Anyone Who Had a Heart Read Online Free

‘I don’t care about you and Tony. I want my car.’
    Alan got the keys from out of his pocket. ‘There you are.’
    ‘And I want some money.’
    Her father raised his eyebrows. ‘I gave you some earlier this week.’
    ‘I’ve spent it. Come on. I need a new dress and some shoes. I’ve seen a super white pair and a dress to match.’
    ‘What’s wrong with the white shoes you’re wearing?’
    Rita threw him a disparaging look and held out her hand.
    Alan delved into his pockets and brought out a pound note, a ten-shilling note and two half-crowns.
    Rita eyed the handful of money with contempt. ‘That’s not enough!’
    Alan sighed. When money had been plentiful he’d showered his little girl with presents and gifts of money. Anything and everything she’d wanted he’d given her. But the used car game wasn’t as good as it had been – not when you had to play things straight it wasn’t, and just of late he’d been playing it straight.
    ‘I’ll have to go to the bank.’
    ‘I’ll drive you there.’
    Her heels clip-clopped back along the concrete path from the church to where he’d parked the car. He told himself he should have parked further from the church then she wouldn’t have noticed him and decided she needed more money for shopping. As it was the day for him had been ruined; it had taken some courage to show his face at the church – not that he’d actually done that thanks to Rita. In a way he was glad; Marcie’s old man had threatened to chop his balls off if he didn’t stay away from her. Tony Brooks was a rough diamond, but not known for violence towards his mates. However, this was about his daughter. There could always be a first time, so perhaps Rita had done him a favour turning up when she did. On this occasion he’d been prevented from making a fool of himself, but another time, another place, things might be different.

Chapter Three
    THERE WAS NO celebratory spread in a local hostelry following Joanna’s baptism. Instead Rosa, Marcie and Babs had made ham and cheese rolls spread out on the table in the kitchen at number 10 Endeavour Terrace. Here and there a bowl of pickled onions and beetroot interspersed the plates of white bread and the fruitcake Rosa had made especially for the occasion.
    Only the family attended plus a few neighbours. Garth gorged on the leftovers and said it was the best party he’d ever been to. Everyone knew it was the
only
party he’d ever been to, but didn’t have the heart to correct him.
    The day had been fine but by five o’clock storm clouds had blown in from the sea and rain was hammering against the windows. Although a fire glowed red and yellow in the grate and the lights were lit, the old cottage held on to its gloomy corners.
    Marcie watched as her father bent over the cooing baby telling her crazy stories that she was far too young to follow. Marcie smiled. It didn’t matter that Joanna didn’t understand. She was enjoying being spoken to and her father enjoyed telling stories to his first grandchild.
    A small figure in black appeared at her side. ‘Your father is very proud.’
    Marcie agreed with her grandmother. For all his faults her dad loved kids. ‘I think he firmly believes that she’s the most beautiful baby in the world and that nothing bad can possibly happen to her because he’s around.’
    ‘He will do all in his power,’ her grandmother said softly.
    There was something about her grandmother’s tone of voice that made Marcie look at her. The olive-skinned face was difficult to read at the best of times and even though her guard was down on this most auspicious of days, she was still hard to interpret.
    Knowing that asking what was on her mind wouldn’t bring forth an answer, Marcie turned her mind to other things. The future was doubly important to her now she had a child to take care of. Johnnie, Joanna’s father was dead so there was no income forthcoming from that quarter. Neither would his parents – or, as