Family Secrets (17 page)

Chapter Two

‘I really think Joe is the one,’ Rachel told her mother. ‘He hasn’t asked me yet, but I think he will.’

‘Don’t
rush into anything till you’re sure.’ Jemima suddenly thought of her own teenage years and the son she had lost. Forty-four years ago. She could hardly believe it was so long ago. She’d tried hard to push the memories into the background but every now and then, when she was walking along the street, she’d look at forty-four year old men and wonder.

‘Oh
I won’t. Don’t worry Mum. We’re going to be fine. You do like him don’t you?’

‘Who
Joe? Of course. Your Dad and I think he’s great. Not quite good enough for our little girl of course, but possibly the best you can find.’

‘
Mum
,’ she said. ‘I’m glad you like him though.’

‘Would
it make any difference if we didn’t?’

Her
daughter paused for several minutes, frowning in her concentration.

‘I
really don’t know. Of course I’d listen to what you were saying but then, ...’

‘You’d
go ahead anyway.’

‘But
it doesn’t apply, does it? You’ve already said you like Joe. Right I’m going to get ready. He’s taking me motor racing today. I need to be ready for when he gets here.’ She raced upstairs and began to turn out her wardrobe. She needed to be smart but casual. She tried on several outfits before deciding on grey trousers and an almost matching grey jacket. With a red polo neck top underneath it, she looked pretty. She brushed her long dark hair and clipped it back. She pulled on her black ankle boots and with a smear of lipstick and she was all set. Maybe she might need a coat? She grabbed her anorak and hoped she wouldn’t need it.

‘Right
Mum. How do I look?’

‘You
look lovely dear. No sign of Joe yet, though. I don’t s’pose he’ll be long. I need to go and do some shopping. Your Dad will be back from fishing later and will expect a meal waiting. I’m assuming you two will be feeding yourselves?’

‘Oh
yes, some nice unhealthy burgers or something. Oh, there’s Joe driving in now. I’ll see you later. Don’t wait up.’

‘Bye
love. Have fun.’

She
ran down their drive clutching her anorak and her bag.

‘Hallo
you. You look nice.’ Joe leaned over to kiss her. ‘You all set then?’

‘Oh
yes. I hope it won’t be too cold out on the course.’

‘I’ve
got tickets for one of the stands. You do realise it’s only the time trials today? But there should be plenty to see. They’re fighting for positions for the big race tomorrow.’

‘So
how far is it?’

‘Probably
take us an hour and a half. We need to be there as soon as possible. Is everything okay at home?’

‘Yes
thanks. Fine. Dad’s gone fishing as usual on a Saturday and Mum’s going shopping. Riveting isn’t it?’

‘Don’t
be like that. You might find yourself in a similar situation at some point.’ He was smiling as he spoke but she sensed a warning. They would never be like her parents, would they? She smiled back at him and settled back in her seat. She wondered about her parents’ past. She could lay bets on the fact that her parents had never been to a motor race.

‘Penny
for your thoughts?’

‘I
was just thinking about my parents. They are possibly the most boring parents in the entire world. I bet they’ve never even been to a motor race day like this. I’m really looking forward to it.’

‘So
am I. And don’t be unkind about your parents. They are lovely. Conventional perhaps, but certainly not boring. Not like mine are anyway.’

Rachel
said no more. She didn’t think Joe’s parents were boring in anyway. Their house was always filled with laughter and noise. His two brothers made sure of that. They all looked alike with their blondish hair and blue eyes. Joe was taller than both of them and he was the perfect height for her. They were both younger than him and always teased her when she went round to their place, suggesting they were a much more suitable match for her than their brother, despite being about five years his junior. Her own home by comparison was calm and always peaceful. There were advantages to both places.

‘Oh
dear. Looks like we’re hitting the traffic now. It’s going to be a long drawn out wait.’ Joe was cross and sat strumming on the steering wheel.

‘Do
you want some water?’

‘Please.’
She passed him the bottle while they were standing still. ‘Thanks. I think we’re about to move again.’ He gave her the bottle back and she screwed the cap on.

It
took almost an hour to find a parking place and Joe was angry. She tried to keep him calm but it was clear they had missed quite a bit of the activity.

‘They
should refund me half the cost of the wretched tickets. They charge enough for them in the first place. Come on. It’s through here.’ He grabbed her hand and almost dragged her through the turn style.

At
last they found their seats and tried to catch up on what was happening. Rachel didn’t really understand any of it but she smiled and made comments when asked. Joe was well into the whole scene and shouted out loud every now and then. She was hungry and needed to pee.

‘I’m
going to find the loo,’ she told him. ‘Do you fancy a burger if I can find one?’

‘If
you like. Go man, get past him.’ He wasn’t really listening to her so she went off alone.

It
was all pretty mad around here, she thought. There were fanatics of motor racing everywhere. She found the loo and then went in search of food. She had to walk for ages and hoped she would find her way back. Clutching her bag of food, she went back into the stadium and looked for Joe. She couldn’t see him anywhere and realised she was in the wrong section. Feeling almost tearful she tried several different entrances with total failure. She stood and ate her burger and began to feel better. Then logic took over and she set off once more to find her boyfriend.

‘Sorry
to be so long. I got lost,’ she said as she sat down again. ‘Here’s your burger. I’m afraid it’s possibly a little on the cold side.’

‘No
worries. Are you all right?’

‘I’m
fine now. I did get a bit scared when I couldn’t find you.’

