Chapter 2 The Letter

Joey was about to read the letter when he noticed that Luke had turned back and was staring at him with a look that said "should I say something?" Joey made it easier for him by speaking first.

"What is it son?"

"I know who that letter is from and so does dad. He's not happy that you're still in touch with Shifty."

"Is that why he didn't come round for breakfast?"

"Partly, but he really is helping mum get ready. You know how he tries to find something to do to stop him losing it."

Joey nodded, he knew what Jack's temper could be like even though he was better at controling it these days, Shifty was the one person who could make Jack very angry and with good reason.

"Shifty's letter is a complete surprise to me," Joey continued "I last saw him at your granddad's funeral. You remember your granddad don't you?" Joey always asked Luke this, Luke was nearly 8 when Freddie died and Joey figured if Luke could remember him then Toby, Roxy's son who was a little bit older than that when Roxy left would remember Joey.

"Of course" Luke answered with a smile, he'd always adored Freddie.

"I wrote to Shifty when your great granddad died, they always got on and I felt he should know, but I didn't hear from him until now."

"Are you going to read it?" Luke asked

"I might as well, there might be a birthday greeting in there."

Luke gave him the "I'm not a child" look and Joey continued.

"I'm looking for someone who used to be in my life and isn't now and I hope Shifty might have some news for me. If he does great, if he doesn't then there isn't any need for any of us to hear from him again."

"Do you mean Toby?" Luke asked

Joey was a bit taken aback by this, he didn't think Luke would remember Toby but then his parents may have mentioned him.

"No, not him, someone else."

Luke seemed satisfied with this and changed the subject

"Are you bringing anyone to the party Joey? A woman"

"No, why do you ask?"

"Well I had a bet with Uncle Billy. He thinks you're bringing a woman and I think it's the last thing on your mind. Who's right ?"

"Neither of you. I'm not bringing anyone, but it's not the last thing on my mind either. Now off you go."

Joey read the letter, there was no birthday greeting and not even a"how are you?" It was a typical Shifty woe is me type letter, stating he was being bullied in prison and lonely and desparate for visitors. A few years ago Joey might have felt sorry for him, but not now. Shifty had been given chance after chance and blown it every time. He hadn't learned anything if he thought anyone was going to visit him.

Shifty had ended the letter. "P.S have you heard from Martina?" which set Joey's thoughts racing. On the one hand, he was glad that Martina seemed to have dumped Shifty. He could cope with her being with another man as long as it was n't that bastard. On the other hand, it didn't solve the mystery of where she was and what she was doing.

Joey wondered why he yearned for Martina so much, they'd had one date which had ended in a kiss and nothing more, but he felt more passion in that kiss than anything he'd ever experienced with Roxy. Perhaps it was because the romance didn't get very far that he felt this way, all he knew was that he couldn't stop thinking about her , small things reminded him of her and he felt a warm nostalgic glow for the time they'd spent together. He wouldn't admit it out loud but he believed he loved Martina. If only he knew where she was.

There had been other women in his life. When he met Annette at an organic food fair a couple of years after divorcing Roxy he thought he'd met his dream partner. He remembered his mother once mentioning that all she wished for Joey was for him to meet a nice Catholic girl with a vegetarian cookbook and Annette met both those criteria. He even gave up wearing leather jackets for her and almost gave up the jag. However it soon transpired that Annette's views on animal rights were a lot more extreme that his and when she was arrested for sending death threats to several local butchers he finished with her. Joey beleived you could show concern for animals without being cruel to humans, but Annette sadly couldn't see his point of view. He wondered where she was now? Another person who had meant so much to him at one point who had vanished from his life. Roxy, Martina, Annette, Toby. All mysteries in one way or another. Thinking about Toby reminded him of what Luke had said. He'd always thought Toby would get in touch again once he reached 18. He was past that age now and nothing. Could it be because he was also in prison? It was worth a shot and Shifty may be able to help. Reluctantly he picked up the pen to write to his wayward cousin.