Chapter 4

Billy sat by the cash register and stared at it as if it were possessed.

"Might as well get rid of you next," he said.

The cash register didn't respond.

"Fuck. I'm losing my mind."

The door burst open, setting off the seldom-heard bell announcing a customer. Billy snapped to attention.

"Harry."

His brother stood in the doorway with a toddler in his arms. As two siblings, Billy and Harry couldn't have been more different. Harry's muscles seemed to have their own muscle group. Billy had always been more on the lean side. Mainly thanks to an obsession with long-distance running at school.

Yet, their faces gave away the family resemblance. The toddler in Harry's arms appeared to be taking it to the next generation.

It felt strange to see him here. Billy didn't think Harry had set foot in the shop since their mother died.

Billy got up and walked to his brother. They shook hands.

"Hello, Lennox."

The little one snuggled into his father's neck.

"Bit shy," Harry said.

He went to put Lennox down, who squealed and wrapped his legs around Harry's torso.

"And the boss by the looks of things. Come through."

"What about the shop?"

"It'll be fine for a second. We're only in here."

Billy led them into the storeroom that doubled up as an office. Boxes of fudge with Brighton Pier on the front jostled for position with ones filled with pencil sharpeners, notebooks, T-shirts and basically any old crap that had the seaside town they lived in emblazoned on it.

Harry looked around.

"Shit. Nothing's changed."

The tone of his voice sent a shiver down Billy's spine. If he'd come to criticise, this was going to be a very short meeting.

With great difficulty, Billy swallowed down the urge to respond and gestured. Harry sat in the old armchair. He settled Lennox in his lap.

"Can he have a sweetie?" Billy asked.

"Sure."

Billy unwrapped a lolly and handed it to the little boy. Tentatively, he took it. Billy perched on a stool.

"That's good?" Billy asked to the little boy who was silent.

Lennox nodded.

"Right then," Harry said. "What's the big emergency?"

This wasn't going to be easy. Billy had been awake most of the night practicing his speech.

"This place is dying, Harry."

"What do you mean?"

Billy sighed. "I had to let Jack go."

Harry's eyes widened. "Really?"

"I've been doing the books and it's bad."

Harry looked around. "What am I supposed to do about it?"

"Put some effort in? It's not just mine, is it? There's no way I can cover all his shifts."

"Billy. You know how we're fixed. Kim's still on maternity leave. It's not easy with this little monster and Cassius. Especially when I'm up and down the country."

As a semi-professional boxer, Harry had travelled all over the world. However, that career had a shelf-life.

"What are you going to do when you've thrown your last punch?" Billy asked.

"I'm still winning," Harry said. "Most of the time."

His brother had always been a fighter. Ever since they were kids. When their mother had married Brian and the family had moved in with him, they'd been the only Black kids on the estate. Sadly, Harry had needed his fists more often than not.

Lennox was making short work of the sweetie. He reminded Billy so much of their mother. He had her eyes.

"Okay, fine," Harry said. "I know I've not been pulling my weight with this place and Crystal."

Talk about putting it mildly.

"I haven't summoned you to have a go," Billy replied. "Honest, I haven't. I wanted to talk it out."

"What are the choices?"

Harry might have been the brawn but Billy had always been the brains. Their mother said she had one exceptional child in two bodies. Billy had never worked out if that were a compliment or not.

"Not many. If you could give some hours to this place?—"

"Kim won't have that," Harry said. "Do you think it's easy, having kids?"

"No, Harry. I don't. I'm raising a teenager, remember."

Harry had the sense to act embarrassed. "If you need help with Crystal, then I'll have a word with Kim. Perhaps she can come and stay once in a while. Get to know her nephews."

"Oh, Harry. That's incredible. Once in a while? That should really help."

"What do you want from me?"

"You to put some shifts in here," Billy said. "We have a shop in the middle of Brighton. We should be coining it in. Mum and Brian used to."

