by Jane Bidder
At the time, she’d been impressed but then again, she’d been a kid. Easily taken in by a big brother who gave her presents and looked after her when Mum was on a bender.
“I’ve changed,” he said, when he came out of prison the time before this. Honest.”
Mum had laughed at that but she, Kayleigh, had believed him. And now look where it had got her. Somehow Alice blamed her for the robbery: she’d seen that in her eyes when she’d come back yesterday from the city. She’d been all quiet and hardly spoke a word. Kayleigh could have wept. “I didn’t mean it,” she wanted to say. But if she did, the police might take her away.
Then Alice had called Garth into her little room next to the sitting room where she did all her china stuff and although Kayleigh had tried to listen in at the door, she couldn’t hear anything. So she’d gone back to her room and played music really loud to block out the scared thumping inside her chest.
At dinner, no one spoke to her. Kayleigh, who had grown used now to sitting round a table and making proper conversation, instead of making do with a bag of chips if she was lucky, felt really awkward.
Even Daniel, who had recently started to talk books with her (he’d been surprised that she’d read Measure for Measure and had laughed out loud when she’d told him that the plot was “rubbish”), ignored her.
“What’s up?” she said to Garth when Alice told her that no thank you, she didn’t need any help in clearing away.
He looked away. “Nothing.”
“Yes there is.” She went to tug at his sleeve but found herself holding the bare skin of his lower arm instead. They’d never touched before; only accidentally. Now, the feel of his flesh on her made Kayleigh feel giddy.
He felt the same. She could see it in his face. “Let’s get out of here,” he said in a low voice. Then, calling out, he yelled “Just taking Mungo for a walk, Mum.”
Together, with the dog bounding ahead down the lane (she wasn’t so scared of it now), they walked in silence.
Kayleigh wanted to say something but she could feel the tightness between them. Part of it was threatening. The other part held them together. In the end, she had to break it.
“You’ve got to tell me why no one’s talking to me.”
Garth threw her an expression that made her feel small again; like the time when the kids at school bullied her for being Mr Brown’s pet. “Mum found a photograph frame in the market. It was hers. She recognised it from the markings. She thinks you’re stealing stuff. And she thinks you were behind the burglary.”
“No. NO.”
Kayleigh broke into a run to keep up with Garth who was now striding ahead. “It’s not true. I mean, yes it’s true about the frame but I just did it to get my bus fare back.”
Garth laughed. A nasty low laugh which scared her and reminded her a bit of Frankie. “Come on, Kayleigh. I’ve told you before. You’re talking to someone who knows all the excuses. Don’t you think I’ve used them myself? Money for the bus fare. Money for new shoes. Money for a school trip that didn’t exist. Money for anything just so long as it helps you score.”
“Score?”
“You know what I mean. Drugs.”
“So you do take them?”
He nodded. “ʼCourse. When you’ve got a habit like us, you’ve got to have ready cash, haven’t you?”
“I don’t have a habit,” said Kayleigh quietly.
“You could have fooled me. What were you doing in the park with that bloke then? And before you try to lie again, I know about it. Not just from Mum but from Seb too. Why else do you think he’s trying it on with you? He thinks it’s cool to be with someone who hung around with the tough guys. It turns him on.”
There was something about the way Garth was looking at her with that cheeky smile, that suggested he felt the same. Kayleigh felt uneasy. “I needed to sell the frame to get home because I gave away the other money your mother gave me.”
“Sure.” Garth was throwing a ball to Mungo. “You gave it away. That was my favourite excuse. Who to? A wildlife charity? Or the Big Issue woman. I’ve used both of those.”
“To my brother.”
Garth stopped. “Your brother?”
She nodded, her mouth dry in her desperation to explain. Anything to show Garth – and his parents – that she wasn’t what they thought she was. “Callum. He’s my half-brother, actually and he’s older than me. He’s been in and out of prison and he’s out now but he’s broken his parole. Callum needed my help or else he’ll go back to prison.”
“So you gave him our address,” said Garth slowly.
“I didn’t know he was going to steal stuff.”
He laughed. “Don’t be so naïve.”
She grabbed his arm again. “I didn’t mean to, honest. I love living here. I like Alice. Your dad …”
He pushed her away. “Don’t. He’s a prat.”
“I know,” she said defensively. “I don’t like the way he treats your mum.”
Until then, she hadn’t realised how much she meant that. Only a few days ago, she’d felt jealous of Alice; wanting the things that she had. But now Alice didn’t trust her, Kayleigh felt lost. Abandoned. It was like losing a mother all over again. Somehow she had to build up that trust again.
And the only way to do it was through her son. To tell him everything. “There’s something else, too,” she added. She took his hand, lacing her fingers through his. He didn’t pull away which was a good sign. “It’s not nice but I need to tell you.”
“What?”
“Your mum was abused when she was a kid.”
Garth gave a loud splutter. “You must be mad.”
“No.” She held on to his hand tightly. “It’s why she gave evidence at my case. She said someone had to stand up to bullies.”
They were standing so close now that she could smell his breath. “Who abused her?” said Garth in a low dangerous voice.
