Too Close to Home

by Susan Lewis

  Jenna’s eyes moved to the headmaster. This would clearly release him from having to take any action over Olivia’s part in what had happened to Paige. He’d be relieved about that. Whether she was too, she’d only know when she’d had time to digest it all. “What’s happened to your sister and her husband?” she asked Judith.

  “They were arrested on Monday,” Judith told her, “and they’re probably going to be charged sometime today. If they’re bailed out, it’s very probable a restraining order will be issued to keep them away from the children. However, we don’t want to run any risks, so we’ve decided it would be best for Olivia and Owen to be as far away from here as I can take them, just in case their parents are released.”

  “Where do you live?” Jenna asked.

  “In Kent, close to Deal. There’s a lovely school not too far away where Olivia can continue with her music, and hopefully she and Owen will be able to make a fresh start in a new environment with new friends and an aunt who’s desperate to give them all the love they deserve.”

  Jenna hoped they could receive some therapy too, while wondering if they could ever fully recover from such a terrible start in life. She looked at Mr. Charles and Miss Willis before saying to Olivia, “I’d like to tell Paige what I’ve heard here today. I think she has a right to know.”

  Olivia regarded her with wary, haunted eyes.

  “You said you were going to tell her yourself,” Jenna reminded her.

  “It’s going to come out sooner or later,” Judith said softly to her niece, “and I know you don’t want Paige to suffer any more than she already has. An explanation could be very helpful.”

  Olivia turned back to Jenna. “OK,” she whispered shakily.

  As the girl leaned in to her aunt’s shoulder, Jenna could see how tired she was, and heaven only knew what else was going on inside her. Deciding there was nothing to be gained from prolonging this any further, she got to her feet. “Thank you for your honesty,” she said, sounding both gentle and firm. “I realize this can’t have been easy for you.”

  Olivia didn’t respond; her head was down again.

  “Knowing Paige,” Jenna continued, “there’s a chance she’ll want to see you once I’ve told her what you’ve been through. Would you allow it?”

  Olivia looked up at her aunt.

  “You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Judith murmured.

  To Jenna, Olivia said, “Please tell Paige that I’m very sorry for everything. I wish we could have been proper friends. She’s someone…she’s…” As her voice failed, fragmented with tears, her aunt pulled her into a closer embrace.

  Outside in the corridor Miss Willis said to Jenna, “Thank you for coming today.”

  Jenna turned to her. “As affected as I am by all I’ve heard, I’m sure you realize that Paige is still my main concern.”

  “She’s ours too,” Miss Willis assured her, “but we can only take this process one step at a time. Please try to understand that.”

  “I do, but I’d like to know that a part of that process doesn’t involve Paige sitting in a room with Kelly Durham to engage in restorative justice.”

  “I’ll admit it’s been discussed,” Miss Willis told her, “but so far Kelly and her mother are resisting.”

  Unsurprised and relieved, Jenna said, “I think I should make it clear that if Kelly Durham stays at this school, Paige won’t be coming back.”

  “I understand your feelings, of course, but we have to give children a chance, even those who have as long a history as Kelly’s of intimidation and harassment.”

  “Bullying,” Jenna corrected. “Please let’s call it what it is. And I can’t help wondering how big a role her grandfather’s donations to the school play in keeping her here. I imagine he’s already made another to try to brush this under the carpet too.”

  Miss Willis flushed. “You’re right, he has, and I can tell you that it has been refused.”

  Impressed, and hoping it was true, Jenna eyed her closely, waiting for more.

  Sighing, Miss Willis said, “It’s sad but undeniable that some children derive a certain amount of pleasure from cruelty. Whether that’s down to their upbringing or to a psychological or psychiatric disorder isn’t always possible to say. It’s also true that some grow out of it, while others don’t.”

  “Kelly Durham is fifteen going on sixteen and you’ve just said yourself that she has a long history of bullying, so do you think she’s going to grow out of it?”

