Snatched (25 page)

Nodding, still not looking at her, Terry said, ‘Yeah, no problem.’

Thanking him, Jay walked quickly out of the hall – berating herself with every step for noticing how good-looking he was. And the more often she spoke to him, the more she realised what a nice man he was.

Shivering as the tiny bit of sunlight that had been reaching her dipped behind a cloud, Sue drew her knees up to her chest and hugged them tightly. Startled when someone suddenly walked around the corner, she blushed when she saw that it was Dave.

Peering down at her, he gave her a wry smile. ‘What the hell are you doing, you dozy cow? I thought you were a junkie having an OD, or something.’

‘I was hiding,’ she admitted, knowing that she must look absolutely ridiculous.

‘From what?’ Dave asked, squatting down beside her. Then, ‘Nah, let me guess . . . Irene?’

‘She was doing my head in,’ Sue said. ‘Anyway, I thought you’d gone.’

‘Ah, were you missing me? Dave teased, giving her an affectionate smile.

‘Not really,’ Sue lied, glancing away quickly. She had actually been missing him for the past few days, but it was her own fault, because she’d asked him not to come around and beep the horn outside during the day in case one of the social workers or health visitors or child psychologists – or any of the other nosy sods – were around. And given that she could no longer see him at night,
yes
, she
was
missing him.

‘Oh, well,’ Dave said, giving a mock-offended shrug. ‘If you don’t care whether I’m here or not, I might as well go to town and catch the footy. Fancy a quick smoke before I go?’

‘I’ll have a straight,’ Sue said quickly, knowing exactly what kind of smoke he would be having.

Pushing himself to his feet, Dave said, ‘I left my gear in the car, so we’ll sit in there – get you out of this cold. Oh, and I’ve got some voddy I won on the pub footy card last night, if you want some?’

‘You hate vodka,’ she said, taking his hand to let him help her up.

Telling her that he’d intended to swap it with his mate for some home-grown skunk, Dave led her to his car. Ever the gentleman, he opened the passenger door for her before going around to the boot and taking out the bottle of vodka. Handing it to her when he climbed in behind the wheel, he said, ‘Your favourite, if my memory serves me right.’

Smiling as she unscrewed the cap, Sue said, ‘Never heard of this one before, but it’s got to be better than that crap whisky Irene’s been dishing out. She might be acting like my new best friend, but I’m sure she put something in it to make me ill.’ Grimacing now when she took a sip and the strong alcohol seared her throat, she croaked, ‘Christ, that’s strong.’

‘Came off the back of Deggsy’s lorry, and it’s supposed to be some mad percent – like, seventy, or something. Least it’ll warm you up, though, eh?’ Switching the engine on now, Dave pushed some buttons on the dash, turning on the CD that he’d been playing on the way over, and releasing a stream of hot air through the vents. ‘So how long you been out here, anyhow?’

‘Ages,’ Sue admitted, taking another little sip from the bottle. ‘And I know everyone’s probably wondering where I am, but I just can’t face them.’

‘Sack ’em,’ Dave said flippantly. ‘They might say they’re doing this for you, but we all know it’s just an excuse to have a party.’

Getting a waft of the familiar combination of Paco Rabanne aftershave and Scotch when Dave leaned across her to reach into the glove compartment, Sue’s stomach did a little flip. Those scents stirred memories of Terry in better times. And she didn’t want them stirred, because she’d genuinely thought that she was getting over him – especially since she’d found herself also having feelings for Dave.

Settling back in his seat, Dave glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as he started rolling his spliff. He hadn’t seen much of her since Connor had come home, and she’d lost a fair bit of weight in the last few days. But it was her eyes that showed how unhappy she was. They were duller and darker, and held none of the sparkle that he’d always associated with her.

‘So, how’s it
really
going?’ he asked, his voice gentle. ‘And don’t give me any of that guff about being fine, ’cos you’re obviously not.’

‘It’s just Nicky,’ Sue murmured, running her fingertip over the rim of the bottle. ‘I miss her. And Connor must be really fretting, ’cos he just keeps sitting at the window looking out, like he’s expecting her to come walking up the street, or something.’

‘Can’t be easy with him still not talking,’ Dave said, licking his Rizlas and sticking them together. ‘Do you reckon the doctors have missed something, or what? ’Cos I can’t see him still being in shock after all this time.’

‘They just keep saying he’ll talk when he’s good and ready, and there’s nothing anyone can do to speed it along.’ Shrugging helplessly, Sue took another drink.

