‘Frank, you have to call her Sophie. She cringes when we say “Jody”,’ Laura warned him. ‘I hate calling her that but it’s the only name she knows. We have to take this slowly and be very gentle with her.’
Frank rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. The morning sun was getting warmer. ‘Sophie it is. But I find it incredible that she doesn’t seem scarred or odd or in any way peculiar. The woman who took her can’t have been a nutter. Sophie seems to have been treated well.’
‘She may not have any obvious scars but that doesn’t mean she’s not messed up.’ Laura didn’t want anything good said about Anna: she was a stealing psychopath.
‘Did she say what her childhood was like? She’s got a very posh English accent – she obviously went to a good school.’
‘Anna was the headmistress of the private Catholic girls’ school she went to, and get this – she’s Irish.’
‘What?’
‘Yes, Jody’s – Sophie’s – abductor is Irish. Can you believe it?’
‘Well, I suppose the chances were high. You were on a boat from Dublin to Holyhead.’
Laura put her cup down. ‘I know, but somehow I never imagined an Irish person taking her – certainly not a headmistress from Dublin!’
‘Did she say if this Anna was a bit strange? Weird? Deranged? Mentally unstable?’
Laura sighed. ‘No, she said she was a great mother. She was devoted to her. She seems to have done everything to make Sophie happy. It makes me sick even to say those words. But I’m glad that Sophie didn’t suffer. I have to be happy about that.’
Frank thumped the patio table. ‘She may have been devoted but it doesn’t take away from the fact that she kidnapped your child. No one in their right mind would do that. She must have a screw loose. Underneath her headmistress guise there is an unstable individual.’
Laura looked out at the sea. The water was like glass. It was a still summer morning, not a puff of wind. ‘I’d only ever admit this to you, but if I’m being totally honest, I was a complete drunken mess on that boat. I have to take responsibility for that. I’m sure I didn’t exactly come across as mother of the year.’
Frank’s face was flushed. ‘I don’t care how drunk you were, she did not have the right to steal your child. It’s called abduction and it’s illegal. She put us all through hell and she should go to prison and rot there.’
‘Ssssh! Don’t let Sophie hear you. I don’t want her to be frightened. She could bolt anytime. The poor thing is confused enough and she has a lot of loyalty to Anna. She has a big heart and a really pure soul – I can see it in her. Isn’t she beautiful, Frank? Isn’t she just magnificent?’
Frank put his arm around his sister and kissed her cheek. ‘Yes, she is. Just like her mother.’
‘At her age I was a mess. She’s a much better person than I ever was.’
‘You turned your life around, Laura. When are you ever going to give yourself credit for that? You were very young when you got pregnant with Jody. Dad had died, we were all grieving differently, it was a hard time, and you handled it by partying too much. You have to forgive yourself, you were just a kid. Look how well you’ve done, look at all you’ve achieved. Look at Mandy – she’s great. Granted, she’s a bit bolshie at times, but all teenagers are like that. She’s a good kid. You did well, sis.’
Laura twirled her bangles around her wrist and tried not to cry. What Frank had said meant so much to her. It was wonderful to get feedback, especially from a man. She knew Frank was biased but it was still good to hear it.
Because she had devoted herself to raising Mandy and never allowed herself to have a relationship, she had been alone a lot, doubting her parenting skills all the time, spending nights reading or watching TV alone. All of her decisions had been made alone. Her parenting skills – the successful ones and the failures – were tested alone. Her hopes and fears for Mandy: she had struggled with them alone. At the end of every day, even the really bad ones when they had fought and Mandy had said she hated her, Laura had gone to bed alone. No one to talk to, no one to bounce ideas off, no one to tell her if she had made the right decision, dished out the correct punishment, given the right amount of praise, loved enough, scolded enough, protected enough, cherished enough … Sometimes the loneliness had been unbearable.
‘What are we going to do about Mum and Mandy?’ Frank interrupted her thoughts.
‘I’ll have to tell them today,’ Laura said.
Frank sucked in his cheeks. ‘Jesus, Laura, I’m not sure Mum can take this. On the one hand I can’t wait for you to tell her, but on the other I think she may have a coronary.’
