Jo sat putting the finishing touches to her makeup. As promised, Billy had telephoned in the morning to arrange to take her out again this evening.
Jo smiled, remembering the normally cocky Billy, falling over her words. Maybe she is right one. She is different around me.
Jo looked at herself in the dressing table mirror as a darker part of her mind screamed, trying to make its presence felt.
It's just another way of trying to get you into bed. Then you'll never see her again! She'll break your heart. They all do!
"No! I won't listen. Billy is a good person. I know it!"
She heard a knock at the door and looked at the clock. "Half past six? We said seven o'clock? She's early." The flutter of butterfly's she always got when Billy was around, starting doing summersaults.
Jo jumped up, feeling as giddy as a school girl. She opened the door and began to say. "You're Ear..."
The words dropped away and she stared in shock at the person standing there.
"Wh...What are you doing here?
Jo found herself gripping tightly onto the door, as she looked into the face of someone she hadn't seen in two years.
Roberta Whitworth, the 4th child of Baron Somerset, stood holding a large bouquet of flowers.
The butterflies that had been excitedly fluttering around in her stomach had turned into a sick sinking feeling.
Jo repeated. "What are you doing here?"
"Is that anyway to talk to the love of your life?"
"Get away from me!" Jo tried to slam the door shut but Roberta stuck her foot in the door.
"Let me just have five minutes to talk to you. Please chicken!"
Jo shivered. The term of endearment that had once filled her with warmth and love, now filled her with dread.
"Don't call me that!"
"Jo. I will go once I have been allowed to speak." Roberta said rather sternly.
Much to her rational minds astonishment, Jo found herself opening the door.
Roberta strode in and put the much too showy looking flowers down on the table.
Jo watched as her former lover surveyed the room. Roberta was showing signs of age. She had been forty five when Jo met her at her first night out at the Alley Cat, but her age was even more pronounced now. Her short curly hair had streaks of grey all through it now. Her once noble looking face looked a little sunken and drawn.
No doubt from burning the candle at both ends as usual. Thought Jo.
"This is a lot nicer than your old flat. I called on you several times there, after..."
"What? Say it! After you left me high and dry taking all my savings!"
"Listen now old thing. It wasn't like that...I had no choice...I...was being threatened for money. I panicked. Would you have me be harmed? I had no choice. I didn't mean to leave you."
"You panicked alright!" The tears started to flow down Jo's face.
"I find you in bed with some woman, in my flat, in my bed! You weren't even concerned with how you had hurt me. You were worried that dependable Jo, who got you out of every scrape and gave you all her money, would be gone. So you stole everything I had saved, that money was for my dream, to start my own business. You knew that! I loved you, and you destroyed me."
Roberta walked closer to Jo and touched her face. Jo pulled back sharply. "Don't touch me!"
Billy took the steps up to Jo's flat two at a time. She had been watching the clock all day, just waiting till she could leave to pick her Jo. As Billy walked along the corridor she heard voices coming from Jo's flat. The door was slightly ajar so she held back and listened to a voice she didn't recognize.
"I know I hurt you chicken. I was in a difficult place then, you know that. I was exceptionally drunk that night; I'd been playing cards all day. You weren't going to be there when I went back to the flat. You know what your Bobbie is like when she drinks?"
"That's your excuse is it?"
Roberta took Jo's head in her hands tightly.
"It meant nothing chicken. Come back to me. No one has a love like ours. We are soul mates, you know that."
Jo felt panic taking hold. Her throat grew tight and her heart thudded. The way it always did when she tried to stand up to Roberta.
"G...go... I...have a dinner engagement tonight."
Roberta let go of Jo's head and laughed. "Ah yes. Cheeky chappy cockney boy Billy Boyd! Fancy a bit of rough did you my dear?"
"How do you know about Billy?"
"I heard you had been seen at the Alley Cat."
"Wait a minute! How did you know where to find me?"
Roberta didn't answer.
Jo felt the rage about to spill over. "You could have found out where I was anytime over the last two years. Its Billy isn't it? You heard I was seeing someone after two whole years on my own and you didn't like it. Your pride didn't like it. You were quite happy knowing I was alone all this time, but now someone wants me, you want me back!"
"Now Chicken..."
"Get out now!"
Billy heard enough and pushed her way through the door. "You heard her. Go."
Roberta swung round to stare at Billy. "Ah here she is right on cue. My stand in, I think my lady has had enough of trawling in the gutter with you, so why don't you be a good boy and crawl back to where you came from."
Billy was about to launch herself at Roberta when Jo said. "Billy stop. Please. Roberta, leave now. I'm not interested."
"She's not good enough for you Josephine. Is that what you really want? Some little oik from the east end?"
Who is this upper class twit? Thought Billy angrily.
"Jo Jo let me..."
Jo put her hand up to stop Billy from taking any action, and taking a deep breath said. "Need I remind you Bobbie that I am from the east end?"
"Yes, but you raised yourself out of the gutter, you have gained an education and now you are a special girl."
After repeatedly being held back by Jo, Billy's temper finally snapped.
She went nose to nose with Roberta and said. "Right that's enough you toffee nosed prick! Get out now or I'll throw you out on your bony arse!"
"I'm going." turning to Jo she said.
"You know what's right my darling. This ruffian knows nothing about our love, and our life. Do you think she's not going to break your heart? I've heard about her reputation. At least you know me. I won't hurt you again. When you've made up your mind, you can find me most nights at the Alley Cat. See you soon Chicken."
Once she was gone Billy turned to look at Jo. She looked like a little lost girl.
Billy walked over and took Jo in her arms. The tears then flooded out.
"Sh! It's alright princess. I'm here now. I won't let anyone upset you again."
After a while, Billy got Jo calmed down a bit, and got her a drink. Billy sat in front of her and held her hand tightly.
"She's the one isn't she? The one that hurt you?"
Jo simply nodded.
"I don't want you to worry about her again. I'll be there for you."
"I'm...sorry Billy." Jo's mind told her what she should say, but it was breaking her up inside.
Billy leaned over and stroked Jo's cheek tenderly. "You don't have to be sorry Princess."
"I... do. I can't do this. I thought I could. I really wanted to, but..."
Billy gulped hard. "What? What can't you do Jo Jo?"
Fresh tears tumbled helplessly from Jo's eyes, as she held Billy's hand to her face. "This. Us."
"Us? Why? What do I do?"
"Nothing. You did nothing."
The jealousy that had been bubbling away, forced its way to the surface. Billy pulled Jo's hand away and stood.
"You want her back don't you? You never wanted to give me a chance."
"No! I never ever want to be with her again. Just seeing her again has reminded me how much she tormented my mind, my life. I can't do it again. If you hurt me, it would kill me."
Billy felt the tears coming to her eyes. She didn't want Jo to see her that way, so she turned her back and walked to the door. Without looking back she said, "I would have cherished you princess."
When Billy had walked out the door, Jo replied sadly. "I know cheeky chops."