BooksBarbecue
Back The Feud
Chapters (48)
  1. Cover
  2. THEFEUD
  3. Dedication
  4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. ONE
  7. TWO
  8. THREE
  9. FOUR
  10. FIVE
  11. SIX
  12. SEVEN
  13. EIGHT
  14. NINE
  15. TEN
  16. ELEVEN
  17. TWELVE
  18. THIRTEEN
  19. FOURTEEN
  20. FIFTEEN
  21. SIXTEEN
  22. SEVENTEEN
  23. EIGHTEEN
  24. NINETEEN
  25. TWENTY
  26. TWENTY-ONE
  27. TWENTY-TWO
  28. TWENTY-THREE
  29. TWENTY-FOUR
  30. TWENTY-FIVE
  31. TWENTY-SIX
  32. TWENTY-SEVEN
  33. TWENTY-EIGHT
  34. TWENTY-NINE
  35. THIRTY
  36. THIRTY-ONE
  37. THIRTY-TWO
  38. THIRTY-THREE
  39. THIRTY-FOUR
  40. THIRTY-FIVE
  41. THIRTY-SIX
  42. THIRTY-SEVEN
  43. THIRTY-EIGHT
  44. THIRTY-NINE
  45. FORTY
  46. FORTY-ONE
  47. FORTY-TWO
  48. FORTY-THREE

Eddie sipped his beer and watched his daughter swing higher than any of the other kids. At least Frankie had a bit of spirit about her; Joey had fucking none whatsoever. Seeing his wife and son walk towards him, Eddie forced a smile. He couldn’t have a go at Joey or say anything about him, as he’d promised Jessica he wouldn’t.

‘Panic over. What shall we do, Ed? Shall we order some food now? The kids both want burger and chips.’

Eddie stood up. ‘Keep an eye on Frankie. She’s over there with some little boy, he keeps following her around,’ he told Jessica, as he headed to the bar.

The little boy in question was quite taken with Frankie and had been trying to attract her attention for the last ten minutes. ‘My name’s Luke. What’s yours?’ he asked her.

‘Not telling you,’ Frankie shouted at him.

‘Why not? I’ve told you my name,’ Luke said, trying to hold her hand.

Frankie snatched her hand away. Placing her hands on her hips, she scowled at her stalker. ‘Go away and leave me alone.’

As Eddie walked back from the bar, he saw Frankie clump the boy. Putting the drinks on the table, he went over to rescue the poor little sod, who was now sprawled on the ground crying.

‘I’m really sorry,’ he told the boy’s shocked parents.

Eddie lifted his daughter up and carried her back to the table. ‘It’s naughty to punch people. Why did you punch him, Frankie?’

‘Because he wanted to be my boyfriend. I don’t like him, Daddy. I want Jed to be my boyfriend.’

Tilting his daughter’s chin towards him, Eddie stared at her coldly. ‘Listen to me, Frankie, I’m only ever saying this once. If you ever, ever mention Jed’s name again, I’m gonna wash your mouth out with soap and water. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?’

Shocked by her father’s attitude, Frankie felt her eyes fill up with tears. She flung her arms around his neck and sobbed.

‘I’m sorry, Daddy. I won’t say Jed any more.’

Wiping her tears away, Eddie smiled at her. ‘You promise me, Frankie?’

Thrilled that her father was no longer angry with her, Frankie smiled at him. ‘Yes, Daddy, I promise.’

SEVENTEEN

Nine years later – 1987

Glancing at his watch, Eddie picked up his bunch of keys. ‘I’m gonna make a move now, love. I’ve gotta go up north today to speak to some arsehole that’s knocked me. I might be really late back, so don’t wait up.’

Jessica brushed a bit of fluff off her husband’s collar and hugged him tightly. ‘Be careful, Eddie. I love you,’ she told him.