The Honeymoon Sisters Page 10

  As the school day drew to a close I began to forget about my face as I looked forward to my evening with Dad and Kristen. The fact that Kristen was meeting me from school and taking me shopping first was an added bonus – not that I’d ever admit that to Mum. It’s not that going shopping with Mum isn’t enjoyable. It’s just that Mum always tends to go for shoes and clothes that are sensible and comfortable rather than fashionable. The only exception is if we find something for a good price in a second-hand shop. Which I guess is another reason why I like shopping in charity shops so much!

  Anne-Marie tried to make up with me a couple of times that afternoon but I kept ignoring her. Josh mentioned the bowling idea again, but I told him there was no way I was going anywhere with Sadie this weekend. So we agreed to postpone the bowling to another time. On my way out of school I pretended not to hear her when Sadie called out to me. Instead I whizzed out through the school gates and off along the road where Kristen had texted that she was waiting for me.

  I spotted her straight away, leaning on the bonnet of her cream-coloured Mini. Her blonde hair was loose and half pushed back under a red beret. ‘Hello, Poppy,’ she greeted me cheerfully. ‘How was school?’

  ‘OK,’ I muttered, suddenly feeling shy.

  She looked a little bit awkward too as she opened the door and invited me to get in.

  ‘Nice car,’ I mumbled.

  ‘Thanks.’ She smiled at me as she was pulling on her seat belt. ‘We’re meeting your dad at six o’clock at the Italian restaurant on the high street. It’s up to you what we do until then. Would you like to go and have a look round the shops maybe? Or I could take you somewhere for a drink and a cake if you’re hungry?’

  As she pulled out of the parking space I noticed that Kristen wasn’t asking me to twist round to look and see if any cars were coming. Mum is always doing that and I hate it because it makes me feel like it’s my responsibility to ensure nothing crashes into us.

  I don’t know what possessed me to say the next thing. ‘Actually, Kristen, I really need some new glasses. Can I borrow some money to get them and I’ll ask Dad to pay you back?’

  ‘Oh, but don’t you want to choose them with your mum?’

  ‘She hasn’t got time and I’m really struggling at school with the ones I’ve got.’

  ‘Oh dear.’ She looked concerned.

  ‘Oh, I don’t mean struggling to see properly,’ I quickly reassured her. ‘They’re the right strength and everything. I mean struggling to cope with how dorky I look in them.’

  ‘I see!’ She laughed, and after that we started chatting away pretty easily. She told me she knew how I felt because she’d had to wear glasses as a kid and in those days they didn’t have all the nice frames they have now.

  ‘So are you wearing contacts?’ I asked, staring at her perfect green eyes while trying to work out what shape her face was.

  ‘Oh yes. I couldn’t survive without them.’

  ‘I want them as soon as I’m allowed,’ I said. ‘But knowing Mum, that won’t be until I leave home.’

  She smiled but didn’t join in with my gentle dig at Mum. I realised this was the first one of Dad’s girlfriends I’d ever joked with even a tiny bit about my mother.

  We parked in the multistorey car park, where Kristen reversed into a space with the aid of her parking sensors. ‘I wish our car had those,’ I told her. ‘Mum hates reverse parking and she’s always making me get out of the car to check she doesn’t bump into stuff. Only then she just gets in a flap about bumping into me!’

  Kristen smiled, saying carefully, ‘Well, I expect you’re rather precious to her.’

  We went straight to the optician’s Kristen told me she uses herself, where they insisted on testing my eyes to confirm my prescription before showing us their range of frames. I spent ages choosing, and since I knew Dad would be paying I didn’t bother about the price. I told Kristen I had to get round or oval frames for my face shape and she didn’t tell me not to be silly (as I’m sure Mum would have done). When I’d chosen the frames Kristen phoned Dad to check it was OK for her to buy them for me. She came off the phone with a smile after he told her to go ahead. I smiled too. I’d half expected him to cross-examine me about my reason for needing new ones before agreeing to anything.

