Living a Lie (13 page)

Kitty would remember the incident for a long time to come. By the time Patricia was finished, the poor man was breathless, red in the face, and so agitated he gave her an extra ten-pound note in her change.

When Kitty discreetly pointed it out to Patricia, she retorted, “That will compensate me for the time he wasted!” There were a few more minutes wasted when Patricia dropped the chicken on the pavement while trying to stuff her ill-gotten gains into her purse.

“Damn and bugger it!” she’d cried, blushing from her neck to her hairline when a passing clergyman gave her a scathing look.

Sensing one of his wife’s awkward moods in the offing, Raymond suggested hopefully, “I’m sure Kitty wouldn’t mind if we postponed the special dinner until tomorrow night?”

Kitty thought that was a wonderful idea and said so. The thought of sitting at the same table as Adam Connor brought her out in goosebumps.

“Nonsense!” Patricia used her favourite word and the matter was settled.

“We shall have our special dinner, and we shall sit at the table as a family. The dinner will be ready in an hour.” Anticipating her husband’s protest, she told him, “And if eating late gives you indigestion, you’ll just have to suffer.”

“I wasn’t going to say that,” he protested.

“Though you do have a point. You know how eating late affects me.”

“If you weren’t going to say that, what were you going to say?” Before he could answer, she turned to Kitty.

“Honestly! I’ve yet to meet the man who can suffer with dignity.”

Kitty bit her lip. Watching these two was like watching a tennis match. left, right. his turn, her turn.

Now it was his turn, and he was looking straight at Kitty.

“I have something for you. It’s in the car. I think you should go and fetch it.” He looked like a cat with the cream.

When he winked at his wife, she gave a little cry.

“So that’s why you were late!” Nudging Kitty she urged, “Go on, dear. It’s your birthday present. We couldn’t give it to you earlier. You’ll see why. Go on, dear. GO ON!”

Intrigued, Kitty went outside. The car was on the drive. She glanced behind her and there stood Patricia and her husband.

“Go on!” called Patricia.

“Open the door, dear.”

Kitty didn’t care much for all this intrigue. Peering inside the car, she could see nothing that looked remotely like a birthday present.

With the exception of a big cardboard box on the back seat, there was nothing in the car at all. She opened the door and looked inside.

There was nothing on the floor, and nothing inside the glove compartment. Then, as she turned away, she heard it. The smallest whimper, coming from the box. Gingerly she opened it up and there was the loveliest, tiniest bundle of fluff. A puppy! ” All her young life she had wanted a puppy. Her mother had promised her one: ” When you’re old enough to look after it. ” But the day never arrived. Until now.

With gentle hands she hugged the puppy to her; it was a cocker spaniel, black and white mottled, and with ears that swept the floor.

“Oh, you’re beautiful!” she murmured, nuzzling her face into the silky softness of its coat. When after a moment she came to the doorstep where the Connors were waiting, Kitty kissed them both.

“It’s the best birthday present I’ve ever had,” she said.

“How did you know I longed for a puppy of my own?”

Raymond knew exactly how she felt, because he had never had a daughter of his own before and now he had.

“Miss Davis told us,” he explained.

“She told us how you confided it to her.”

Patricia gave him a sour look.

“Oh, but she didn’t really betray your confidence,” she said.

“We asked her what you would like for your birthday, and mentioned that we were thinking of getting you a puppy, and she told us it would be wonderful because that was what you had always wanted.” Ruffling the puppy’s coat, she went on, “All the bitches were already sold, so this is a he. He was too young to be collected in time for your birthday, but I’m sure he was worth waiting for, wasn’t he?”

Kitty thanked them again.

“I won’t have any trouble choosing him a name,” she said.

“I’m going to call him Jasper.” Her voice fell to a whisper as she told the puppy, “Harry’s dog was called Jasper, and he lived to a ripe old age.”

Both Patricia and her husband thought Jasper was a good name.

“I’m sure Adam will like it too,” Patricia said. Raymond reminded her that it wouldn’t matter whether Adam liked the name or not: “Because the puppy belongs to Kitty, and she can call him whatever she likes.”

