Billie Jo. Kimberley Chambers

      Two hours later, Terry was woken by a big fat hand squeezing the life out of his cock. Leaping out of bed in shock, he flicked the light switch on, and looked towards the bed in horror at the sight of Michelle lying there, stark bollock naked, showing all her crowning glory. ‘What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Chelle?’

      Chelle squinted at him, trying to focus out of one eye. ‘Oh come on, Tel, come back to bed and give me a cuddle. I feel randy tonight and if you’re lucky, I’ll let you have your wicked way with me.’

      Terry looked at his wife in disgust. They hadn’t had sex for at least nine months and he’d forgotten what she looked like naked. She looked awful, that’s what she looked like. He knew he could never fuck her again. He wouldn’t even want to poke her with someone else’s, let alone his own. Deciding to sleep on the sofa, he headed downstairs to get a bit of peace and quiet. Thankfully, his brother and the lush were nowhere to be seen.

      ‘Happy fucking Christmas,’ Terry said out loud. His family were out-and-out nutters and he’d had a gutful of the lot of them. Chelle, Bridie, his mother, it’s as though their aim in life was to do his head in. As for his brother turning up with Frankenstein’s monster, that’d been the icing on the cake.

      Well, no more. Tomorrow he would take Billie out on his lonesome, he would take her somewhere nice, somewhere special. The rest of his not-right family could go and fuck themselves.

      As Terry Keane went to sleep that night, he was positive that he’d endured the worst of the festive season. Unfortunately for him, the nightmare had only just begun.

       SEVEN

      TERRY WAS UP with the larks the following morning. He scrubbed the vomit-stained carpet, tidied the living room, and cooked himself up a full English. He couldn’t live in shit, it gave him the right hump when the place looked like a tip and he knew Chelle wouldn’t do it. Housework was not on top of the list of his wife’s priorities. Normally they had a cleaner who came in twice a week, but she had gone away for Christmas and had cancelled until the New Year.

      ‘That smells lovely, Dad, I’m starving. Will you make me something please?’ Rubbing her tired eyes, Billie plonked herself onto a chair.

      Terry rustled up one of his specialities, handed it to his daughter and sat down opposite her at the kitchen table. ‘I can’t stand another day like yesterday, Princess. How about we have a day out, just me and you, and not come back until late tonight?’

      ‘I can’t, Dad. I’m going round Tiffany’s this afternoon. I thought I told you. Her mum and dad are having a house party tonight and I’m staying over. I’ll come out with you this morning though. I’ll take my stuff I need for tonight with me and you can drop me off round there about four.’

      Terry was disappointed; he hadn’t expected Billie to be busy. He wouldn’t have minded if he could have seen Jade but she was hundreds of miles away. His only other option was to go out on the piss. Deciding to give Davey Mullins a bell, Terry looked at Billie.

      ‘Chop, chop, then. Go and sort your gear out and we can escape before anyone wakes up.’

      Terry spent the morning traipsing around the sales in Romford. By lunchtime, he wanted to tear his hair out. Dragging Billie out of Top Shop, he sat her down on a nearby bench. ‘I’m starving, Princess. I can’t be walking around no more shops. I’ll make a deal with you. Me and you’ll go for something to eat and I’ll give you five hundred quid to go and spend on top of your Christmas money. Take Tiff with you or someone. These crowds are driving me mad, Bill. It’s so fucking packed. The next person that bumps into me, I swear I’m gonna up ’em.’

      Billie giggled. Her dad wasn’t a great shopper at the best of times. ‘I don’t want another five hundred quid. You gave me more than enough for Christmas. Let’s go for a pizza, then you can drop me around at Tiff’s.’

      ‘I want that pizza there,’ Billie said, showing him the menu. ‘And can I have some garlic bread with cheese?’

      Terry ordered their food and smiled at her. ‘Well, you’ve got enough bags. Best show your old dad what you bought.’

      Billie happily obliged by showing him every purchase and explaining the before and after prices to him. ‘They’re such bargains, aren’t they? Especially that bag you bought me,’ she said excitedly.

      Terry smiled to himself as their lunch arrived. Billie Jo had only been in three shops, yet had still managed to spend a bloody fortune.

      Tucking into her pizza, Billie Jo studied her dad. Women seemed to love him, and whenever she was out with him she noticed the female attention that he received. He appeared unaware of it himself; either that or he just wasn’t interested.

      Remembering he only had eyes for Jade, Billie decided to try and build some bridges. She wasn’t happy about him being with someone so young, but he was the best dad in the world and he deserved to be happy. Billie knew she’d been horrible to him when he had first told her about his feelings for his secretary. She’d avoided him for days and had barely spoken to him unless she’d had to. Ashamed of her childish behaviour, she nibbled her garlic bread and smiled at him. ‘How’s Jade? Aren’t you spending any time with her over Christmas, Dad?’

      Terry nearly choked on his beer. Jade had been an unmentionable subject up until now.

      ‘She’s staying at her parents’, Bill. I suggested it. I knew I’d be tied up with that lot indoors and I didn’t want her to spend Christmas all on her own.’

      Pushing her plate away, Billie searched for the right words.

      ‘I’m sorry, Dad, if I’ve been a cow. When you first told me about Jade, I was really shocked. Now I’ve had time to think about it, I’m pleased that you’ve met someone special. I love you so much. So if you’re happy, then I’m happy for you.’

      His daughter’s acceptance of his situation was the best Christmas present that Terry could have asked for. Touched, he struggled to speak.

      ‘Look, Bill. Whatever happens in my life, you come first. You have always been my number one and you always will be. Nothing or no one will ever come between me and you, you know that, don’t you?’

      Billie nodded, her eyes filling up with tears.

      Terry felt emotional himself. Determined not to make a prick of himself, he stood up.

      ‘I’m gonna pay the bill now. Thank you, Billie. You’re the best daughter that any man could wish for.’

      The Jade subject wasn’t mentioned any more that day. No more words were needed. Everything had been said.

      Pulling up outside Tiffany’s, Terry kissed Billie Jo on the cheek.

      ‘Now you have a lovely time, babe. If you want me to pick you up tomorrow, give us a bell and I’ll come and get you.’

      Loaded with bags, Billie got out of the car.

      ‘Love you, Dad.’

      ‘I love you too, Princess.’

      Smiling, Terry headed towards Gidea Park.

      Davey Mullins had been well up for a night out. He was sitting indoors bored shitless when Terry had rung him and had jumped at the chance of a drinking session. He and Lisa still weren’t on speaking terms and she’d sodded off round to her mother’s for the day. He was beginning to realise he’d made a big mistake moving Lisa in with him. A month they’d been living together and already they were fighting like cat and dog.

      Hearing a toot outside, Dave eagerly climbed into the Range Rover. ‘Where are we going, Tel?’ he asked excitedly.

      Terry briefly switched the engine off as he hadn’t thought that far ahead. ‘I dunno, mate. What do you fancy doing? We could head up to Johnny’s pub up the East End or we could head out to Essex. Old Maxie