Kayleigh’s skin began to prickle. “Someone called Uncle Phil. I don’t know much more. But she did say that her mum wouldn’t believe her.” She looked away. “That’s the kind of thing my mum would say.”
Garth had gone very red. “Uncle Phil? Uncle Phil? That’s Gran’s friend. I’m met him. At her place. Shit. I’ve got to talk to Mum.”
“No.” Kayleigh began to panic. “She told me that in confidence.”
“Too bad.”
He was walking determinedly back to the house, shaking Kayleigh off. She shouldn’t have told him. She should have kept her big mouth shut.
“Go to your room,” he said when they reached the back door. “I need time with my mother. His eyes hardened. “Without anyone else.”
He didn’t want her. Just as Frankie hadn’t wanted her any more. Or Mum. Or Marlene.
Crawling into bed, Kayleigh pulled the covers up over her head. Then she began to hear the voices. Raised voices. Angry ones that reminded her of the voices through the wall between hers and Mum’s.
“You should have told me.”
That sounded like Garth.
“I’m taking action against him.”
That was Alice.
“Don’t be so daft. It’s too late. You’ll be a laughing stock.”
That was Daniel.
“How can you say that, Dad? He’s got to pay for what he did.”
Garth.
“You won’t be able to prove it.”
Daniel.
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
Alice.
It wasn’t fair! Why was it that people believed you when you told lies and didn’t believe you when you told the truth?
Kayleigh wanted to run out there and tell Alice to tell her sodding husband where to get off. But Garth had told her to keep out. Family only, he had said. That had hurt.
For a bit, she’d been able to kid herself that she was family.
Finally, the voices stopped. Had they hurt each other? A couple next to Mum’s flat had stabbed each other to death a few years ago after a
row. It had been before they’d moved in but people still spoke about it.
Kayleigh lay still. If she didn’t hear anything in half an hour, she’d go out there. Check everything was all right. After all, she was responsible, wasn’t she? If she hadn’t said anything, Garth would have been none the wiser.
What you don’t know, won’t hurt you. Mr Brown used to say that. Then again, you couldn’t trust what he said. Not after what she’d seen.
Then the door opened.
“Kayleigh?”
It was Garth. He was crying.
Kayleigh opened up the duvet to let him in. It seemed natural. He lay there, his head against her shoulder, shaking. “My fucking father doesn’t want her to go to court.”
“Of course he doesn’t.” Kayleigh stroked his head like a baby. “But as long as you’re behind her, it’s all right.”
“But I’m scared she’s going to get hurt.” Garth raised his head and she could see his eyes were red and raw. “Dad could be right. She might not be able to cope if she has to stand up there and tell them what happened. And even then this horrible old man will probably lie.”
He shook again. A huge judder that sent waves through them both.
“We could go and see him,” Kayleigh heard herself saying. “Make him tell the truth.”
Even as she said it, she realised this was daft. How could they make him?
“You’re right.” Garth stopped stroking her head. She felt bereft. “We’ll go right now.”
He was buzzing. She could feel it. Maybe he was on something.
“Wait until the morning.” She drew his hand down below her waist. She needed to distract him.
“Maybe.”
Sensing his hesitation, she put his fingers inside her.
Instantly, she sensed his interest. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I didn’t mean to sound off at you earlier.”
He still liked her!
“That’s OK.”
Taking his other hand, she cupped it across her breast.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured thickly.
Beautiful? Kayleigh’s heart sang. Right at this moment, she would do anything for him. Anything.
“I need you,” he murmured again. “It’s been such crap. The prison. Mum. Dad.”
“But not me?”
He paused for a second and looked down at her. “No, Kayleigh. Not you. You’re brilliant.”
And then he entered her.
It didn’t hurt like it had with Frankie.
“I love you,” she gasped as the waves overtook her.
“I love you too.”
But he was crying at the same time.
“Help me, Kayleigh. Help me get revenge on the bastard.”
They had to do it fast, said Garth. She wasn’t to worry about the silver frame. He’d make up some excuse to his mum to get her off the hook. And no, he wouldn’t blab about Callum. Not if Kayleigh helped him.
They needed to go now. Before anyone woke up.
He said all this the next morning, as soon as they woke. Part of her wanted to have a shower. The other part hadn’t wanted to wash him off.
“How do you know where this Uncle Phil lives?” she whispered.
“I texted Gran. Said I wanted to send him a get well card.”
Garth snorted. “She believed me. Said I was a nice boy.” His mouth tightened. “I can’t believe she didn’t take Mum seriously. But she’s always been hard on her. I thought it was just her generation.”
Kayleigh wished he’d stop talking about his grandmother and tell her, instead, how lovely it had been in bed last night. Had he forgotten already?
It took ages to get there. Garth drove fast, not talking. At times, she nodded off; it was still so early! Then she woke just as they stopped outside a pink and white building. Quite nice really. “It’s a care home,” said Garth. “Care!” He spat out the word with disgust. “I’ll show him what care is.”
Kayleigh began to feel scared. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Defiantly he rang the bell. A nurse arrived in blue and white uniform. Instantly, Garth looked like the charming boy she’d first met. He was like her, she realised with a shock of recognition. He could be two people when he wanted. “We’re here to see my great-uncle. Phil Wright. I’m sorry we didn’t ring first but my fiancée and I were driving past and we decided to pay a spur of the moment visit.”
