Chapters (60)
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Praise
- Dedication
- BOOK ONE
- Prologue 1989
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- BOOK TWO - 1925
- Chapter Ten - 1925
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen
- Chapter Seventeen
- Chapter Eighteen
- Chapter Nineteen
- Chapter Twenty
- Chapter Twenty-one
- Chapter Twenty-two
- Chapter Twenty-three
- Chapter Twenty-four
- Chapter Twenty-five
- Chapter Twenty-six
- Chapter Twenty-seven
- Chapter Twenty-eight
- Chapter Twenty-nine
- Chapter Thirty
- Chapter Thirty-one
- Chapter Thirty-two
- BOOK THREE - 1947
- Chapter Thirty-three
- Chapter Thirty-four
- Chapter Thirty-five
- Chapter Thirty-six
- Chapter Thirty-seven
- Chapter Thirty-eight
- Chapter Thirty-nine
- Chapter Forty
- BOOK FOUR - 1968
- Chapter Forty-one - 1968
- Chapter Forty-two
- Chapter Forty-three
- Chapter Forty-four
- Chapter Forty-five
- Chapter Forty-six
- Chapter Forty-seven
- Chapter Forty-eight
- Chapter Forty-nine
- Chapter Fifty - 1970
- EPILOGUE
‘Nine. Five boys and four girls. My eldest girl Susan is doing ever so well. Works in an office up West. The boys take after me, got one in the ’Ville for malicious wounding, one on the island for armed robbery and the other three won’t go to school for love nor money. When I get out I’m gonna take the buggers in hand. Give me girls any day of the week. You ain’t got any kids have you?’
‘Nah. I’d have liked them though. But me and Briony, well the time was never right.’
Timmy kept quiet.
‘Sometimes, like now, I wish I had a boy of me own like.’
Timmy heard the yearning in his friend’s voice and made a noise in the back of his throat.
‘Let me tell you, mate, they’re nothing but bleeding hag.’
Tommy turned over in his bunk to sleep. ‘Goodnight, Timmy.’
As Timmy began to snore softly, Tommy thought about his life with Briony. He had forfeited children for her. He had given up a lot. The question in his mind was, was it all worth it? As the sun came up, bringing a few rays of light through the window of his cell he grinned to himself. He didn’t have to answer that question. Every time he looked at her, he had his answer. He’d gladly do any amount of time for her, he loved her deeply and abidingly.
The young man started shouting again in his sleep. His fear of prison made his nightmares terrifying.
Tommy closed his eyes tightly and tried to sleep. He was getting too old for all this.
Chapter Forty-eight
Chapter Forty-eight
Briony and Mariah hugged each other tightly.
‘Oh, Briony, how are you, love?’
Briony sat down at a table in the visiting room and shrugged. She had been in Holloway a week, and this was her friend’s first visit.
‘It’s not too bad in here once you get used to it, Mariah. But I wouldn’t say no if someone asked me to leave, know what I mean?’
Mariah laughed delightedly.
‘I knew you wouldn’t let all this get you down.’ Her face sobered as she said, ‘We tried everything to get you out for Boysie’s funeral, you know.’
Briony nodded.
‘Listen, Mariah. I want you to do something for me. I want you to pull in a few favours...’
Mariah grinned and cut her off.