and asked him if he could sort out all of the funeral arrangements. She was no good at anything formal and wouldn’t know what she had to do or where to start. Dave agreed to see to the whole thing including registering the death, choosing the coffin, hymns, a speech, the wake and the caterers.
Truth be known, he wasn’t doing it for Chelle, he was doing it for Terry and Billie. If he left Chelle to organise it, she was bound to make a cock-up and he wanted his best pal’s funeral to go without a hitch. It was the least he could do, as they went back years and had been more like brothers than friends.