Abi nodded and squeezed his hand.
“Oh, Gideon, I’m really going to miss you. D’you think the tour will last for ages?” she asked plaintively.
Gideon shrugged. “Dunno,” he said. “Could do. Depends if they like us. But don’t worry. As soon as you finish school and I get some of the advance they promised us, I’ll send you the money for your ticket, and you can come out to join me.” She grinned, and he went on. “I’ll write and let you know all the details as soon as I know where we’ll be, and I’ll suss out how easy it’ll be to accommodate you.” He grinned down at her. “I mean, it’s not like you need a room of your own or anything, is it?” he added with a twinkle in his eyes.
Judy groaned. “Too much information, guys!” she complained, wrinkling her nose. “Come on, Abs, let’s get you home so you can get changed and enjoy Gideon while he’s still here.” She grabbed Abi’s hand and pulled her towards her house.
Abi let go of Gideon, waved her free hand, and called, “See you in a bit. Don’t be too long,” before following Judy and turning into her driveway. “What’s Dad doing home?” she wondered out loud as they squeezed past the Saab. “Oh, I suppose it is Friday. He does sometimes finish early at the end of the week.”
The girls opened the side gate and made their way round to the kitchen door, letting themselves in quietly in an attempt to avoid a confrontation with Abi’s mother. As they entered the hall, they could hear the television in the living room, and the low sound of her parents talking. They crept upstairs and scurried into Abi’s bedroom. The huge poster of Kurt Cobain that Abi had drawn for her mock GCSE Art exam dominated the room, and Judy looked up at it.
“You’ll have to replace that with one of Gideon when he gets famous,” she remarked with a grin.
Abi glanced up. “Yeah. Good idea. I’ll keep Kurt, though. He’s been good inspiration for me,” she said with a grin.
Abi was by far the best art student in the school and was planning to make it her career. Her chosen A Level subjects were Art and Design, Textiles, and Photography, and she was tipped to continue on to Art College after Sixth Form. As Judy watched her friend rip off her school uniform and rapidly search through her chest of drawers for something more exciting to wear, she couldn’t help wondering if she would ever make it to college or would spend her life following Gideon around the world. She sat cross-legged on the bed and narrowed her eyes.
“Abs,” she started carefully. “You are still planning to do your A Levels, aren’t you?”
Abi turned to face her in surprise. “Of course I am,” she said, startled, her eyes suddenly wary. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Judy shrugged. “I just thought you might go and visit Gideon and never come back,” she said bleakly. “I think that would be a shame, ’cause you’re really talented.”
Abi went to sit next to her friend.
“If I’m going to marry Gideon,” she began, “which I am, I need to have my own career. Rock stars have a shelf life, you know. He’ll need me to support him when he’s washed up.”
Judy chuckled. “Cheeky besom,” she said. “Well, at least you’re still thinking straight.” She reached out and squeezed her friend’s hand. Abi squeezed back and stood up again.
“However,” she added with a crooked grin, “maybe when I get to America I won’t be able to leave him. You’ll have to wait and see. Who knows what the future holds.” She abruptly turned away from her friend, pulled out a pair of faded jeans, thought for a moment, and then discarded them on the floor. “Too hot for jeans,” she muttered. “I need a dress, or skirt.”
She proceeded to pull clothes out of the drawers, tossing them anywhere around the room as she decided against each one. Judy sighed and moved over to help her.
“How about this one?” she asked, holding up a pretty, flowery cotton dress that Abi had found in a local charity shop.
Abi shrugged. “Yeah, I guess that’ll do. I can wear it over my favourite T-shirt, too.”
She quickly pulled them on and surveyed herself in her long mirror. Letting her hair out of its restraining elastic band, she messed it up with her hands, then pouted at herself and posed provocatively.
“You look fine,” Judy giggled. “Gideon won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”
Abi spun round and grinned. “No, he won’t, will he?” she said rather cockily, diving under her bed and pulling out a pair of tatty black baseball boots. She sat down on the floor and quickly laced them up, leaving the overlong laces trailing, then jumped to her feet and snatched up a knobbly brown cardigan from her bed and grinned at Judy.