  After we left the optician’s – they’d told us the glasses should be ready for collection the next week – Kristen took me to help her choose a birthday cake for Dad. She had a packet of candles in her bag and she said she was going to hide the cake from Dad and get the restaurant to bring it out with the coffee. I’d never seen Dad blowing out birthday candles. It just seemed too childish a thing to expect him to do somehow. But Kristen clearly didn’t agree because she chose a red sports car birthday cake and said we would come back and pick it up before the shop closed.

  The high street is pedestrianised and there are quite a few charity shops. ‘Have you ever tried to go into a charity shop with my dad?’ I asked Kristen out of curiosity.

  Kristen pulled a face as she answered, ‘Actually I prefer to leave him behind when I go into any kind of shop! I like to take my time and he gets rather impatient.’

  ‘He goes in and out of the shops really quickly, doesn’t he?’ I said. ‘Mum says he hates the fact that women browse.’

  She laughed. ‘Sounds about right.’

  ‘I never used to like browsing either, but now he says I’m worse than Mum.’

  She laughed again. ‘In that case I’m sure you and I are perfectly matched.’

  It was fun looking round the shops with her – kind of like being with a really cool older sister. For the briefest moment I thought that maybe living with Dad wouldn’t be so bad after all, so long as Kristen was around.

  ‘Kristen, how old are you?’ I asked her, suddenly wondering about the age gap between her and Dad.

  ‘Forty-two.’

  ‘Really?’ I’d honestly thought she was younger than that. I mean, that was only a couple of years younger than Mum, but Mum didn’t seem nearly as youthful, either in appearance or attitude. ‘You know, you’re not like Dad’s usual girlfriends.’

  ‘How’s that, then?’

  ‘I don’t really know. You’re just different.’ I paused. ‘In a good way, I mean.’

  She smiled. ‘Well, so long as it’s in a good way.’

  And Dad’s different when he’s with you, I thought. Definitely in a good way. In fact, I didn’t think I’d ever seen Dad this happy and relaxed with a girlfriend before.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Dad was half an hour late for dinner, but Kristen and I agreed that because it was his birthday we wouldn’t make a fuss. We’d eaten the whole bread basket by the time he arrived – something Mum never lets me do because she says it’ll ruin my appetite for my meal.

  I have to say that once Dad had had a few sips of wine and opened Kristen’s present – which was a pair of really beautiful cufflinks – he seemed to relax. In any case he gave Kristen a thank-you kiss right on the lips – just a peck, but it was still a bit embarrassing.

  That’s when I plucked up the courage to give him the book which I’d wrapped up so perfectly and been carrying around in my schoolbag all day. I held my breath as I waited for his reaction as he opened it.

  ‘What beautiful paper. Don’t rip it, Peter,’ Kristen said, and if I had been able to drag my eyes away from Dad, I’d have smiled at her gratefully.

  ‘Just William!’ Dad exclaimed with a laugh as he held it up to show her, and for a moment I thought he might think it was just a token jokey sort of gift rather than his actual proper present. But then he said, ‘Where on earth did you find this?’ as if he realised it hadn’t been that easy to locate.

  ‘That second-hand bookshop near the park,’ I told him. ‘Do you like it? It’s not a first edition or anything but it’s very old and it’s got some really nice illustrations inside.’

  ‘It’s perfect – and very thoughtful,’ he responded, leaning across to give me a ki
ss on the cheek before laying the book to one side. I wouldn’t have minded if he’d sat there flicking through it for a while but I guess you can’t have everything. I reminded myself that Dad thinks it’s bad manners to read at the table and that he’d probably have a closer look at it later.

  ‘So you and Kristen have been having a nice time then, have you, Poppy?’ Dad said with a smile.

  I nodded. ‘Thanks for the glasses, Dad.’ And I reminded him how much money he owed Kristen.

  They both laughed for some reason and Dad assured me that he would definitely reimburse her and that he’d try and pick them up for me next week.

  The rest of the meal passed by cheerfully until Kristen asked me how I liked being a school councillor and I realised Dad must have told her about it. I wondered if he’d also told her how much persuasion I’d needed to apply for the job in the first place.

  ‘Actually it’s turning out to be a real hassle,’ I answered truthfully. ‘And now I’ve got to help organise a debate for our open day.’

  ‘Really?’ Dad’s ears pricked up immediately. ‘I could give you a few pointers if you like. I used to be head of our school debating team when I was in the sixth form.’

