Chapter Text
Prologue-
Bernie wolfe can hardly remember what she wanted from life when she was young. Well, perhaps thats a slight fabrication of the truth. But remembering hurts; so she often chooses to steer clear. It's now fast approaching her 40th Birthday and it all seems so long ago. Somewhat of a blare. One thing she's sure of though, She never wanted this.
If she digs deep enough in her memory, and allows herself a little bravery, she may recall that as a child she'd dreamt of being a doctor. A Surgeon even. As a teen her aspirations had grown...What better than being a medic... in the army? Yes, that's what she'd wanted to do. Go to university, train as a doctor. Have a life- An exciting life. Then, she would train for the army, go overseas, help people. She'd Make something of herself. Unlike her friends, she'd never really dreamed of finding the person of her dreams. And she certainly hadn't found them. Instead, she'd found surly sixth former Marcus Dunn. Her friends had persuaded her to date him and although she'd never been one to succumb to peer pressure it had seemed like the 'normal' thing to do.
When she'd fallen pregnant at 16 her aspirations were destroyed. Kicked out of her home and forced into council accommodation- with little support- school was no longer an option. The rest of her dreams? They were nothing more than a laugh. As if. As if a girl like her could ever make something of her self. And now? At very nearly 40, with 5 children, an insufferable husband and no job? She'd resigned herself to the fact that her life was all but over.
That is until, the lady next door drops dead and a very strange series of events threatens to change her life beyond all recognition. a new family wafts into the flat next door, bringing with it no one other than the wonderfully outrageous Serena Campbell who offers Bernie a whole new perspective on life.
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17th October. Manchester.
"THE DELMERE ESTATE? THE DELMERE ESTATE?! PLEASE TELL ME THIS IS ONE OF YOUR SICK JOKES?"
Spat a red faced Serena Campbell, practically throwing her keys across the table at her unsuspecting husband. Nether the less, he wore a calm, unbothered expression on his ageing face.
"Serena. You know what state the business is in. We just can't keep up the payments on this place. But you already know that. None of us are happy about it love. But there's just no other option."
"Well then, you'll just have to THINK of another option. I am not taking my children to that place Edward. I'm not!"
She was practically screaming now. Any self respecting woman would understand why. The Delmere was famous for being one of, if not 'the', roughest estate in Manchester. Notorious for gang culture and boasting a multitude of other less than pleasant features. She had to admit though- she was struggling to think of an alternative herself.
"There's always my mothers..."
His voice lacked conviction. He already knew the answer.
"JUST GET OUT OF MT SIGHT"
She crossed her arms on the wooden table, leant against them and sobbed.
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The sun was already setting over the estate. Bernie peered over the mess on the windowsill and gazed longingly at the colourful sky. She was late making tea but felt some relief that she only had 5 mouths to feed tonight as a pose to the usual 7. 4 if she didn't include herself- she'd perhaps just grab some toast later in the evening. She didn't need to worry about her oldest two boys (in terms of food anyway) as they we're out with their elusive mates who she never saw but heard about plenty.
Charlotte, who had just turned 13 and thought she was practically a grown up, was sulking over some homework in her room; Her younger boys- josh 15 and Dan 11-were playing on some increasingly noisy games console in the front room and Her husband Marcus wasn't due back from work for another hour. She savoured the piece in moments like this. Usually she would make herself a brew and haul herself up onto the worktop for a better view of the sunset but she'd just realised she ran out of teabags. Shame. She'd make do with water.
She pondered over what exactly she was going to make for tea. Marcus worked at a garage in the city centre and although he denied it profusely- his wife was sure he spent half of his minimum wage in the pub on the way home. Money was tight- which meant they were constantly low on supplies. Bernie (though she'd tired of pushing the subject) wanted a job for herself more than anything else. How wonderful life would be if she could go out,serve a purpose and bring home a wage of her own. Her husband wouldn't hear of the idea though. He insisted he would be the one to provide for his wife and children but she was a clever woman and she knew the real reason behind his plight was not solely (if at all) that. She knew that he liked her at home, where he knew where she was. Where there was no chance of her making a life for herself- god forbid spending time with people other than him. She struggled to admit it to herself but deep down she knew she was becoming a prisoner in her own home. The most exciting part of the week had faded to the weekly trip to the local supermarket, a fact that brought tears to her eyes. She wouldn't let them spill down her cheeks though. She wouldn't show him she cared. She was stronger than that.
The kitchen door suddenly flung open, making her jump and distracting her (quite welcomely) from her miserable train of thought. In strutted Charlotte, complete with lashings of badly applied makeup, her long hair pulled into a messy bun on top of her head. Her appearance told that her homework was obviously long forgotten.