Harry shifted Lennox on his knee. "Billy, face it. Everyone goes abroad now. It's mostly hen dos and stag parties these days. They don't want a tin of cough sweets with the fucking pavilion on them."

Billy got up. The storeroom had become very hot. Or perhaps that was him.

"What is your suggestion then?"

"Flog it like the others."

A sheen of sweat appeared on Billy's forehead. It had killed him to let the other shops go. This flagship store was the last one.

"And let Mum down? No way."

"Billy. Mum's gone."

"Like I need reminding."

Lennox whimpered a little at the raised voices.

Billy came and sat on the arm of the chair. "Sorry, little one," he said. "Guess what Uncle Billy has for you."

Lennox raised his head. Billy tickled him under the chin, making him squirm.

"I am the best tickler in Brighton," Billy said in a deep voice.

Lennox squealed with delight as Billy continued.

"Is he walking?"

"Of course. He's nearly two."

Had it almost been a year since the birthday party? Shame burnt across his face.

"Harry, we're failing."

"At what?"

"Being a family."

Harry's face fell. "When Mum died, you said we'd lost the glue that kept us together," he said quietly.

"I was right, wasn't I?"

"Billy, I'm sorry. With the baby and this little terror, life got in the way."

"I understand. Honest I do. It's just…"

"You need help."

Billy nodded.

"Okay, fine," Harry said. "If you're determined on keeping this place, there's only one thing to do."

"What's that?"

"Ditch the plastic tat. No one wants it. We need to diversify."

Billy got up. Whilst he wanted Harry to help, he didn't want him to take over. "This was Brian's dream. He built it up from nothing."

"Who cares about that? We don't owe him a thing."

Lennox wriggled off Harry's knee and tottered over to some crayons that had spilled out of a container. Billy grabbed some old envelopes and spread them out in front of Lennox on the floor.

"Can you do your Auntie Crystal a lovely picture?" he asked.

Lennox nodded. "Yeah."

Billy looked at Harry in shock.

"Yes, he speaks too," Harry said. "Amazing, isn't it? You'd know if you ever came to visit."

"I've never been invited."

They'd reached a stalemate.

"Okay, we need to do better," Harry said. "How is Crystal, anyway?"

"Driving me mad," Billy replied. "She's doing really well with her football. Shit, it's expensive, though."

"Shit," Lennox repeated.

"Oh great. Now he'll be saying this all night. Kim's going to kill me. Lennox, don't say that word, please."

"Shit."

They caught each other's eye and fell about laughing.

"Blame me," Billy said.

"Too right, I will."

Billy sat on the stool. "So, diversify? To what?"

"Whining kids are the moneymaker. Believe me."

Billy shook his head. "Nah, Ruby has that cornered. She'd kill us."

Ruby Davies had a shop three doors down that sold an endless amount of toys and games. Billy had watched droves of customers coming in and out.

"I don't know. Have a think about it. I've got to go soon."

"Let me have a bit of time with this little tyke," Billy said, kneeling next to Lennox, who was making a splendid abstract drawing with plenty of colour. "He has an eye for this."

Lennox regarded Billy then gave him a huge grin. One that mainlined straight into his heart.

"I've missed you all. No matter what happens, let's try and make more effort."

Harry shifted. "Fine. How are things with you?"

"Good."

"Are you…you know, seeing someone?"

"Ha! Chance would be a fine thing. Thanks for asking."

Harry grabbed a newspaper that Billy had left on the side. He made a big effort of reading it. Billy regarded him sadly. They had been so close once.

"This is wonderful," he said, returning to his nephew's art. "Crystal is going to love it."

"Hey," Harry exclaimed.

Billy spun round. "What? You nearly gave me heart failure."

He held open the paper. The headline read Local company seeks stockists.

Billy frowned. "Oh yeah. What company?"

Harry chuckled. "It's only bloody Pleasure Seekers."