  Of course you were, I thought with a sigh.

  Kristen just smiled. She’d probably been head of her school debating team too, I thought. Unlike poor Mum, who’d told me she’d been struck dumb with nerves at school every time she’d had to speak in front of even a tiny audience.

  ‘So I hope you’re taking part in this debate, Poppy?’ Dad said. ‘It will be an excellent opportunity to get in some public speaking experience.’

  ‘I’m chairing it,’ I mumbled. Mrs Smee had insisted and I hadn’t managed to wriggle out of it.

  ‘Excellent! When is it? I’ll see if I can come.’

  I was momentarily taken by surprise. ‘Well, it’s two weeks today, but it’s in the afternoon. You’ll be at work, won’t you?’

  ‘If I’m not in court, I’ll take the time off.’

  ‘Oh.’ I didn’t know what else to say. I couldn’t deny that I was flattered he wanted to be there. But I was also terrified. It would be bad enough messing up in front of Mum and all my friends. But messing up with Dad looking on …

  The birthday cake Kristen had chosen went down much better than I’d thought it would. Dad did look a bit embarrassed when the waiter brought it out, and he clearly found us singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him a lot less jolly than we did. But he kept a smile on his face and he ate the cake even though I know he hates all that sugary icing.

  ‘Next year you’ll have to blow out fifty candles,’ I teased him. And I found myself hoping Kristen would be around to buy him a cake then as well. Or maybe even bake him one, which would be better still. (I’d have to drop a few hints to her about that.)

  At the end of the meal Dad said he would take me home and Kristen said goodbye to me and went off to get her own car. She and Dad were meeting back at his place afterwards, and I couldn’t help wondering if she’d be staying the night.

  Dad had helped Kristen on with her jacket and now he did the same with my blazer. Dad is a real gentleman that way – helping ladies on with their coats and opening doors for them and all that stuff. In fact, if Mum ever tells me that’s another thing she used to like about Dad but now finds irritating, then I’m going to contradict her because it certainly makes me feel special when he does it for me.

  As we walked back to his car he asked if I’d enjoyed my evening. I nodded that I had and he said, ‘You seem to be getting on well with Kristen.’

  I nodded again, smiling as I told him, ‘Well, she’s nice and normal – not like your other girlfriends.’

  He gave me a sideways look. ‘Is it my imagination or have you been getting cheekier recently?’

  I just kept grinning. ‘And she puts you in a good mood.’

  ‘Are you implying that I’m not always in a good mood?’

  ‘Actually – yes!’

  At which point he started to laugh.

  Once we were in the car we both got more serious.

  ‘So how are things going with Sadie?’ he asked me.

  ‘Oh, OK, I guess,’ I murmured, avoiding looking at him.

  Dad was giving me a searching look. ‘Are you sure?’

  I know he doesn’t like it when he thinks I’m keeping stuff from him, and I wanted to tell him the truth. But at the same time I knew I had to be careful if I was going to complain to him about Sadie. If he thought I was seriously unhappy he would definitely intervene, and there was no way I wanted to start up another big row between him and Mum.

  ‘Your mother should have asked you before agreeing to take her in,’ Dad muttered.

  ‘Well, she is Mum’s niece,’ I said in as neutral a voice as I could manage. ‘I guess Mum feels like it’s her duty to help her.’ I paused uncertainly. This was my chance to ask him about that crazy accusation Sadie had made. ‘Actually, Sadie told me something about Mum and I’m sure it can’t be true … something she says Mum did when we were little …’

  ‘What?’ Dad prompted me.

  ‘She says Mum wanted to adopt her and that she tried to kidnap her when Sadie’s dad said no. That’s not true, is it?’

  ‘Of course not!’ Dad was shaking his head dismissively. ‘Though I can imagine Kevin seeing it that way and possibly even telling Sadie that story. Your mother was looking after Sadie a lot, you see, while Kevin worked, and she got very attached to her. She didn’t think Kevin was coping very well as a single parent, plus he’s definitely always been a bit of a shifty character, so she offered for Sadie to move in with us, at least for a while. Well … Kevin was horrified. I advised your mother to drop it but she wouldn’t, and they ended up having a terrible row. Kevin got quite paranoid about the whole thing. He seemed to think we might be plotting to take him to court to get Sadie away from him. He not only made new childcare arrangements, he stopped us from seeing Sadie altogether. Your mother was heartbroken, as you can imagine. Sadie was like a second daughter to her by then. We actually did consider trying to take the matter to court at that point, just in order to get some ongoing contact with Sadie, but in the end we decided that we probably wouldn’t get anywhere and that fighting over her like that wouldn’t be in her best interests.’