"Whats for tea mum? I'm starving"
She complained, leaning against a washed and newly folded pile of laundry. Bernie winced as it toppled onto the kitchen floor. Charlotte made no attempt to recover it and instead, rolled her eyes through her mothers half hearted telling off. She gave up- She'd do it herself later, like she did everything else.
"Does anyone have any respect for me in this house?"
She said quietly as he daughter strutted out of the room the same way she had entered, moaning about the lack of food. She said it quietly for she didn't require an answer. She already had it. And she didn't like it.
Marcus was in a good mood when he finally returned home- long after the beans on toast had been consumed and the youngest three were settled in front of cartoons. The house work had been completed and Bernie had too settled (In the kitchen-reading-away from the chaos). She knew he had been drinking and his mood could tip at any second but for now she would remain calm, try to hold on to the peaceful atmosphere she had tried so hard to create.
"Alright gorgeous? You had a good day?"
He pushed kiss against her hot cheek. She had to laugh. What kind of day had she had? Well, the same day as yesterday if he must know... actually the day before was pretty similar too.. and...
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing! I'm just glad you're back that's all!"
She moved over to the counter and began preparing his supper. He would have to make do with beans on toast too- it was his fault they were in this predicament after all. Luckily his mood prevailed and he ate it without complains and spent a good half an hour disturbing her reading with tiresome stores from work...or maybe the pub...she wasn't really listening.
She was intrigued however when josh called in from the front room:
"Mum... you know how that old bag next door croaked it?!"
"JOSH! That's not a nice expression- Mary was lovely!"
"She smelled.. anyway, I think someone's moving in!"
Marcus looked up from his racing paper.
"What already?"
She rolled her eyes as they congregated around the window.
"Come away you lot- they'll see you spying!"
Despite this, she couldn't help herself joining them some five minutes later, as the sound of the commotion outside filled the house. She observed two men (one easily in his forties and one about the same age as Cameron, early twenties) dragging suitcases from a car. A woman emerged from the house a second later, supporting a horrified expression. She was attractive and fairly well dressed, wearing a loose blouse over a black camisole and jeans. Bernie couldn't imagine why a woman like her would want to live in a place like this. Thinking about it- the answer was obvious. She didn't have a choice. Nobody on this bloody this estate had a choice. Nobody would choose to be here, in these poorly maintained houses, towered over by high rise flats, harassed by kids in hoods. As the family trailed off into the house next door, with what looked like the last of their belongings, she noticed a young girl still leant against the car they had arrived in. She was probably about Charlottes age but dressed much older and looked almost as surly and horrified as the woman that Bernie presumed to be her mother.
"I AM NOT STAYING HERE! THIS IS INSANE! I FEEL LIKE IM IN HELL"
She bellowed: as her father took her arm gently and pulled her into the house.
A good hour later, the argument was still unfolding, clearly audible through the paper thin walls. Her youngest three were in bed now (though she doubted they would sleep through this bedlam) and Marcus had disappeared off to the late shop, most probably in search of more alcohol. She cursed herself for being nosey but she could hardly help it. The voices were growing louder, faster and angrier by the second. Her and Marcus had some rows but wow... this was something else. She'd listen for so long she was beginning to be able tell the voices apart.
"IVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS SHIT! IM GOING TO MY MUMS, LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE, IF YOU HADN'T BEEN SO FUCKING STUBBORN"
came the voice of the older man.
"GOOD PLAN EDWARD!! FUCK OFF BACK TO MUMMIES. LEAVE ME TO DEAL WITH THE MESS YOU'VE GOT US ALL IN"
"WELL IF DADS GOING THEN SO AM I!!"
Bernie watched the young girl follow her father out towards the car. The woman made it halfway down the path but stopped suddenly and made no effort to go further. She waited until her daughter was in the car before she opened her mouth once again.
"You take Ellie to your mums. Don't worry about me. To be quite Frank Edward, i'd rather be alone in this absolute shit hole than be in that house under your mothers control"
He did exactly what she asked and Bernie suddenly felt incredibly sorry for the woman (who she'd gathered was called 'Sabrina'...or maybe 'Serena?"). She was comforted when she saw the other man (who'd she'd actually forgotten about- strangely enough she hadn't heard his voice once throughout the whole argument) appear by her side.
"Don't worry Auntie Serena. You're not alone. I'm still here. We'll be ok.. won't we?"
(Thanks so much for reading the first chapter! I know this is very out there so please leave a comemmt and let me know what you think! Your feedback means so much)