CHAPTER FOUR

FRIDAY 30TH APRIL 1993

Joey adjusted his sun glasses and stretched back on the bench. He had come to his favourite place to think, Otterspool, pretty much deserted theses days. The bright sunny day was in complete contrast to Joey's mood as he contemplated the mess that was his life. He knew marrying Roxy was a recipe for disaster, but he had gone ahead and done it anyway. Just as he had always known that going back to her time after time was asking for trouble, but he did it every single time. Like he said he couldn't keep away from her, she was in his guts and there had never really been anyone else. Much as he knew he'd made a series of mistakes, much as he knew he was in for a life of heartache Joey couldn't bring himself to leave. And not just Roxy, there was Alex.

Joey had always felt sorry for the little lad, sitting, watching and waiting silently for his mam while she lurched from crisis to crisis, too wrapped up in herself to parent him.

Joey had accused his mam of caring too much, said it was worse than not caring at all. Being married to Roxy had made Joey revise that view.

Joey hadn't bargained on how much he'd come to feel for the lad, the overpowering love and care, when he made the fateful decision to marry Roxy at Gretna Green. He couldn't understand why Roxy wouldn't let him adopt the lad though.

'There's no need Joey, he's fine as he is Joey, I don't want him tied down into the Boswell gilded cage Joey.'

And Joey had given in, as always.

'Oh, hidin' out down 'ere are we, Mr Boswell, when we're not being shady or bleedin' the state dry.'

Joey started, he knew that voice so well.

"Miss Martina, what are you doing out of your life-proof plastic box?"

"Trying, unsuccessfully it seems, to escape the likes of you Mr Boswell."

Joey laughed and slid along the bench to make room for her, and to his surprise she sat down closer to him than he'd expected.

"So, how are you?"

"Fine, thank you Mr Boswell."

"And er Shifty?"

"In Wandsworth just into a four year stretch."

"Oh." Joey had never understood just what it was Martina could see in his cousin.

They chatted for the next couple of hours, Joey opening up to Martina about Roxy in a way he'd never felt able to with anyone else, she was a surprisingly empathetic listener. In return she had unburdened herself about Shifty.

"Shall we go for a drink?" suggested Joey, as soon as it was near opening time.

"Haven't you got any work to do, Mr Boswell?"

"Oh, it can wait sweetheart, it can wait."

They went to the Belvedere, continuing their conversation, but drank far too much, too quickly.

As they left unsteadily at afternoon closing Martina observed, "You can't be driving now Mr Boswell."

"No sweat sweetheart, we'll get a taxi and I'll pick up the car tomorrow." He waved over a taxi. "Where to sweatheart?"

"JFK heights please, Mr Boswell."

"There for the lady then please, and Woolton Road for me."

Martina leant against Joey in the cab causing him to go into meltdown, he ventured a tentative kiss and to his amazement she responded enthusiastically.

"I'll cancel that second instruction then shall I pal?" smirked the taxi-driver.

"Looks like it." Joey bunged him a fiver and allowed Martina to lead him in.

Block 3, 11th floor, out of the lift, through the front door and straight into Martina's bedroom, the softness and comfort inside contrasting with the squalor outside.

Martina glued her mouth to his and they crashed down onto her bed.

Later, laying back stroking her hair and gazing dreamily around, he was suddenly jolted back to reality.

"Here you'd better be off, me mam'll be back soon and she'll go spare if she catches anyone here," Martina switched on the radio.

'Drank sangria in the park and later when it gets dark we'll go home.' Lou Reed came over the airwaves.

Reluctantly Joey got up and dressed.

'Oh, it's such a perfect day, I'm glad I spent it with you.'

Joey knelt down and Martina ruffled his hair groggily.

"No more now Mr Boswell, we need to put today in a box and forget about it for everyone's sake."

He tried to speak but his throat had closed up so he nodded sadly and left. He hadn't seen Martina since.

It took him three goes to find a taxi prepared to pick him up and when he did get one he had to pay in advance.

"Oakfield Avenue, off Woolton Road, Gateacre end, please."

He leant back and closed his eyes,

Such a perfect day.

Joey would spend the next twenty-one years trying to keep that memory and his feelings towards Martina shut out of his mind.