by J. B. Leigh
“It won't do any good. If you confront her, it'll only take longer. Come in.”
Kerry's mum made coffee for them both. Brice drank his while staring out of the window.
“What usually happens?” he said.
“She'll come back in her own time. It can be minutes or hours. She usually goes straight to her room, undresses and falls asleep.”
“Then what?”
“When she wakes, she has no recollection of Lizzie.”
“Are you sure?”
“I'm not sure of anything. Not even the so-called experts know exactly what happens.”
“I thought Kerry knew about Lizzie?”
“She knows she exists, but she has no idea when Lizzie will appear, or what she has done.”
“How long is it since this happened?”
“I haven't seen Lizzie for weeks—not since you two got back together.”
“Why now?”
“I don't know. Something must have triggered it. Had you two fallen out?”
“No. I was with her in the library this morning—she was fine. When I went back at lunch time, she'd gone. The strange thing was that her books were still there.
“Something must have happened after you left her this morning. Might some of the students have had a go at her?”
“It's possible. I know some of the other girls don't like the idea of her being with me.”
“Do you still want to be with her now you've met Lizzie face to face?”
“Why would that change anything? I love Kerry.”
When the door opened, Brice jumped to his feet. Before he could go through to the hallway, Kerry's mum put a hand on his shoulder. At first he didn't understand, but then she shook her head, and mouthed the word 'wait'. There were footsteps on the stairs. Moments later, a door slammed closed.
Brice was impatient, but he allowed himself to be guided by Kerry's mum who cautioned him to wait until Kerry woke up.
“She doesn't usually sleep for long.”
It might not have been long—no more than twenty minutes, but it felt like an eternity.
A floorboard creaked above their heads.
“She's getting up,” Kerry's mum said. “I'll leave you two alone.”
Brice was nervous, and would have liked her to stay. He was unsure what to expect, and uncertain what to do, but he knew he had to face Kerry alone.
Chapter 64
Kerry checked her watch; she'd lost almost two hours. Sitting up in bed, she wracked her brain to remember what had happened. The last thing she could remember was waiting for Brice in the library. She had to get back there—he'd wonder where she'd gone.
Within minutes, she'd dressed, and run a brush through her bed hair.
“Mum?” Kerry called as she took the stairs two at a time.
The door to the living room opened.
“Brice?”
“Are you okay?” he said.
“Yes. Why? What happened?” Her voice wavered. “Did I—Did she—?”
Brice took her hand, and led her into the living room.
“Lizzie?” she asked, but already knew the answer.
He nodded.
“No!” Kerry buried her head in her hands.
“It's okay.” He pulled her to him—wrapping his arms around her trembling body.
It was several minutes before she had calmed down enough to speak again.
“What happened? What did she do?”
“She tried to warn me off you.”
“I'm sorry. So sorry.”
“There's nothing to be sorry for.” He tilted her head, so their eyes met.
“This isn't fair on you,” she sobbed. “You shouldn't have to put up with this shit.”
“Shit? I thought Lizzie was the only one with a potty mouth.”
“Sorry.” Kerry managed a smile, but it was only fleeting. “I'd allowed myself to believe she'd gone. I'm so stupid.”
“What triggered it?”
She hesitated.
“I'm not sure.” Kerry knew precisely why Lizzie had appeared, but she wasn't ready to share with Brice—not yet.
“Your books were still in the library. Did someone upset you at uni?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I'm certain. I didn't speak to anyone.” Kerry pulled away from him. “I hate Lizzie. I really hate her.”
“You mustn't say that.”
“It's true. You must hate her too.”
“I don't. She has your interests at heart. Besides, she has great legs under that mini skirt.”
Kerry wasn't sure she'd heard him correctly.
“I thought you didn't like to see girls in short skirts?”
“I think I've been blaming the clothes for too long. It isn't what a girl wears that determines who she is. My mother could wear a nun's habit—she'd still be a whore. If you wore a short skirt, it wouldn't change who you are. You'd still be the same person I fell in love with.”
“Where's mum?” Kerry said.
“She thought it best to leave us alone. Oh, by the way. I've got a present for you.”
“What?”
“You'll see.”
“Tell me. I hate surprises.” Kerry wrinkled her nose.
“Tough. Stay here while I fetch it.”
Kerry's mum was leaning against his car.
“How is she?”
“Okay.”
“You're a good boy.” She embraced Brice and then went to find Kerry.
“You want to keep hold of this one.” Kerry's mum put a hand on Brice's shoulder. “He's one of the good guys.”
“I know.” Kerry smiled.
Brice waited until he was alone with Kerry again and then pulled open his sports bag.
“It isn't new, but it'll do for now.” He handed her the phone.
“It's great. Thanks.” Kerry flipped it open. “You'll have to show me how to use it.”
“It will be my pleasure.” He sat beside her on the sofa. “Do you see that envelope icon? You've got a text.”
“Who from?”