‘I know – but, oh, Frank, to see the look on her face when she meets Sophie, it’ll be so brilliant. I’ll finally be able to stop feeling guilty.’
‘It wasn’t really your fault, Laura,’ Frank said, for the zillionth time.
But Laura knew it had been her fault. If only she hadn’t been so drunk. But now she could give Jody back to Joan. She could watch Joan hold her precious granddaughter again. Joan would forgive her and they could rebuild their shattered relationship. Laura would be able to breathe easily in front of her mother again instead of worrying about saying the wrong thing. She was now going to be able to give Joan the one thing she yearned for – and she couldn’t wait.
‘I’m definitely going to tell her today,’ Laura said. ‘I’m not waiting any longer. Mum deserves to know as soon as possible. I’ll tell Mandy first, and when she’s calmed down, which could take a while, I’ll tell Mum.’
Frank grinned. ‘Good luck telling Mandy. She’s going to be stunned.’
‘I’m worried about her, Frank. It’s a lot to take in, your dead sister reappearing from the grave. She’s only sixteen, and it’s a difficult age. I don’t want her going off the rails … like I did after Dad.’
Frank picked up a biscuit and took a bite. ‘Slight difference, we put Dad into a grave and Jody’s come back from one. Mandy’ll be fine – she’s a tough cookie. Besides, she always wanted a sister her own age. And she knows how much Jody’s disappearance crushed you. She’ll be happy for you. Don’t worry. It’ll all be fine.’ He stood up and grabbed his car keys. ‘Come on, I’ll drive you to Mum’s house. I’ll distract her while you tell Mandy. Then I’ll help you break the news to Mum. You might need a hand if she faints or gets hysterical.’
Laura asked Lexie to keep an eye on Sophie for a few hours while she went to Dublin to tell Joan and Mandy the news.
When they got to the house, Mandy opened the door wearing her usual uniform of black jeans, a black T-shirt, black boots and a lot of black eye-liner. She led them down the steps into the kitchen and stood facing them, leaning against the counter top, hands on hips. ‘OK, what’s going on? I know something’s up. Don’t lie to me or treat me like a child.’
‘Where’s your grandmother?’ Frank asked.
‘She had to go to the hospital – her friend Lilly had a stroke and it’s not looking good. She said she could be a while. I wouldn’t be surprised if she went to put a pillow over Lilly’s head. All she ever does is give out about her. Apparently she’s the tightest person in the world. Gran says when they meet for coffee Lilly asks for hot water and brings her own teabag and she always puts all the packs of sugar and ketchup and mayonnaise into her bag. But the worst is, Lilly nicks the flowers from cemeteries to bring to people’s houses as gifts!’
Frank and Mandy snorted with laughter.
Laura put the kettle on. ‘How long ago did Joan leave?’ She couldn’t help it. Her instinct was always to protect Mandy.
‘Chill, Mum. About twenty minutes ago. Stop trying to distract me – I know something’s going on and I want answers now.’
Frank held his hands up. ‘I’m going to leave you guys to it. I’ll be in the lounge if you need me.’ He walked out, softly closing the door behind him.
Laura stood face to face with her daughter. She marvelled at how different the two sisters were – Jody was so blonde and
blue-eyed and Mandy so dark. So different, yet born of the same womb.
Mandy was eyeing Laura suspiciously. Laura reached out to her, but Mandy took a step back. ‘Oh, my God! You’re getting married, aren’t you?’ she gasped.
‘What?’ Laura was completely blindsided.
‘All this running around and going on a hot date yesterday and changing your clothes ten times and being all hyper and sparkly and joyful, it’s a man, isn’t it? You’re in love with some guy.’
Laura started to laugh. ‘Oh, Mandy, where would I meet a man? I’m either in my studio or with you.’
Mandy shrugged. ‘I dunno – at one of your art-gallery things? Lexie keeps going on about how good-looking you are and how loads of men must fancy you. I never thought about you like that – I mean, you’re my mother. But then when she kept saying it, I kind of saw what she meant. You’re not bad-looking for your age and thirty-seven isn’t that old. Lots of people get married when they’re older now so …’ Mandy fiddled with her leather cuff. ‘That’s it, isn’t it? Please tell me he’s not a toy boy.’
