40
Stan and Billie huddled together and watched the murky waves roll onto the beach as the wind blew in from the Irish Sea, making the windmill that was wedged into Iris’s pushchair spin like crazy, keeping her occupied and giggling. It was freezing on the promenade yet there were plenty of other tourists, dog walkers and joggers who thought that Blackpool in February was the place to be.
It was the norm for Stan to lapse into long periods of quiet, where he would just stare, his dark eyes fixed and sometimes tearful, lost in a place only he could visit. Billie knew it was best to leave him there for a while. He always returned to her when he’d got it out of his system. It was his way of dealing with what he’d been through but sometimes she wondered if the anger over what he’d endured would ever fade because the nightmares didn’t seem to. That’s when she could help, hold him close and remind him he was safe at home, with her and Iris.
He didn’t bottle everything up though. He did talk it through with her. They’d learned their lesson and vowed not to make the mistakes of the past. But perhaps that was because Stan got it now, what it felt like to be trapped in your own head and tormented by the demons that lived there. On the positive side he loved life, wanted to live every moment of every day to the full and saw the wonder in the smallest of things that she took for granted, like privacy and fresh air, proper knives and forks, Heinz beans, Sky telly, freedom.
And he was a brilliant dad and seemed intent on making up for lost time which included getting up for Iris if she cried in the night, no matter how many times. He’d watched all the videos of her since the day she was born, over and over. He even changed nappies albeit with a tea towel wrapped around his face so he looked like a retching bandit, much to his mum’s disgust.
A huge seagull swooped low, searching for a morsel of food and then landed by the pushchair, pecking hopefully at the pavement. Billie peeped at Iris who was sucking on her dummy, eyelids drooping, mesmerised by the kaleidoscope of windmill colours. Then she risked a glance at Stan who was still wandering through his garden of memories. She hoped some of them were better than others.
Like the day he walked out of the prison gates and they were all waiting for him.
Billie had cried so much, happy, angry, relieved tears. While she sat in Aiden’s car and listened as he rang one of his contacts on the force and in a voice that could barely contain his determination, he more or less demanded then begged to have Kelly arrested immediately. He was even more forthright with Stan’s solicitor who he told to get his finger out and down to the police station where they would produce the evidence.
Next, Billie had attempted to tell Sue and Darren but couldn’t get the words out so Aiden took over and they both listened on speakerphone as mother and brother started screaming and cheering like crazy people, and then made Iris cry. Again that night on the phone when Stan called, and during the hours and hours that stretched while they waited for an emergency hearing and the judge to agree to bail.
Since then it had been a time of adjustment for the whole family. Because Kelly had been totally discredited and her testimony was wholly unreliable, after a short court hearing with the legal teams on both sides the CPS offered no evidence and the judge ordered that Stan be acquitted of all offences. Once the news came in, they had held a small family celebration, plus Aiden and Jed and later that evening Doog and his girlfriend Holly. Even Billie’s mum and dad showed willing, much to everyone’s surprise.
They all still had their moments though, mostly in the form of fickle friends and hurtful memories. Stan was adamant there would be no second chances and he’d drawn a red line under the worddisloyal.
At least now Sue could walk down the street with her head held high but Billie knew she would never forget being shunned and whispered about. Sue would always remember the day her son was convicted and imprisoned, the hours of worry she endured, wondering what was happening to him behind bars.
The same went for Darren too. His life was back on track but amidst his successes and sunny disposition, now and then a hint of bitterness seeped through. Maybe injustice would always blight him, even in his subconscious. Billie hoped not.
There was still more to face. Kelly’s trial was looming, another hurdle to leap but they would do it together, all of them on team Stan the Man. Kelly had eventually been charged with wasting police time, perjury, perverting the course of justice and blackmail. She was looking at a lengthy prison sentence if found guilty. Billie had to believe in the same justice system that had wrongly convicted Stan but after that, she had no space in her head for thoughts of Kelly. She refused to allow her mind to ponder the psycho’s fate, because as far as she was concerned Kelly could rot. She’d ruined enough lives, not just Stan’s and his family, but Eddie’s too. Because of his affair with Kelly, Eddie’s life was in tatters and once he’d faced his hearing to answer charges of embezzlement and theft, how he would repair his marriage was anybody’s guess.
