Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
“ C ome in. Jane’s all over the place with nerves.” Nick ushered Warren into the flat above the café.
“She’s always so laid back.”
“Not today she isn’t. How was the journey?”
“The van held out, it’s only thirty miles. Not sure I’d want to go much further in her and she’s not exactly environmentally friendly.”
“You’re getting use out of something that would otherwise go to the breakers.”
“It would be better for the planet if she was recycled. I think Holly’s attached to it and doesn’t want to let it go.” He carried in his holdall and suit bag.
“Where’s the memory stick with the pictures on?” Jane entered the room.
Nick was right, Warren thought. She does look worried.
“Ah, Warren.” Jane stood still and then approached him and gave him a hug. “This is just what I need. It’s a shame you couldn’t bring Nina.”
“Just because she’s single, doesn’t mean she’s going to go out with me. She’s got a baby to worry about.”
“I’m just going on the way you looked at her!” Jane said.
“In time, son, she could be interested.” Nick said. “I mean look at you.”
“I’ll be seeing more of her because she’s moving to the village this weekend. Into The Eversley Arms.”
“That’s good,” Jane said with a smile.
“Right, so what do you need help with?” Warren wanted to change the subject.
“I’ve a long list,” Jane said. “Nick, can you make us all a toasted panini and then we’ll plan the next couple of days.”
The following evening, Warren grinned as the café filled with Nick and Jane’s friends and family. Many he’d known for years. Her sisters from Dominique had brought her mother. Nick’s rowdy brothers, including Darius, and their wives and girlfriends were making most of the noise and a few café regulars had been invited. They were having a joint stag and hen do the night before the wedding. It was early on, and the games had ended and the event began to draw to a close. Jane wanted everyone out by nine o’clock so they could have an early night. No one wanted to be tired the following day, although the wedding itself was not until three. Warren was looking forward to it. It was a small but tight-knit and very loud party and there would be further guests at the wedding.
Warren’s smile faded as he looked out of the window. Outside was Scottie. He was shocked, not so much because he was there, when he had messaged him asking him to stay away, but at the state of the man.
Nick put a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve noticed him then? He’s been there a while.”
“He looks bad.”
“He always has,” Nick said.
“Yes, he’s always been skinny but he’s gaunt.” He turned to Nick. “Do you think he’s sleeping rough?”
“If he is, it’s his own doing. Look, son. He’s not your responsibility. As hard as it is, you need to ignore him and if he creates, we’ll call the police. I take it you blocked his number?”
Warren looked out to the pavement again. “Every time I go to press block, I stop. I still see him as family.”
“He isn’t your kin, your family are in this room.” Nick gestured out to the street. “Not out there. All he’s ever done is get you into trouble. You must have a short memory. I wish Darius was still here, he’d talk some sense into you.” Nick’s brother had left half an hour before as he was due in work.
Warren thought back to earlier in the evening. Darius had also told him to cut Scottie loose, warning him that he was in something dodgy. He glanced out of the window again and caught Scottie’s eye and was instantly transported back to the foster home where he used to look out for him. Scottie had always been a victim, a victim of his parents’ abuse, a victim of bullying. He’d consoled him countless times. And he’d been the main victim of the foster parents they’d been lumped with. “I’ll have to speak to him.” He pulled his hoodie off the back of a chair. “I don’t want him ruining tomorrow.”
Nick sighed. “If you have to. But be careful, remember we’ve a wedding tomorrow and I don’t want Jane’s day ruined.”
“Exactly, I don’t want Scottie showing up there. It’s better for me to deal with him now. I’ll make it clear, it’s over.”
“Okay,” Nick said but Warren knew he was not convinced. And he didn’t blame him, they’d had similar conversations many times over the years.
Warren stepped onto the pavement and hesitated for a while as they both stared at each other, before Scottie crossed the road.
“You’re looking good, War,” Scottie said as he approached him.
“You look tired.”
