I was very excited about the Halloween disco. Everyone at school had been talking about it so much and telling so many funny stories from last year’s party that I was desperate to get there. But as I started to get ready, I did have a little gnawing feeling that I should mention Rory’s daughter to Mum. Was it weird that he’d not mentioned her before? Or maybe he had and Mum just hadn’t told me. It was no biggie, really. It was just niggling at me and I didn’t know why.
I had my laptop in my room so I could watch the YouTube video for my make-up – my phone screen was a bit small. Now I opened it up and looked at Billie Hamilton’s Facebook page again. Hmm. I picked up my phone and typed a message to Cassie.
Is it weird if Mum doesn’t know that Rory has a daughter? Should I say something to her? I wrote. Just to see if she knows?
Definitely, Cassie replied.
And then before I’d even had a chance to respond, she sent another message: No.
Which?
I don’t know!
Helpful.
Sorry.
I thought about it and typed again: Do you think I expect all men to be crap because of my dad?
Deep, but yes.
So I might be projecting?
Deeper. But also yes.
So should I say something to Mum?
I waited ages, watching the little dots bouncing while I put the finishing touches to my make-up, until finally her response came: Yes.
But it was already nearly seven o’clock and even though I’d done my make-up, I still wasn’t dressed.
I’ll speak to her tomorrow, I typed back to Cassie.
K, she replied. Then she sent a selfie. She looked amazing in her long, sleek witch’s dress. She’d scraped her hair back into a bun and done loads of smoky eye make-up and she looked so sexy and grown up, I almost died of envy. I took a photo of myself – still in my dressing gown – but with my newly short hair curled wildly and with my Harley-Quinn-inspired face. I had put on sweeping pink eyeshadow and drawn a little heart on my cheekbone with liquid eyeliner.
OMG I love it! But HURRY UP!
Laughing, I jumped up and put on my dress. It wasn’t as sleek as Cassie’s but I loved the sticky-out skirt.
On our way, I typed. Mum was driving Cassie and me to the disco, and we were picking up Cassie on the corner.
I picked up my laptop and took it downstairs with me to charge. Mum was in the living room and she grinned when she saw me.
‘You look fabulous!’ she said. ‘I’m sure Honor and Alice would be proud.’
I did a silly curtsy holding out my skirt, and then I put on my witch’s hat that was on the sofa and got Mum to take a picture.
‘We’d better go,’ Mum said, looking at the time. ‘Poor Cassie will be wondering where we are.’
As she looked – again – for her car keys, there was a ring at the doorbell. I was standing right there, putting on my coat, so I opened it. Outside was a woman, her face drawn and worried. She was clutching a brown folder. ‘Is Tess here?’ she said.
‘Muuuum,’ I shouted. ‘It’s for you.’
Mum came out into the hall holding her keys. She looked alarmed when she saw the woman, and then a bit cross. ‘Mandy?’
‘I’m so sorry to bother you,’ the woman said. Her voice was shaky and all her words were tumbling over themselves because she was trying to speak quickly. ‘I wanted to come to explain. To tell you why I did …’ She trailed off. ‘I want to explain,’ she said again.
Mum stood up a bit straighter. She filled the hallway suddenly, like when animals make themselves look bigger as a defence thing. ‘Mum?’ I said, feeling nervous. ‘What’s happening?’
‘Can you walk to school?’ she said. ‘Do you mind?’
I looked from the woman – who was still on the doorstep, sort of cowering against the side of the porch – to Mum. ‘Will you be all right?’
Mum nodded. ‘I will.’
‘Okay then,’ I said. I put my scarf on. ‘I’ll text when we get there.’
‘Good girl,’ said Mum. She was looking at me, but I could tell her attention was still on the scared-looking woman at the door.
‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ I said. ‘I can stay if you want?’
Mum looked at me properly now. ‘You go,’ she said. ‘Have a brilliant time and send me lots of pictures.’ She gave me a big hug and kissed me. ‘Go on, Cassie will be waiting.’
I walked outside and the woman – Mandy – flattened herself against the wall as I passed. She was really odd. I didn’t like leaving Mum alone with her. But I saw Eva’s light was on and felt better knowing she was next door.
‘Bye then,’ I said to Mum. I had a really odd feeling, like something bad was going to happen. But then my phone beeped with another message from Cassie saying, Where ARE you? and Mum stepped back into the hall and said: ‘Come in, Mandy.’ And I felt a bit silly to be so nervous. I waved goodbye to Mum and hurried off along the road to find Cassie.
It was freezing and I’d forgotten my gloves, so I shoved my hands under my armpits and huddled down as I went. Just then I heard a car horn and my name being called.
‘Jem!’
I looked round. Behind me, Rory was leaning out of his van window. ‘Jem! Are you off to the disco? I’m heading up to the school to drop some stuff off. Need a lift?’
Maybe if I hadn’t been so cold, I’d have said no. But my hands were numb, and I was still curious about Rory’s daughter and I wanted to know more. So I gave him a beaming smile and ran to the van as he pulled over.
‘Can we pick up Cassie?’ I asked. ‘I’m meant to be meeting her on the way.’
‘Sure,’ Rory said. I clambered into the passenger seat. ‘Love the outfit. Is Cassie a witch, too?’
‘She’s a sexy witch,’ I said. ‘She wants to impress Max.’
‘Boyfriend?’
‘She wishes, but he’s a douchebag.’
Rory chuckled. ‘You’ve got the right idea, Jem. Stay away from boys.’
I laughed too but when I looked at Rory he wasn’t smiling anymore.
‘Cassie will be on the corner up here,’ I said. ‘Past the church.’
There were roadworks up ahead and a line of traffic stopped at temporary lights. Rory tutted at the cars and suddenly swung the van round and headed back the way we’d come.
‘This’ll be quicker.’
‘Cassie’s waiting,’ I said. ‘Back there.’
Rory pushed his foot down on the accelerator and the van speeded up. ‘Rory, Cassie needs a lift.’
‘We’re not going to pick her up.’
‘She’ll be wondering where I am,’ I said. My voice shook a bit and we were still travelling away from school. ‘Rory, Cassie will be worried.’
He ignored me.
‘Rory …’
‘Do you know why I don’t talk about my daughter?’ he said.
Confused, I shook my head. ‘No.’
‘Because I never see her.’
‘You don’t?’ My mouth had gone very dry.
Suddenly Rory banged his hands on the steering wheel, making me jump. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I don’t get to see her at all. She doesn’t want to see me. And do you know whose fault that is?’
I didn’t know what to say. I felt a sudden, weakening wave of fear. I wasn’t even sure where we were now, but I knew we were nowhere near school, nowhere near Cassie and nowhere near my house.
‘I want to go to the disco,’ I whispered. ‘Can you take me to school?’
‘Do you know whose fault it is?’ Rory said again.
‘No.’ My voice was very quiet.
‘It’s your mum’s fault.’