“Okay, I’m ready. Shall we go over to your house while I wait for him?” she asked. The sudden sound of footsteps on the stairs heralded the arrival of Abi’s mother at the bedroom door.
“Abigail, please unlock your door. I need to speak to you,” she ordered, rattling the handle. Abi rolled her eyes and stomped over to pull the bolt back. She opened the door as slowly as possible.
“What?” she demanded. “We’re just going out.”
Judy got to her feet and smiled nervously at Joan.
“Hi, Mrs. Thomson,” she said politely.
Joan nodded to her, then turned back to her daughter.
“I hope you haven’t forgotten we’re going to Uncle Martin’s for the weekend,” she said with a frown. “We’ll be leaving very early tomorrow morning, so I want you back home early tonight.”
As Abi opened her mouth to shout at her mother, Judy leapt forward.
“Oh, Mrs. Thomson, does Abi have to go? We’ve got exams on Monday, and she and I were going to revise together this weekend. She could come and stay at my house. My parents won’t mind.” She surreptitiously grasped Abi’s hand in hers to prevent her from joining in the conversation. Joan Thomson looked doubtfully at Judy for a moment, then turned to Abi.
“Is this true? Were you planning to revise with Judy?”
Abi nodded mutely, gripping tightly to Judy’s hand and rubbing her right foot up and down her left leg.
“Well, I certainly don’t want to stand in the way of your revision,” continued Joan. “I shall speak to your father, and if he agrees, then you may stay at Judy’s house. So long as it really is all right with her parents.”
Judy nodded vigorously and squeezed Abi’s hand. Joan turned and started back down the stairs to consult with Arthur, and the two girls held their breath until she was out of sight. Then Abi slammed the door shut and flung her arms around her friend.
“Oh, Judy, thank you!” she squeaked. “You saved my life there. I couldn’t possibly miss this weekend with him. Not only is he going away, but do you realise it’s his birthday tomorrow? I was just about to shout at her and end up having a huge row, and you saved the day. You’re totally brilliant!”
Judy hugged her back and giggled. “You need to think quickly when it comes to parents,” she said rather smugly. “D’you think your dad’ll agree?”
Abi snorted. “He’ll do whatever she tells him. D’you need to phone your mum?”
Judy shook her head. “No, she’s still at work, and anyway, she says you can stay any time.” She grinned at Abi. “This makes it much easier for you to see Gideon over the weekend. You won’t need to keep making up excuses.” She looked around the messy room. “You’d better get a bag packed. Bring loads of clothes. You never know where you might end up going.”
She reached into Abi’s wardrobe and pulled out a large canvas tote bag with Friends of the Earth printed on it. Between them they managed to stuff it full of most of Abi’s more summery clothes, and were just cramming her makeup bag on the top when there came a quiet knock at the door. Abi jumped up and pulled it open. Her father looked at her seriously.
“I gather you’re staying at Judy’s this weekend,” he said. Abi nodded. “Well, it certainly wouldn’t be much fun for you at Uncle Martin’s.” He had the grace to smile slightly. “So as long as you really do spend the time revising, then that’s all right with me.”
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Abi leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
“Thanks, Dad,” she said. “We’ve got History and Biology on Monday. We really do have to revise.”
Arthur nodded and started back down the stairs, turning half way to look back at her.
“We still want you back early this evening,” he said. “Your mother and I are going to bed at ten, ready for our early start, and I want you home before that.”
Abi opened her mouth to protest, but Judy appeared beside her.
“She’s going to stay with me tonight, as well, Mr. Thomson,” she said, smiling winningly at him. He paused for a moment, then nodded at her.
“All right, then, that’s probably more sensible. Let us know when you leave, Abi,” he said and continued down the stairs.
Judy shut the door. “God’s sake, Abi,” she said with a sigh. “You were going to argue with him then, weren’t you? You really are your own worst enemy when it comes to your parents. You have no idea how to deal with them. Now come on, let’s get going.” And she scooped up Abi’s school bag and headed for the door.
