The School Gates (24 page)

‘And it goes with my glasses too.’

‘Oh, all right. Daddy always gives you what you want. You’re a spoilt little cow.’

‘Oi, ladies! Let me answer the door and when I get back I want you to be friends again, all right?’ He ran to the front door.

‘Evening.’ Gordon opened the door to a smirking Robbie. ‘What you been up to? You look sneaky.’

‘Guilty as charged. I’ll tell you in a minute.’ He then grimaced theatrically as he heard the twins screaming at each other.

‘I thought you’d be used to this in your Bebops world?’ Gordon asked, rather hurt by his attitude.

‘I am, that’s why I like to get away from it in my personal life.’

‘Yeah. I get you,’ Gordon acknowledged, taking in Robbie’s revealing red jeans and tight black T-shirt and suddenly feeling remarkably horny.

‘Here, open this.’ He threw him a beer. ‘I’ll go and sort them out.’ He went into the girls’ bedroom and shut the door behind him. They were both still wearing their red tops. Stalemate.

‘Now, you wanted to meet Robbie, and Robbie is here. He is also wearing red jeans. Obviously, a very trendy colour at the moment. So, why don’t you just stay as you are – you both look beautiful. I get that you want to be individuals and not wear the same and that’s totally cool by me – you know that. But your tops are very different and you have different coloured jeans on, so come on. Inga is going to be ready to leave in ten minutes.’

‘Does he look like Chris then? Your new boyfriend?’ Lola asked.

‘Oh, it’s you. We know you already,’ Lily announced as she paraded into the kitchen.’ You’re Eliska’s manny.’

‘Indeed,’ Robbie replied. ‘Manny, eh? That’s funny.’

‘Not that funny,’ Lola interjected. ‘Anyway, my mummy said you have to be as nice as Chris or you are not allowed to see our daddy again.’

Inga walked into the kitchen and grimaced at Gordon as Lola said this.

‘Oh, did she indeed,’ Robbie said rather stiffly. ‘Well, let’s hope I pass the test then.’

Gordon bit his lip and mouthed, ‘Sorry.’

Inga intervened . ‘Right – come on then you two, we need to leave. Joshua will be waiting.’

‘What do you mean, no?’ Robbie couldn’t understand why Gordon was turning down the line of cocaine he’d prepared on the coffee table whilst Gordon was in the toilet.

‘It’s just not what I’m about, that’s all.’

‘I’d have thought in the airline game, it’s all party, party, party.’

‘Well, it is sometimes, but that doesn’t mean everyone has to take drugs.’

‘Go on, try it. It’ll make you feel horny. I can guarantee it.’

‘Look, Robbie. I have kids, who will be home later. I am flying in the morning. I can’t.’

‘But you’re happy to get pissed?’

‘I said no, all right?’ Gordon got up and went to the kitchen to get himself another beer. He was no prude but he wasn’t a drug-taker either and never wanted to be.

‘I need a fag,’ Robbie said. ‘Can I have one in here?’

‘No, you’ll have to go outside or lean right out of the bathroom window.’

‘God, you’re really no fun tonight, Daddio.’

‘Come on, let’s get a cab to the station and go into London then. We can party till late.’ Gordon tried his best to appease his now coked-up and super-lively companion.

‘No, let’s just stay here. A party in your pants is just fine.’

Gordon laughed. ‘You’re like a naughty schoolboy.’

‘And ain’t that the attraction,’ Robbie smirked. ‘You know you want it. Who’s Chris anyway?’

‘My longterm ex’

‘What happened?’ Robbie’s Mancunian accent seemed stronger all of a sudden.

‘He couldn’t cope with the kids. No, that’s a lie – he couldn’t cope with the whole family bit, although he loves the girls.’

‘Yeah, can see where he’s coming from. Don’t know how you do it. I can just about tolerate them for my job, but that’s it.’

‘I had no choice but I don’t regret a single day of having them.’ Gordon suddenly thought of his beloved sister.

‘Well, you’re a better man than me. I like my freedom too much to be bogged down with all the baggage and ties that come with kids.’