Laura went over and put her arms around her daughter. Mandy didn’t push her away. ‘Oh, Mandy, darling Mandy, wonderful Mandy. I’m not in love. Well, I am but not with a man.’
Mandy jumped back like a scalded cat. ‘Are you a LESBIAN? I seriously cannot take it. Oh, my God – are you and Lexie getting it on? That’s it, isn’t it? That’s why Lexie’s in our house and why she keeps going on about how she can’t believe you never had a boyfriend because you’re so beautiful and talented and creative and – I cannot believe this is happening to me. My mother’s a lesbian.’
‘Mandy!’ Laura said. ‘I’m not gay. I’m not about to come out of any closet. But I do have a skeleton to unearth and it’s a big one. I need you to sit down because this news is kind of mind-blowing.’
Mandy lowered herself into a kitchen chair. Laura sat opposite her and spread her hands out. ‘Something kind of unbelievable has happened.’
‘Jesus, you’re freaking me out. What? Is Frank really your dad?’
Laura frowned. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. You’re watching far too much reality TV.’
‘Are you transgender? Oh, my God, were you born a man and then had a sex change? Is your name really John?’
‘No!’
‘An alien?’
‘Mandy, listen –’
‘I’m adopted? That’s it, isn’t it? I’m adopted! I bet my real parents were musicians.’
‘Mandy, you are not adopted.’
‘Egg donor?’
‘No.’
‘Sperm donor?’
‘MANDY! Jody’s back.’ Laura hadn’t meant to blurt it out like that, but she needed to stop Mandy’s guesses.
Mandy looked at her blankly. ‘What did you say?’
Laura slowed her breathing down and explained. ‘You know that I always believed Jody was alive? I never believed she drowned that day on the boat. Well, I was right. Jody’s alive and well. She was taken by a woman who raised her in London as her own daughter.’
‘WHAT?’ Mandy stood up and waved her arms about. ‘Alive?’
‘Poor Jody has been living a lie for seventeen years. She saw me being interviewed on the BBC and then she recognized herself in a photo on my website. Anyway, she contacted me and arrived over from London yesterday. She was my “hot date”. And now she’s here, with us.’
‘In Dublin?’
‘In our house.’
Mandy sat down opposite her mother. ‘Mum,’ she said, choosing her words carefully, ‘are you sure this isn’t a set-up? How do you know it’s really Jody?’
Laura put her hand on her heart. ‘I know in here. It’s her. A mother knows.’
‘Are you sure? Are you absolutely certain? One hundred per cent?’
‘Yes. Frank met her this morning. It’s her.’
Mandy’s hands began to shake. ‘Jesus Christ, this is like … oh, my God … how … Where was she? Who took her? What does she look like?’
‘Me.’
‘Is she normal? Was she part of a cult? Was she brainwashed? Is she a Scientologist? Or one of those Jehovah’s Witnesses? Maybe this girl just looks like you and they sent her to try and get money out of you because they heard you sold that painting to Hank Gold for two hundred grand. Seriously, Mum, I still think this is a hoax.’
‘I promise you, Mandy, it isn’t. And Jody – well, her name is Sophie now – is perfectly sane.’
Mandy shook her fringe out of her eyes. ‘Mum, you don’t get out much. You’re not very street smart.’
Laura drummed her fingers on the table. How could she convince Mandy? The photos! They were still in her bag. She fished them out. ‘Look, these are the pictures of Jody taken in the month or two before the boat. And these are Sophie’s pictures of when she was a toddler. She says there are no pictures of her at all before these ones – no baby pictures – and Anna, the woman who abducted her, was always very secretive about her past.’
Mandy examined the photos closely, frowning with concentration. ‘They look like the same baby but they could be Photoshopped. You can do anything, these days.’
‘Mandy, all I can tell you is that I know this is Jody. It’s her. She’s back and she’s dying to meet you. She says she always wanted a sister.’
Mandy’s head snapped up. ‘Well, I don’t want to meet her. She’s an impostor, and I can see you’re all hyper and thrilled and I don’t want you to be crushed again when you find out she’s not Jody. You have to do a DNA test, Mum. You have to be sure it’s her before inviting her into our house. She could be nicking all our stuff right now.’