When Billy got home, Crystal already had jacket potatoes in the oven and busied herself preparing a salad.

"This looks great," he said as he kissed her on the forehead.

"It's the least I can do now I'm free."

A swell of love for his fifteen-year-old sister burst in his chest. She'd dealt with far more in her young life than most grown adults. None of it fair.

"Only temporarily," he reminded her. "How long until we eat?"

"Twenty minutes."

"Come and sit with me a second.

Crystal narrowed her eyes. "That sounds big. Should I be panicking?"

"Calm down, Little Miss Suspicious. It's nothing too major. Come on."

They wandered through into the lounge. The view of the marina had been the reason he had bought the place. Now he rarely got the chance to sit and enjoy it. Then he saw the worry on his half-sister's face.

"Harry came to the shop today."

"Bloody hell. Now I am shitting it."

"Hey. Language."

"Sorry, but why the royal visit?"

"Because I asked him to."

Billy rummaged into his rucksack that he'd thrown down when he came in. He got out the drawing Lennox had done.

"For you, Auntie Crystal."

"From Lennox?"

Billy nodded. "I think you might have to wait a while for Cassius to do you one."

"Hilarious," Crystal replied as she studied the artwork "That's so sweet. I'm going to frame it for my room."

Her face shone as she examined it. A pang of guilt stabbed him in the heart. He should have pushed Harry more to make room for them. Had he missed more things he should be doing for her?

"I've been so focused on the shop," he said. "I've not been here enough for you."

"I know you're doing your best," Crystal said.

Failing too, by the sound of things.

"Anyway, good news," Billy said. "Harry said he'll help out a bit more."

Crystal frowned. "You haven't hardly spoken since Mum's funeral. How's that going to work?"

"Time moves on. He seems…different. I don't know. Anyway, he thinks we should ditch the souvenirs."

"Really? That's what we're known for."

"Darling, we're not known for anything," Billy said. "I think it's time we either pivot or give it up. I can't bring myself to do the latter. I promised Mum I'd make sure you were set up."

Crystal put the picture to one side and snuggled into him. "I miss her."

He kissed the top of her head. "I do too."

"What does Harry think we should do instead of souvenirs then?"

Billy shifted. "It's not definite so don't go off on one."

She sat up. "What?"

"Harry read in the paper that Pleasure Seekers are searching for a local store to be a flagship for them."

"Pleasure Seekers. The sex toy place?"

How does she even know about that?

"It's more than that," he said. "They're doing very well, Crystal. I hate to admit it, but I think he might have a point."

Crystal leapt up. "Everyone will take the piss at school."

"Sit down, please," Billy said in his best commanding voice. It must have worked as she obeyed immediately. "And please mind your language, Crystal. I mean it."

"Hah," she said. "You're selling vibrators and worrying about me swearing. That's bloody rich."

"You're fifteen. Different rules. Deal with it," Billy fired in response. "If we don't do something major, we'll be finished."

"Why can't you sell the place?" Crystal asked. "It only reminds me of them anyway."

"I want you to be reminded of Mum," Billy said.

Tears welled in her eyes. "And Dad?"

"Maybe not so much."

"It's still got his name above the door."

"Then all the more reason to change it," Billy said. "Imagine his face if he found out what we're thinking of selling."

Despite the atmosphere, Crystal clearly saw the humour in the situation. "I suppose that would be funny."

Billy took her hand. "I'm doing what I can," he said. "How about we give it six months? If nothing happens, then we'll sell it. I promise. You'll be going off to university in no time. We need money either way."

"What will you do? If we sold."

That was quite the question. "I'll be an expert in butt plugs by then. Sex sells."

She shoved him. "That's gross. I suppose it's worth a shot."

"Thank you, darling."

The smoke alarm went off in the kitchen.

"Shit. The potatoes."

She leapt off the sofa and ran into the kitchen.

"Language," Billy shouted after her. "And bring the takeaway menus with you."