Sisters .... together

By Jean M Bellinfantie

Autumn Ross is 21 of mixed parentage and is the long term girlfriend of Robbie Austin. Dissatisfied with her job in a delicatessen and trying to override her feelings for a baby, she decides to pursue a career but has no idea which direction to take;

Loydina Wilson is a 21 year old paralegal studying at night school for a law degree. Her liaison with Robbie Austin is perfect – no commitment, no fuss, just an intimacy that serves them both and, most importantly, does not interfere with her career;

Rochelle Moore, a 22 year old enterprising wife and mother of two young sons whose father is serving a prison sentence, finds that Robbie Austin arrives at the right time in her life - a man to look after her sons and keep her company;

But if they knew how close they really were, they would be anything but sisters!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jean M Bellinfantie
• Release date: Jan 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465721242

Jean M Bellinfantie

Jean M Bellinfantie was born in London, England. She has attended creative writing courses, including one at Middlesex University, and is excited to be publishing her work online.

Book preview

SISTERS … together

Jean M Bellinfantie

Published by Jean M Bellinfantie at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Jean M Bellinfantie

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover Photo: © Beckyabell at www.stockfreeimages.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

AUTUMN

LOYDINA

ROCHELLE

Epilogue

Prologue

AUTUMN

Brrr! Brrr! Brrr! Brrr!

Yo, baby, I wont be able to make it tonight

What’s happening, Robbie?

I know it’s late, so I wont bother disturb you. I’m going to stay at my sister’s tonight, and I’ll pick you up from work tomorrow

Okay, Robbie, bye!

Click!

~~~~

ROCHELLE

Brrr! Brrr! Brrr! Brrr!

Yo, Rochelle!

Is that you, Robbie?

Who else you expecting? I can come over?

You know what time it is? It’s ....it’s after midnight! Anyway, me tired. The children keep me busy all day

What? I can’t come over?

No Anyway, me deh on me period

Click!

~~~~

LOYDINA

Brrr! Brrr! Brrr! Brrr!

Yo, Loydina!

Hi, Robbie, how are you?

Fine, fine I want to come over and see you

Whereabouts are you?

Not far. I can be with you in about fifteen minutes

Okay, see you soon

Click!

~~~~

ROBBIE

ROBBIE Austin steered his BMW down Brixton Road turning left at the traffic lights. This was what he liked about the summer! He loved watching the ladies in their summer scanties. Short skirts. Short, short shorts! Didn’t they know what they did to a man in that kinda stuff? Of course they knew! He chuckled, turning up the radio. Sometimes he would beep his horn slowing down his car to catch the eye of some honey strolling down the street; maybe getting a smile in return, but there were those who would be too stuck up to even acknowledge him. They would pretend they hadn’t heard the sound of the beeping horn or his calling out to them, and would continue walking, held head high, staring straight ahead, lips as tightly closed as he imagined their legs would be - those were the ones that galled him; thinking themselves too fine to give a brother like him the time of day. But why should he worry? It was cool. He had a honey just like that! Bambi brown eyes framed with heavy lashes, soft, kissable lips, sleek swinging chocolate hair, firm high breasts, flat abdomen, and nibbable, slender thighs encasing the softest, touchable ...... Oooh! Yes, that was Loydina Wilson! He had to swerve to avoid hitting a bus, and slowing down approached another set of traffic lights. Involuntarily his hand reached down to his groin. He was hard already. Pity to have to waste it. His mind did a quick mental check, calculating which one was nearer. The clock said two thirty; Loydina would still be at work, and so would his own lovely Autumn. But if he hurried he could make it to Rochelle’s. Glancing into the rearview mirror, he gave his reflection an impish grin, and when the traffic lights changed to green he turned up the radio to catch the last strains of R Kelly’s ‘12 Play’.

~~~~

AUTUMN

Yo, baby, how you doing?

I’m alright, Robbie

How was work?

It was okay, boring as usual, but okay just the same replied Autumn. Robbie Austin signalled the white company van and turned to join the evening traffic. Autumn Ross sat calmly in the transit. They weaved through the increasing build up around Holborn. Robbie grinned at her whilst he continued to concentrate on the traffic.

So, what we having for dinner? Want to go out?

"You coming home with me?" asked Autumn, staring pointedly at him.

Yea, what’s the problem now?

Where were you last night?

I told you I was down my sister's flat

Your sister's flat? What were you doing down there?

