AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I want to tell her she’s doing the right thing, that by getting out, by leaving the abuse, their lives will improve. But in my case, the fire was way hotter than the frying pan.
‘Is…is that why you took the money from the Morris house?’ I ask. I want to give her a chance to explain.
‘No one understands,’ she says, looking straight at me, her grey eyes imploring. ‘They’ve got everything…two cars, fancy holidays, a huge house, and you should see their kids’ bedrooms. They’ve, like, got TVs, iPads, games consoles, the latest phones…and the clothes.’ Leanne laughs then. ‘I shouldn’t tell you this, but sometimes I pretend that Kate and I live there, that Mr and Mrs Morris are our parents.’
‘Oh, love…’ I get up and go around the desk, sitting down in the chair next to her. I take her hands in mine. Her fingers are cold in my palms.
‘I tried on some clothes once, just to see what it was like to wear nice stuff. A dress and some boots that belonged to Jessica, their eldest. When I looked in the mirror, I felt…I felt special. Just for a minute, it was like I mattered, as if someone cared about me. I’ve never had that.’
‘So you took the money?’ I ask, clutching her hands.
She gives a little nod and hangs her head. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘I’m not cross with you, Leanne, and despite what you might think, I’m not going to fire you or report you.’
She whips her head up. ‘I’m not a thief,’ she whispers. ‘It’s just…it was for Kate. She needs stuff, like uniform, and her bike’s so old. She has to walk miles to school and the bus fare isn’t cheap. It was only forty quid, and I was going to pay it back when I could.’
‘I understand, I really do,’ I tell her, though it crosses my mind that I don’t. Not fully, not any more. The rough edges of desperation have been smoothed over by years of happy family life. I shake my head to rid myself of the thoughts. Of what I did. Deep down, I’m not so different to Leanne, really.
Leanne looks at me in a way that makes me think she doesn’t believe me.
‘Look, I’ve got an idea,’ I say. ‘How about I give you more hours, for a start? To fit in with school times so you can be there for Kate. And a pay rise, too? I’ll see that the Morrises are reimbursed myself, and I’ll switch you to another job. But in return, no more stealing, OK?’
Leanne nods, a worried look on her face.
‘But there’s something else I want you to do for me. I’m giving a presentation on Wednesday for a big corporate client. I’d like you to come with me.’
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
BELLE – NOW
‘No flippingway…’ Belle claps her hands over her mouth. ‘You’re joking me, right?’
She stands there, staring at the car – a gleaming black BMW. It’s parked at the periphery of an out-of-town shopping centre car park.
‘Only the best for my fiancée,’ Jack says, dangling a key fob in front of her face.
‘But…but I can’t even drive,’ she replies, bouncing up and down and shaking her head in disbelief. Then she laughs – an uncontrollable, excited laugh as all the things that this car means run through her mind. In essence, she knows it represents freedom.
‘I had it especially sourced for you. It’s from…from Newcastle. Took a while to find just the right one, but I knew you’d love it. I had my mate deliver it here earlier. It’s got all the extras.’
Belle creeps up to it as though she’s stalking a rare animal that might speed off at the slightest sound. She dares to touch the bonnet.
‘It’s a beauty,’ she admits, turning to Jack. ‘Oh my God, my friends are going to besojel.’
Jack opens the driver’s side door. ‘Here, try it out for size.’
Belle slithers into the leather seat and takes hold of the steering wheel. She makes an engine sound in her throat and pretends to turn the wheel. ‘Beep-beep!’
She presses her foot on the accelerator and fiddles with a few buttons on the dashboard, not knowing what any of them are for.
‘Want to start her up?’ Jack goes round and gets in the passenger side. ‘She’s an automatic, so no need to worry about gears. I’ll teach you how to drive in no time.’
‘I love it!’ Belle squeals as Jack shows her how the auto start works, not that she’ll remember anything right now. She’s far too excited to take it all in. ‘I mean…Mum and Dad will completely flip, of course, but I’ll win them over somehow. When I tell them that once I’ve passed my test, I’ll be able to run Amber about, help them out with errands, they’ll get used to the idea.’
Jack doesn’t comment on that, rather he reciprocates the tight hug Belle delivers and the deep kiss as she plunges her mouth onto his.
‘This is literally the best birthday ever!’ she squeaks, coming up for air. ‘And I had an amazing time in France with you, way better than staying with some crusty family with a fifteen-year-old boy who doesn’t speak a word of English. I love you, Jack.’