“You two make friends with the creature,” Patricia said haughtily, “I have dinner to get ready.” When Kitty offered to help, she told her, “If I was in need of help, dear, I would have asked.”

It was almost eight o’clock when Adam arrived home. Frantic with worry, Patricia ran to him as he came through the door.

“Wherever have you been?” she pleaded.

“I’ve been out of my mind!”

Patricia’s son was her pride and joy. Tall and broad shouldered, with thick blond hair and staring blue eyes, he had a forbidding manner about him.

“Stop fussing, Mother,” he told her. His voice was thick and low, and oddly disturbing.

“You’ve obviously forgotten, I told you I planned to play squash after classes.”

“No, you didn’t! You said nothing to me about playing squash, or being late.” Plucking at his jacket, she demanded, “Adam! Are you listening to me?”

He shook her off and glanced round the room. When he saw Kitty sitting on the rug, he was momentarily taken aback; he smiled, ready to exchange words with her, until he saw she was playing with the puppy.

His face stiffened with anger.

“What’s that thing doing here?” he asked his mother.

Kitty answered.

“This is Jasper,” she said boldly.

“He’s my birthday present… from your parents.”

Adam looked at her for a long awkward moment, then took a deep breath that made his chest swell. When he let it out it was in a rush as he demanded of his mother, “How come you would never let me have a dog?”

“Get washed, Adam. We’re having a special dinner tonight… to welcome Kitty into the family.”

He addressed himself to Kitty.

“You must be feeling pleased with yourself? A puppy and a special dinner. My! My! We are honoured, aren’t we?”

Kitty said nothing, but knew instinctively he didn’t like her. When he continued to look at her with hostile eyes, she stared him out. Her boldness only seemed to antagonise him further, though he tried not to show it.

Dropping his leather bag on the floor, he strode across the room and stood before her.

“I really ought to be jealous of you,” he murmured.

“I mean… there was a time when I had my mother’s love all to myself.” His smile widened unpleasantly.

Patricia almost ran across the room.

“Isn’t it lovely to have her here with us?” she pleaded.

“We’ve been shopping … getting Kitty the things she needs to make a good impression.”

“Oh?” Keeping his eyes on Kitty, he said, “She’s had you traipsing all over town, has she? Poor you.” He laughed softly.

“But then, it’s only right that you should be punished, for stealing my limelight.”

Kitty reasoned that if she and this spoilt young man were to live under the same roof they had better get off on the right foot.

“I

hoped we might be friends,” she told him sincerely.

His eyes became so wide she was afraid they might fall out.

“Shame on you, Kitty,” he chided, wagging a finger within an inch of her face.

“Here am I, longing to be friends, and you can’t even see it.” His expression hardened.

“Mother will tell you how much I’ve been looking forward to your coming to stay.” Turning to Patricia he demanded, “Isn’t that right, Mother? Haven’t I been looking forward to having Kitty here?”

Patricia laughed, but her voice was shaky as she made an effort to reassure Kitty, “I’m counting on you two becoming friends.”

Kitty couldn’t help but notice how Patricia’s mood had darkened since the arrival of her son. In fact, he seemed to have cast a shadow over the whole house.

Picking up his bag, the young man brushed past the two women.

“I

suppose Father is hiding somewhere? “

“Don’t be silly. Your father is working in his study.” Obviously embarrassed in front of Kitty, she declared impatiently, “Dinner will be on the table in ten minutes. You’ll see him then.”

“I expect it’s spoiled. You know how I hate warmed-up meals.”

“It won’t be spoiled.”

“It doesn’t matter because I don’t want it anyway. I’ve already eaten.”

“What are you saying?” Patricia was horrified.

“Are you telling me you won’t be down for dinner?”

“That’s precisely what I’m telling you. Now please, Mother. Go away.”

Turning to Kitty, he said, “I like your name … Kitty. Is it short for something?”

“I was christened Katherine.” She disliked him immensely, and as far as was possible meant to keep out of his way.

“Hmh.” He considered for a moment.

“Then, I think we should try to be friends… for Mother’s sake at least. What do you think. Kitty?” He seemed to be making a mockery of her name.

“That’s really up to you,” she replied coldly. She had seen the way he bullied his mother, and she noticed the fear in Patricia’s eyes.

