Christmas to Come: a heartbreaking coming of age saga set in London's East End by Carol Rivers (first e reader txt) 📕

Out of the corner of her eye, Bella saw the lights flick on in the houses nearby. Ray grabbed hold of her and they fell struggling into the road. He was shouting at her and she was yelling back when a flash of light illuminated the darkness. There was a screech of brakes followed by the slam of a door and Ray was suddenly dragged from her.

She stumbled backwards as Micky took hold of Ray's shoulder and propelled him against the car. 'Who do you think you're pushing around?' he demanded as Bella stood trembling trying to regain her breath.

Ray recovered quickly, glaring at Bella. 'I might have known he'd turn up. I was right, wasn't I? Only you couldn't look me in the eye and tell me so.'

'I told you, it's got nothing to do with him,' Bella protested but Micky stretched out his arm, separating them.

'Just a minute, what's he on about, Bells?'

Ray stuck his face up to Micky. 'This is none of your business, pal, why don't you just piss off?'

'A pleasure my son, as soon as you explain why you were pushing around a woman. And you're wrong about it not being my business. Anyone who lifts a hand against her answers to me.'

'Just what I was telling her myself,' Ray growled, jabbing a finger into Micky's shoulder. 'And the day she cuts herself loose from your family will be one to be celebrated.'

'Say that again,' Micky muttered as he slapped away the pointing finger.

'Up yours Bryant. I ain't wasting me breath on rubbish.'

'In that case, nor will I.' Micky turned as if to walk away, then wheeled round and brought his clenched fist hard into Ray's face. Bella screamed at the sound of fracturing bones as Ray fell to the ground and he held up his arm to deflect the blows.

Bella ran forward. 'Stop it, Micky, stop!' She hung on to his arm.

'I'm not finished with him yet.' He kept kicking as Ray curled into a ball.

Bella sank down on her knees beside him. She looked up at Micky, her eyes full of anger. 'Look what you've done. You've broken his nose.'

'He'll get over it.' Micky reached down and grabbed her wrist, dragging her to her feet. 'He's got off lightly after what he was doing to you.'

'I can look after myself,' she retorted, pushing him away. 'Who asked you to interfere?'

'What was I supposed to do? Drive on past and ignore you?'

'Why not?' Bella demanded as the tears threatened once more. 'I've been invisible to you for the past six months, what's so different now?'

'There's a reason for that if you'll only listen.'

Bella laughed emptily. 'No, you listen to me Micky Bryant, I don't ever want to see your ugly boat race again. From now on, keep your nose out of my business. This is Bella Doyle you're talking to not one of your bitches on heat.'

Micky stared at her, then laughed. 'Have it your way, kid.' He brushed down the sleeves of his jacket and nodded to Ray who was struggling to his feet. 'Good luck with Prince Charming here. Going on what I saw just now, you should make a very happy couple.'

Bella watched his tall figure tall figure stride across the road and jump in the car. Her heart seemed to split in two as she silently mouthed the words she wanted to call but no sound came out.

What had she done? She had been waiting months to see him again. Had dreamed of what she would say if he was standing beside her again and she had the chance to tell him how much she missed him. And now, when she had her opportunity, she was sending him away forever.

The big black car roared off. Her hair blew around her face as the feeling of emptiness filled her. She thought she'd had a bad day until now. Micky had been within arms reach, had even stopped the car to defend her. If only she had responded with gratitude rather than anger.

'That was the most sensible thing I've heard you say all night,' Ray mumbled as he hauled himself up from the ground. 'Though I would never have believed it if I hadn't heard it with me own ears. It was worth getting my face punched in just to hear you tell him to sling his hook.'

Bella turned slowly, a look of contempt in her eyes. 'God help me. I'm a fool to have done what I did,' she whispered in a shaky voice, her heart untouched by the sight of his bleeding face. 'All I have left to say to you Ray Taylor is that if I never see you again in this life, it will be too soon.'

She turned away and began walking. The sobs came up from her chest, but there were no tears now. She was too unhappy to cry. Soon her steps turned into strides and finally she was running. Running home to Bow Street where she belonged.

August began wet and overcast. Which made staying out all day and keeping dry impossible. But she couldn't stay home, not with the cripple in his chair, watching her. The sight of him brought back too many memories. So she had kept to her habit of leaving home at seven thirty each morning. No one knew, not even Terry, that she had no job. Ray had a point when he said it wouldn't be easy to get another one. Now that she was walking the streets her money would soon run out.

She applied to the construction company at Chalk Wharf and the timber yard and the mangle works but the answer was always no. She would rather work on the shop floor than in an office and had been willing to take any vacancy. But all the firms wanted to know where she had worked since leaving school. She hadn't realized when she'd acted so impulsively, that getting future employment was dependent on her