  Clearly discomfited, Miss Willis said, “That’s not for me to say. Hopefully, though, speaking to Olivia has shown you how complex the problem of bullying can be, especially when it comes to punishment.”

  “In Olivia’s case I understand that punishment is difficult, but she still needs to know that what she did was wrong.”

  “I agree, and I want to assure you that we aren’t just letting it go. As for Kelly…There are several options open to us, but, of course, we need to carry out extensive enquiries before any decisive action can be taken.”

  Angrily Jenna said, “I’m glad you’ve got Kelly’s welfare so close to your heart. Now tell me where Paige’s is, because she was the victim in all of this, and just about everyone at this school knows it. So exactly what sort of message do you think it’s going to send to other bullies if you keep Kelly here or drag out some pointless investigation into the kind of cruelty that has to be punished?”

  Miss Willis was finally moved to say, “It would be a wrong message, of course, and between us it’s more or less certain that Kelly will be asked to leave. I just don’t like to give up on a child until all avenues of rescue have been explored.”

  “Which is admirable, and your job. It’s also your job to make sure my daughter is safe while she’s on these premises.”

  “Indeed, and I want you to feel assured that we greatly value Paige here at The Landings. I know she hasn’t been here as long as most, but her contribution has always been a hundred percent whether in her studies, her community projects, or the various other ways she involves herself in representing the school, which is why we most certainly don’t want to lose her.”

  “Then you really have to make sure that the right decisions are taken before the start of next term,” Jenna retorted, and with a polite but cool little nod she left.

  —

  “I’d give Kelly Durham the chance if she wanted to go face-to-face,” Paige declared rashly, after Jenna had finished telling her about her visit to the school.

  “You’d sit down in the same room as that girl and—”

  “Listen to her explain herself and apologize? Yes, why not? She wouldn’t mean it, but I think she ought at least to be made to do it.”

  Exasperated, and yet unable to suppress a smile, Jenna said, “Well, it seems she’s not willing, so at the moment it’s not likely to happen.”

  Paige merely shrugged, and after a while her eyes took on the intense, oddly baffled look they’d had while Jenna had been telling her about Olivia. “It’s a shame Olivia doesn’t want to meet,” she remarked, “but I’m not sure what I’d say to her if we did. It’s really terrible what she’s been through. I mean, we always thought their parents were a bit strange, you know, never speaking to anyone or allowing anyone into the house. Do you think they had a special place where they did all the abuse? Do you know what sort of…?”

  “No, I don’t know the details of what they did, and we certainly don’t need to be making them up for ourselves. It’s enough to know that it happened, and that those dreadful people are going to be made to pay for their crimes.”

  Paige nodded vaguely. “I understand now why she said her mum was dead,” she commented. “It’s because she wished it was true.” Her eyes came to Jenna’s. “It’s funny—well, sad, actually—that she picked on me because she thought our family was so perfect. I suppose Dad hadn’t gone then, so she didn’t know it was all an illusion.”

  “What she probably didn’t realize,” Jenna said, “is that
no one’s family is as perfect as they might seem from the outside. Everyone has their issues.”

  “Charlotte’s family seems pretty up together,” Paige replied. “So does Cullum’s.”

  “Cullum lost his mother a couple of years ago,” Jenna reminded her, “and I happen to know they’ve all had quite a struggle trying to get over it.”

  “Because Richard told you?”

  “Yes.”

  “He seems a really nice man.”

  “He is.”

  Paige drifted again, apparently losing herself to more inner reflections. “That still leaves Charlotte,” she pointed out in the end.

  Jenna’s smile was wry. “Not everyone has to be dealing with issues all of the time,” she responded, “and if we’re really lucky, they hardly come along at all.”

  “So we’re not very lucky.”

  “Not lately, but it’ll change. In fact, I have some news I can share with you, if you like, that I think you might want to hear.”

  Paige eyed her carefully, clearly still too bruised by her experiences to allow herself to think positively.

  “Actually there are two pieces of news,” Jenna corrected. “The first won’t interest you quite as much, but here goes: I spoke to my agent on the way home, and apparently an American film company wants to buy an option on Poetry Emotion.”