It was late, and I didn’t want to disturb you, so I stopped at my sister's

Autumn folded her arms and stared out of the window.

Come on, Autumn, baby, don’t take on so ... you know what my sister‘s like, and that man of hers - boy, they want me to stay there drinkin‘ with them all night! He glanced at her unsympathetic face. Look, baby, listen to this tape I got mixed especially for you He quickly slotted the cassette into the tape deck, and Autumn could see he was anxious to please, anyway she didn’t want to argue. He was right. Whenever Robbie went to his sister’s place, they would get talking, and then he would start drinking beer with her and her boyfriend whilst they sat around laughing and watching the box, until Robbie lost track of time, and that is when they all thought it better that he kipped down there instead of going home drunk and disturbing his woman’s sleep. Anyway, she reasoned, he was coming home with her, wasn’t he? She didn’t want to upset him and make him change his mind. Her ear picked up the music that was flowing from the cassette, and she allowed the lyrics of the love songs to wash over her. It didn’t take long for the bad mood to disappear and she was back in love with him. They stopped off at the supermarket and bought a week’s worth of groceries, and drove to Peachtree estate where they lived. He carefully parked the van next to the black BMW which he owned, and stepped out of the van.

Here, baby, open the back .... I gotta check on the car

Robbie handed her the keys to the van. She tightly held the black keyring with the italic gold lettering and opened the back door to take out the groceries. She carried one of the grocery bags, glancing back to see Star Satellites emblazoned in blue across the side of the van and Robbie checking that all was well with the BMW. She walked ahead into the estate and Robbie followed, carrying the rest of the grocery up the stone steps to the third floor of the building. In the kitchen, Autumn emptied the bags and began to put away the foodstuff. Robbie had switched the tv on and was now settling himself on the light blue woven settee. He was here for the night. She began to hum a tune, and then found herself singing aloud, as she started to make the dinner. She was twenty-one years old and had been living with Robbie for five years now, although she had known him for much longer. She couldn’t imagine being with anyone else now, even though she had heard rumours that Robbie had other women around town. But she had ignored them. She didn't doubt that he played around. After all, what man didn’t? But he was hers. He bought her things, took her places, and looked after her. He was a sexy, charismatic man with a finely tuned body, glorious mahogany skin, jet black hair cut close to his head, twinkling dark eyes, and a wide winning cheeky smile. He was born in Jamaica but came to England when he was four years old to join his parents here, his three brothers following a year or two later. Twice he had taken her to St Catherine in Jamaica and introduced her to his family. She felt sure by the welcome she received from them that he took no other woman there. The last time they went to St Catherine was last year, 1993, and his family still showed love towards her. And no matter what anybody said, she knew he loved her. She tossed the seasoned chicken in the frying pan and watched it flare up.

What do you want to drink? she called out.

Let me have a beer, baby

She took out a bottle of Dragon Stout from the fridge, unscrewed it, and handed it to him, and with the other hand he reached out to pull her down onto his lap. Autumn let out a giggle.

Hmm, I feel like I haven’t seen you for ages he breathed.

Well ... you seeing me now said Autumn, feeling oddly shy. He stared into her brown eyes, as if he was seeing her properly for the first time, and kissed her lightly on the mouth. When he kissed her again, she held on tightly onto his neck, until she heard the unmistakably sizzling of the chicken beginning to burn.

Oh, no! she cried, disengaging herself, and running into the kitchen, the gentle laughter of Robbie’s voice following her.

It burn?

No, it’s alright She called out from the kitchen.

She swiftly turned the chicken pieces over, and started to boil the green bananas and cook some spinach. When the dinner was ready, she carried the two plates on a tray into the sitting room, and placed each one on separate folding tables in front of the tv set. They ate in silence watching the sports channel, and when they had finished, Autumn washed the dishes and tidied up the kitchen before returning to Robbie’s side. She snuggled up to him, and closed her eyes, feeling secure in the comfort of his arms. Robbie dropped a kiss on top of her head. She turned her head to look up into his face, and allowed him to kiss her a few times, savouring the touch of his lips on hers, before responding.

Let’s have an early night she whispered.

What’s wrong with right here? he whispered back.

Nothing

He gave her a deep kiss, Autumn pressing her body into his, her fingers in his hair, her legs slightly parted. His kisses became frantic and she could feel his hand travelling up her leg until they reached the inner softness of her thigh and she gasped when he felt inside her panties.

