An Impossible Secret (6 page)

This time he could tell it was a female—even though the voice was very deep.

“Speaking.”

“I have a message for you.”

“What? I’m not buying anything.”

“The message is from Kerry,” the voice said.

Now she had his attention.

“What? Is she all right?”

“She was until she met you. She wanted me to tell you that she never wants to see or hear from you again…”

“Wait! Who are you?” Brice demanded.

“I’m a friend of Kerry’s. Her best friend.”

“I want to speak to her.”

“Don’t you understand English, shithead? Kerry never wants to see or hear from you again.”

“Why?”

The line was dead. He tried to call her back, but the number had been withheld.

Chapter 26

Kerry was usually invisible—unnoticed by the other students. Today had been different. She’d been aware that a number of girls had been staring at her, and had recognised some of them from Toppers. Although she hadn’t been able to hear the words, she could tell that some of them had been talking about her—whispering to one another and giggling. She didn’t care. She knew it was because she was seeing Brice. They were jealous. Who would have believed that anyone could be jealous of her?

Every time the library door opened, she looked up. She’d finished her last lesson, so she could stay in the library for the rest of the day. Although she had a book open on the desk, she hadn’t taken in a single word. Her mind was busy with other things. She was excited at the prospect of tracing her adoptive parents. After thinking about it for so long, it was actually going to happen. The idea excited and scared her in equal measure. She had so many questions: why had her mother given her up? Had her mother tried to find her? Did she have brothers or sisters? What if her biological parents wanted nothing to do with her?

That wasn't the only thing on her mind. Brice was ever-present in her thoughts. Kerry had spent countless hours wondering what it would be like to have a boyfriend. She’d come to believe it might never happen. Every morning since she'd met him, when she woke, there were a few moments when she wondered if it had all been a dream.

By five thirty, the library had started to empty; the doors were locked at six. Brice had never shown up later than four o’clock before. Maybe he was ill or had football training. If she had a phone, he could have contacted her. The nagging doubts began. Had he deliberately stood her up? Had the whole thing been a cruel joke? Is that what the girls had been whispering about? Had they been laughing at her—the poor, deluded girl who had believed that someone like Brice would care about her?

Kerry packed her books away, and headed home.

Chapter 27

For how much work he’d got done, Brice might as well have stayed home. He’d been zoned out—unable to focus on anything except ‘that’ phone call. He’d run it back through his mind a million times, but he still didn’t know what to think. Initially, he’d assumed it was some kind of cruel joke. It was the kind of stupid prank that someone like Courtney Jerome might have thought funny. What if it hadn’t been a joke? What if Kerry had been too scared to tell him to his face that she didn’t want to see him again? But then, why had the caller been so downright aggressive?

It was easy enough to find out the truth. All he had to do was go to the library. All he had to do was talk to Kerry. So why hadn’t he? He was a coward. Several times, he’d set off for the library, but then got cold feet. If she really didn’t want to see him again, how would she react if he confronted her?

After his last class of the day, Brice made his way to the car park. Sometimes, he was astounded at his own stupidity. What did he think he’d achieved today? The problem wasn’t going to go away. Sooner or later, he’d have to face Kerry—even if that meant being told she didn’t want anything to do with him.

“All alone?” Jeannie Moore was standing next to his car.

“Yes.” Brice looked straight through her.

“Where’s your little friend? What’s her name?”

“Kerry.”

“Kerry. Of course. Where is she today?”

Brice was no longer listening. Instead, he strode past Jeannie, and climbed into the car.

“Can I get a lift?” She leaned forward so her cleavage was only inches from his face.

Brice slammed the car into gear, and sped out of the car park.

“Charming!” Jeannie called after him. “You're bloody crazy. You could have killed me.”

Brice was confident he knew which route Kerry would take. Sure enough, after only a few minutes, he spotted her. 

“Kerry!” he shouted as he pulled level with her.

