A Mother's Trust Read Free

left to sell, so I come looking for my bella Phoebe.’
    ‘That’s nice, Gino. But I can’t stop.’ She continued walking at a brisk pace but he fell into step beside her, seemingly regardless of the fact that he was trampling ankle-deep through rubbish.
    ‘It’s your mamma, again, isn’t it? What has she done this time, cara? Is it an angry wife or a cheated client who chases her?’
    ‘Neither.’ Phoebe stopped outside the pub door. ‘She has money.’
    He pulled a face. ‘Not for long, eh?’
    ‘No.’ Phoebe pushed the door open, grimacing as a gust of hot smoky air billowed out of the taproom. She stepped inside, peering through the haze of tobacco smoke, but it was the sound of her mother’s laughter that directed her to a corner of the ingle nook where she found Annie seated beside a rotund gentleman dressed in sombre black with a white stock at his neck over which his several chins wobbled when he chuckled . His chubby fingers, mottled like pink pork sausages, toyed with the buttons on Annie’s cotton blouse.
    ‘It’s time to go home, Ma,’ Phoebe said firmly.
    Annie looked up at her and her eyes widened, but the smile remained fixed on her face. She lifted her glass to her lips in a defiant gesture and drained its contents in one gulp. ‘Go away. Can’t you see I’m busy?’
    Phoebe squared her thin shoulders. ‘You’re wanted at home, Ma. I’d like you to come now.’
    Annie’s companion cleared his throat. ‘You heard what your mother said, young lady. Show some respect for your elders and do as she bids you.’
    Phoebe recognised him as Amos Snape, a clerk who worked at Nicholson’s Distillery in St John Street. She had seen him in her mother’s company on several occasions, and although he was preferable to some of Annie’s other gentlemen friends he had a somewhat dubious reputation and it was rumoured that his late wife’s death was not as accidental as he claimed. Annie might think she was subtly gleaning details about his domestic affairs in order to lure him into a mock séance, but Phoebe suspected that Amos had designs on her mother that did not include paying a penny or twopence in order to contact his dear departed; in fact the very reverse was probably true. If it were at all possible for the dead to speak, Nellie Snape might have something to say that would wipe the smile off her husband’s face forever. If she closed her eyes, Phoebe could visualise a hangman’s noose dangling over his head . She did not need a crystal ball to predict Snape’s future, and from the lascivious gleam in his small piggy eyes when he glanced at the swell of Annie’s breast, she could tell that his intentions were far from honourable. The large glass of gin that stood untouched as yet next to the tot that her mother had just consumed was evidence enough of his desire to get Ma swipey. Not that Annie needed much encouragement. Phoebe leaned closer. ‘Come along, Ma. Please.’
    Annie giggled, shaking her head. ‘I done me bit this morning, love. Give a girl the chance to have some fun.’
    Phoebe was about to insist when Gino laid his hand on her shoulder. She glanced up into his face and he winked at her before turning his full attention on Amos. ‘I don’t want to worry you, cully. But I think I see your boss walking down the street in this direction. Maybe he looks for you, maybe not. It’s a mystery. Yes?’
    Amos leapt to his feet, his prominent belly straining against the buttons on his waistcoat. ‘Are you certain? Or are you spinning me a tale, you stupid macaroni.’
    Gino held his hands palm upwards with an expressive shrug of his shoulders. ‘Do you want to take a chance on it, signore? I maybe a stupid macaroni, but I ain’t the one who’ll look foolish when his boss finds him in the pub.’
    ‘Get out of my way, Eyetie.’
    With a bow and a smile, Gino moved aside. ‘Signore.’
    Amos shot him a malevolent glance as he barged past and hurried out into the