Laura stood up and walked to the door. ‘Frank!’ she shouted. ‘Can you come in here for a minute, please?’
Frank rushed in, looking concerned. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘Everything’s fine, but Mandy thinks Jody is a fake.’
Frank went over and stood in front of his niece. He put his hands on her shoulders. ‘Mandy, I can assure you that she is no fake. As sure as I am standing here, that girl is Jody.’
‘Am I the only sane person in this family?’ Mandy exclaimed. ‘You believe it’s her because you want to believe it. But I don’t. Don’t you think it’s a little coincidental that, just after Mum gets lots of publicity for selling a painting for loads of cash, this girl suddenly turns up claiming to be Jody returned from the dead? Come on, guys, wake up! You’re being taken for a ride. Thank God I’m here to make you see sense.’
‘But –’
Frank cut across his sister: ‘The only way Mandy is going to understand is by seeing her,’ he said. ‘Come on, let’s go. I’m taking you to meet your older sister.’
Mandy folded her arms and scowled. ‘Well, don’t expect a happy family reunion because I’m going to kick this lookalike out of our house as soon as I see her.’
25.
Sophie
Killduf, July 2011
Sophie lay on the bed and listened to the messages on her phone. There was one from Mark: ‘Dude, call me. Everyone is going mental looking for you. What’s going on? Your mum and my dad are phoning every ten seconds asking if I’ve heard from you. What are you doing? I didn’t know you were adopted although it kind of makes sense because you look nothing like Anna. Call me. We can go for a drink and talk about it. I can’t believe you – Sophie the square – ran away from home. I’d no idea you had it in you. Respect!’
Sophie smiled. Mark always teased her about being straight because she never got into any trouble unlike him: he had been caught drinking and smoking hash and had almost been expelled from school several times. He knew Anna and Sophie well. He’d be a good person to talk to right now; he wouldn’t be dramatic like Holly. She’d call him back and arrange to meet up. He didn’t take life seriously at all – he never got flustered about anything. He’d probably think it was cool to have been abducted.
The next message was from Holly, reminding her to keep detailed notes on everything
that was happening and asking her to fill her in on all the gory details. She said she’d Googled Max Clifford and he definitely seemed like the best publicist to represent her and her story. Holly had taken down his office number and was choosing outfits for them to wear to their meeting with him: ‘I’m thinking smart-casual. We might have to splash out on two super-chic tailored dresses and maybe even Christian Louboutin shoes. I know they’re really expensive but you’re going to be a millionaire. I’ve been looking into it and, as your personal assistant, manager and stylist, I think twenty-five per cent is fair. Let me know what you think – and don’t worry, I told my mother that you and Anna decided to go on holiday early. She doesn’t suspect anything. Jessie’s been snooping around, though, so I’m going to have to keep my phone with me at all times.’
There were six messages from Anna. She asked Sophie to call and talk to her. She promised to explain everything. In the second message she was crying so much Sophie couldn’t understand what she was saying. She had never seen Anna lose control. It made her feel sick to hear her mother so desperate. In the past whenever Anna had had a bad day, which she did occasionally, she’d just say she had a headache and lie down in her room for a while with the curtains drawn. She never made a fuss and she’d always get up for dinner, even though sometimes she looked really awful and couldn’t eat. She’d make an effort to chat to Sophie and keep her company. She had always put Sophie first.
In her last message Anna sounded calmer, more like herself, less hysterical. She said she was in Dublin, staying with Joe. She reminded Sophie that there were always two sides to every story and she asked her to call her when she was ready.
Sophie longed to talk to her. She needed her mum right now. She wanted to tell her about all her problems. She missed the person she relied on, the best shoulder to cry on, the person who knew how to comfort her, soothe her, reassure her … but that person was the very cause of all her confusion and turmoil. Her mother was now … what? Her enemy? Her kidnapper? Her abductor?
How could Anna have snatched her like that? How could she? Sophie’s head began to throb again. She sat up and looked around. She was in Mandy’s bedroom. It was a strange mixture of girlish and rock-chick. Although the walls were painted a lovely shade of pale blue, Mandy had covered them with lyrics and quotes. There were several written diagonally across the wall behind her bed in thick black ink:
This Child of Mine Page 25
