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Authors: Kitty Neale

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‘I was too ashamed of making such a mess of it.’

Mavis hugged him again. ‘It doesn’t matter. It’s all over with now and you’re here.’

He stroked her hair tenderly. ‘Yes, you’re right. It’s all behind us now.’

Pete came up to them, carrying Tommy’s bag. ‘Come on you two, that’s enough canoodling for now. Let’s get to that party or your mum will have kittens, Mavis.’

She gazed up into Tommy’s eyes. ‘Are you ready for this?’

He nodded. ‘Yes. Let’s get this party over and then hopefully I can have you all to myself.’

‘Forever,’ she whispered, taking Tommy’s hand and leading him past the banner that read, ‘WELCOME HOME TOMMY’.

He looked at the huge spread of food and the booze, and grinned. ‘I haven’t seen grub like this since before I was inside, and I can’t wait to drink a bottle of that beer.’

‘Coming up,’ said Pete.

Tommy hugged Jenny and then Lily, but then frowned quizzically, puzzled when he caught sight of Melina. Mavis hastily introduced them and Melina offered them both glasses of champagne. Mavis took one and sipped it dubiously, but Tommy shook his head. ‘That’s very kind of you but to be honest I’d rather have the drink that Pete has poured me.’

‘I’m with you on that,’ said Pete.

Melina shrugged prettily. ‘You English men. You are all the same. But it is your party and you must drink what you like.’

There was more noise from the front path and James and Greg raced in, both wanting to get to Tommy first. Behind them came Rhona, followed by a tall young man with brown hair and kind eyes.

‘Rhona!’ Mavis exclaimed in delight, and came across the room to hug her friend. ‘You made it. I’m glad the boys found you. And who’s this?’ She hoped it was who she thought it was.

Rhona looked unusually shy. ‘This is Jeff. Jeff, here’s Mavis, the one I told you about.’

Jeff shook her hand. ‘I’m pleased to meet you. I understand it’s you I have to thank for this Rolling Stones ticket?’

Mavis’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, you didn’t say you’d managed to get tickets for the Stones, Rhona. Lucky you.’

‘Yeah, well, earlier today I thought I’d be going with Penny,’ Rhona said sheepishly. ‘I’d gone round to Jeff’s with them and saw him outside his flat, hugging and saying goodbye to a gorgeous girl. I nearly gave up on him then and I was about to go home. Then I thought that seeing as I’d travelled all the way to Camden, I might as well drop in anyway even if Jeff had a girlfriend. I was a bit shook up, but I had to find out for sure.’

Jeff looked down at her, his face radiant. ‘You daft woman. Didn’t you notice how alike we are?’ he said, then turning to look at Mavis, ‘As I told Rhona, it was my sister. She doesn’t live in London, but as she had a meeting to attend she decided to visit me and to stay overnight.’

‘Yeah, well, I didn’t know you had a sister.’

‘It didn’t occur to me to mention her,’ he said, but then his face grew serious. ‘Why would I look at another girl when you’re in my life? I just didn’t think you were interested in me, that’s all. You always acted so cool, and anyway, I knew you went for flash men, like Gary.’

‘Oh, him!’ Rhona made a disgusted face. ‘All talk, no trousers. No, I’ve grown up a bit since he dumped me. Mave, you’re a star. Your advice was spot on.’

‘Champagne?’ asked Melina, coming over with two brimming glasses.

‘Don’t mind if I do,’ said Rhona. ‘Makes a change from Babycham. I bet you haven’t had this before, Jeff. See, I only bring you to the best places.’

‘I’ve had it once or twice,’ he said, taking a sip. ‘Oh, this is good stuff.’

‘It seems that Melina has brought us nothing but the best,’ said Tommy, joining them, holding on to his pint. ‘But as I said before, give me this any day. Mavis, you’ll have to introduce me. Well, I know Rhona, of course.’

Rhona sparkled. ‘Yeah, I used to flirt with you when I was young and didn’t know any better. Not that you aren’t gorgeous of course, but there has only ever been one woman for you.’ She raised her glass. ‘Cheers. Welcome back to where you belong, Tommy, and that’s with Mavis.’

Tommy hugged Mavis again. ‘You’re right and as I think we’ve waited long enough. Mavis, how soon can we get married?’

‘As soon as you like,’ Mavis said at once. ‘Rhona has already agreed to be a bridesmaid, and now we can add Jeff to the guest list.’

Jeff raised his own glass in acknowledgement. ‘I’d be flattered to come.’

‘Tommy, what about your mother?’

He sighed. ‘Yeah, well, that’s up to you, Mavis. She hasn’t exactly been a fan of yours, and she’s a bitter lonely woman.’

Mavis gazed up at him and even though the room was filled with the people she loved most in the world, they seemed to fade into the distance. ‘I don’t mind either way, Tommy. If you want her there, that’s fine with me.’

‘I don’t want anyone to spoil our wedding day and if I do decide to invite her, I’ll make that clear. No one else matters except you now.’

‘Oh, Tommy. I love you so much,’ Mavis said as all the horrors of the past, and all the fears she’d had, melted in the safety of Tommy’s arms.

Loved this book? Then read
Lost & Found
– the prequel to A
Family Scandal
, out now.

Bullied by everyone around her for years, has Mavis Jackson finally found happiness? Or has she jumped straight from the frying pan and into the fire?

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here
to buy now.

Will jealousy and hatred tear them apart?

A gritty tale of family and a love that knows no bounds, from the
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1950s Battersea is no place for a disgraced woman…

A heartrending tale of family shame from the
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bestseller.

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You can’t choose your family…

A compelling family drama from the
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bestselling author of
Lost Angel
and
Nobody’s Girl
.

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here
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About the Author

Kitty Neale was raised in South London and this working- class area became the inspiration for her novels. In the 1980s she moved to Surrey with her husband and two children, but in 1998 there was a catalyst in her life when her son died, aged just 27. After joining other bereaved parents in a support group, Kitty was inspired to take up writing and her books have been
Sunday Times
bestsellers. Kitty now lives in Spain with her husband.

To find out more about Kitty go to
www.kittyneale.co.uk
.

By the same author

Nobody’s Girl

Sins of the Father

Family Betrayal

Desperate Measures

Lost and Found

Forgotten Child

Lost Angel

Mother’s Ruin

A Father’s Revenge

A Broken Family