Gordon looked at a smiling photo of him, Chris and the girls at last year’s trip to Legoland. He had not been able to take it down. ‘Do you know what, Robbie? I want you to leave.’

‘What?’

‘Please leave. It’s not all about sex, is it? We are poles apart. I’m wasting your time. It’s been fun but I can’t do this any more. Sorry.’

‘Come on, Gordon, let’s just have fun tonight then? I’ll get us another beer, eh? We can talk about it.’

The doorbell went. Gordon went to answer it and walked back into the kitchen followed by a tall good-looking man with shoulder-length hair and stubble.

‘John, what the fuck are you doing here?’ Robbie snapped.

‘You said…’

‘I said I probably wouldn’t want a lift until at least midnight, mate.’ John looked completely confused as Robbie virtually frog-marched him down to the door of the block of flats, leaving it swinging open and a totally confused Gordon left in the doorway to his flat.

Robbie lit a cigarette the minute he was outside.

‘What the fuck?’ John asked.

‘There ain’t none of that, that’s for sure. He already refused a line and has told me to go. I think you trying to suck his cock as well would tip him over the edge.’

‘Shame, he’s well cute.’

‘Isn’t he? But so’s Micky Mouse and to be honest we’d have more fun at Disneyland. Can you just wait a sec? I’d better nip up and say goodbye.’

‘See you in a minute. We can polish off that gram together.’

The door was shut when Robbie went back upstairs. When Gordon opened it, he had already changed into his joggers.

‘Didn’t realise you were a pimp as well as a drug dealer?’

‘He’s my flatmate – just got confused, that’s all. Look, I’m sorry, Gordon. Sex aside, I do really like you. Have a think about us and give me a call, eh?’

Gordon rubbed his face. ‘Yeah, I’ll call you. Sorry about tonight. Lots on my mind.’

Robbie smiled and brushed Gordon’s neck with his hand. ‘He’s not coming back, mate.’

Shutting the door gently, Gordon got himself a beer, put on the TV and lay on the sofa. With Chris, life had been so easy. God, he loved that man and he knew that Chris had loved him too. A life of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll might be what Robbie wanted, but he was over thirty now and it just wasn’t for him. He was a dad and wanted to settle down and lead a comfortable, uncomplicated life.

Realising he no longer even had a number to reach Chris on, he got up to go to the loo. When his beer slipped from his hand and smashed into pieces on the wooden floor, he promptly burst into tears.

‘Cancer, you say?’ Mo repeated calmly. ‘Are you sure?’

Noah Anderson nodded slowly. Ron gripped his wife’s hand tightly as the doctor continued, ‘The results from the endoscopy were conclusive, I’m afraid.’

Mo could feel a burning in her throat. Just as her life had taken on a slight sense of normality, here it went again – seconds out, round 30, another blow to deal with.

‘It’s OK, Ron duck, we need to see what we’ve got to do to make you better now.’

‘Do you want me to explain further?’ Dr Anderson put in.

‘How long have I got?’ Ron asked matter-of-factly.

‘Well. There are four stages of tumour size in oesophageal cancer.’

‘Just tell me, Doc.’

‘T4 means the tumour has grown into other organs or body structures next to the food pipe.’

‘Just tell me how long I’ve bleeding got!’ Ron suddenly shouted. Mo looked horrified at his outburst.

Unfazed, Dr Anderson replied, ‘Mr Collins, you are at the T4 stage, I’m afraid, and the prognosis is not good. I would say you are looking at a year at the most.’

Ron managed a weak smile. ‘Expensive business this drinking lark, isn’t it?’

‘Yes.’ Noah looked to Mo, who was gulping back her tears. ‘Yes, unfortunately it is.’

Tony was waiting at the back door as Dana pulled into Rosco’s car park.

‘I never thought you were coming back. We had to get a few of Bruno’s temps in and everything. Could have all won Miss World, but thick as shit.’

Dana kissed him on the cheek and luxuriated in his recently applied aftershave.

‘I’ve had the most terrible flu, I’m so sorry to let you down.’ Dana cringed inwardly, she was such a terrible liar.