He smiled. “Tap it to open it.”
Kerry read the message:
I love you.
Brice xx
Chapter 65
“Where's the punk tonight?” Jimmy said—his gaze never once leaving Jeannie's chest.
“Who?” Brice said.
“You know who I mean.”
Brice shrugged.
“Okay. Where's Kerry? I thought you two were joined at the hip.”
“She's gone to see her mother.”
“Don't they live in the same house?”
“Ha, ha. You're hilarious as always. Her biological mother.”
“Didn't you get an invite?” Jimmy asked.
“I offered to go with her, but she said she wanted to go alone. She's going to call me later, so I can pick her up.”
“So, you're her chauffeur now.”
“I don't mind.”
“I didn't think she had a phone.”
“I bought her one.”
“This is getting serious.”
“It was second-hand.”
“Cheapskate.”
“Are you done staring at my tits?” Jeannie said. “My face is up here – just in case you're interested.”
If she'd hoped to embarrass Jimmy, she was to be disappointed.
“You're even more beautiful when you're angry.” He grinned.
“Really?” Jeannie lifted the half glass of beer, and upturned it over his head. “You're even more ugly when you're wet. Idiot!”
“I think I'm in there,” Jimmy watched Jeannie rejoin her friends.
“Yeah. She's obviously besotted by you,” Brice said.
“Are you ever going to tell me the story about blonde punk?” Jimmy dug a scruffy-looking handkerchief from his pocket, and began to wipe his face.
“No.”
“That's what I figured.”
Chapter 66
After what
had happened on the previous occasion, Kerry was hesitant to make the call. Several times, she'd picked up her new phone (which she absolutely loved), and held her finger over the call button. Each time, her nerve had deserted her. After an hour, and a stern talking to herself, she finally found the courage to press 'call'.
“Hello?”
“Dawn?”
“Kerry? I've been hoping you'd call.”
“Really?” A sense of relief washed over Kerry. “I wasn't sure if I should or not.”
“I'm glad you have. We have a lot to catch up on. When can we meet again?”
“Whenever suits you,” Kerry said.
“What are you doing now?”
“Nothing really.”
“Why don't you come over? Raymond has gone away for a few days.”
“Raymond?”
“My partner.”
“Are you sure it's okay for me to come over now?”
“Positive.”
“Great. I'll be over as soon as I can.”
Brice had offered to go with her, but this was something Kerry needed to do alone.
Dawn was standing by the window, and waved when she saw Kerry's taxi pull up outside. The terraced house, two up, two down, was spotless inside. It was obvious to Kerry that Dawn didn't have children.
“Does your partner work away?” Kerry asked.
“Raymond? Usually a few days every couple of months.”
“Have you told him about me?”
“Not yet. I'm going to, but it's going to come as a bit of a shock.” Dawn shook her head.
“I don't want to damage your relationship.”
“It won't. Raymond is a good man. He's the kindest man I know. I'll tell him when he gets back. I'd like you to meet him some time.”
“I'd like that, too.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Dawn said.
“Brice.”
“Nice name. You should have brought him to meet me.”
“Maybe another time.” Kerry hesitated. “There's something I have to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I don't know how to—”
“Go on. Please. Just say it.”
“Peter Stafford—my father—is dead.” Kerry had been dreading having to deliver the news.
“I know.”
“But, you said—”
“I'm sorry. I should have told you before.”
“Why the hell didn't you?” Kerry took a deep breath. “Sorry. I didn't mean to snap. Why didn't you tell me my father was dead?”
Dawn turned away. For several minutes, she was silent.
“Dawn?” Kerry put her hand on her mother's. “Are you okay?”
Her mother nodded, took a deep breath, and turned to face Kerry. “It's difficult for me to talk about this. Raymond is a good man, but Peter was my first love. I ruined his life. I ruined everything. It's my fault he killed himself.” She could hold back the tears no longer.
Kerry's instinct was to comfort her mother, but she didn't know how. Instead, she waited until Dawn had composed herself enough to speak again.
“We hadn't known each other long, but we were in love. Peter was thrilled when I fell pregnant—he couldn't wait to get married. I wasn't sure, but I let him persuade me that everything would be okay. And it was, for a while—”
“What happened?”
“It's difficult to talk about.”
“Please.”
“Okay. I'll try.” Dawn took a few seconds to get her breathing under control. “I have a medical condition. Peter knew about it, but he didn't care. He said he loved me anyway. Everything was okay for a while, but then I had a relapse. Peter said it was nothing—that it would be okay. I should have listened to him, but I was scared. I walked out, and he was devastated.”
“What was the medical condition?”
“Back then, it used to be known as Multiple Personality Disorder. It's got a fancy new name now—D.I.D.—I can't remember what it stands for. Anyway, you don't have to worry. I asked the doctor. They said it isn't hereditary.”
Kerry nodded, and managed a weak smile. “You said you should have listened to Peter?”