She gave him a puzzled look, and kept walking.

The driver in the car behind sounded his horn. Brice gave him the finger.

“Please, Kerry,” he said.

“What happened?”

“Get in, and I'll explain.”

She hesitated. More cars sounded their horns.

“Get in. Please.”

She climbed in beside him, and was forced to grab the seat belt as he put his foot down.

“Why didn't you come to the library?” she said.

“You were waiting for me?”

“Of course I was. I thought we’d arranged to meet there.”

“Let me pull over, so we can talk properly.” Brice spotted a quiet side street.

“Is something wrong?” Kerry asked once they'd parked.

“I don’t know.”

“Look. If you want to end it—just say,” she said.

“No. That’s not what I want.”

“What then? I don’t understand. Why didn’t you come to the library?”

“I got a phone call.” He hesitated. “Did you ask someone to call me?”

“Me? No. Why? Who called you?”

“I don’t know. A girl—she didn’t tell me her name.”

“I still don’t understand…”

“She said you didn’t want to see me again. She said you couldn’t tell me yourself, so you’d asked her to call.”

Kerry stared at Brice. Was this still part of some elaborate plan to humiliate her? She knew it wasn’t. He was telling the truth. Who would do such a horrible thing? A thought began to take shape somewhere in the recesses of her mind, but she dismissed it before it could crystallise.

“I didn’t ask anyone. I don’t know anything about it. Why didn’t you come and talk to me?”

“I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “I should have. I was scared you might tell me it was true.”

“It isn't. I don't know why someone would say such a thing. You believe me, don't you?”

“Yes. Yes, of course I do. I'm sorry.”

“You don't have to say sorry.” Kerry looked into his eyes. “Just kiss me.”

He looked surprised and, for a horrible moment, she thought he was going to refuse. Instead, he leaned forward, and she felt his lips brush against hers.

Chapter 28

Kerry's mum was in the kitchen, preparing dinner.

“Was there any post for me today?” Kerry asked.

“What were you expecting?”

“I've requested my adoption details.”

“I don't know why you're doing this.” Her mum began to lay the table.

“I really don't want us to fall out over this, Mum.”

“Neither do I. I'm sorry.” Her mum took a seat at the table. “It's just hard for me.”

“I know.” Kerry sat next to her.

“There wasn't any post for you.”

“Thank you.” Kerry wished she had her mum's support and blessing in the search for her biological parents. She was being made to feel like she was betraying her.

“I see
he
brought you home,” her mum said.

“He has a name. Brice.”

“You’re going to get hurt.”

“How can you be so sure? Where is it written that I can never be happy?”

“That’s not what I said.” Her mum shook her head.

“It’s what you meant.”

They sat in silence for several minutes.

“Have you seen Lizzie recently?” Kerry said.

“No. What made you ask that?”

“I don’t know. I just wondered…”

“I’ve told you to forget about her. She’s bad news. She always has been. We’re all better off without her.”

“I know.”

“Don’t let’s talk about her again.”

After dinner, Kerry went to her bedroom. The day had started so badly. When Brice hadn’t come to the library, she’d feared the worst. But her mum was wrong—she would find happiness. Brice had kissed her. Her first real kiss. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel his lips on hers. She wasn’t going to let negative thoughts spoil that memory.

Chapter 29

“Looks like this baby needs a paint job,” Alec Weston said. He was on crutches.

“Go screw yourself.” Brice climbed out of the car. If he didn’t get the paintwork repaired soon, it would start to rust. Problem was—he had no spare cash. His insurance wouldn’t pay because it was below his excess. If he could catch up with the blonde punk, he could try to wring some cash out of her, but the chances of that were looking slim.

“Jimmy tells me it was a girl who did it.” Weston grinned. “Who have you been upsetting?”

“No one, I've no idea who she is.”

“It sounds like she needs a good slap.”

“I don’t hit girls. I just want her to pay for the damage.”

