‘Take it,’ said Lil. ‘You can get lodgings with that, can’t you. It’s a start.’

Lil being kind nearly finished Dora off, nearly had her in tears. With a nod of thanks she took the money. Tossed another couple of items into her case. Then she snapped the lock shut and hefted it down off the bed.

‘Dad might soften in a week or so,’ said Lil.

But Dora didn’t think so. ‘He said I’m dead to him.’

‘Ah, you know Dad. All mouth and trousers. Maybe come back later on, yeah? See how the land lies.’

‘You think so?’

Dora gazed at her sister. Like a block of wood, Lil was. Strong, tall, thick-set, with a brain no one could ever call clever. Dora often thought that continents moved faster than Lil’s thought processes. But she had a certain type of heavy good looks, with her wide dark eyes and her thick fall of nearly black hair. And she had a family of her own, a family that loved her. The baby, who would soon be christened Tommy. And Alec, who might be a jittery no-hoper, but he was here, he was Lil’s husband and it was clear he loved her.

All stuff to envy, Dora could see that now. Lil wasn’t beautiful, like Dora. And where had it got her anyway, all that? In trouble, that’s where.

Now someone else was coming up the stairs. Dora recognized June’s lopsided walk.

‘Christ, Dad’s goin’ off his head down there,’ said June, appearing in the doorway looking pleased as punch.

‘Shut up, June,’ said Lil.

‘Why? This has been coming for a long time, we could all see it.’ June’s eyes were alive with glee as they stared at Dora. ‘Dora the Adored,’ she sang, hugging herself with pleasure. ‘Giving herself all them airs and graces. And for what? Mixing with criminals.’

Dora snatched the case up off the floor and headed for the doorway. Inside, she felt sick with dread. What was going to become of her, slung out of home like this? But her pride wouldn’t let June see how terrified she was. She was stepping into the unknown. Oh, she might have mocked home and her parents, and taken the mick out of scrawny June and solid-as-a-barn-door Lil, but at least she knew all this, it was familiar. She’d grown up with it. Out there – out in the big wide world – she didn’t know anything, or anybody. Not really. And it scared the shit out of her.

Dora barrelled down the stairs, snatched her coat off the rack. In the kitchen, Mum was crying loudly. Dad had stopped shouting and retreated to his armchair. Dora looked in, saw Mum’s wretched face. Tried to smile, but couldn’t.

Oh gawd help me.

She opened the front door, and stepped out.

17

Dora had only got so far as the gate when Donny Maguire came up and stood there staring at her. Christ, what else could happen? Was he going to have a go at her too?