Written in the Scars (The Estate Series Book 4) (35 page)

‘This isn’t your fault,’ Donna soothed.

‘But if—’

‘This isn’t your fault,’ Donna repeated. ‘I’m not having anyone blame themselves, only me. I was the stupid one. And I need to find the courage to report him. That’s why I asked you to call round. I knew I wouldn’t be able to go through with it unless you were here. And even now, I’ve had to talk myself into it.’

Sarah gave her another hug. ‘Where does he live?’

‘Percival Street. Number thirty-eight. I’ve never been there, though.’ Donna dipped her eyes in shame again. ‘That should have been a warning sign. Stupid fool.’

Sarah reached for Donna’s phone again.

‘What if they don’t believe me?’

‘Well, then they’ll have me to deal with, won’t they?’

Donna couldn’t help but smile a little. ‘Will you stay with me?’ she asked.

‘For as long as you want me to.’

Donna looked across the room. Outside, the weather was still as glorious as it had been when she’d first met Owen a few weeks ago. It had been the hottest summer on record.

It had been her worst summer ever.

Sarah touched her gently on the arm. ‘Let me call the police.’

Donna turned to Sarah and nodded.

One month later

Since the attack on Derek, Keera had been doing a lot of thinking about their relationship. Derek was a lovely man, kind, and considerate. He would make someone a great partner; would it be so wrong if they did get together?

But she’d been considering, too, what other people would think about them. Would they see an older man after a younger woman because he was lonely? Or would they see two people whose friendship had turned into a little more than they’d bargained for?

One thing was certain, she was too young to think of settling down, especially with someone twenty-nine years her senior. And, more than that – she couldn’t put her finger on what exactly – something between her and Derek had changed after the attack.

Had he become too close to her? She wasn’t too concerned about the age gap between them, but that was because she didn’t have romantic feelings for him … or maybe it was because she did.

She sighed. When had they started to get too close?

Even though she was getting along with her mum much better, she didn’t want to stay at home forever, so the phone call she’d received last night had been a welcome relief. She decided to go and see Derek.

It was the first time she’d visited his house in daylight. He showed her through to the back garden and she sat down on a bench in front of the kitchen window while he brought them both a drink.

The weather was cooling now as summer turned into autumn, and Keera was so glad that she wasn’t about to start another shift at The Candy Club. Ramona had been upset when she’d handed in her notice, apologising profusely for her brother’s behaviour. Keera had put her mind at ease, it hadn’t been Ramona’s fault, and she had got her own back in a way. She hoped Steve would keep away from her now.

She’d left with Ramona saying there would always be a place for her if she wanted to return. Keera knew she’d never go back there, no matter how desperate she became.

Derek gave her a glass of wine as he joined her.

‘So, how are you feeling now?’ she asked, as he sat down next to her.

‘I’m fine. Stop fretting,’ he joked stretching his legs out in front.

Keera looked at the gash on the side of his face. The stitches had been removed but the scar itself was still healing over. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of the pain he must have gone through, all because of that lunatic Steve Wilson. Derek had refused to press charges, saying that he’d rather not be responsible for any trouble Ramona might get into. Ramona had been extremely grateful, but Keera had wanted justice. She’d finally given up pressurising him after Derek had persuaded her it was for the best.

Keera looked away before he could see how upset she was. But he must have noticed, because he leaned across and tilted up her chin.

‘Hey, don’t cry,’ Derek told her, wiping away the tears that had fallen. ‘I keep telling you that what happened wasn’t your fault.’

She shook her head. ‘If you hadn’t met me, then Steve wouldn’t have attacked you and …’

‘Nothing to be done about it now. We can’t turn time back.’ Derek looked her straight in the eye. ‘I’ve been thinking … I’m going to take a holiday. Get away for a while.’

‘Oh?’ Keera frowned. ‘Where would you go?’

‘To Australia to see the kids. I thought I might visit for a few weeks.’