Autumn, baby......baby, I need you so bad

Do you, baby?

She laughed and slid from beneath him, walking slowly to the bedroom. Robbie leaned across for the remote control, switched off the tv set, and followed her.

~~~~

1

Autumn Ross sat in front of the mirror on the white dressing table and carefully applied the soft red lip gloss several times across her lips, brushed the curls of her abundant reddish-brown hair away from her face into a ponytail that hung lazily down her back, and tied it with a pale blue ribbon to match the patterned flowers in her calf length dress. She dabbed a touch of gel at the edge of her temples and smoothed it into her hair. She was not a tall lady, being only five feet and four inches, with a light sprinkling of freckles in a caramel complexion, small brown eyes framed by tidy eyebrows, and wide full lips; the result of an Irish mother and West Indian father. She tucked a wayward strand of curling hair behind her ears from which hung a pair of wooden drop earrings that she had bought from a country fair in Brockwell Park about two years ago. The newscaster said it was going to hit at least twenty degrees centigrade later in the afternoon, so she knew it was going to be a hot and tiring day in that claustaphobic delicatessant where she worked. She would have loved to have gone on holiday this year but after some discussion Robbie had suggested they might go away later in the year if he put in some extra hours. But they had visited Jamaica in September 1993, only last year, so she was not going to push it. It was just that she considered that holiday as part of her healing process since losing the baby that June. She wondered if she should visit her mother when she left work this evening or go straight home to the flat. She hated sitting around wondering if Robbie would come home tonight or be waylaid on a job. He worked for a firm installing cable in customers’ homes and when he thought he would be home late, he would tell phone her and say he was stopping at his sister’s flat which she shared with her boyfriend, so she wasn’t to worry. She had her doubts about this, but she had learned a long time ago not to pressurize him with regard to his whereabouts; not if she wanted to keep him. They had been living together for five years now, but she had known him since she was fifteen, and she couldn’t contemplate starting again with someone new. But more to the point she was in love with him. She glanced down at Robbie still asleep in the bed; at his strong shoulders, the valley in the centre of his back, the sheet just barely covering his behind, and smiled. No, she wasn’t going to leave him. If anything, he would have to leave her. She picked up her woven straw bag, reached for her door keys, kissed him on the cheek, and left the flat for work. When she reached the bottom of the flight of stairs of Peachtree estate, she bumped into Sylvia Stone.

How’s things, Autumn? Sylvia smiled boldly.

Everything’s fine Autumn smiled sweetly.

They had quarrelled a month ago, when Sylvia’s boyfriend Russell had walked out on her, and since then it had been hell. Sylvia had been ignoring her. Whenever she saw her approaching the estate, she would swivel herself around with her baby’s stroller and walk off in the opposite direction. So this was the first time in two whole months that Sylvia had opened her mouth in any form of greeting. Autumn didn’t want to stop too long. She didn’t want to be late for work in the delicatessen in Holborn. She glanced at Sylvia’s one year old son snug in his stroller. She dearly wanted a baby, but Robbie didn’t think the time was right. Like her, he hated living on the estate, and wanted them to concentrate on saving for a house first, before they tried again to start a family. So when Sylvia, or her mother, asked when she and Robbie were having children, she felt proud to say that they were going to wait until they could afford a house. But lately, she had found herself daydreaming about having a baby, even when she was at work she found herself thinking about it. It was crazy! And now, looking at Sylvia’s little one .........

Going to work? Sylvia asked more softly.

Yes replied Autumn. This was ridiculous! If they were going to be friends, it was best to start now. She turned to face her, and said; Are you going to the Post Office? I’ll walk with you down there on my way to the station

Sylvia gave a wide smile, and manoeuvred the stroller in Autumn’s direction, and began to give Autumn the lowdown of her Russell’s departure. By the time they reached the jewellers at the corner where the Post Office was situated off Brixton Road where Sylvia would go to cash in her benefit book, Autumn’s ears were ringing.

Shall I pop in when you get back from work? asked Sylvia eagerly, her eyes wide open and thirsting for gossip. Autumn hesitated. Robbie didn’t like Sylvia. When he had first met her, he thought her too loudmouthed to be associated with his woman, and he didn’t like the way she looked at him either; like she wanted him for herself. After a while, even Autumn began to feel that Sylvia was after her man, and maybe that Robbie would be tempted, until he blew up in her face, and told her that he wouldn’t touch an ole rogue like Sylvia with a bargepole!

