Page 73 of Silver Tears

I reach into my pocket and pull out the thick wad of notes and count out a thousand onto the table. “There you go. Paid in full, with an extra hundred as a reminder that the woman and her family are to be left well alone.”

“We hear you loud and clear, Collings,” Mikey agrees, as he eagerly scoops up the money and pops it into his jeans pocket. “Now, that’s out of the way. Stay and smoke with us. We have more than enough girls to go around.” He gestures across the room to where Maisie and her friends sit eyeing us like fresh meat.

“Thanks for the offer, but we have women back home now.”

Mikey arches a brow. “I heard you two were locked down, but you, Collings, I thought you were free as a bird.”

I shrug. “What can I say? I decided monogamy suits me.”

Mikey bobs his head, considering this. “I’ll take as many as I can get, but you do you, Collings.” He reaches over and offers out his hand and I place mine in his and firmly shake his hand.

“Pleasure to have you visit us,” Davy states, shaking Archer’s hand. “Oh, and Collings, the guy, I’d keep my eye on him if I were you.”

I hold his eyes and see the unspoken warning there. “I intend to, believe me.”

Goes to show that Lenny must be a dodgy fucker if even the Brownlee brothers are warning me about him. My hope is they teach him a lesson over his debt, and in doing so, they remove a problem for me.

MILLY

I’ve no idea where he’s taking me today. He’s been super secretive about it and avoided all my attempts to give me some clues. I made him promise we wouldn’t be more than a couple of hours because getting that C grade was the wakeup call I needed. I can’t let my grades drop. No matter what is going on in my life. I have to study, and I have to get good grades. I can’t disappoint my dad. He’s been disappointed enough by mum.

Chops is over at Peggy’s. I spent the morning with him before Seb picked me up. Mum and Lenny were, as usual, passed out in her room. I barely see or speak to her anymore. She’s either sleeping off a drug and alcohol binge or out somewhere with that bastard. We’re doing our best to protect Charlie, but it’s getting harder. Peggy has been taking and collecting him from school now for weeks. At least there have been no more threats from the dealers, which is good. I was sure they would come back and threaten me or Charlie if mum didn’t pay up, but we’ve heard nothing.

I notice we’re heading east, out of the Bay. I thought the whole idea of us going on dates was so people could see us together. There’s nothing I can think of out this way other than sleepy fishing villages and rural cottages. We turn off a country lane and drive down a narrow road and through some iron gates and I sit up straighter in my seat. A large Georgian mansion comes into view before us. I read the ornate sign, Highview Home.

“Is this some private school for delinquents?” I tease, smiling at him. “Did you used to go here?”

“Funny.” He grins in response. “Why don’t you just wait and see?”

We park out the front and I fall into step beside him as we walk up to the entrance. Seb presses an intercom buzzer and gives his name, and we enter inside. He signs us both in and the friendly lady at the reception seems to know Seb well. She calls him by his first name and asks after Verity.

“How’s she been?” he asks her. He hands her the bag he took out of the car. “Here’s some fresh supplies for her.”

Tracey, as her name badge identifies, peers into the bag and smiles. “Ah, her favourites. She will be pleased.”

I try to peer in the bag but she’s already but it down under the desk. “You go on right up.” I see her eye me with curiosity, but Seb doesn’t offer any introductions.

We climb a large mahogany staircase up to the first floor. As we move down the long corridor; I notice the name plaques on the doors. “Is this a care home?” I ask him. The dots suddenly fitting together.

“It is indeed. I brought you to meet someone very special to me.” He scratches at the back of his neck and looks awkward. “This might seem a weird date, but I feel like I’ve got to know your situation well. It only seems fair that you get a glimpse of who is important to me.”

My poor heart flips in my chest. Seeing Seb vulnerable like this is a strange experience. I like when I get to see a side of him that no one else really does. That he feels he can share these things with me. It also makes me realise how far we have come since all we did was fire sarcasm and hatred at each other.

Seb pauses outside a door and raps gently. A lively voice from inside shouts for us to come in. I read the name plaque. “Mildred Collings.”

We go inside, and a petite elderly lady sits in an armchair by the window. She looks to be in her eighties, and she has white shoulder length hair. Her soft curls frame her face. She’s dressed elegantly in a silk blouse and grey trousers. Her manicured nails are painted in a pale blue.

“Hey Grandma. It’s your favourite grandson,” he teases as he walks over to her and drops down to kiss both her cheeks.

Her eyes light up at the sound of his voice. “My boy,” she beams, cupping his face with her hands and smiling up at him. “My handsome son.”

“It’s me, grandma. Seb, your grandson, not Rupert, your son.”

She studies his face and smiles. “Seb, my grandson. I know who you are.” She notices that he’s not alone and her eyes fall on me.

“Who is this? Is it Grace?” She asks, smiling at me. “She’s a good wife for you, Rupert.”

Seb smiles at her, stroking her hand softly. “This is Milly. Milly is my…friend.”

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