‘Well, you’re doing better than I would if it was one of mine,’ Dave told her with a hint of admiration in his voice. ‘I know he can’t help it, but it’d do my nut in if one of my kids didn’t answer when I was talking to them. I’d be tempted to give them a right backhander.’

‘Drives me up the wall, to be honest,’ Sue admitted, feeling better for being able to say it out loud without fear of being judged.

‘Don’t they all,’ Dave chuckled. Then, ‘Subject of kids, have you seen our Leanne yet?’

Biting down on the instant anger that just hearing that name evoked in her, Sue said, ‘Yeah, but she was across the field, so don’t worry, I didn’t hit her.’

‘Hey, I wouldn’t blame you if you did,’ Dave chuckled, taking a compacted clump of weed out of the small plastic bag. ‘She was out of order for fronting up to you that time, and she deserved everything she got.’ Laughing softly now, he said, ‘Carole saw it different, mind, but she’s off her fucking head, so that’s nowt new. That’s kind of what put the nail in the coffin for me and her, though. She reckoned I should’ve supported our Lee, and I reckoned she’d got what was coming to her. So we agreed to disagree and went our separate ways.’

‘I never knew that,’ Sue said, glancing up at him, wondering why he’d never told her this before. She’d known that he and Carole had split up shortly after she’d had the fight with Leanne, but she hadn’t known that it had had anything to do with her. Especially since by that time Dave had already had that go at her about Terry.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Dave told her, shrugging it off. ‘I should have left years ago, but you know what a lazy bastard I am. So long as everything was getting done for me, I’d have stuck it out for ever if something better hadn’t come along.’

‘Oh, I see,’ Sue said quietly, a tiny frown fluttering across her brow. ‘I didn’t realise you’d met someone else. You never said.’

‘That’s ’cos I haven’t,’ Dave said, giving her a sly side-grin as he added, ‘Been a few auditions, but no starring ladies on my stage just yet. How about you?’ he asked then. ‘How come you haven’t got a new man yet?’

‘Haven’t been looking,’ Sue murmured, gazing down at her hands.

‘Never mind
you
looking, they should be fighting to get at a gorgeous girl like you,’ Dave said, lighting up and filling the air with the strong sweet aroma of bush. His eyes serious as he looked at her now, he said, ‘He’s a born fool, you know.’

‘Sorry?’

‘Terry,’ Dave said, his lip giving the slightest twist of a sneer as he spoke the name. ‘He’s an idiot for letting you go. And I know Leanne’s my kid, but she’s not right for him. She’s only a girl, and men like us need a real woman – if you know what I mean.’

Sue didn’t answer. He was trying to compliment her, but his words had pierced her like darts, because she obviously wasn’t woman enough for Terry if he’d found it so easy to dump her for someone whose own father thought wasn’t right for him.

‘You know I’ve always had a soft spot for you, don’t you?’ Dave was saying now, his eyes glowing darkly. ‘That’s why the ex-bitch couldn’t stand you.’

‘I didn’t think she needed a reason,’ Sue muttered, taking another swig from the bottle. ‘I thought she just hated everyone. Except
Terry
,’ she added sarcastically. ‘Never could keep her eyes off him when we all used to go out. Or her hands.’

‘Yeah, well, she’s always been a tart,’ Dave said dismissively, inhaling deeply on his smoke. ‘Talking of which, you seen him yet?’

‘No, and I don’t want to,’ Sue said, relaxing at last as the vodka began to soothe her frayed nerves. ‘It was bad enough having your Leanne giving me the evil eye, thanks.’

‘She’s a right one, isn’t she?’ Dave laughed.

‘She’s a right
some
thing,’ Sue retorted, smiling herself now. ‘So, who d’y’ reckon she takes after, then? You or Carole?’

Thinking it over for a moment, Dave said, ‘Looks-wise, me. Temper, definitely her mam.’

‘Trying to tell me you haven’t got a bad temper?’ Sue teased.

‘Only when it’s justified. But if folk treat me right, I treat them right. You know that.’

‘Oh, yeah, ’cos I’ve never been on the sharp end of your tongue, have I?’

‘Not yet.’ Dave grinned. ‘But anytime you want to hop on, just say the word.’

Slapping him playfully when he stuck his tongue out and waggled it suggestively, Sue gave him a mock-stern look.

‘Aw, don’t give me them eyes,’ Dave groaned. ‘Reminds me of being back at school with Mrs Dooley. I’ll have a fucking hard-on all day now.’