Yes, that would be nice, Sylvia smiled Autumn, hoping that she would turn up when Robbie wasn’t there.

Okay, I’ll see you later Sylvia turned the stroller around the corner, and Autumn watched as she disappeared into the Post Office. On the way to work, hanging onto the strap on the underground, she felt a sense of emptiness, and the sight of Baby Lester had not helped her either. Only twenty-one; and already she felt in a rut. She had worked in that small sandwich shop owned by Gregory Constantine and his daughter Eve for well over three years now and she felt she needed something more challenging. She would have to speak to Robbie tonight about their future. Oh, shit! She had forgotten that she had invited Sylvia around. Never mind, she told herself when the train jolted to a halt, she would speak to him the following night.

Autumn didn’t have to guess who it was knocking on her front door. Ever since she and Sylvia had made up, she was always popping round, although she always made sure it was when Robbie was out. When she opened the door, Sylvia gave a cheery hello, and wheeled the stroller with baby Lester into the tiny passageway. There was a time when she couldn’t speak the name Lester without feeling ill. She had wanted the name for her own baby, and could remember the time when they had been discussing various baby names, and she let slip that Lester was her favourite name for a boy, especially as it has been her father's. When Autumn became pregnant a month before Sylvia did last year, her body released its precious cargo before its time, whilst Sylvia’s body flourished, and her heart was totally broken when she heard on top of her tragedy that Sylvia had gone and christened her baby boy, Lester. But now seeing that innocent cherub faced infant, she had to concede that it was just a name. She could use a whole host of other names, and looking at him, she could see that he was indeed a Lester. More important than fighting over names, was her friendship with Sylvia. This friendship with Sylvia was a strange one. It was one born out of necessity. Neither of them had any friends on the estate, and Autumn always found it difficult to befriend other women. Especially black women. They would become jealous of her and would mix their envy with cruelty. They would accuse her of flirting with their boyfriends, instigating an argument, and they would curse her for being mixed race. She could never forget the memory of seeing a long, brown plait in a black girl's hand at primary school, only to be horrified to realise that it had been cut from her own hair. She would try to be like them, but it just felt fake. And being with the white girls was like a club that she always felt she never really belonged. She was in the middle, not really belonging to either race. She had discussed it several times when she was younger with Robbie and he sympathised with her dilemma but she didn’t think he really understood her confusion, so she had decided that she could only be what she was ... Autumn Ross. But with Sylvia it was an uneasy alliance, because sometimes she imagined that Sylvia could be capable of showing this cruelty, so out of necessity, out of survival, the two women continued to be ‘friends’ because regardless of what indifferences they had, they needed a friend to survive the loneliness of living on Peachtree estate. So with this thought, Autumn closed the door, and watched Sylvia hurriedly unstrap Lester from the stroller, and carry him in her arms into the living room plonking themselves on her settee.

No Robbie? asked Sylvia, her eyes darting in every corner of the living room. Autumn knew that as well as checking that Robbie was nowhere about, she was scanning the flat for anything new they may have bought in the time they were not talking. The flat was still the same. Small but she tried her best to keep it neat and comfortable. It was a one bedroom Council flat with the front door leading straight into the living room which had white painted walls from which hung family portraits and photographs of her and Robbie. It had a green carpet and light blue cotton woven settee and armchairs, with two folding wooden tables in front of the tv set.

He’s still at work Autumn told her.

Well .... Sylvia leaned back onto the settee, Baby Lester resting his head on his mother’s ample bosom. Sylvia Stone was a dark chestnut skinned woman, who at twenty-two was a year older than Autumn, stick thin with heavy breasts. She had big, light brown eyes, thin lips always painted a bright red, and wore her hair in natural long brown braids. She had on a dark pink jogging suit and designer trainers. Baby Lester was similarly fashionably dressed in an expensive yellow and green striped romper suit and high fashion boots. Autumn smiled and left them to go into the small adjoining kitchen. She made two cold drinks of orange juice, and came back into the living room. Sylvia laid Baby Lester on the settee, who immediately began to cry, and rummaged through her holdall on the floor.

Can I warm up some feed? she asked, already moving in the direction of the kitchen, with a bottle of milk in her hand.

Sure

