Billie Jo. Kimberley Chambers

fine, Bill,’ Chelle replied dejectedly.

      Billie noticed her mother’s look of disappointment and was unable to stop her own sarcasm. ‘It’s so nice you seemed as pleased to see me as usual, Mum, considering I haven’t been home for days. You make me feel so wanted, not.’

      ‘Look after your nan for a while, Bill, I’ve got to pop out, it’s an emergency.’ Chelle could lie for England when it suited her.

      ‘Do I have to, Mum? I’ve got school tomorrow and loads of homework to finish.’

      ‘Just do it, Bill. Daddy’s on his way home. Just look after her till he gets here.’ With her nose growing longer by the second, Chelle shot out the door, leaving her daughter to it.

      Terry arrived at the flat at six o’clock and was let inside by an ashen-faced Jade.

      ‘What’s up, babe? You look awful. Have you been crying? What’s the matter?’

      Jade fell into his arms and sobbed like a baby. ‘I’m OK, Tel, I think I’ve had a touch of the flu or something.’

      Terry stared intently into Jade’s eyes. He knew when she was lying. For a split second he felt his veins run cold. Had she been attacked or threatened or something? ‘Don’t fuck with me, Jade. What’s the matter? Has someone touched you or done something to you, or what?’

      Jade looked at him and knew she had to tell him the truth. ‘I’m so sorry, Terry, I’m pregnant. I’ve been taking the pill, I promise you. I swear I would never try to trap you, not in a million years. I don’t know how it happened and if you want me to get rid of it I will. It’s up to you, Tel. Whatever you decide, I’ll do it.’

      Terry sat deep in thought for a couple of minutes. Jade looked at him, her face full of concern, and was relieved to see a big smile spread across his face.

      ‘Get rid of it, are you mad or what? It’s brilliant news, unbelievable. I want us to have a baby, more than you’ll ever know. We’ll have to keep it under wraps until my divorce is finalised. If anyone asks, just make up a story that you’ve got a new boyfriend or something. As soon as I’ve got rid of Chelle and paid her off, the world is ours, girl, ours and our baby’s and we can shout it from the bloody rooftops.’

      Jade sat down next to him and knew in an instant that he was telling the truth. ‘I was too frightened to come into work, Tel. I kept having morning sickness and when the doctor confirmed it, I didn’t know what to do for the best.’

      ‘I can’t believe you, Jade. Whaddya think I am, some kind of monster?’ Terry took her into his arms and squeezed her tightly. ‘I love you so much and don’t you ever forget that. Me and you are gonna be so happy, Jade, you got that?’

      ‘Oh, Terry, I love you so much.’

      ‘Not as much as I love you, girl. And I promise you, whatever happens in life, I will look after you and our baby until the day I take my last breath.’

       SIX

      THE WEEKS THAT followed the announcement of Jade’s pregnancy filled Terry with both joy and guilt. House-hunting with Jade and planning his future around her and his unborn child filled him with a happiness he had forgotten existed. Lying to Billie Jo and deceiving her indoors made him feel like a complete and utter bastard.

      Chelle had been extra nice recently and that had made the situation he was in even harder. If she was her usual, drunken, arrogant self, he could’ve handled it. Unfortunately for him, that wasn’t the case and he felt a tinge of sorrow for the woman that he’d once loved and would shortly be walking away from.

      His mother had returned to Ireland, to stay with her sister Bridie, and Terry was glad to be relieved of the burden. Unluckily for him, she’d promised to come back, for Christmas. He hadn’t had the heart to say no, so he’d extended the offer to Bridie too. With a bit of luck they’d keep one another company and allow him a bit of leeway.

      ‘All right, babe?’ Terry let himself into the flat with his own key and was quickly dragged into the lounge by an excited Jade.

      ‘Look at all this stuff, Tel. I’ve been shopping for the baby.’

      Terry smiled at the furry pair of boots she was holding.

      ‘They’re all right, Jade, for a girl. If we have a boy, I’m telling you now, he ain’t being dressed in any of that shit you keep buying. No son of mine is going to look like a fucking poof.’

      Jade giggled at his words. He was such a man’s man and she’d guessed his reaction even before he’d given it.

      Winking at her, Terry pulled her close. With his hands firmly on her backside, he pressed himself against her.

      ‘Let’s go to bed, eh?’

      Smiling, Jade took his hand and led him towards their love-nest.

      After viewing several properties, Jade and Terry finally settled on a four-bedroom house in a little village called Stapleford Abbotts. Terry was overjoyed that it wasn’t too far away. He’d been desperate to stay close to his business and hadn’t wanted to drag Billie Jo too far away from her friends.

      The area they had chosen met all of their requirements, so Terry had arranged a cash deal with the owner and had secured the place for a fair price. He temporarily stuck the property in Davey Mullins’ name. He knew the shit was going to hit the fan and it was something else Chelle wouldn’t be able to get her grubby paws on. Terry had told no one about the baby other than Dave, who could be trusted more than life itself. He knew his secret and his money that Dave was looking after for him were as safe as houses. After his divorce was over, Terry would put the house jointly into his and Jade’s names.

      As the nights darkened, he had the new house re-decorated. They hadn’t yet bought any furniture or moved anything into it as they didn’t want it sitting empty with all their stuff inside. They had great plans for the room they’d chosen as the nursery. Jade was adamant that she didn’t want to know the sex of the baby until it was born, therefore they planned to do it up after the birth.

      Terry was desperate for the baby to be a boy to spare Billie’s feelings and had convinced himself that it would be. Jade didn’t care what sex the baby was, as long as it was healthy. Jade felt comfortable in her little flat and wanted to stay put until after the baby was born. Terry was pleased, as he didn’t want her rattling about in the new house all on her own.

      The only worry he had now was about Billie’s reaction when she found out Jade was pregnant and was going to be moving in with them. He expected her to throw a tantrum, but he hoped that once she’d got over the initial shock, she’d come round. This was another reason why he was praying for the baby to be a boy. He didn’t want Billie’s nose to be pushed out of joint if they had a little girl.

      The plan was to move into the new house with Billie in July. A month later, he would gently break the news about the baby and Jade moving in.

      Terry was dreading this year’s festive season. The millennium was a fantastic excuse for Michelle to be comatose for at least a week. Terry had made no plans for the big event. He would rather stay indoors than suffer going out with Michelle. Every New Year’s Eve she made a total cunt of herself and he was determined to take a rain-check on this particular celebration.

      His mother was returning on Christmas Eve, along with his aunt. Unfortunately, his mum had only gone and invited his pisshead brother, John, to spend Christmas Day with them. Spending the day with one alcoholic was bad enough, but being saddled with two didn’t bear thinking of. Terry just knew without a shadow of doubt that it was gonna be the Christmas from hell.

      ‘What are you doing, Mum? Have you lost something?’

      Billie Jo stood in the doorway of the spare room where her dad slept, wondering why her mum had it upside down.

      ‘I’ve