Chapter 8

a/n It's Christmas 1989, the one where Nellie threw a tantrum and gave all the presents and the tree away.

Martina heard Joey come in. She waited for the bedroom door to go, and exhaled deeply when she heard the shower run. That confirmed it, Joey never bothered to shower when he came in from a job, he just crawled into bed and sorted himself out in the morning. He'd been with her again, as he had been the day before. She'd cried her tears during the evening, holding Micky close to her for comfort and feeling the faint flutterings from 'Thing', as they had jokingly named number 2, and now her eyes were raw and she had no more tears left to fall. It seemed like a lifetime ago that they'd sat and watched the old Addams Family show and come up with the name. That was before Roxy was back on the scene, and Martina hoped against hope she was only visiting and hadn't moved back. The door opened, he came in, got into bed and moved next to her.

"Merry Christmas sweetheart, thing," he whispered, lightly touching her stomach. "Merry Christmas Micky," he blew a kiss in the direction on the cot.

Martina, whose speciality subject was pulling herself back together, answered lightly, "Merry Christmas Joey."

He pulled her in closer to him and kissed the back of her neck. "Night, night sweetheart."

Relief that he was just off to sleep, and that she hadn't had to deal with any love making, enabled her to confirm in her own mind the course of action she had determined. Tempted though she was to sling him out, she knew that there was no way she'd be able to manage with two babies under a year. She'd just have to learn to live with it, until he made his move or she was in a position to make hers. After all it wasn't just Joey she'd lose, it'd be the rest of the Boswell pack, and though she'd always moaned about their unity and closeness, now she was accepted in to the heart of it, there were a lot of benefits. It wasn't something she'd want to give up lightly. And she'd always known how things stood with Roxy. She couldn't believe that Joey could even bring himself to be in her company after the way she'd treated him over the years. Martina knew she'd been a fool taking Tom back when he'd contacted her, begging forgiveness and a second chance, but she wouldn't do it again. No way.

She was up early and already dressed with the turkey on when Joey appeared in the kitchen.

He poured some tea, "top up?"

She shook her head. "Micky not awake yet?"

"No, I'm taking this back to bed. Coming?" He invited, a smile on his face.

She shook her head again.

"Oh?" He was puzzled, not like Martina. In his arrogance it never occurred to him that he might have been rumbled. He was just going to try and persuade her gently when the buzzer went.

Martina went to answer it.

"Hello?"

She was silent for a while. Then he heard, "course, yeah come in."

She went to open the flat door.

Joey came out of the kitchen, mug in hand, to see his mam, grandad, Jack, Adrian, Billy and Shifty sheepishly walk in.

"Morning," he said brightly. "Celebrating after all are we?"

"Yes, well." Nellie was flustered.

"Take no notice of him Nellie luv, go through." Martina treated Joey to an irritable glare. He frowned, was she put out by the unexpected arrival of his family?

She put the kettle on. Joey hesitated, "I'm sorry sweetheart I had no idea. I was planning on a quiet Christmas for the three of us."

"That's ok Joey, I don't have a problem with it."

At least it'll take the edge off things, make it easier for me at any rate she thought. She kept her back to Joey, pulling out cups and saucers and searching for teaspoons.

Nellie bustled through, "can I help at all?"

She was followed by Jack, who silently deposited a large bag of assorted vegetables on the table, before walking back out.

Joey sniggered, and even Nellie had the hint of a smile on her face.

"Jack often gets paid in fruit and veg," explained Joey, seeing Martina's bewilderment. He was glad Jack seemed to be getting back to normal after the death of Precious, his job ending and then breaking up with Rachel. At least he had stopped turning to drink as a solution to his problems. For a while Joey had been seriously concerned about his favourite brother.

"Oh." Martina emptied the bag out, then produced a couple of knives, one of which she handed to Nellie. "Will Aveline and Oswald be coming?"

"No," sniffed Nellie, "they're at his family for dinner." She gave a deep sigh.

"Never mind luv, perhaps they'll join you next year."

"It's not that, it's…" Nellie looked furtive.

"Joey take some drinks and pies and that through will you? Then check on Micky." Martina was intrigued.

"Course sweetheart." He beamed, seeing Martina and his mam preparing dinner together and most of his family in the front room seemed to him like a good way to be spending Christmas.

