Blitz by Claire Rayner Read Free Book Online Page B

said. ‘After all, if it’s such a good business deal, shouldn’t I be allowed to consider it? Twenty pounds a week for accommodation we don’t otherwise use has to be good business.’
    ‘I didn’t think you’d like it,’ Jessie mumbled and Poppy said angrily, ‘What did you say?’
    And this time Jessie shouted it. ‘I didn’t think you’d like it!’ and there was a ringing silence.
    Poppy sighed then, a deep sucking in of breath that seemed to weaken her, for she stood there with her eyes closed, leaning against the table and trying to regain her composure. Then she said as steadily as she could, ‘Then it’s all starting again.’
    ‘How do you mean, starting again?’ Jessie began to bluster. ‘Who’s starting anything again? I told you, I wouldn’t do nothing you don’t like. You’re equal partners with me, and I wouldn’t never do nothing to upset you. But when my own son comes asking, and it seems harmless enough, what am I – ’
    ‘Harmless?’ Poppy opened her eyes and glared at her. ‘Since when were any of this – this – since when did he ever suggest anything that was harmless? Good for him maybe, but hell for everyone else around him. Every time – ’
    ‘Not this time,’ Bernie said smoothly and came and stood beside his mother. ‘Suppose instead of spouting off like some busted water main you listen for a few minutes, hey, Poppy?Just listen and hear what I’m offering and what for.’
    ‘I told you, I’m not interested in any offer you have to make, now or ever,’ she flared. ‘After the sort of things you did in the past? Ye gods, when you were only sixteen you tried to embezzle money from your mother, and everything you’ve done since confirms what you are. A slippery liar at best, a downright crook at worst. You can double your offer of rent, it won’t make any difference – ’
    He smiled, totally ignoring her taunts. ‘I won’t double it, but I could go up fifty per cent.’ He spoke with a fine judicious air. ‘Which, seeing it’s a perfectly reasonable bit of business and not particularly slippery, is as fair an offer as you’ll get anywhere. These are bad times, Poppy. Make the sunshine when you can!’
    ‘Poppy, at least listen!’ Jessie said pleadingly. ‘Do me a favour, dolly! Let him say what he has to say and if you still say no, then no it is. I can’t say fairer than that, can I? You understand, Bernie?’ And she turned and looked at her son, her face pouched with anxiety. ‘If Poppy don’t like it, then I don’t like it. But for God’s sake, the two of you, get this sorted out. I can’t go on like this, squeezed like some piece of stringy old salt beef in a sandwich –’ and she tried to laugh at her own weak joke and only managed to twist her face into a grimace and produce a half sob, half hiccup.
    There was another little silence and then Poppy said, ‘All right. So what’s this deal you’re offering, Bernie?’
    ‘That’s better!’ he said and folded his arms, leaning against the table, and Poppy couldn’t help but notice how good he looked. He must be – she worked it out quickly – almost forty, and yet he looked as handsome as he ever had, with the lustrous dark eyes and the thick glossy hair, now gently sprinkled with a little white at the temples in a way that greatly added to his charms rather than detracting from them. The dimpled mouth looked as delectable as it ever had, and she felt again the stab of regret she so often had in the old days, that someone so beautiful could be so all round dreadful a person, evil, even; and she thought fleetingly of her stepdaughter Chloe and what he had done to her, and at once stopped seeing his beauty and was aware only of the need to be ever vigilant when considering anything he had to say.
    ‘It’s like this, Poppy.’ He smiled winningly. ‘Since I cameback I’ve been making a living as best I can, a little deal here, a little arrangement there, just the sort of things I