An Impossible Secret (14 page)
Read An Impossible Secret Online
Authors: J. B. Leigh
Tags: #Coming of Age, #Contemporary, #romance, #New Adult & College, #Genre Fiction, #Literature & Fiction
“It's difficult to talk about.”
“Please.”
“Okay. I'll try.” Dawn took a few seconds to get her breathing under control. “I have a medical condition. Peter knew about it, but he didn't care. He said he loved me anyway. Everything was okay for a while, but then I had a relapse. Peter said it was nothing—that it would be okay. I should have listened to him, but I was scared. I walked out, and he was devastated.”
“What was the medical condition?”
“Back then, it used to be known as Multiple Personality Disorder. It's got a fancy new name now—D.I.D.—I can't remember what it stands for. Anyway, you don't have to worry. I asked the doctor. They said it isn't hereditary.”
Kerry nodded, and managed a weak smile. “You said you should have listened to Peter?”
“I wished I had—he was right. We'd have got through it. I know that now, but it took Raymond to prove that to me. I still have the same issues—not often these days. Raymond has always stuck by me. Peter and me could have made it work. We should have made it work.” Dawn looked Kerry in the eye. “I'm sorry we didn't.”
“It's okay.” Kerry desperately wanted to tell Dawn she knew exactly what she'd been through, but it didn't feel like the right time. She wanted to get to know her mother first—to build a relationship with her. Maybe then.
“How did you find out about Peter?” Dawn said.
“I met Carol—his sister.”
“She must hate me.”
“She doesn't. She misses her brother, but I don't think she blames anyone. She has two lovely kids. Girls—Jane and Susan.”
Dawn managed a weak smile.
“Would you like to meet them? I could ask Carol.”
“No! Don't do that. I've caused enough heartache for her family.”
“Would it be okay if Brice came with me the next time I visit?” Kerry asked on her way out.
“You want to see me again?”
“Why wouldn't I?”
“I just thought—I should have told you about your father.”
“It doesn't matter now. That's all in the past. I'd like to keep in touch if that's okay with you.”
“That would be great.” Dawn's face lit up. “I'll tell Raymond. The four of us can have dinner, maybe.”
“I'll look forward to it.” Kerry squeezed Dawn's hand, and kissed her on the cheek.
“So, how did it go with your mother?” Brice said. He'd been waiting for her back at her house.
“Very good. She has invited you to go around there next time.”
“Did you meet her partner?”
“Raymond? No. He doesn't know about me yet, but Dawn's going to tell him. She wants the four of us to have dinner.”
“Great.”
Kerry stared out of the window.
“Are you okay?” Brice asked.
“You remember the other day when Lizzie showed up.”
Brice nodded.
“I said I didn't know what had triggered it. That wasn't true. I'd tried to phone Dawn—” Kerry hesitated; her mouth was dry. “It wasn't Dawn who answered the phone.”
“Raymond?”
“No. When I say it wasn't Dawn, well it kind of was.”
“Are you saying what I think you're saying?”
“My mother has D.I.D. Too.” Kerry nodded.
“Did you ask her about it?”
“I didn't need to. She told me.”
“Did you tell her about Lizzie?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don't want our relationship to be about D.I.D. I want us to have a normal mother/daughter relationship. If she knew, she might feel somehow responsible, and she isn't. It isn't her fault. It isn't anyone's fault.”
Brice nodded.
“Maybe, when I get to know her better,” Kerry said. “In a few years' time. Maybe then.”
“I still don't understand what triggered Lizzie to appear.”
“I was stressed out. The thought that Dawn might still have the same issues at her age made me realise this will never end. I'm sure that's the reason she broke up with my father, and why she gave me up for adoption. She didn't think she could have any of those things because of the D.I.D.”
“You can't think like that.” Brice put his hand on hers.
“It's okay. That was my initial reaction—that's why I was so upset. But now I've had the chance to talk to Dawn, and to see how she's built a relationship with Raymond, I know I can do the same.”
“Does Raymond know about her D.I.D?”
“Yes. He sounds like a good man—just like you. That's what made me realise that we can make it work too.”
“There's no
maybe
about it.” Brice framed her face with his hands, and kissed her gently on the lips. “We
will
make it work.”
On his way home, Brice thought about everything Kerry had told him. The prospect of Lizzie being with them for years to come was a little daunting, but Dawn had proven it was possible to have a successful relationship. Putting up with an occasional visit from Lizzie was a small price to pay if it meant he could be with Kerry.
Chapter 67
Brice smiled when he read the text. Kerry hadn't quite got the hang of typing on her smartphone yet. She'd said her fingers were too big for the on-screen keyboard. Judging by the message he'd just had to decipher, she was right. The message read:
Have house to mtself. Can u come over for suppwr at 7pm?
xx
Brice replied:
I'll be thwre.
xx
“Hey Brice,” Jimmy called just as Brice was about to drive away. “I got talking to Monty today. Seems like him and Weston have had a falling out.”
“What happened?”
“I'm not sure. Something to do with some money Monty lent Weston. Monty's pretty pissed off at him, so he's going around telling everyone what really happened when Weston broke his leg.”
“Go on.”
“According to Monty, the reason Weston was on the fire escape is because it overlooks the gym. The idiot was hanging off there—trying to look through the skylight into the girls' changing room when he slipped.”
“Serves the pervert right” Brice laughed.
“You haven't heard the best bit. The skylight he was trying to look through actually overlooks the guys' changing rooms.”
“Priceless!”
“You fancy going to Toppers?” Jimmy said.
“I can't. Sorry, I'm meeting—”
“Kerry—of course you are. You're going to miss out—I think tonight's the night.”
“For what?”
“I think I've finally worn down Courtney's resistance. I'm going to ask her out.”
Brice couldn't help but admire Jimmy's tenacity even if he was delusional.
“Good luck!”
“I don't need luck. Natural charm and good looks should do it.”
“Hey, beautiful.” Brice said.
“I'm not sure I should let you in.” Kerry stood in the doorway—blocking his way.
“What have I done?”
“You were mocking my texting abilities.”
“What abilities?”
“Cheeky sod.” She clipped him around the ear.
“Do I get to come in, or do I have to starve to death on your doorstep?”
“Come in. I hope you aren't expecting anything too elaborate for supper.”
“Whatever it is will be better than my mother could make. She can burn a boiled egg.”
Chapter 68
“That was absolutely delicious,” Brice said, as he polished off the last of the chilli con carne.
“I'll go and get afters,” Kerry said.
“Afters? After that meal. I'm not sure I can manage afters.”
She was already out of the room.
The door opened behind him—he turned to see the figure wearing a black leather mini skirt.
“Lizzie?” He didn't understand it. What had happened? Kerry had seemed so upbeat. What could have triggered this?
“It's me,” Kerry said. “If I have to share my body with her, the least she can do is share her clothes with me. What do you think?”
She did a twirl; Brice couldn't take his eyes off her.
“So?” she said. “Are you sure you don't want afters?”
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