Abi grabbed the bag of clothes and followed her friend rather sulkily. Judy was quite right. She was far too quick to anger when her parents spoke to her, and she only ever managed to make things worse and end up getting grounded. If it weren’t for Judy’s intervention she probably wouldn’t have been able to see Gideon half as much as she had over the last few months. As they passed the living room door, she opened it and popped her head in.
“We’re off now. Give my love to Uncle Martin,” she said. “And thanks for letting me stay at Judy’s.”
The words seemed to mollify her mother, who glanced up from her knitting and inclined her head at her daughter.
“That’s fine. Now make sure you thank Mrs. Cromwell for having you, and behave yourself. We’ll be back at around six on Sunday. Please make sure you’re home by then. Have you got your key?” Abi nodded mutely, biting her tongue to prevent herself from arguing about the Sunday curfew. She closed the door behind her, and she and Judy stepped out into the hot June sunshine.
As they wandered down the road towards Judy’s house, Abi was deep in thought. “I really do make things worse for myself, don’t I?”
Judy grinned. “Yep,” she said simply and giggled. Abi glanced at her and couldn’t help joining in, and by the time they arrived at Judy’s front gate they were collapsing in hysterical laughter. Judy opened the door with her key, and they carried Abi’s luggage upstairs.
“Where’re you meeting Gideon?” she asked as they dumped the bags on her bed.
Abi grinned. “On the junction of our roads, as usual,” she said, her eyes shining at the sound of his name. She reached inside the neck of her dress and pulled out a thin silver chain on which dangled the ring Gideon had given her on her birthday. She unclasped the chain, then unthreaded the ring and placed it on her finger. “I hate not being able to wear it at school,” she said with a pout, gently caressing it.
Judy glanced over at it. “It’s a lovely ring,” she said enviously. “I wish I had someone to give me one like that.”
Abi looked up at her. “I’m sorry,” she said contritely. “I keep going on about him, and it must be hard for you. I’m sorry.”
Judy grinned. “Don’t be daft,” she said. “I love that you have him. I just hope someday I can meet someone who loves me that much.”
Abi’s eyes shone. “He really does, doesn’t he?” she said. “I really wish he didn’t have to go away, but I know we can still make it work. We love each other so much that it has to.”
Judy grinned at her. “What have you got him for his birthday?” she asked suddenly.
Abi smiled a self-satisfied smile. “A really nice leather wrist band with his name on it.” she said proudly. “I’m going to make him wear it forever.”
****
“I can’t believe they’re making me be home by six,” Abi complained as she and Gideon wandered hand in hand by the river on Sunday afternoon. Abi was carrying her shoes in one hand and the bottom of her skirt was damp from paddling. Gideon, in ripped jeans and a black T-shirt, grinned down at her affectionately.
“Don’t worry,” he soothed. “You need to keep them on side just now if you’re going to persuade them to let you come out to America. It won’t hurt you to be home early for once.”
Abi scowled at him. “When did you get so sensible?” she demanded. “You sound like Judy. Can we sit down for a bit? I’m tired.” She slumped down on the grass at the edge of the river.
Gideon sat down beside her and glanced curiously at her.
“Are you okay, Abs?” he asked with a slight frown. “You seem a bit distracted. And you seem to get tired very easily.”
Abi shook her head impatiently. “I’m fine,” she said. “Just late nights catching up with me, I guess. I’m distracted because you’re leaving tomorrow and I’ve got to say goodbye to you tonight and won’t see you for months…” She turned tear-filled eyes to him, “That’s why I’m distracted. And I think I’m going down with a cold.”
Gideon put his arm around her shoulders. “I understand. But don’t worry. I’ll let you know my address as soon as I arrive. I’m not going to try and phone, ’cause it’s so expensive, and with the time difference and stuff I think it would just get too frustrating.” He grinned at her. “Imagine your mother’s face if you started having long phone calls in the middle of the night! It’ll be fun to write to each other anyway. You can say more in a letter. And I shall never take this wrist band off, and you can wear your ring, so we’ll always have something of each other.”
Abi leaned against him and nodded. “I know,” she said with a sigh. “Oh, bugger, I need the loo again. Shall I go behind a bush?”
