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

That little arse has been pinched so many times it must be blue not pink under that tight skirt of hers. I tell her to give them a slap when they do it, but all she does is giggle and encourage them.'

Bella had met Tina when she'd taken Michael to the cafe for a plate of chips. She was a lovely cockney girl, never short of a cheeky answer for her customers. She had been working for Gina since she left school three years ago and they got on well. Lenny continued to act as cleaner and general dogsbody, a role he had become accustomed to. Bella was pleased for Gina and Lenny as business was still booming, attracting the many labourers who worked on the new building sites of the East End.

Gina took off her apron and hung it on the peg behind the door. She glanced in the kitchen mirror, touching her black hair piled up behind her head. Bella smiled as she watched her friend take a lipstick from her bag and smooth it carefully over her full lips.

Gina caught Bella's eye in the mirror. 'Shall I light the candles on the cake? Or do you want to wait for Micky?'

Bella glanced at her watch. Micky had promised to be home for two but it was now four. The children had played all the games and exhausted themselves and now it was time to eat. She nodded to Gina. 'Let's go ahead, shall we?'

Bella watched Gina walk to the sumptuous cream cake standing on the table. She lit each of the five blue candles standing upright in the icing, careful to avoid the message written in big iced loops. "Happy Birthday Michael".

Bella hoped that even at the eleventh hour, Micky would turn up. Ronnie and Joyce, Dolly and Percy, Sean and Ashley and all the mothers of the children invited to the party were waiting expectantly in the sitting room. Lenny and Terry were at present entertaining the group of excited youngsters with magic tricks.

Bella watched each little flame flicker alight. The five blue candles represented the five wonderful years of her marriage to Micky. She told herself she had everything she could possibly want, even if Micky wasn't here to share it.

She gazed proudly at the place she had created to her own taste, a home she was proud of. The kitchen and scullery were painted a soft green and all the rooms were very spacious. The sitting room on the lower ground floor, was accessed by stairs leading up to the front door. Most of the furniture that she had chosen herself. She had taken pride in making the interior look elegant. All the heavy chintz drapes were from the market, the dresser, table and chairs from a Poplar furniture makers. The sideboard and glossy cocktail cabinet were bought from a Stepney warehouse. The thick Indian rugs on the floor covered the old duckboards and the large hearth contained an open fire that was always burning in the winter. In honour of Mrs Bryant the mantel was decorated with her brass tongs, coal scuttle, muffin fork and brass fender.

Bella liked to think Micky's parents would have approved of her choice. The exception to the rule was Michael's bedroom which was modern. A single bed, a slim wardrobe and chest of drawers were painted white and the shelves that filled the walls were full of Michael's books and toys. The two other bedrooms had double beds and suites of solid oak furniture. She had installed a rocking chair in their bedroom, where when Michael was a baby, she rocked him to sleep in her arms. The window was below the ground level outside and stairs from the back garden ran down to it. For many years they had been sealed off but when Ronnie had opened up the airey for them, he had removed the barricade and cleaned and painted them. Now that it was such a busy house, they were often used, not least by young Michael himself as he ran up and down them and into the garden.

'Ready?' Gina asked lifting the cake on its big china plate.

Bella nodded. How lucky she was to have family and friends around her and a happy, healthy little boy. If only Micky was here!

At that moment Michael came bounding towards her in his new white birthday shirt and short blue trousers. Ann and Irene followed him dressed in beautiful pink frilly party dresses and black patent shoes. The other children all followed and there were screams of delight as Gina held the cake aloft.

In the sitting room, she placed it on a small table in the centre of the floor. All the adults clapped and the children jumped up and down excitedly. Bella began to sing "Happy Birthday" as Michael stepped forward to puff out his cheeks.

Bella hugged him as he took a big breath and blew. All the candles went out and once more everyone cheered. Ronnie lifted Michael on to his shoulders as Bella began to cut the cake. She glanced up for a moment and looked at her son. Ronnie was like a second father to him. He had always been there; present in his life from the day he was born when Micky was out and Bella had given birth in the big double bed that was once Mr and Mrs Bryant's. It was Ronnie who had first held Michael in his arms as the midwife and doctor took leave and Sean went out to find Micky. It was Ronnie who, a year later, had driven them to the hospital when Michael had developed whooping cough and Micky had been at work, unable to be reached. It was Ronnie who had taken them up last year to the city on Coronation Day to see the golden coach carrying the new Queen. And it was always Ronnie and Sean who played football with Michael each Sunday in the yard whilst Micky was hard at