Nellie waited till Joey had left the room. "I don't know what's the matter with that girl. I mean we had all the drama round her not being pregnant, and now she is she's done nothing but complain about it. I'm not fond of Oswald as you know, but poor man he doesn't know whether he's coming or going."

"Ah, yeah." Martina nodded, understanding where Nellie was coming from. "I'm sure it'll be different once the baby's here. I mean, I wasn't looking forward to having a child, but I wouldn't be without him now."

"Yes I know, but you didn't spend a year going on about not getting pregnant did you?"

"No, no I didn't." Martina wasn't sure what to say. Her own view of Aveline, that she was incredibly selfish and spoilt wasn't what Nellie needed to hear. She settled for, "I did resent it though, right up to the moment I actually held him in my arms for the first time."

Nellie touched her arm. "Thanks luv. It's nice to have someone to talk to."

Martina smiled, "yeah it is."

"Here, give him to me." Grandad demanded the minute Joey entered the front room.

"Are you sure grandad? He wants his bottle."

"Do you think I can't feed him then? Do you think I'm daft or something?"

"Course not grandad." Joey handed him first the baby, then his bottle.

The Boswell boys watched in astonishment as their cantankerous old grandad fed, winded and chatted tenderly to Micky.

"So is our Aveline pregnant this time then, or is it another bloody cushion?" Grandad spoke without looking at them.

They glanced at each other then Joey answered. "She's pregnant grandad. And so is Martina."

"Aye, I know Martina is. When's she due?"

"April grandad"

"And when's Aveline due?"

"July granddad"

"You going to stop after two? You should do, all the overpopulation."

"That depends grandad."

"On what?"

"Whether it's a girl. Martina wants a daughter."

Grandad tutted and shook his head.

By pushing a couple of tables together and dredging up every chair they managed to sit down together to lunch, apart from grandad who preferred his in an armchair with the TV on in the front room, and it was the usual boisterous Boswell meal time. Martina was amused, it was like a souped-up Sunday dinner at Kelsall Street.

Afterwards, full to bursting, they made themselves at home and settled down to watch the Christmas TV offerings, only stirring themselves when it was tea-time. After which they collapsed back in front of the telly, bickering amiably until it was time to leave.

Joey finished the last of the washing up, checked the steriliser and made his way to bed. Though he had been looking forward to a Christmas celebration with Martina and Micky, he'd had a great day. He looked adoringly at his sleeping son as he got undressed. Today had been what it was all about really, being part of a close loving family, grandad monopolising the baby and spoiling him outrageously. He thanked God that Martina did get on with the family, he knew how difficult outsiders found them. In all fairness his mam never made it easy, though she had miraculously taken to Martina. He glanced over at her, she was amazing. She'd taken today in her stride without getting fazed at the sudden invasion of six people to dinner and tea. He knew she was finding this pregnancy more tiring than the last. She'd insisted on returning to work, much to his disapproval when he was perfectly capable of providing for them. He had to admit though that it did make it easier having Martina's regular salary coming in, meant he could be choosy about which jobs to take on. He noticed the dark circles under her eyes, however she seemed to be sleeping now. So much better for him than Roxy.

A bolt of guilt shot through him. What had he been thinking of? How could he have even entertained the notion of being with her when he had Martina in his life? She'd invited him to tea at the Adelphi, said she was visiting her mam for Christmas. He'd gone along thinking it would be OK, then she'd suggested going to her room. He should've said no, instead he'd gone meekly along and the inevitable had happened. She'd asked him if he could come back Christmas Eve, and like a fool he'd said yes. Christmas Eve, when he should have been home with Martina and Micky, he was in bed with her in a hotel room.

"So will I see you tomorrow Joey?" She'd inveigled, snuggling up to him and pressing her lips against his neck.

"It's Christmas Day. I'm gonna be with me family Roxy."

"Oh yer mam again Joey, I've left my child at me mam's at Christmas to be here with you." She pulled away.

"I didn't ask you to," he'd protested. "And I'm not leaving my child on Christmas Day Roxy. I'm gonna be at home with me son and," he hesitated, "me partner tomorrow."

She'd hissed venomously at him. "That's just typical of you Joey. Now you've had what you want you're gonna walk away."

As he settled into bed he made a vow to himself then and there that he'd never get himself in that position again.

And at that moment in time he had every intention of sticking to it.