The
rest of the day passed with Joe happily cheering and falling silent when his team were no longer in the running for pole position. Rachel was fairly bored but said nothing, happy to be with the man she loved. At last, things drew to a close.

‘That
was great, wasn’t it?’ Joe asked her. He put his arm round her and kissed her enthusiastically.

‘Fine,’
she replied, hoping he didn’t realise how bored she’d been feeling.

‘Shame
I couldn’t get tickets for the real thing tomorrow. Still, we can watch the highlights on television. Are you ready to go now?’

‘Certainly
am. I suppose there’ll be massive queues to get home now.’

‘You’re
right. Perhaps we should find something to eat here?’

‘Maybe
we can stop somewhere on the way home? I doubt there’s anything more than burgers or similar.’

‘Okay.
We’ll hit the road for home.’ His arm was round her as they walked along. ‘I’ll stop on the way out for a pee, though.’

‘Okay.
I’ll do the same.’

They
went to their respective toilets and once she had waited in the queue for her turn, Rachel came out. Joe wasn’t waiting for her so she stood near the entrance waiting. Several men came out and looked at her. She stood awkwardly, horribly aware of waiting in such an obvious place. She walked a little way away and stood in sight of the toilet block. Ten minutes. Fifteen minutes. She was beginning to get edgy. Where on earth was he? Twenty minutes and she was getting worried. After half an hour, she stopped someone as they came out and asked if her friend was in there.

‘Nah
love. Nobody in there of that description. Lost ‘im ‘ave you?’

‘I
must have missed him. Sorry to bother you.’ She thought maybe he’d misunderstood her and gone back to the car. Could she find it? Maybe some of the cars would have gone by now and she might be able to spot their car. Joe’s car. She went along to where she thought they had left the car but there was no sign of it. Perhaps she’d got the wrong place. Beginning to panic, she ran between the remaining cars, all the time looking for him. She stopped. Stupid woman, she thought and took out her mobile. She rang his number.

‘Please
leave a message and I’ll get back to you.’

‘Joe?
I don’t know where you are. I’m in the car park but I can’t find you. I’m ... well in the middle. Call me back when you get this message.’

Rachel wandered along the rows, looking all the time. She saw a silver car that was similar and ran towards it. It was a different make. ‘Come on Joe. Ring me.’ She dialled his number again but it was still on voice mail. ‘Joe? Where are you?’

Cars
were leaving all the time. She was hooted at once or twice while she was wandering along the roadway. She was beginning to panic and told herself to stop. It was just some mistake in the vast car park. Perhaps she was in entirely the wrong place. She went back towards the stand and the toilet where she’d last seen him. She tried to retrace their journey from the car park towards the stand. She was certain she had the right place. Maybe he’d gone back into the stadium? She went to the entrance and looked towards their place. No-one was there any more.

‘Can
I help you Miss?’ asked one of the officials.

‘I’ve
lost my boyfriend. He went to the toilet and so did I. I can’t seem to find him again.’

‘P’raps
he went back to his car?’

‘I’ve
looked at where I thought we were parked but he’s not there.’

‘We
can make an announcement on the tannoy if you’re really sure you’ve lost him.’

‘Could
you? Yes please. I know it sounds silly but I’m getting desperate.’

‘Come
along with me. We’ll go to the media centre.’

‘I’m
really sorry. He’ll go mad with me for being so stupid but I really need to know where he is.’

She
followed the official, almost running to keep up with him. He opened a door into a building and she followed him.

‘Can
you make an announcement please? This young lady’s lost her boyfriend.’

‘Name?’
asked the man behind the complex looking desk.

‘Rachel.
Rachel Sumner.’

‘I
meant the friend’s name.’

‘Oh,
sorry. He’s Joe Bentley.’

‘Okay.
Hang on.’ He switched on the microphone in front of him. ‘Would Joe Bentley please contact the media centre as soon as possible. Joe Bentley to the media centre. Rachel Sumner is waiting for you.’ He switched off the microphone and turned to her. ‘That’s the best we can do. If you wait outside, I expect he’ll be along soon.’

‘Thanks
very much. I’ll wait ... outside.’ She left them and went to stand outside the door. She looked at her watch. It was already almost five-thirty. This was ridiculous. If he’d left without her, how on earth could she get home? Why would he do such a thing anyway? At six o’clock, she knocked on the door of the media centre and went inside.

‘I’m
sorry but he hasn’t turned up. I’m going for another look round the car park. It must be nearly empty by now so I should see him if he’s there.’ She was extremely angry by now. If he’d gone and left her in this strange place, he had some serious explaining to do. She went into the now nearly deserted car park. His car was nowhere to be seen. Okay, now she needed to make proper arrangements to get home. Once again, she went back to the media centre and knocked on the door.

‘He
seems to have left without me. I’ll have to see about getting home on my own. Are there any buses or anything?’

‘They’ll
have left ages ago. P’raps you better get a taxi? I’ve got some numbers here.’

‘I
doubt I’ve got enough cash to pay for a taxi. I’ll have to call my parents and see if they can come to meet me somewhere.’

‘Okay
love. Best of luck. We’re closing now till tomorrow.’

Rachel
went outside again and phoned her Mum.

‘I’m
sorry but that bastard’s driven away and left me here. Is there any chance one of you could come and fetch me?’

‘How
on earth has he done that?’ her Mum asked.

‘I’ve
no idea. He’d better have a very good reason. Anyway, can you come?’