She knew that Sylvia also wanted to check out her kitchen, not having been in her flat for so long. The kitchen units had not changed; still white with a red stripe border along the edges. She laughed in spite of herself. She knew that girl inside out. She walked over to Lester and picked him up.

Hiya, sweetie she cooed softly, cradling the infant in her arms.

The little gurgle that Lester made, caused her eyes to prickle, but she blinked back any possible tears, and gently brushed her hand over the tiny plaits that adorned his small head.

So how’s everything, Little Sis began Sylvia, flopping back down onto the settee, and reached for the glass of orange juice on the table in front of her.

I’m alright replied Autumn. She smiled upon hearing the endearment Sylvia had for her. Sometimes she could be as close as any sister, and at other times .... She pulled Baby Lester closer onto her lap.

I suppose I can’t stay too long, before that bastard Robbie comes back stated Sylvia, and on seeing Autumn’s shocked face said; Sorry with a grimace.

Well, he wont for back for a while yet Autumn finally said. And it is my flat too How pathetic. She didn’t have to defend herself. Although she could feel herself becoming tired. Maybe she shouldn’t have renewed the friendship. Maybe she should have let it slide. When Sylvia got hold of a subject, and kept going on about it, Autumn could feel herself getting weary, but she always had difficulty telling Sylvia to leave. So even though she needed a friend, she was secretly pleased that Robbie did not like Sylvia Stone. It meant that she could cut her visits short and blame it on Robbie. She bobbed Lester on her knee, and watched Sylvia return to the kitchen and came back with the heated bottle. She carried Lester over to his mother and set him down onto her lap.

Baby Lester’s getting big, isn’t he? said Autumn.

He sure is! Sylvia giggled. She put her face close to her son, and kissed him. We’re going down to see Grandma this weekend, aren’t we? Aren’t we? She nuzzled her face into the baby, who chuckled with delight. Sylvia probed the teat of the bottle into his mouth. I don’t know what I would do without my Lester! She caught the look on Autumn’s face, and half smiling said; Oh, Autumn, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that!

Oh, stop apologising for godsake snapped Autumn.

I’m .... there I go, I was going to say it again Sylvia gave out an embarrassed laugh.

So you heard anything from your Russell? asked Autumn, desperate to get away from the subject.

Oh, shush! That man’s gone now! Sylvia waved her hand dismissively.

You can’t get rid of Lester’s father like that?

Why not? He did me pouted Sylvia. She rearranged Lester’s position on her lap.

But you been with him such a long time Autumn said weakly.

That’s not saying anything answered Sylvia. I think me and Lester are better off without him We used to have the most terrible fights, don't you remember?

Autumn nodded. How could she forget the number of times Sylvia would come knocking on her front door, heavily pregnant and crying, begging to come in to escape from Russell’s fury, and how she had to placate both Sylvia and Robbie, who didn’t want her anywhere in his home. She sank deeper into the armchair at the memory. She had been glad that Russell was not a physically violent man, but he did have a ferocious temper when he was drinking.

So, you still working at that snack bar place? asked Sylvia, giving Autumn a funny look.

Well, yes

I thought you were going to look for something better? The funny look on Sylvia’s face was still there.

Yes, I am Autumn tried to sound convincing. But I’ve been feeling tired lately

Are you ..... ?

No

Autumn shifted uneasily in the armchair. There wasn’t going to be any replacement for the baby she lost last year for Robbie had made it clear that they should hold off starting a family for now, and her desire to find a new job had not materialised when she found she did not have the experience or the knowledge to find alternative work. She desperately wanted another job, an office job, like the women she saw going to work in the City in their smart suits, their briefcases bumping against their shiny stockinged legs. She wanted to join them, but she didn’t know how. She couldn’t type and she couldn’t file. And Robbie was not very encouraging either. He was earning enough for both of them, he said, and didn’t see why she wanted a high flying career. One day she finally got the truth out of him; he didn’t want her to change. But she was becoming increasingly unhappy. With no signs of a baby on the horizon, and making sandwiches and serving behind a deli counter all day, she was become increasingly frustrated with life. Somehow, she had to make a change. She had to break free.

Robbie will be home soon she said. She saw the surprised look on Sylvia’s face, but she didn’t care. She was tired and she needed to be alone.

Hold on said Sylvia. Give me a minute She wiggled the bottle in Lester’s mouth, but he wouldn’t let go.

Don’t rush him Autumn relented. But I need to lie down, Sylvia. You can leave when you’re ready

You know what, Little Sis Sylvia smiled. I think you are

Autumn laughed as she headed for the bedroom. Don’t talk crazy, Sylvia That wont be happening for a long time yet