“I am tired. Tired of life, tired of trying and not getting anywhere. I’m never gonna be anything, You’ve got a whole family in there.” He scuffed the floor with his shoe. “That never happened for me.”
“Nick and Jane tried with you. You didn’t accept them.” He looked back to the café. “You took advantage of them.”
“I was only a kid.”
“You were old enough to know right from wrong.”
“My life’s rubbish and now I’m gonna be homeless if I don’t come up with money for rent. The half-way house was a cesspit. And I owe Logan a bit ’cause he paid some rent to help me off the street.”
“Logan?” Warren shook his head. Logan was bad news and had got them both into trouble when they were younger.
“Don’t start, War. He’s better since the long stretch.”
“Don’t the social pay your rent?” Warren asked, not wanting to know any more about Logan.
“It takes ages to come through and anyway, my new landlord isn’t legit. It’s also a dump, but it’s somewhere to stay without someone breathing down my neck. I was on the streets for a couple of weeks before Logan helped me out. I just need three hundred, to get me through. I’m on a wait list for a warehouse job.”
Warren didn’t think Scottie looked employable. His face was covered in sores, he wore tatty joggers with a grey stained hoodie and smelled like he hadn’t washed for days.
“I can’t keep giving you money.”
“Just this last time, War. Then that’s it I promise. I hear the wedding’s tomorrow afternoon?”
Warren didn’t want Scottie turning up and spoiling it. If it wasn’t for that he wouldn’t have given it to him. “If I get you the money, you need to promise you won’t bother Nick and Jane tomorrow. You’ll steer clear.”
“Of course, War. You’re a life-saver.”
“Come on.” Warren walked in the direction of the nearest cashpoint, which was only a few shops along. He hadn’t been able to continue and say it was over, to never contact him again.
At the cashpoint Warren covered the screen as he plugged in his pin number. He waited as the machine counted and then dispensed the money which he had to request in two batches.
He held out the cash. “I don’t expect you to pay me back. But this is the last handout, Scottie.”
“Yeah, I get it.” He pocketed the money. “You better get back.” Scottie nodded at him before walking away with his hands thrust in his pockets.
Warren felt flat as he returned to the café. He felt gutted for Scottie – the boy he’d been, and always would be, for he never seemed to grow up, stuck in an endless hell. He took a deep breath. Would anyone ever understand how he felt?
Jane approached him as he re-entered the café. “You gave him money then?”
“I don’t want him hanging around tomorrow.”
“So that’s it?”
“I don’t honestly know. Whenever I see him, I get flashbacks and it seems unfair. I’ve got so much compared to him.”
“Because you’ve made your own life, Warren.”
“But I got you.”
“Because you took our hand when we offered it to you. Remember, we offered our hand to him too when he came here. But all he took was the tip jar. He’s never wanted to work, not here, not anywhere.”
“But it’s not his fault he had a bad upbringing.”
“We all have choices to make. And yes, I’m not belittling his pain, just you ain’t helping him by giving him money. Only he can help himself. Now give me a hug. We’re chucking the stragglers out and then going up to get some sleep.”
All of the guests left the café and they locked up. Warren wondered where Scottie was. He knew he’d have to cut him loose. He didn’t want to go to bed, he wanted to walk, to clear his head. He unlocked the door, took the keys and started walking, recognising different houses in the neighbourhood that he’d lived in as a child. He wondered how the other lost children had turned out. It was true some really successful people attributed their harsh upbringing as the reason for their hunger for success, but he was sure many more failed and never pulled themselves out of it.
As he turned the corner, he came to the main pub he used to play darts for and smiled as he remembered The Eversley Arms, wondering how they were getting along with their game. He stepped into the doorway of a closed Chinese takeaway and pulled his phone from his pocket to text Jaz for an update. The Eversley was a whole different pub to the one next door. A world away. As he texted he heard voices.
“Where to now?” a guy said.
“I’ve two hundred left, let’s pick up some vodka and get kebabs.”
Warren moved further back as Scottie walked past. He sighed. Yes, I’ve been had again.