There was a pause.

‘You know you can’t come with me,’ he continued.

Keera looked at him. ‘Of course I know that.’

‘So we can stay friends for when I come back?’

‘I don’t think so.’ She shook her head again.

‘Oh!’ Derek drew his head back and frowned.

‘I’m moving to Manchester to be with Marley,’ she smiled. ‘Marley’s mum says that she’s sick of her moping around wishing that I was there. She says there’s room for both of us if I want to go and stay.’

‘That’s great, Kee.’ Derek smiled. ‘Really, I mean it. You should get off this estate.’

‘But who will give you a massage when you get back from Australia?’

‘Oh, I’ll just not bother going anymore.’ Derek shrugged. ‘My back hasn’t been hurting me for a while now, anyway.’

‘Why, you crafty bugger.’ Keera thumped him playfully on the arm.

‘You had no idea?’

She shook her head.

‘Call yourself a masseuse?’ Derek grinned.

 Keera leaned forward and gave him an impromptu hug.

‘I’ll miss you, Mr P,’ she said. ‘You’ve been more of an influence than you’ll ever know.’

Derek kissed her forehead. ‘I’ll miss you too.’ He smiled. ‘Be sure to keep in touch with the odd text message every now and then.’

 Keera nodded.

‘And maybe when you’re back to see your mum, you could call round for a coffee?’

‘More than once in broad daylight? What will the neighbours say?’ she mocked.

Half an hour later, they said goodbye. They’d chatted about their friendship, and how it had been fun to get to know each other. Keera had long ago realised how much she liked him as a friend, but right now she knew that was all he would ever be. Their talk had cemented everything.

As she walked down the path, Keera also recognised that it would probably be for the best if this was the last time she visited. Derek would go to Australia and she would go to Manchester to be with Marley. They would be living separate lives again in no time.

She was glad that she’d met him. She was glad they’d shared a special friendship. But it was time to move on, in more ways than one.

Lewis stopped across the road from St Stephen’s Church. Waiting for a car to go past before he crossed, he shoved his hands into his pockets. Facing his demons was one thing, but this? What was he letting himself in for? 

Inside the grounds, he made his way along the gravel path beside the church, the September sun beating down on his back. He spotted a woman tending to a headstone, three young children charging up and down on their bikes, screaming at full volume. Life and death, all in one space, peace and noise as one.

He found the door that Josie had mentioned to him a couple of weeks ago and went into the building. Finding himself in a vestibule, the sound of laughter hit him immediately. The smell of delicious cooking did too, bringing back happier memories of family Sunday lunches. It was only half past eleven, yet his stomach began to growl.

Gingerly, he pushed on one of two doors and stepped into a large hall. Several round tables seating six at a time were scattered around the wooden floor, chairs stacked up around the edges. There were drawings on the walls from some of the local schoolchildren, a bright sunflower with screwed-up pieces of tissue paper stuck to its leaves taking pride of place by the door.

The laughter he’d heard was coming from the kitchen. Through a serving hatch, he could see two women, one of whom he recognised immediately.

‘Lewis!’ Josie beckoned him over. ‘I’m so glad you came. I need an ex-soldier with a bit of nous to help me to keep this rabble in place.’

Lewis couldn’t help but smile. Especially when the lady beside Josie gave out a whistle.

‘Well, well, well, will you lookie here,’ she beamed, wiping her hands on her apron. ‘I’m Maura, and I’m
very
pleased to meet you. Please say you’ve come to help me. I can certainly find lots of things for you to do with those big hands of yours.’

‘Maura!’ Josie’s tone was jokey. ‘And you a married woman.’

‘You’ll be scaring him off too with that kind of talk, Maura.’

The voice came from a man sitting at the table closest to the hatch. Lewis guessed he might be in his seventies by his clear skin and his shock of white-grey hair, although the hands riddled with arthritis might indicate he was older. He wore a dark blue blazer, white shirt and tie. Polished shoes, Lewis noticed too.

