Billie Jo by Kimberley Chambers

nothing,
a no-mark. The Essex girl that Chelle was could never
understand the sex appeal of someone like Jade.
    Deciding to wear a low-cut top, jeans, scarf and Armani
blazer, Chelle admired herself in the mirror. She'd recently
lost a few pounds and thought she looked good for it.
Hearing the front door slam, she galloped down the stairs.
Maybe Terry had had a change of heart, binned the old
tart and had come home to her after all.
    'All right, Mum?' Billie Jo stood at the bottom of the
stairs.
    'I'm fine, Bill,' Chelle replied dejectedly.
    Billie noticed her mother's look of disappointment and
was unable to stop her own sarcasm. 'It's so nice you seemed
as pleased to see me as usual, Mum, considering I haven't
been home for days. You make me feel so wanted, not.'
    'Look after your nan for a while, Bill, I've got to pop
out, it's an emergency.' Chelle could lie for England when
it suited her.
    'Do I have to, Mum? I've got school tomorrow and
loads of homework to finish.'
    'Just do it, Bill. Daddy's on his way home. Just look
after her till he gets here.' With her nose growing longer
by the second, Chelle shot out the door, leaving her
daughter to it.
    Terry arrived at the flat at six o'clock and was let inside
by an ashen-faced Jade.
    'What's up, babe? You look awful. Have you been
crying? What's the matter?'
    Jade fell into his arms and sobbed like a baby. 'I'm
OK, Tel, I think I've had a touch of the flu or something.'
    Terry stared intently into Jade's eyes. He knew when
she was lying. For a split second he felt his veins run
cold. Had she been attacked or threatened or something?
'Don't fuck with me, Jade. What's the matter? Has
someone touched you or done something to you, or what?'
    Jade looked at him and knew she had to tell him the
truth. 'I'm so sorry, Terry, I'm pregnant. I've been taking
the pill, I promise you. I swear I would never try to trap
you, not in a million years. I don't know how it happened
and if you want me to get rid of it I will. It's up to you,
Tel. Whatever you decide, I'll do it.'
    Terry sat deep in thought for a couple of minutes. Jade
looked at him, her face full of concern, and was relieved
to see a big smile spread across his face.
    'Get rid of it, are you mad or what? It's brilliant news,
unbelievable. I want us to have a baby, more than you'll
ever know. We'll have to keep it under wraps until my
divorce is finalised. If anyone asks, just make up a story
that you've got a new boyfriend or something. As soon
as I've got rid of Chelle and paid her off, the world is
ours, girl, ours and our baby's and we can shout it from
the bloody rooftops.'
    Jade sat down next to him and knew in an instant that
he was telling the truth. 'I was too frightened to come
into work, Tel. I kept having morning sickness and when
the doctor confirmed it, I didn't know what to do for the
best.'
    'I can't believe you, Jade. Whaddya think I am, some
kind of monster?' Terry took her into his arms and
squeezed her tightly. 'I love you so much and don't you
ever forget that. Me and you are gonna be so happy, Jade,
you got that?'
    'Oh, Terry, I love you so much.'
    'Not as much as I love you, girl. And I promise you,
whatever happens in life, I will look after you and our
baby until the day I take my last breath.'

SIX
    The weeks that followed the announcement of Jade's pregnancy
filled Terry with both joy and guilt. House-hunting
with Jade and planning his future around her and his
unborn child filled him with a happiness he had forgotten
existed. Lying to Billie Jo and deceiving her indoors made
him feel like a complete and utter bastard.
    Chelle had been extra nice recently and that had made
the situation he was in even harder. If she was her usual,
drunken, arrogant self, he could've handled it.
Unfortunately for him, that wasn't the case and he felt a
tinge of sorrow for the woman that he'd once loved and
would shortly be walking away from.
    His mother had returned to Ireland, to stay with her
sister Bridie, and Terry