Then there was Kelly’s parents who had no doubt been shamed and shocked by their daughter’s crimes, not to mention the trouble she’d caused before she even met Stan.
But all that belonged in the past and now, Billie wasn’t going to allow Kelly to taint the future. As far as she was concerned, the future started in Kelly’s kitchen when instead of tapping the photo icon on her phone and uploading another damning selfie, she’d absentmindedly pressed the one next to it, Live. Unwittingly, she’d broadcast Kelly’s frank confession to all of their Facebook friends, including the secret group containing the women from the community centre. It had turned into a joke now, whenever she took a photo but Billie didn’t care because it was the best mistake she’d ever made.
Feeling movement from Stan beside her she smiled to welcome him back from his thoughts. He tucked Iris in, covering her gloved hands with the blanket then turned her pram away from the sea. When he finished, he wrapped his arm around Billie’s shoulder and pulled her close. ‘I think she’s had enough sea breeze for one day. That windmill was three quid well spent. Who said kids today aren’t easily pleased?’ Stan flicked the hood of his parka over his head then dragged Billie’s bobble hat over her eyes, one of his favourite annoying tricks.
‘Oi, pack it in.’ Billie rearranged her hat and snuggled closer.
Stan seemed in the mood to chat. ‘So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about? Your big idea? I’ve been really patient up to now but my arse is getting numb and I’m starving so go on, I’m all ears.’
Billie had mentioned she had stuff to discuss but at home with Iris and with Stan getting stuck in at the firm, there never seemed to be a quiet moment. But now felt like a good time. ‘Promise you won’t laugh and hear me out.’
‘Promise, plumber’s honour.’ Stan made a weird hand signal that looked very rude.
Ignoring the gesture, Billie took a breath and went for it. ‘I’ve been making some enquiries and decided I want to go to university, in Manchester obviously, to study law. It was Carol who suggested it and ever since my head has been buzzing with ideas and plans for the future. But you might think I’m completely mad, or a dreamer if I tell you what they are.’
‘Babe, whatever you want to do is fine by me. I’ll pay the fees. I don’t want you being a poor starving student.’ Stan kissed the top of her head.
‘Well that’s very nice of you but I might even qualify for a student loan. Anyway, I’ve bagged myself a part-time job so I can save up.’ Billie was enjoying the look of surprise on Stan’s face.
‘You really have been busy haven’t you – but you don’t need a job. I can look after you and anyway, where is it at, this job? And what about Iris, and my bloody tea that I expect on the table every night when I get home?’ Stan was teasing as usual but got a dig in the ribs for his trouble.
‘Just listen and I’ll explain. I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure but I am now, and with your support it will all work out fine, for everyone. So is your numb bum sitting comfortably?’ Billie got the thumbs-up from Stan, who also made the zipped lips signal but she didn’t expect it to last. Everyone knew he was a terrible interrupter. ‘Then I shall begin.’
* * *
Once the shock and awe of Stan’s release and Kelly’s arrest died down and everyone settled into a new and much happier routine, Billie began to think about her own future and role in life. They were due to move into a new house, and Stan was back at work full time aided by his new right-hand man and head of security, Doog. It was him that unearthed the scam that Eddie had run to pilfer and pay his blackmailer, and he discovered a stash of stolen plumbing equipment stored in, of all places, a lock-up in Stan’s storage facility. Billie had already worked out that the bond Stan and Doog had formed inside continued on the outside. And then there was Quentin. Stan had promised him a job as soon as he was released; doing what she had no idea. But Billie suspected that it made Stan feel safe, having Doog around, and eventually Quentin, and that’s all she cared about.
The thing was, during the day, in between caring for Iris, her mind and heart was drawn back to the women at the community centre and that yearning to do something constructive turned into an urge. They had got under her skin. She felt a bond that was probably borne from being a victim of a violent assault, whatever, their faces and their plights still haunted Billie. So did the lies she’d told.
It wasn’t lost on Billie that to expose Kelly, she herself had become a liar. Not only that, she’d adopted another persona, become duplicitous, hiding her activities from her own family, spent time with women who trusted her, and it didn’t sit well.