Fiancée ! Kayleigh felt a surge of excitement. Garth wanted to marry her! She could move into the house and be part of the family. Alice would forgive her and …
“We shouldn’t really allow it as visiting hours aren’t until this afternoon.” The nurse beamed at him. “But poor Phil has been a bit under the weather recently. Might do him the world of good.”
“Thank you.”
Together they followed her down a corridor, stinking of antiseptic, and into a side room. Kayleigh tried to keep quiet but couldn’t stop the gasp escaping from her horrified mouth.
The little old man sitting up in bed was shrivelled. His head was bald with brown spots on it and there was saliva dribbling down from his maroon mouth. “Visitor for you!” chirped the nurse. “Just ten minutes, mind. Don’t want to overtire you, do we?”
“Who are you?”
The old man’s words were blurred. Confused.
Garth knelt next to him. His voice might sound gentle, Kayleigh thought, but his eyes were glittering with fury.
“Alice’s son.”
“Alice?” The old man glared. “Get out. Don’t you think I’ve got enough trouble with this?”
His shaking hand fumbled under the pillow for a brown envelope.
Garth pulled out the letter, read it and tossed it to her.
Bloody hell. It was a court summons. She’d seen enough of these for Callum over the years.
“It was all so long ago,” whimpered the old man. “But it wasn’t my fault. She came to see me, you know and she looked so pretty. Just like her mother.”
His words came out in great gasps.
“What do you mean?” asked Garth in a low dangerous voice. Kayleigh shivered.
“Her mother. Sheila. We had an understanding. Went on for years. My wife … didn’t know. Then Sheila tried to break it off after her husband had a heart attack. Felt guilty, she said. So I tried to show her what she was missing. Tried it on with her daughter to make her jealous.”
“You did what?”
The old man’s eyes misted. “I didn’t mean any harm. Don’t you think I’ve felt bad about it all these years? And now I’m scared. Not because of that bit of paper. But because soon I’m going to die and then I’ll have to account for what I did.”
He spat out the words. “It’s all right for you kids. You think you do it right. But your mother was asking for it. Why do you think she wore a low-cut top?”
“SHUT UP. SHUT UP!”
Kayleigh gasped with horror as Garth grabbed one of the pillows from behind the old man’s back.
“What are you doing?”
Struggling, she tried pull it away but Garth was too strong. The old man was mewing like a kitten. His arms beat weakly. It was like watching an injured bird. Then the arms flopped to the side of the bed. The mewing stopped. The pillow fell to the ground.
In horrified silence they looked at each other.
The old man was lying there as though asleep. Maybe he was asleep, thought Kayleigh desperately. Perhaps he’d just nodded off. Old people did that, didn’t they?
“Time up,” chirped the nurse, bouncing in. Then her eyes took in the old man lying there and the pillow on the floor.
“What have you done?” she whispered.
Kayleigh looked at Garth. His eyes were full of tears.
“He hurt my mother.” His tone was defiantly shaky. “I’d do anything for the people I love.”
I love you, Kayleigh.
This is my fiancée.
So he would do anything for her too. Ju
st as she would for him. Then she thought of Alice, who had been so kind to her.
Alice, whom she’d wronged, by telling Callum about the house. Alice who had risked her own reputation in court so Frankie could get what he deserved. Alice who had introduced her to Garth. Alice who’d been more like a mum than her real one had ever been.
Suddenly, Kayleigh realised she hadn’t repaid her very well. She shouldn’t have nicked that stuff or told Callum about the house.
But this was her way out! Her chance to make up for everything. Because if she could take the blame for Garth, both mother and son would both love her for ever.
“Actually,” she said clearly, turning to the nurse. “
I did it.”
Chapter Thirty-three
Alice had been unable to sleep. How could Kayleigh have betrayed her like that? The girl had clearly told her brother about the house. She could see it now. Lots of antiques. Silver. That sort of thing. There for the taking. Why should this wealthy couple have it all?
So Daniel had been right after all. But not about the other thing. Not about her determination to take Phil to court. “I don’t want to see you being made a fool of, in court,” Daniel had said fiercely, before turning his back on her in bed last night. “How can you prove something that happened over twenty years ago?”
He’d faltered. “Besides, you might be considered to be unreliable …”
“Unreliable?” She’d sat up in bed, switching on the side light so she could see him face to face. His eyes had winced at the sudden brightness. “You’re a fine one to talk about being unreliable.”
Just then, they heard firm, heavy footsteps coming down the landing. “Garth,” said Daniel warningly.
But the footsteps had continued past their son’s room. There was the distinctive creak of the guest room door opening and shutting. Then low murmuring followed by the unmistakable sound of something more intimate. Murmurings. Gasps of pleasure. Small at first and then louder.
“Satisfied?” said Daniel.
She shook her head. “How can you be so nasty?”
“How can you be so naïve? You’ve taken in a teenager with a record who might or might not have had something to do with the burglary. And now she’s having it off with our son.”