~~~~

2

Hiya, Autumn, how you doing? Eve Constantine’s sparkling turquoise eyes greeted Autumn.

I’m fine, Eve answered Autumn, sauntering into the delicatessen and removing her bag from her shoulder while she walked towards the door which lead to the basement where the produce was stored. When she returned, she immediately joined Eve behind the counter.

So how was the weekend? asked Eve.

Fine, fine Autumn put her arms through the light green bib of the tabard apron and tied the thin straps at the back.

That’s a pretty dress you’ve got on, Autumn

Thanks, Gregory

She gave him a big smile and then burst out laughing. Eve and Gregory exchanged puzzled expressions, but joined in nonetheless. Autumn really enjoyed working in the deli. She loved Gregory who owned the deli, a handsome, rumbustious Greek in his early fifties whose black hair only had a smattering of grey, and his beautiful dark haired daughter, Eve, who was the same age as Autumn. But as much as she adored them, she could not ignore the gnawing feeling that was eating away at her insides. It had been growing for a long time now, and she could even pinpoint when it had begun. It was when they were in Jamaica, and she was supposed to be recovering from the miscarriage that she had about three months earlier. No matter how cordial Robbie’s relatives were, how many places of interest they visited, or how often she laughed or ran into the waves, she could not forget about her loss. It was always with her. But now she was finding that she was dissatisfied with the way her life was going and she didn’t know what to do about it .... what direction to take.

Hey, stop dreaming Gregory said good-naturedly. He went to the slicer and began to coax a roll of ham through the machine. Autumn and Eve started to serve the few customers who were beginning to stream into the deli who bought their snacks before they stepped into their workplace, and by midday they were as busy as ever. It was more or less the same people who came in for sandwiches, or cold meat packed into a box for them to take back to the office or eat in the park on the wooden benches whilst they took in the sunshine. Just to make the day go quicker, Autumn and Eve had taken to making fun of some of the more peculiar customers who came into the deli, but they tried not to misbehave in front of Gregory, but sometimes he would catch them and gave them a stern look. When it was time for Autumn to take her half hour lunch, she went for a quick walk around the City, but it never made her feel better. It only served to heighten her feelings of dissatisfaction. Whilst Gregory was downstairs in the basement, leaving the girls to clean up the counter at the end of the working day, Autumn confided her feelings to Eve.

Maybe you’re still grieving for your baby, Autumn she smiled sympathetically.

Maybe agreed Autumn, although she felt that was not the case.

Do you want me to ask my father to let you have some time off work?

Oh, no, Eve, you don’t have to do that!

It’s okay, you know I will manage okay

No, no, Eve, I’m okay Autumn hastily reassured her. They started to laugh just as Gregory returned from the backroom.

One day I’m going to catch you girls he threatened jokingly. You two are always laughing

Because we’re happy, Pa laughed Eve. "We love working here"

Gregory shook his head and jingled the shop keys in front of him. Okay, okay Scoot, now, and get yourself off home

I’ll see you tomorrow, Gregory ...... Eve

Yes, Autumn ..... bye

As Autumn turned to leave, she caught sight of the pitying look in Eve’s eyes, and wondered what Eve would tell her father once she had gone and they were safely in their home in Sidcup. She walked slowly to the subway and travelled down to Brixton. She stepped out of the station and made her way to her mother’s house just bordering onto Dulwich Village. It was a three bedroom house that her parents had bought in the early Seventies. Before that, they had lived in a rented room in Stockwell and she could vaguely remember her time there. She didn’t have clear memories of the place but she didn't talk too much about that time. Neither did her mother. She could see how they reacted differently to things than either Corinne or her younger brother Ryan did. When they moved into the house in Dulwich, everything was fine until their father left. The house seemed to change with the occupants. It became haunted. Autumn found herself becoming withdrawn and lonely, until she met Robbie in a Brixton record shop thumbing through the vinyl and he would peer over the top of the LPs, smiling and laughing with her. She had been instantly attracted to him, but had been wary. She had seen how popular he was with the other black girls and she was afraid of being hurt. But he finally won her over and despite everything they had stayed together. Her mother had not wanted Autumn to leave the family home. Being the eldest, Mrs Ross had expected Autumn to live up to the promise they made to their father; to go to college, get a good job. Now for Autumn to find herself in