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Her dreams were dead, and all she had now was the promise of a grandchild to give her any hope for the future.

Chapter Nineteen

    Ivy was delighted with things. After her initial shock at the Billy Mason incident, she had done what Sharon had asked and accepted the situation. If she was honest, it was mainly because Ivy was enjoying her newfound celebrity as Sharon Scott’s mother. She loved the way people who had never given her the time of day before broke their necks to ask how she was and how her daughter was. It was heady stuff.
    Sharon was on her time now, and she looked amazing. She still had a tiny bump and loads of energy. She was training up a girl to manage the shop while she was off with the baby, but she was saying how she would be in and out, keeping her eye on ‘the business’, as she called it. It was a dream come true in many respects. Just eighteen and she had a lucrative career and the world at her feet.
    Ivy would always have her reservations about Lenny Scott but, in fairness to him, he had the makings of a good provider. He was a nice lad and he loved her girl – that was evident.
    ‘I can’t believe it, Mum. And Isaac, bless him, kept it quiet. He is made up for me and my Lenny. Reckons I can run the place with my eyes closed. Said I was a natural because I can work out the bets in me head. But, honestly, once you get the knack, it’s easy as pie.’
    Ivy looked at her husband and they laughed together for once. It was good to see their girl so animated and so happy.
    ‘You got a fucking good one there, girl, but I don’t need to tell you that.’
    Del Conway had asked around and he knew that young Lenny wasn’t putting it about; he had nothing but a good rep in every way. For all the boy’s grandiose notions, if he hurt his girl, Del would shoot the fucker dead – that was a given. His daughter was his flesh and blood, and no one would ever make a cunt out of her, no matter who they were. The hardest fuck in the world couldn’t argue with a gun. He genuinely liked young Lenny and, as long as taking care of Del’s baby girl was his main agenda, they would get along like a proverbial house on fire.
    ‘We can start looking at houses now, because we have a legitimate earn, like. It is so exciting.’
    ‘I bet. Lenny has really made his mark, Sharon. Honestly, everyone is talking about how well he’s doing.’
    Sharon preened. She was so proud of her husband. ‘I better get home – he likes his dinner ready, does my Lenny! Tonight I am doing him liver and bacon, his favourite.’
    Ivy nodded. ‘Liver is good for the baby, darling, plenty of iron.’
    Sharon was amazed to hear that. ‘Really? Oh my God. I love it! Wait till I tell my Lenny.’
    She left her mum and dad and they both watched her with love in their eyes.
    ‘Well, Del, I will hold me hand up. I was wrong about that lad.’
    Derek Conway hugged his wife to him, as he said seriously, ‘Time will tell, Ivy. Time will tell.’

Chapter Twenty

    Jack Johnson had made the decision to give Lenny Scott the job of overseer. The boy was good with numbers, and he was good with people, given his knack for treating everyone with the utmost respect. He was being given the chance of a lifetime – it was unheard of in this business. He was big, he was handsome and he was liked, even by the punters. That was a bonus. Lenny Scott could charm the money out of people. He was so nice he could make the usual rabble feel bad about trying to give him a swerve. Jack Johnson had big plans for this boy. He had known he was worth something and he had been proved right.
    Not one person had felt the urge to retaliate about Billy Mason, which spoke volumes. He was liked, was old Billy, but he wasn’t respected. He had mugged off too many people for that to ever happen.
    Now Jack had this lad who he could mould, who he could teach his craft to. He knew he had a one-off in young Lenny Scott. He was that rarity: hard as fucking nails when he needed to