The truth was, Mark had suggested she take some time out as she looked so tired. He also had told her that today he wanted her to give in her notice. She had promised him she would, but had no intention of doing so. On Friday it was the end of term so she would be having a two-week holiday for Easter anyway. She would try to persuade him to let her carry on whilst they were off.

‘It’s so nice to see the sunshine,’ Dana trilled as she put on her pinny. ‘And you.’ She smiled at the handsome Italian and was annoyed to realise that her feelings just hadn’t gone away. Tony said nothing. ‘You OK? Not like you to be so quiet.’

‘I’m fine. Just a bit sad already that you will be gone on Friday and not be here for two weeks for the Easter holidays.’

‘I shall come back all brown and lovely as we are going to Majorca.’ Dana was doing her best to pretend that ‘the kisses’ hadn’t happened. But she felt as if a string was joining her to this gorgeous man and she just couldn’t cut it, not just yet.

‘We are having an Easter tea-party for all our locals on Thursday. Free cakes, a glass of fizz – you know. Eggs for the kids. It goes on till six so I was hoping you could maybe stay and help, and join in the fun too, of course?’

‘Tommy breaks up at lunchtime on Friday so I’ll have to shoot off right on time, then but Thursday – yeah. I should be able to get a play date for him. Mark is playing squash so he’ll be late back.’

Tony smiled broadly. At least he would have a few extra hours with his little Czech princess.

Isobel Murray had headed off to the supermarket. Alana hated to admit it but she was actually being a great help and Eliska adored her. Stephen had been called away to Sweden on business for a week so she was actually welcoming the company.

Dana had also been a complete brick and with her now softer approach, Alana had at last, she thought, found herself in an unlikely friendship with the young mum.

Eliska came running into the conservatory, where Alana was to be found feet up on a pouffe watching her recent obsession, Countdown. Her company had agreed willingly for her to take a month off to recover from her loss, and she couldn’t believe how much she was enjoying the freedom. It made her realise just quite how burned-out she was. And that in being that way, and so unhappy with it, had turned her into a person she didn’t want to be.

Her daughter was closely followed by a lively Tommy and a tired-looking Dana.

‘Hey, how you doing?’ Dana asked as the children tore out of the French doors and into the spring sunshine to jump up and down on Eliska’s huge trampoline.

‘I’m actually feeling OK, thanks. I’m supposed to be back at work next week and really don’t want to. Never ever thought I’d say that.’

‘Do you think you will try for another baby with Stephen now you are feeling better?’ Dana asked innocently.

Alana laughed. ‘Us trying for a baby? We haven’t even established our relationship yet. It’s going to take him a long, long time to work out what he wants, I reckon.’

‘He might surprise you, Alana. Men are useless on their own. Women are so much stronger. You wait – he’ll keep going back to that big empty house of his in London and realise his heart lies here with you and Eliska. Yes, just you wait and see.’

‘You should write romance novels, Mrs Knight.’

‘Actually, I meant to ask you, now you’re on your feet again, would you mind awfully having Tommy after school tomorrow? The boys have asked if I can work late at the café tomorrow; they are having an Easter treat afternoon and could do with the help.’

‘You and your boys.’ Alana cocked her head to the side. ‘Why is it I see your face light up when you mention your workplace?’

Dana reddened.

‘Dana? Have I hit a nerve?’

‘No, no,’ the young woman blustered. ‘Well, they are good – looking and I do think Tony does have a soft spot for me.’

‘You think?’ Alana quizzed, her intuition with men and relationships coming to the fore.

Dana laughed. ‘Let’s just say if I wasn’t married...’

‘Well, from the little I can remember, his brother was bloody good at it.’

‘Alana! I can’t.’

‘Which means you’ve thought about it. There is nothing wrong with fancying someone else if you are attached, it’s only natural. It’s when you act on it that it gets tricky, and by God I’ve learned a few lessons in my life by being so naughty when I shouldn’t. That’s probably why I’m still single at forty-two.’

‘Did you love any of them?’

‘The ones I had affairs with, you mean?’