‘
What
?’ Drawing her head back, Sue peered at him incredulously. ‘You’ve got to be kidding. Dooley was a witch.’

‘Probably different for you girls,’ Dave said, grinning lewdly. ‘But me and the lads used to get into trouble on purpose just so she’d give us a bollocking. There’s nothing like the sight of an angry woman with a cane in her hand when you’re a horny little toe-rag.’

Laughing, Sue shook her head, not sure if he was being serious or just teasing her now.

‘Nice to see you happy again,’ Dave said softly, pleased that he’d been the one who’d achieved it. ‘Your eyes are gorgeous when you laugh.’

Smiling shyly as her stomach did another little flip, Sue took a further sip from the bottle.

‘Yep, that Terry’s an idiot, all right,’ Dave went on. Then, chuckling softly, he said, ‘Hey, there’s a thought . . . think what’d happen if me and you got married. It’d drive him fucking mental.’

‘Mmm,’ Sue murmured sadly, doubting that Terry would give the slightest toss.

‘That would make you his step-mother-in-law, though, wouldn’t it?’ Dave went on. ‘And I’d be Leanne’s . . .’ Trailing off, he shook his head. ‘Nah. Can’t figure that one out. Not while I’m this fucked.’

Glancing at Sue now, his grin faded when he saw the tears in her eyes. Guessing – wrongly – that he’d upset her by coming on too strong too fast, he cursed himself. Damn! He’d really thought she was ready.

‘Hey, what’s up?’ he said, squeezing her hand. ‘I was only joking.’

‘It’s not you,’ Sue croaked, swiping at the tears as they began to spill over. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. Everything’s getting to me.’

Reaching for her, Dave pulled her to him and held her as she cried. Relaxing against him, soothed by the smell of him and the feel of his strong arms around her, Sue reached into her pocket and pulled out a tissue. Dabbing at her nose, she said, ‘Sorry. You must think I’m a right idiot.’

‘Don’t be daft,’ he murmured, stroking her hair. ‘You’re having a bad day, that’s all. But it’ll get better. And you’ve always got me when you need to soak someone’s shirt,’ he added, chuckling softly.

Apologising again, Sue sat up and pulled the sun-visor down to check her face in the small mirror. ‘God, I look a right mess.’

‘You look fine,’ Dave assured her, taking a last drag on his spliff and flicking the roach out of the window. ‘Suppose you’ll want to get back in there, then?’

Kicking herself for getting emotional and ruining what might well have been the moment she’d been half-praying for, Sue nodded.

Scooping up his weed and his cigarettes, Dave slipped them into his pocket and got out of the car. Taking his hand when he came around to help her out, Sue snorted softly when he asked how it was going with misery guts back at the flat.

‘Not great,’ she said. ‘And I know I shouldn’t complain, ’cos she didn’t have to take us both in. But I can’t wait to get my own place again.’

‘It’ll come,’ Dave said confidently. ‘But in the meantime, just keep your head down and your gob shut, and if she wants to argue, let her argue with herself.’

Glancing past him as a car turned into the car park, Sue saw who was behind the wheel and muttered, ‘Oh, God, I forgot she was coming.’

‘Who is it?’ Dave asked, turning to look at the man and woman who had just stepped out of the car. Then, ‘Isn’t that one of the coppers you were with when I saw you at Pauline’s that night?’

‘Yeah, and she’s bound to want to talk to me,’ Sue whispered, hiding behind him. ‘But I’ve had too much to drink and I’ve got a feeling I might start laughing in her face if she gives me that serious look of hers.’ Slipping her arm through his now, she tried to pull him in the opposite direction. ‘If we hurry up, she might not notice me.’

‘If you’re looking for a way not to get noticed,’ Dave said, seizing the unexpected opportunity, ‘try this.’ Pushing her gently up against the car, he lowered his head and kissed her, his tongue brushing against her teeth as he forced her lips apart.

Gasping for breath when he finally released her, Sue blushed when she felt his hardness pressing against her thigh – and the tell-tale tingle between her own legs.

Grinning sheepishly as he gazed down at her, Dave said, ‘Sorry, but it worked. They didn’t see you.’

‘Thanks,’ Sue murmured, dipping her gaze as another blush spread across her cheeks.

Encouraged by the fact that she hadn’t tried to stop him, and still hadn’t pushed him away, Dave peered into her eyes, saying, ‘In case you’re wondering, I’ve been dying to do that for ages.’