“I wished I had—he was right. We'd have got through it. I know that now, but it took Raymond to prove that to me. I still have the same issues—not often these days. Raymond has always stuck by me. Peter and me could have made it work. We should have made it work.” Dawn looked Kerry in the eye. “I'm sorry we didn't.”
“It's okay.” Kerry desperately wanted to tell Dawn she knew exactly what she'd been through, but it didn't feel like the right time. She wanted to get to know her mother first—to build a relationship with her. Maybe then.
“How did you find out about Peter?” Dawn said.
“I met Carol—his sister.”
“She must hate me.”
“She doesn't. She misses her brother, but I don't think she blames anyone. She has two lovely kids. Girls—Jane and Susan.”
Dawn managed a weak smile.
“Would you like to meet them? I could ask Carol.”
“No! Don't do that. I've caused enough heartache for her family.”
“Would it be okay if Brice came with me the next time I visit?” Kerry asked on her way out.
“You want to see me again?”
“Why wouldn't I?”
“I just thought—I should have told you about your father.”
“It doesn't matter now. That's all in the past. I'd like to keep in touch if that's okay with you.”
“That would be great.” Dawn's face lit up. “I'll tell Raymond. The four of us can have dinner, maybe.”
“I'll look forward to it.” Kerry squeezed Dawn's hand, and kissed her on the cheek.
“So, how did it go with your mother?” Brice said. He'd been waiting for her back at her house.
“Very good. She has invited you to go around there next time.”
“Did you meet her partner?”
“Raymond? No. He doesn't know about me yet, but Dawn's going to tell him. She wants the four of us to have dinner.”
“Great.”
Kerry stared out of the window.
“Are you okay?” Brice asked.
“You remember the other day when Lizzie showed up.”
Brice nodded.
“I said I didn't know what had triggered it. That wasn't true. I'd tried to phone Dawn—” Kerry hesitated; her mouth was dry. “It wasn't Dawn who answered the phone.”
“Raymond?”
“No. When I say it wasn't Dawn, well it kind of was.”
“Are you saying what I think you're saying?”
“My mother has D.I.D. Too.” Kerry nodded.
“Did you ask her about it?”
“I didn't need to. She told me.”
“Did you tell her about Lizzie?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don't want our relationship to be about D.I.D. I want us to have a normal mother/daughter relationship. If she knew, she might feel somehow responsible, and she isn't. It isn't her fault. It isn't anyone's fault.”
Brice nodded.
“Maybe, when I get to know her better,” Kerry said. “In a few years' time. Maybe then.”
“I still don't understand what triggered Lizzie to appear.”
“I was stressed out. The thought that Dawn might still have the same issues at her age made me realise this will never end. I'm sure that's the reason she broke up with my father, and why she gave me up for adoption. She didn't think she could have any of those things because of the D.I.D.”
“You can't think like that.” Brice put his hand on hers.
“It's okay. That was my initial reaction—that's why I was so upset. But now I've had the chance to talk to Dawn, and to see how she's built a relationship with Raymond, I know I can do the same.”
“Does Raymond know about her D.I.D?”
“Yes. He sounds like a good man—just like you. That's what made me realise that
we can make it work too.”
“There's no maybe about it.” Brice framed her face with his hands, and kissed her gently on the lips. “We will make it work.”
On his way home, Brice thought about everything Kerry had told him. The prospect of Lizzie being with them for years to come was a little daunting, but Dawn had proven it was possible to have a successful relationship. Putting up with an occasional visit from Lizzie was a small price to pay if it meant he could be with Kerry.
Chapter 67
Brice smiled when he read the text. Kerry hadn't quite got the hang of typing on her smartphone yet. She'd said her fingers were too big for the on-screen keyboard. Judging by the message he'd just had to decipher, she was right. The message read:
Have house to mtself. Can u come over for suppwr at 7pm?
xx
Brice replied:
I'll be thwre.
xx
“Hey Brice,” Jimmy called just as Brice was about to drive away. “I got talking to Monty today. Seems like him and Weston have had a falling out.”
“What happened?”
“I'm not sure. Something to do with some money Monty lent Weston. Monty's pretty pissed off at him, so he's going around telling everyone what really happened when Weston broke his leg.”
“Go on.”
“According to Monty, the reason Weston was on the fire escape is because it overlooks the gym. The idiot was hanging off there—trying to look through the skylight into the girls' changing room when he slipped.”
“Serves the pervert right” Brice laughed.
“You haven't heard the best bit. The skylight he was trying to look through actually overlooks the guys' changing rooms.”
“Priceless!”
“You fancy going to Toppers?” Jimmy said.
“I can't. Sorry, I'm meeting—”
“Kerry—of course you are. You're going to miss out—I think tonight's the night.”
“For what?”
“I think I've finally worn down Courtney's resistance. I'm going to ask her out.”
Brice couldn't help but admire Jimmy's tenacity even if he was delusional.