  ‘That’s awful!’ I exclaimed, because I hadn’t known any of this until now. ‘But it doesn’t sound like Mum did anything wrong.’

  ‘Well, no … though I dare say she could have been a lot more tactful with the way she approached Kevin instead of letting her emotions rule as usual.’

  ‘Yes, but nothing so wrong that social services would think she was unsuitable as a foster carer.’

  Dad gave me a sharp look. ‘What exactly has Sadie been saying to you?’

  I bowed my head, hiding my face as I mumbled, ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Poppy, don’t lie to me.’

  I started to squirm, then stopped myself. After all, I wasn’t in the witness box and Dad didn’t have his wig on, even if he was using his courtroom voice.

  ‘Dad, I’m not under oath here,’ I said in as reasonable a tone as I could manage. ‘Just because I don’t want to tell you something doesn’t make it … I don’t know … contempt of court or something like that.’

  His eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he recovered pretty quickly. ‘I wasn’t implying otherwise, Poppy! I don’t like you lying to me because, quite simply, it prevents me from helping you.’

  ‘I know that, Dad,’ I said. And as kindly as possible I added, ‘It’s just that sometimes it’s better if I sort stuff out on my own.’

  Chapter Nineteen

  As I unlocked our front door and waved goodbye to Dad, who had been watching me from the car, I heard music coming from the kitchen. It wasn’t all that late but I felt really tired.

  I’d been thinking non-stop since Dad had told me what had actually happened. Because even though Sadie’s story about Mum wasn’t true, I couldn’t just forget about
it. Not now that I knew how close I had come to having Sadie in my life all along.

  Mum and Sadie were sitting at the kitchen table talking. The radio was on and they were flicking through Mum’s photo album. They had their backs to me and when they didn’t turn round I realised they hadn’t heard me come in. Mum was showing Sadie some baby photographs and I decided not to interrupt them. But I couldn’t resist standing outside the door to listen.

  ‘You do know your mother was only twenty-two when you were born?’ Mum was telling Sadie. ‘I was ten years older so I tried to help her as much as I could, but she always argued with me about every little thing.’

  ‘Dad says she argued a lot with him too,’ Sadie said.

  Mum sighed. ‘That sounds like Kim.’

  ‘Dad says that he always loved me more than she did. Is that true, do you think?’

  ‘I don’t know about that, Sadie, but I do know Kim just didn’t seem cut out to be a mother. She always put her own needs first.’

  ‘Dad says she wrote you a letter after she left,’ Sadie murmured. ‘She never wrote one to me.’

  ‘It was a very short letter. All it said was that she’d changed her name and we should think of her as dead from now on because she wasn’t coming back.’ Mum paused. ‘I don’t know about your dad, but that’s certainly what I’ve been trying to do since then – think of her as dead and gone. It’s the only way I’ve found to move on.’

  ‘I keep thinking that one day she might contact me,’ Sadie murmured in such a quiet voice I could hardly hear her.

  ‘Just don’t get your hopes up too much,’ Mum said gently. ‘I knew Kim for longer than anyone and I’d honestly be surprised if she ever did. And even then I don’t think you could trust her not to take off again whenever she got the urge.’ Mum paused, presumably to show her another photo, because a few moments later she said, ‘That’s Kim when she was fifteen. My parents had her very late so at that point Mum was nearly sixty and Dad in his seventies, and Dad’s health was never good after his stroke, poor thing. Kim was always running off and being brought back again. Sometimes she’d be gone for days, occasionally for a week or more. Our mother was always worried sick about her.’ Mum paused again. ‘You know, sometimes I think Kim did the best thing for you that she could, making a clean break and leaving once and for all. Better than coming in and out of your life all the time, making you love her, then leaving again.’