Page 16 of Loving Netta Wilde

He set down a cappuccino in front of Geraldine on the breakfast table. She grabbed his hand as soon as he let go of the cup. ‘Quickly, Frank, while Liza’s not here. I do have a Colin Plan B, but you might not like it.’

‘I see.’ Frank was beginning to get an inkling about that look she’d given him earlier and he was almost certain she was right. Whatever Plan B was, he was not going to like it.

‘You know how much Arthur and I detest Colin?’

‘I think I do, yes.’

‘We’re willing to do our bit and take him in, but I’m fearful of what Arthur may do to him. He’s not as easy going as you might think. He can be quite uncontrollable when he’s riled.’

‘Arthur?’ Surely not Arthur Wilde? The man was a saint.

‘And to be perfectly honest, if it happened, I’m not sure I’d be able to stop myself egging Arthur on. So, I was wondering if it might be better all round if Colin moved in here until we can get rid of him. What do you think?’

‘I er, I er…’ Shit and double shit. Colin Grey in his house, under his feet, day and night, night and day. No, no, no, no, no!

‘Obviously, we’d all support you. I think every one of us wants to see the back of him as quickly as possible. Don’t you agree?’

‘I guess so.’

‘So you’ll take him then, if necessary?’

Frank screwed his eyes up. Ambushed again. ‘I suppose.’

‘Good. We’ve got to work together on this, Frank. It’s the only way to get shot of him.’ She raised a hand to wave at Liza who was coming back, then let it fall. ‘Oh.’

Frank followed her gaze. Liza was nearly with them. A few yards behind her was Will.

‘What a lovely surprise.’ Geraldine plastered a smile across her face and held out her arms. As she got up to wrap them around her grandson, she whispered: ‘Plan B, Frank.’

Plan B it was then. Bollocks.

11

SAVED BY COLIN PLAN B

Netta’s expression must have given her away, because her friends at the foodbank were eyeing her as if she’d just received the most terrible news. ‘It’s Will,’ she began, still holding the phone against her ear despite Frank having cut the call some moments earlier. ‘He’s come home early,’ she added after registering the alarm on their faces.

Her audience ran through a range of visible emotions and finally settled on bewildered. Only Neil understood the implications. ‘What about Colin?’

‘He’s at Dad’s allotment. I need to go.’

Neil walked out with her. ‘If Colin needs somewhere to stay, he can come to ours. Things will work out, don’t worry.’

She nodded, wishing she had his optimism. ‘Thank you. I might need to hold you to that. Mum and Dad have offered, but he won’t want to go there. I thought we’d have more time to work it all out.’

The drive home was spent composing her speech. In her head, she tried this way and that to explain to Will why she’d taken his father in. None of them seemed good enough to make up for her son’s sacrifice. He’d walked away from Colin becauseof her, or more precisely because of what Colin had done to her. When Will found out that he was bleeding her dry while earning plenty of money with his paintings, he chose a side and moved in with Netta. That was his sacrifice. Although in truth, he didn’t behave as if it was one. He seemed happy not seeing Colin. She suspected that was because he was afraid that he’d inherited some of Colin’s traits. As far as she could see, he hadn’t, but try telling him that.

Her hand shook as she unlocked the front door. She should have been braver and warned him while he was still in York instead of putting it off. But it was too late now. He was home and she was going to have to deal with the consequences of her inaction. Was it only a week ago she was telling herself that bad ideas and bad consequences so often went hand in hand? If this wasn’t the proof she needed, she didn’t know what was.

Will was in the lounge, petting the dogs. The look he gave her said it all. He’d been betrayed. Guilt’s bullet shot straight through her heart. Liza came in from the kitchen and Netta realised that no matter which path she’d taken, guilt would have got her one way or the other. She too had chosen a side, and it hadn’t been Will’s.

‘I thought you were staying another week.’ Shit. What a stupid thing to say. It had definitely not been in any of the speeches she’d rehearsed.

‘I got a lift from one of my housemates. I didn’t have that much to bring back.’ He looked down at his feet and she was suddenly reminded there was that one trait Will and Colin had in common. But only that one. Biologically speaking, Will was Colin’s son but that was as far as it went. He was her son, her dear sweet boy, and he was hurting.

She threw her arms around him. ‘I’m sorry, darling. I’m so sorry.’

He squeezed her tight. ‘It’s okay, Mum. Liza and Nan explained. We’ve got a plan.’

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