“Yes.

I’d say that was up to you, Adam,” she repeated.

“If we’re to be friends, you might just have to mind your manners.”

His blue eyes froze.

“Enjoy your dinner,” he said. As he strode away, the puppy chased after him. There was a scuffle, then a shrill yelp as Jasper went skidding across the floor.

“Oh dear!” Adam’s smile was cunning.

“It might be best if you kept the thing away from me. I’m known for my clumsiness.”

Two days later the puppy was found lying lifeless in the garden. The vet said it had been poisoned. Kitty was heartbroken. As for Adam, he could hardly conceal his delight.

“He sounds a real swine.”

Accepting a glass of lemonade from Georgie, Kitty curled her long legs beneath her and made herself comfortable on the settee. All the furniture in Georgie’s flat had seen better days. Situated on the ground floor of a big house on Goldington Road, it was surprisingly large, with one bedroom, a spacious bathroom, and an old fashioned kitchen with a walk-in pantry.

“You’ve got this place looking really nice,” Kitty told her friend.

There was a vase of flowers on the window-ledge, a bowl of fruit on the table, and the window in the lounge had a new pair of frilly curtains.

“I’m so glad everything’s turning out right for you, Georgie.” Glancing round the room, Kitty saw how little things had been added since her last visit, like the television and the pretty pink lamp on the coffee table.

“It looks like they’ve given you that pay rise you were after?”

“Never mind about that,” Georgie told her.

“It’s you I want to know about. Or am I being told to mind my own business?”

Kitty was sorry if she had given that impression.

“I’ve never kept anything from you,” she answered.

“If I didn’t have you to come and talk to, I think I’d go completely mad.”

“Sorry, gal. As always, my tongue ran away with me.” She sipped at her lemonade and gave Kitty a long scrutinising look.

“You’re too thin, gal, and there’s dark rings under your eyes, like you ain’t sleeping.

It’s this bloke, ain’t it? This bloody Adam. “

Kitty hated loading her troubles onto Georgie, but there was no one else, not since Harry. In answer to her question she confided.

“I

think Patricia’s afraid of him. “

“What! A mother afraid of her own son?” A deep frown creased Georgie’s face.

“Pity she didn’t drown the bastard at birth!”

“She loves him.” Too much, thought Kitty. And all she got in return was humiliation and hatred. In fact Adam Connor fed on his mother’s love . fed and grew into the monster he was.

“Then she wants her head examined.”

“These past weeks, since he’s been away on an archaeological dig, she’s been different, more relaxed, laughing with Raymond instead of always arguing.” The house had been brighter, and Kitty had felt less tense. But all that was about to change.

“He’s back tomorrow, and already Patricia’s on edge. This morning she flew at Raymond for no reason. There was a hell of a row before he went to the office. God knows what she’d do if she knew I was here.” The thought made Kitty smile.

“Happen she’d throw me out.”

“Fat lot of good that would do. The authorities would hound you down and have you back with Miss Davis before you could say Jack Robinson.” Something in Kitty’s expression made her ask quietly, “That’s not what you really want is it, gal… to be sent back to the home?”

As always Kitty said what was in her heart.

“I won’t deny there are times when I’d give anything to have things the way they were… you and me, the home. Miss Davis … everything.”

So sad and serious were the words Kitty uttered, Georgie was made to come and sit beside her.

“Don’t say that, gal,” she pleaded, “I’m so proud of you. I’ve never said this before, but you’ve been a real example to me. At the home I used to laugh and joke and pretend that none of it mattered, when it did. You were the only person to see through me … the only real friend I’ve ever had.”

“You were my friend too. More than a friend. More like a sister.”

“We’re friends now, ain’t we?”

“Forever!”

“And that feels good, don’t it?”

“Feels wonderful.”

“So it’s only natural I want to help you through your troubles, gal.

Like you’ve always helped me through mine. “

“Did I do that?” Kitty hoped so. But she could never be certain.

“Oh, you did! At the home, when I were down in the dumps, you cheered me up. And when I first came here, feeling like a lost soul, who was it wrote to me every single day? And who was it missed school just to come and visit, eh? What! Time and again I might have done away with myself if it hadn’t been for you.”