Gideon laughed, so they sought around for a suitable place, and he stood guard while Abi disappeared to do the necessary. When she reappeared, he grabbed her hand and pulled her further into the bushes. His strong arms came round her and held her close, and his firm lips came down on hers. Her arms went around his neck, and she gently slipped her tongue into his waiting mouth. Together they sank to the ground amongst the concealing undergrowth and let their passion consume them.
****
“That was probably the worst Biology exam I’ve ever taken!” exclaimed Judy as she and Abi took their places on the bus on Monday afternoon.
Abi lay back with a sigh and closed her eyes.
“Definitely,” she agreed. “But just think… We never have to do another one. Biology is now a thing of the past.”
She shifted her position and sat cross-legged on the seat. Judy watched her closely.
“You okay?” she asked quietly. “Did you have a good last day with him?”
Abi opened her eyes and glanced at her friend.
“Every day is good with him,” she said simply. “It was awful when we had to part.” She stopped and looked down at her hands resting on her lap. She seemed about to say more, then changed her mind and closed her eyes again. They sat in a companionable silence until the bus reached their stop, where they got off into the hot June sunshine and began to saunter along the road.
“Abi,” Judy asked suddenly, gently touching her friend on the arm. “Are you okay? Is something bothering you, or is it just Gideon going?”
Abi stopped walking and dropped her bag on the ground. She turned to face Judy, her eyes haunted. She swallowed audibly and bit her lip. “Ummm…” She hesitated. “I have got something bothering me, actually.” She paused again and stared at Judy, fear in her eyes. “I think I’m pregnant.”
Chapter 14
Monday, 21st November 2005
Gideon stood on the pavement opposite Abi’s childhood home and stared up at what had been her bedroom window. The day was bleak and windy, with a touch of rain in the air, and he pulled the collar of his leather jacket up against the elements. He had left his parents’ home early that morning before he could lose his nerve and arrived in Newbury just a
fter ten. His mother had lent him her car for the day, and he had parked it some hundred yards along the road. He had attempted to hide his identity as much as possible, with the help of a baseball cap and dark glasses, but the overcast day had forced him to remove the latter within minutes. He was still not sure what he was going to say when he saw Abi’s father. He hadn’t seen him since his brief visit in late ’97, and they had never really talked. How could he now knock at the door and ask the newly bereaved man why his daughter had dumped him so unceremoniously ten years earlier?
He took a deep breath and crossed the road. The house loomed tantalizingly in front of him, and he squeezed past the ancient Saab, astonished to see it was the same one Abi’s father had owned ten years before, and walked up to the front door. With a tremendous effort he raised his hand and rang the bell. Nothing happened at first, and he wasn’t sure if he was feeling relief or frustration, but then he heard footsteps coming nearer inside. A shadowy figure loomed on the other side of the frosted glass, and the door finally opened with a creak. Gideon found himself face to face with Arthur Thomson for the first time in eight years, and he was shocked at the change in the man’s appearance. Always a small man, he seemed to have shrunk still further, and his skin had an unhealthy yellowish tinge. He had lost most of his hair, and his hands were shaking.
“Good morning, Mr. Thomson,” Gideon began with a slight shake in his voice. “I don’t know if you remember me…”
Arthur peered at him and took a step backwards.
“Yes, I remember you. You’re the boy who ruined my daughter’s life.” He stared at Gideon, an inscrutable look on his face.
Gideon swallowed nervously. “I wrote to Abi,” he said, and was unable to keep the pain out of his voice. “I wrote to her every week…but she didn’t reply. Why did she abandon me? I just came here to ask her. I just need to have closure.”
Arthur surveyed him cautiously, then his shoulders sagged, and he sighed.
“She doesn’t live here anymore,” he said finally. “I don’t know if she’d want to see you. I can’t help you any more.” He stepped back and started to close the door. Just before it finally clicked shut, he opened it a crack and peered out at Gideon. “She never got your letters,” he said. “She didn’t abandon you.” Then with a sad look he closed the door and went back into the house.
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