‘Is that the truth?’ Vic took a slurp of wine. ‘Because if it’s not, I will be angrier than you’ve ever seen me.’
Calm again, he turned to face her. ‘Angrier than when I cut your Barbie’s legs off from the knee down and stuck her in the top of the rotary washing line so you couldn’t reach her?’
Vic managed to keep a straight face. ‘I mean it!’
‘I swear.’ Albie tutted and let out a huge sigh.
‘And don’t be huffing at me, Albie Sharpe, because this has gone beyond anything you’ve done before.’
‘I know, I know. Leave it out now, sis.’
‘How much have you had off Mum?’
‘I’m going to pay it back – all of it. I promise.’
‘She’s not a cash cow, Alb. She gets measly benefits and her cleaning money. That’s it! You can’t keep doing this to her. On top of that, we’ve got to face the fact that she’s not well.’
‘I know that. Don’t you think I don’t worry about her, too?’
‘Not enough, clearly, Albie. Not nearly enough. I’m impressed she got all the Christmas food prepped though, aren’t you?’ Vic replied.
‘I didn’t notice the prep, but I did see all the goodies. Told her she’d done good, but she said it wasn’t her.’
‘Oh.’ Vic frowned. ‘Who was it, then?’
‘I didn’t ask.’
Vic felt strangely put out. ‘I was all set to do it, though.’
‘Don’t be getting all territorial, Vic. Just be grateful someone’s helping Mum when we’re not around, whoever it may be.’
‘It was you who helped her get your old bed downstairs, though, I take it?’
‘Not me, but it was a good job, because when I turned up the other day, she had fallen down the stairs.’
‘Oh no!’ Vic put her hand to her forehead.
‘Yeah, sis, she had a proper egg of a bump on her head. Bigger than this one.’ He pointed to the large lump behind his ear. ‘My Lisa told me to stay the night in case the old dear was concussed.’
‘And you didn’t think to call me?’
‘I didn’t wanna worry you, and you’re miles away.’
Vic sighed. ‘I’m a big girl, Albie, and I’m not that far away, really. I can make my own decision if I come or not. I can easily hop on the train, or even get a taxi if need be. So next time, I want to know. You hear me?’ Albie nodded. Vic took a drink of wine. ‘So is it just the gambling you’re struggling with now?’
‘Yeah.’ Chandler came tearing in from the back garden and started gulping water noisily. Albie stubbed his cigarette out on the patio, shut the door and sat back at the table. ‘That geezer works for a loan shark I met in the pub.’
‘For goodness’ sake, Albie!’
‘Please don’t shout at me, Vic. I’m fucked. I’ve got a problem and I don’t know what to do about it.’ Tears filled his eyes.
Vic sighed, her voice then pained. ‘Oh, Albie. Let me see if I can find out if there any organisations that can help you.’
‘No. You’ve got enough on your plate. I can do this. Iwilldo this. I know what I need to do. It’s all in the mind. Although part of me thinks rehab is the only answer to break the pattern, but it’s so fucking expensive to do that, and I have to keep grafting. Lisa said if I miss another month’s rent, she’s chucking me out.’
‘Where are you working at the moment?’
‘Got myself a job on a site in Wokingham. The best sparky in Berkshire, me.’
