for us to get hitched. We’ll make a fresh start. Go on some proper dates, and when the time feels right we’ll introduce the boys properly. Sound OK to you?’
‘I’ve missed you so much,’ Bella murmured, in her sexy half-English half-Italian drawl.
Michael breathed deeply, lust taking over every part of him. ‘I want you badly. I promise if you ravish me, I’ll return the favour.’
Bella unzipped the man of her dream’s trousers and took his penis in her mouth.
Michael Butler stared at Bella’s beautiful face as she pleasured him. She truly was his soul-mate and he knew it.
Katy Spencer and her friend Lucy Tompkins were in high spirits as they joined the pharmacy queue in Boots.
‘I’m so excited for you. When will you tell him – if you are?’ Lucy giggled.
‘As soon as I get him alone. I’ve never been a week late before, so I reckon I must be,’ Katy convinced herself.
‘I wonder if he’ll ask you to move straight in with him?’
‘Michael can be very romantic, so it wouldn’t surprise me. You should see the faces and hear the noises he makes when we have sex. He’s totally into me, Luce, I can tell. The only reason we’re not already living together is because he thinks it’s too soon for Lee and Daniel after Nancy. He loves me, I know it.’
‘He is such a catch, Katy. You are one lucky girl. Which reminds me: while we’re in Romford you must pop into Downtown and get that record. Every time I hear it, it makes me think of you and Michael.’
‘What record?’
‘The new one in the chart I told you about. It’s so you and Mr Butler.’
When Lucy began singing the words to Atlantic Starr’s ‘Secret Lovers’ Katy felt a warm glow inside. She put her hand on her stomach and as she neared the front of the queue, prayed silently to God that she was carrying Michael Butler’s baby.
Ava Preston launched herself at her father’s legs and nestled her head against them. ‘Fred did naughties to Auntie Viv, Daddy.’
Vinny Butler knelt down to stroke Fred, who was also vying for his attention, then picked his daughter up and swung her in the air. Apart from Teddy (the mutt’s toy) the only thing Fred ever wanted to shag was Viv’s leg and Vinny found that highly amusing.
‘You all right, boy? I was worried when I couldn’t get hold of you last night. What’s the point of having a mobile phone if you don’t bleedin’ answer it?’ Queenie asked, hands on hips.
‘Sorry, Mum. I had a business meeting with Eddie Mitchell and we got on the Scotch. You know how it is,’ Vinny winked.
Queenie batted her eyelids, then grinned. Both she and Viv lusted after Eddie Mitchell even more than they did that Dirty Den in EastEnders.
‘I was thinking, it’s about time we changed Ava’s surname, legally. Best to get it done before she starts school. Whaddya reckon?’
‘But I like my name being Ava,’ the confused child mumbled, pouting.
Carrying Ava into the lounge, Vinny placed her on the sofa, and sat next to her. His mum had enrolled her in nursery school, but that hadn’t turned out too well. Not only had Ava been devastated over leaving Fred at home, she’d also punched two of the other children in her first week and had left by mutual agreement. ‘You’ll still be called Ava, but instead of Ava Preston, you’ll be Ava Butler,’ Vinny explained gently.
‘Why is my name Ava Preston?’
Queenie crouched down. ‘Because when Mummy registered your birth, she forgot to put your father’s name on the birth certificate. Fred’s registered at the vet as Fred Butler, so you want to have the same surname as him, don’t you?’
‘Yes, but will Mummy be upset if the angels tell her?’
Queenie stroked the child’s hair. ‘No, love. Mummy’s dead. She won’t be able to speak to the angels where she is.’
Katy Spencer put the arm of the record player on repeat, lay down on her bed and daydreamed of her future. Lee and Daniel already adored her, she knew that much, and if her test came back positive, her and Michael would most definitely live happily ever after. Picturing what their baby would look like, Katy sang along with ‘Secret Lovers’. Lucy had been right. This song was written for her and Michael.
Taking the test out of her handbag, Katy smiled as she read the instructions. The pharmacist had told her to do the test first thing in the morning before she’d had anything to eat or drink. Patience had never been Katy’s virtue, so she ripped open the box.
The Enemy met his pal in the Eastbrook pub. Dale Grainger and himself had been best mates whilst locked up. In addition to being his drug supplier, he was also going to give him an alibi if and when needed. Dale had no idea what the alibi was for and that’s the way the Enemy liked it. The Butlers were very well known, even in Dagenham, and the less anybody knew the better.
Two drinks and twenty minutes later, the teenager had attracted the attention of two extremely drunken, much older women. ‘You’re handsome, you, ain’t ya?’ the ginger woman slurred, nudging her equally awful mate.
Dale nudged his pal. ‘Ignore them, otherwise we won’t get rid. A nightmare they are, proper alkies. Been barred from the Keys, Bull and the Railway. The ginger one goes out with Brett Carpenter, the biggest knob-end in Dagenham. The other one’s shacked up with Dave Green, another prick. You should see ’em perform down the Roundhouse of a weekend when the bands are on. It’s hard to believe she’s Vinny Butler’s sister.’
‘Who is?’
‘The one with the frowsy blonde hair. That’s Brenda Butler. Minging, ain’t it?’
Nodding in agreement, the Enemy stared at Brenda and pictured her covered in blood.
‘Michael! Stop it! I really do have to get home to Antonio. I promised my friends I would pick him up before noon, and it’s nearly that now,’ Bella explained.
Obligingly moving his finger away from Bella’s clitoris, Michael propped an elbow on the pillow beside her and rested his head on his hand. ‘When am I gonna see you again? And the little man? Missed him big time an’ all.’
‘I’m very busy the next couple of days. I have a lot of work to catch up on and meetings to attend. How about Saturday? I’d like to introduce you properly to my friends who run my favourite Italian restaurant. That’s where Antonio stayed last night. Will you be able to take time away from the club?’
Michael grinned. ‘You bet I can.’
‘Fabulous. But you still haven’t answered my earlier question,’ Bella reminded him.
‘What?’
‘I asked you did you date anybody else while I was away?’
‘Of course I didn’t, you daft mare. Not unless you count my old mucker, Black Kevin. I took him out a couple of times to cheer him up. Split up with his old woman, poor sod. And I can assure you we’re not gay.’
‘I believe you, many wouldn’t,’ Bella chuckled.
Feeling edgy all of a sudden, Michael leapt out of bed. ‘I’ll put the kettle on, babe. You hungry?’
‘No. A coffee will do just fine, thanks.’
Instead of the kitchen, Michael made a beeline for the sitting room. He’d switched his mobile off last night, then turned his landline and answer phone on to silent. Seeing the black machine flashing away like a good ’un, Michael sighed deeply. He would bet his club on who the calls were from and he had to get rid of her now, fast.
Vinny Butler was in a filthy mood. He’d been trying to get hold of Michael since early this morning, and had a vision of why his brother still wasn’t answering his