Stan shook his head. ‘No, I’m fine and anyway I want to spend every second with you so it’ll just waste time.’
Time… there it was again, a reminder that she needed to come clean, get this over with so Stan knew exactly where he stood. Taking a deep breath Billie opened her mouth but Stan was quicker and spoke first.
‘Listen, Bill, there’s something I need to ask you… tell you… well both really. We haven’t got long so I’ll try to be quick.’
Billie felt Stan’s fingers move from beneath hers then wrap around them. Whatever he had to say she had the feeling it wasn’t going to be something uplifting so braced herself, wishing she had a poker face, or a mask, anything that would hide how worried she was.
6
Billie was mildly comforted that Stan didn’t seem to have noticed how his words affected her so maybe she should take up poker after all. She was still holding on tightly to his hand as he continued.
‘Look, I’ve had to be practical and make a few decisions and set things in motion. You might think I’m being hasty with some of them and a bit morbid with others so bear with me.’
‘Okay, go on, but the morbid bit has got me worried. What do you mean by that?’
Stan took a moment before he answered. ‘Well, for a start I made a will–’
‘For God’s sake, Stan, is that necessary… why did you do that?’
‘Like I said for now, my room-mate is okay but that could change at any time. If it does, I could be a target. Look, I’m not going to go into details but shit happens in here. You must’ve heard about it on the news and when you were a you know what.’ Stan had lowered his voice considerably and Billie knew why so just nodded and listened.
‘Anyway, I thought it wise to make a will so Mum and Darren will be okay. Eddie’s taken over the plumbing side of the business because he’s been general manager for so long and knows the job inside out and Kenny is just carrying on as normal with the self-store facility. Hopefully everything should keep ticking over. At least being in here hasn’t affected trade – not so far anyway – and the mud hasn’t stuck to the lads. I was worried at first that it would, especially as they go into people’s homes. If I lose Dad’s business that will finish me off, I swear.’
‘Surely people aren’t stupid enough to think that. But your arrangements sound sensible and I’m sure everyone at work is behind you and if not, you should sack them.’ Billie was starting to get irritated by fickle gossipers and would have plenty to say to anyone who said a word against Stan. That’s how sure of him she was. Now.
Stan gave a wry laugh. ‘You’d be surprised. When I was arrested I felt like I had a contagious disease and when I was charged I may as well have had the full-blown plague.’
‘Well I suppose you found out who your friends were. Out of interest, who stood by you?’ Billie could feel anger rising in anticipation of Stan’s answer.
‘Just Pete and Todd, really. Pete’s away on the oil rigs most of the time so more or less out of the equation but he believed me and keeps in touch. Todd did too, but he was one of the reasons I left the rugby club as soon as I was charged. I didn’t want him defending me and getting into lumber because you know what a hothead he is. I’d ruined Mum and Darren’s life so I stepped back and left Todd to it because he loves playing for the team. As for everyone else, I got the impression that even those who were prepared to give me the benefit of the doubt were under pressure from their other halves, who wanted nothing to do with me. Like you said, I found out who my friends were and I’ll never forget.’
‘Well I hope I don’t bump into any of them because I’ll give them what for.’
Stan laughed. ‘I wouldn’t bother because I’m in here and that’s all they need to know. The jury found me guilty. End of!’
Silence settled and the truth of Stan’s words had a sobering effect on Billie, throwing cold water on her vehement defence of him. Rallying herself, she tried to steer the conversation away from false friends. ‘So, what are you doing about the house?’
‘It’s up for sale. My solicitor suggested I let it but I just want it gone and the money in the bank. I moved in with Mum after I was arrested and have no intention of stepping foot in mine ever again, for the obvious reasons. But I’m keeping my car for now and I wondered if you wanted to use it? It’s taxed and insured so you may as well get the benefit of it. Save you borrowing your mum’s.’
Billie was taken aback. It was a kind gesture and now her parents had retired and downsized they shared a car, so Stan’s would come in handy and save her feeling beholden to her mum, especially. But would it send out the wrong message to a desperate man? Then again, hadn’t coming here done just that? Billie’s head was all over the place, never mind her heart that had been melting with every minute that passed. Who was she kidding? She was in it for the long haul now so why dither? Stan needed her and Billie was going to be there for him.
‘Okay, if you’re sure. It’ll save me getting the bus and having to share with Mum and Dad. But I’ll put some towards the insurance and tax. I’m not having you paying for it all.’
‘Nope, no deal. It’s an hour journey through traffic from your mum’s and if you are staying through the winter I want you to have a safe car to travel in. For once in my life I agree with Claudia and if you are going over the pass in all weathers, my car is perfect. So, do we have a deal?’
Billie rolled her eyes and sighed. ‘Okay, we have a deal.’
‘Great. I’ll let Mum know and you can pick the keys up from hers when you go. It’ll make me happy knowing you’re driving it about. Right, now that’s sorted, I have one more thing to tell you.’
Billie raised her eyebrows and got the feeling this was going to be the biggie. ‘Go on.’
Stan leaned in closer and Billie copied. Obviously this was something Stan really wanted to keep under wraps. ‘Okay, this is a long shot but I’ve got some news about my conviction. I asked my solicitor to lodge an appeal. The wheels are already in motion and I should hear soon. It has to be done within twenty-eight days of sentencing so we have to be on the ball. The downside is if they agree to an appeal but it fails, I could get time added on, or start my sentence from scratch.’
‘Oh God, Stan, it all sounds a bit risky… do you think there’s a chance? What did your solicitor say? Have you got new evidence?’ Billie’s heart had skipped a beat.
‘He’s paid to do as he’s told and I think it’s worth a try. I don’t care about the risks because I have to get out of here. I can withdraw the appeal at any time so if the barrister thinks it’s a waste of time, so be it but until then we crack on. It’s my only option. The law turned its back on me. And you know what else drives me crazy, apart from being in here?’
Billie shook her head.
‘The fact that I’ve got no voice. I never gave any thought to what it must be like to be at the receiving end of injustice, how it feels when nobody believes you and nobody listens. Well now I do because it’s happened to me too.’