‘Ah, pipe down, old soldier,’ Maura chided. ‘That’s Alf, by the way.’

Lewis nodded in greeting before spotting a young woman coming into the kitchen.

‘Blimey, I don’t know what you lot are gabbling on about but I can hear you all the way from – oh, hello.’ She stopped short.

‘This is Emily.’ Maura shared a look with Josie. ‘Emily, meet Lewis.’

‘Hi.’ Lewis waved. Emily’s smile was shy and she dipped her eyes as he stared at her. He turned to Alf when he thought he’d stared enough. ‘So, you were a soldier?’

‘I’ll always be a soldier, son.’ Alf puffed out his chest. ‘Wear my medals with pride, I do.’ He lifted his knee slightly. ‘See this? It isn’t mine. I lost my leg below the knee in World War two.’

‘World War two?’

‘Yes, I’m ninety-two, son.’

 Lewis tried to hide his shock. ‘You must have seen some action,’ he asked.

‘Oh no!’ shrieked Maura, loud enough to make Lewis jump.

‘What’s the matter?’ he asked.

‘It’s like
Only Fools and Horses
, Lewis.’ She laughed. ‘You remember, Uncle Arthur’s catchphrase line, “during the war?” Well, that’s Alf’s too. You’ll never shut him up now!’

‘Nonsense.’ Alf waved his walking stick in the air. ‘Us soldiers have to stick together, don’t we, son? I’m sure you’d like to hear a tale or two.’

Lewis glanced at Josie, realising he’d been set up. She’d made sure that he could do something useful with his time rather than be bored enough to drink himself to oblivion – although he hadn’t been near The Butcher’s Arms for a while. At the same time, he could get to know another soldier. So what if the age gap was huge? That wouldn’t stop them having lots to talk about.

‘Come on round.’ Maura pointed to another door. ‘I’m sure Emily would like help peeling that massive pile of carrots over there.’

Lewis did as he was told.

‘This place opens at twelve,’ said Josie, ‘and there’ll be thirty-seven pensioners in, all wanting their lunch. ‘Not one of them likes to be kept waiting. There’ll be a riot if we’re late.’

‘You see,’ Maura nudged Lewis who was already peeling a carrot. ‘Never a dull moment here.’

Lewis wasn’t sure what he was letting himself in for but the atmosphere here seemed fun, and so light compared to the dark that he had shrouded himself in over the past few months.

As he caught Josie’s eye, he smiled again. Maybe in time he could make some new memories, perhaps leave the scars of the past behind and look towards a new future.

When Donna arrived at Mary’s flat after her shift that evening, Sam was there. So too was Keera.

‘What’s going on?’ Donna, eyed them suspiciously as she put away the key fob. ‘I can’t remember a time when we were all in the same room.’

‘We just thought we’d get together before I leave for Manchester,’ said Keera. Getting up from the settee, she came to give Donna a hug.

Donna hugged her back. She would miss her like crazy but she couldn’t tell her that. Keera needed to stand on her own two feet, put the past behind her and start afresh. Donna couldn’t have it on her conscience if she decided to stay here again. Manchester would yield more opportunities for her.

‘Oh hi, Donna.’ Megan came into the room, carrying a vase full of white carnations. ‘I bought these for Mary. I thought after all she’d been through, it was the least I could do.’

‘That’s very kind of you.’ Donna watched her son smile as Megan went to sit with him after she had put the flowers down. So far, they’d been out a few times, and it was early days, but Donna had never felt so delighted that he had found someone nice for a change.

‘I’m glad everything is sorted and things can go back to how they were before,’ Donna spoke to them all.

 Megan hesitated for a moment before continuing. ‘I never liked Denise, and gut feelings are always right. Isn’t that so, Mary?’

Mary didn’t respond as she sat in her chair.