Part 35 (1/2)

Jesse thought for a moment and said, 'Maybe he was. I was so p.i.s.sed I can't remember.' He stood up. 'Now then, who'd like another?'

By the time the pool table came free, the four men were more than merry.

'Right, you lads,' said Jesse, squinting to focus on getting the coins in the slot. 'You whippersnappers against we old Turks. Yes?'

'Fine by us,' said Freddie, pa.s.sing a cue to Hal and chalking his own. 'What we playing for?'

'Hmm. Let me think,' said Jesse. 'What do you think, Mick?'

'Twenty quid?' ventured Mickey, balancing his cue between his legs as he attempted to tuck his s.h.i.+rt into his jeans.

'Twenty?' shrugged Freddie. 'That's nothing. It's got to be something really worth playing for.'

'Right. If that's what you want,' slurred Jesse, waggling his forefinger. 'How about this. You're both twenty-one later this year, yes?'

'Yes.'

'Well, 'ow about, if you win, I'll buy you a car each for your birthday. But if we win, I don't.'

'Bleddy h.e.l.l,' blurted Hal.

'We'll hold you to that,' said Freddie. 'Shake on it?'

They shook.

Mickey took Jesse to one side while the boys set the b.a.l.l.s up on the table. 'You are joking, aren't you?'

'No. But,' Jesse tapped the side of his nose, 'they'm useless at pool and you and I were bleddy good.'

'That's a long time ago.'

'It's like riding a bike. You and I will pull out the old tricks and they won't know what's. .h.i.t 'em.'

It didn't take more than seventeen minutes. Hal lined up the black eight ball and hit it cleanly into the pocket.

Jesse chucked his cue onto the baize but he was impressed. 'How the h.e.l.l did you learn to play like that? You're almost as good as I was at your age. Well. A bet's a bet. You won fair and square.' Jesse walked around the table and clapped Hal on the back.

'Nice one, Dad!' The boys were jubilant. 'Can we choose our own cars?'

'Never on your life.'

Mickey looked worried. 'Boys, don't hold him to it. This was a bit of fun.'

'No it weren't,' stated Jesse firmly. 'My word is my bond, and if I can't treat my son and G.o.dson, what kind of a man am I?'

'Just think it over in the morning,' said Mickey. 'I don't want you getting the boys' hopes up.'

Jesse rounded on Mickey. 'I am buying my boys cars for their birthday and that's that.'

'Take it easy, Jesse,' said Mickey, frowning. 'You're perfectly ent.i.tled to do what you like for your boy but me and Loveday will decide what's right for our boy.'

Jesse regarded Mickey. 'My mind's made up, and nothing is going to stop me.'

33.

Loveday pushed the door of the office shut with her foot as she dialled Greer's mobile phone number. She'd tried her at Tide House but the answerphone had kicked in and she hadn't dared to leave a message in case Jesse picked it up.

Mickey had come home late last night, annoyed at Jesse's high-handed idea to give Hal and Freddie a car each for their twenty-first birthdays.

'It was the way 'e said it. ”I'm buying cars for my boys' birthdays and you're not stopping me”. As if we can't afford a car for our own son.'

Loveday had been in bed reading when Mickey had come upstairs and broken this news. She didn't like the sound of it. My boys? What the h.e.l.l did Jesse mean by that? She put her book aside and wriggled upright. 'Well, he is Hal's G.o.dfather and it's very generous but ... was he p.i.s.sed?'

'A bit. But that's not the point. It was the way he said it. As if I don't have any say. I'm Freddie's G.o.dfather but I can't afford to buy him an expensive present. And what will he get him for a wedding present? A bleddy house?'

As Mickey spoke, he became more and more agitated. He paced the bedroom carpet, sat on the edge of the bed, then sprang up again and paced the carpet once more.

Loveday watched him, her mind trying to second-guess what Jesse was doing.

'Did he say anything else?' she asked.

Mickey stopped pacing and sat down on the bed again. 'I know he's the one with all the money now; he's the boss and all that, whereas I'm just an employee, but I thought he knew us better than this. He knows I've always paid my way, but this time it's like he's trying to get one up on me.'

Loveday got out of bed and took her dressing gown from the hook on the door. 'Want a cup of tea?'

Mickey nodded and took her hand as she opened the door to the landing. 'Thanks, darlin'. Am I overreacting?'

'Let's talk about it.'

Dowstairs, Hal was lolling on the sofa watching a police drama on the television, his long legs spilling over one arm. 'Hey, Mum. Thought you'd be asleep. We had a great night. Fred and I absolutely slaughtered Dad and Uncle Jesse at pool. Did Dad tell you what Uncle Jesse bet us if we beat him?'

'Ah. It was a bet.' Loveday relaxed. A beer-fuelled bet tonight wouldn't be worth the breath it was made with once Jesse sobered up tomorrow and, besides, Mickey and Hal had downed a fair few too by the looks of it. 'I wouldn't get too excited.' She patted Hal's size 12 feet as she went past.

'No, he meant it,' said Hal, grinning with excitement.

'Well, let's just wait and see. I'm not sure your dad and I would be comfortable about him giving you a car, anyway.'

Mickey chipped in, 'Your mum's right.'

Hal reached for the remote control and switched the television off. He stood up and stretched. 'Well, you two can think what you like, but Uncle Jesse has always been decent to me. Treated me the same way he treats Freddie, so why shouldn't I get a car out of him?'

'That's enough,' said Mickey. He took a step towards Hal and jabbed a pointed finger at him. 'Jesse is a friend, not family. If anyone's going to buy you a car, it'll be your mum and me.'