Weston mumbled something and then hobbled off towards the main building.

He’d already blown most of that year’s student loan. Maybe he could get a part-time job, but how would he fit in all in? What with studies, sport and now—hopefully—Kerry—he didn’t have a lot of time to spare. He supposed he could sell the car, but he loved that motor. Besides, how would he take Kerry out without wheels? Life sucked big time, and it was all that blonde punk’s fault.

After letting down Kerry so badly the previous day, he was determined not to make the same mistake again. She’d mentioned that she'd be in the library early, so he planned to call in there before his first lecture. He had a football match on Saturday, but he was hoping they might arrange to spend the whole of Sunday together.

Kerry wasn’t at her usual table, but then the library had only been open for five minutes. Brice stood with his back to the window, and watched the door. By nine thirty, she was still a no-show. He turned to face the window. Maybe, he could pick her out from the hundreds of students milling around outside. He scanned the crowds, but couldn’t see her. Then, his gaze moved across to the car park.

“Shit!” he said a little too loudly, drawing a disapproving look from Mrs Longthorpe—the head librarian.

Standing next to his car was a figure dressed in black leather. He’d recognise that spiky blonde hair anywhere.

His feet barely touched the ground as he took the stairs two, and even three, at a time. Had blonde punk come back to key the other side of his car?

“Hey!” someone shouted, as Brice pushed his way through the crowds pouring into the building. By the time he reached his car, she was nowhere to be seen. He scooted around to the passenger side—expecting the worst. Nothing! There was no mark of any kind. He double-checked all around the car. Other than the original scratch, he could find no damage. Brice turned slowly through three hundred and sixty degrees. He was trying to pick her out in the crowd, but he drew a blank.

After fifteen minutes, when it became apparent he wasn’t going to find her, Brice headed back to the library. There was still no sign of Kerry. If only she had a phone. His first lecture was in five minutes, he’d have to try the library again afterwards.

Chapter 30

Kerry felt terrible. It wasn’t like her to oversleep—perhaps she was coming down with flu. She’d told Brice she’d be in the library first thing, but it was already almost eleven o’clock. Her mum must have gone out early or she’d have dragged Kerry out of bed ages ago.

She showered, dressed, and snatched a banana from the fruit bowl. That would have to do for breakfast. As she reached the front door, she spotted three envelopes on the mat. Two looked like bills, and were addressed to her mum. The third—a brown official-looking envelope—was addressed to her. Her hands were shaking as she ripped it open. Casting aside the covering letter, she quickly found what she was looking for—her birth certificate. The tears blurred her vision, and it took her a while for the information to sink in.

Kerry said the names out loud:

Dawn Stafford, nee Miller

Peter Stafford

Just a few moments earlier, she’d never heard of these people. Now they were her family. She could hardly believe that she knew the names of her biological parents: Dawn and Peter.

The door opened—her mum was back. Kerry quickly scooped up the papers and envelope, and slid them underneath the sofa on which she was sitting.

“Kerry? What are you doing here? Aren’t you well?”

“I overslept.”

“You never oversleep.” Her mum walked around to the front of the sofa. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine, honestly.”

“Do you want anything to eat?”

“I’ve got a banana.”

“You'll need more than that.” Her mum frowned.

“I’ll pick up something at uni.”

“Are you sure you’re okay. Your eyes look red. Have you been crying?”

“Don’t fuss, Mum. I’m all right.”

Kerry waited until her mum had gone through to the kitchen and then she grabbed the envelope and paper from underneath the sofa.

“See you tonight!” she called on her way out the door.

Chapter 31

After his lecture ended, Brice made straight for the library. Kerry's face lit up as soon as she saw him.

“It came!” She was waving a large brown envelope.

“What?”

“The information on my biological parents. My mother’s name is Dawn; my father’s name is Peter.”

“What did your mum say?”

“I haven’t told her.”