CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
With an apologetic look at a shocked Rori, I slammed out of the flat and hurried down to the car, where Billy was waiting.
I was aware of them rushing out after me, but I managed to start the car and drive off before they appeared.
‘Blossom, slow down,’ warned Billy. ‘You’re driving much too fast. The last thing you need right now is to have a crash.’ He pointed ahead at a layby sign. ‘Pull in there. Pull in!’
I slammed on the brakes and turned in, and I heard Billy’s whistle of relief as the car behind whizzed past us.
‘Sorry.’ I switched off the engine and sat there, slumped exhausted in my seat, staring ahead through tear-blurred eyes.
‘I’m assuming you talked to Skye and Ada?’ said Billy gently.
I nodded grimly. ‘They know their disgusting little secret is out.’
‘Okay.’
‘Don’t lecture me, Billy.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’
‘I know I need to face them – but I can’t right now. I need to be alone to think things through.’
‘You’ve got a lot to think about,’ he agreed.
We sat in silence for a while. I felt hot and my head was buzzing as if there was a wasp trapped inside. I opened the car door, thinking I might be sick, and the cool air rushed in, calming my burning cheeks. I breathed it in, feeling better but wondering what the hell I was going to do now. Because I couldn’t go back to Rori’s flat. I didn’t want to see anyone. Not even her.
Slowly, I pulled the door closed and turned to Billy.
‘I’m going to the cabin. Saul’s cabin in the woods, far away from civilisation. I’ll be able to think there because right now...’ I shook my head, laughing a little hysterically. ‘Right now, I don’t even know who I am anymore.’
‘I can understand that,’ murmured Billy.
‘Can you?’
He nodded and I saw in his eyes that he really did.
‘It’s such a weird feeling, thinking that everything you thought you knew about your family was a lie. But it turns out my whole life has been a lie. And the people who were supposed to love me were responsible for the most shocking falsehood of all.’ I shook my head, still stunned many hours later by Zo?’s shocking revelation. ‘Skye can only have been sixteen at most when she gave birth to me. Then she went off to boarding school, leaving me behind. And she didn’t even return after that. Instead, she went off to London to become an actress! I mean, what sort of a mother deserts her new-born baby like that?’
I stared at Billy and he gave a sad shake of his head.
‘I suppose you don’t know how Skye was feeling,’ he said. ‘She was still a child herself.’
‘You’re defending her?’ I shouted.
‘No, of course not. I’m just trying to be objective.’
‘Well, don’t. You should be on my side and that’s all there is to it.’
‘Of course I’m on your side,’ he said softly. ‘I always will be.’
‘Not if Jenna has anything to do with it, you won’t!’ I snapped.
‘What’s Jenna got to do with it?’
‘Well, she doesn’t like me talking to you, does she?’
‘Doesn’t she?’
I sighed. ‘Why are guys so blind when it comes to things like this? She seems to see me as some kind of threat to your relationship, which is ridiculous.’
‘We don’t have a relationship. Jenna called it off.’
‘Yes, but she’s obviously changed her mind judging by the number of texts she’s sent you today.’ I glared at him. ‘Shouldn’t you answer them?’
‘I will. Once I’ve made sure you’re okay and you’re not going to do anything silly.’
‘Silly? What the hell do you think I’m going to do?’
He shrugged. ‘You’ve had a shock. You’re emotional.’
‘Yes. And all I’m going to do is go to the cabin for a few days, well away from... people!’
‘You mean Skye.’
‘Yes, I mean Skye. And Ada. But don’t worry. I’ll be ignoring their texts and calls, but I’ll still talk to you, okay?’ I looked at him sadly. ‘Apart from anything else, I’ll need to know if you’ve sorted things out with Jenna. I still feel bad that it was my fault you broke up.’
‘You shouldn’t. I like that you raged at the pair of them.’ He smiled. ‘Little Miss I-Really-Hate-Confrontation turns into a fire-breathing dragon.’
I grunted. ‘It was very uncharacteristic of me. I just saw red on your behalf.’
‘Well, thank you. I appreciate it.’
We smiled at each other.
Sighing, I switched on the engine. ‘Right, I’ll drop you home, then I’ll head straight over to the cabin. Thank goodness I packed some spare clothes for our trip up to Edinburgh.’
‘You haven’t got a key to the cabin.’
‘No, but Saul keeps a key on the site, for friends who want to use it any time.’
‘What if you’re there and Skye and Saul turn up?’
I shook my head. ‘They won’t. They’re redecorating the flat, so that’s going to keep them far too busy for now. They won’t have time for a weekend in the country.’
He nodded. ‘Seems like you’ve got it all sorted, then. But won’t they know that’s where you’ve gone if you’re... unavailable? To the cabin?’
‘Nope. I’m going to text them to say I’ve gone to London to stay with my friend Marina for a while.’
I drew up outside Billy’s block of flats.
He gave me a long look and I wondered if he was going to try and dissuade me from my plan. But in the end, all he said was, ‘Well, take care. And remember if you need me, I can be at the cabin in no time, day or night. Okay?’
‘Okay.’ My throat felt choked with emotion at this and I had a sudden ridiculous urge to throw myself into Billy’s big comforting arms and sob my heart out against his chest. But I held it together.
With a sigh, he got out of the car. Then he leaned back inside. ‘Take care,’ he repeated. ‘And phone me.’
‘I will. ‘Bye, Billy.’
I sat and watched him walk away. He turned at the entrance and waved.
I stuck up a thumb and drove away...