  Paige frowned. “What does that mean?”

  “It means they’re interested in turning it into a movie, provided they can raise the money.”

  Paige’s eyes rounded. “That is totally awesome,” she cried. “Oh my God, does it mean we’ll be going to Hollywood?”

  “Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Jenna laughed.

  “I know—let’s go through the book and decide who we think they should cast.”

  Liking the sound of that, Jenna hugged her tightly. Suspecting the best way to handle the next piece of news would be to treat it as if it were no big deal, she began unloading the dishwasher as she said, “The other call I received on my way home was from Oliver Pryce. He’s wondering if he can come and see you.”

  Paige’s jaw dropped as she stared at her mother in disbelief.

  Jenna pretended not to notice. “I said to come about five,” she added casually. “I hope that’s OK.”

  “You did what? Mum! You said what?”

  Jenna regarded her, all innocence. “Would you like me to change it?” she offered.

  “No! I mean, yes. Josh and the twins’ll be home by then.”

  “No they won’t. Dad’s taking them to TGI Fridays.”

  At the mention of her stepfather Paige’s face clouded, but only for a moment. “Oh my God,” she said, gulping, as she tried to think what to do. “Mum, do you have any idea…? I mean, I never told you this, but he is like…”

  “It’s OK, I know.” Jenna smiled.

  “What? How do you know?”

  “I’m your mother. Mothers know everything.”

  Paige’s eyes narrowed. “That would be seriously spooky if I didn’t know it wasn’t true.”

  Laughing, Jenna said, “You’ve got an hour to make yourself presentable.”

  “That is so not long enough.” Dashing up the stairs with Waffle hard on her heels, Paige almost shut him out in her haste to FaceTime Charlotte while she put on her makeup and tried to decide what the heck she was going to wear—never mind what she was going to say!

  —

  It was five minutes to five when Paige reappeared in the kitchen, her makeup so carefully applied it might have been done by a professional, and her white ruched top and her best jeans, the ones with rips in the knees, enjoying their first outing since purchase. She was so nervous and excited she almost squeezed her grandmother as Kay came in the door, asking what Richard’s son was doing hanging around outside.

  “He’s already here?” Paige gasped.

  “He’s obviously keen to see you,” Jenna commented.

  “Don’t say that,” Paige snapped. “Just don’t.”

  Jenna held up her hands. “You look lovely,” she told her.

  “Are you sure? I couldn’t make up my mind between this top and the red one we got in New Look. I thought this one made me look a bit more…you know.”

  “Definitely,” Jenna assured her.

  “What do you think, Grandma?”

  “Oh yes, definitely,” Kay agreed. “Very you know.”

  Since her grandma’s jokes were rare and almost never funny, Paige didn’t even pick up on it. “Shall I invite him in?” she asked.

  “I think you should,” Jenna replied.

  “But where can we go without everyone listening?”

  “There’s only me and Grandma here,” Jenna pointed out, “but if you insist, we can always go and sit in the car.”

  “Don’t you dare,” Paige growled, missing the irony again. “Oh my God, I am so nervous. What am I going to say to him?”

  “Why don’t you ask what his favorite hobbies are?” Kay suggested.

  Paige gawped at her. “Like I’m really going…What are you doing?” she protested as Jenna began steering her toward the door.

  “He’s waiting,” her mother reminded her, “and Grandma and I will stay here in the kitchen if you want to bring him in the front door and take him into the sitting room.”

  Moments later, wanting the ground to open up and swallow her as a mortifying rush of embarrassment turned her cheeks an unflattering puce, Paige stood staring at Oliver, not sure what to say or do. Since he was leaning against his car with his head down as he texted or checked his phone, he didn’t realize she was there at first. As soon as he did he put his phone away.

  “Hi,” he said, starting toward her. “Thanks for agreeing to see me.”

  He was so utterly and completely drop-dead that she had no idea how she managed such a casual little shrug as she said, “No problem. I mean, I think my mum agreed for me, but that’s OK.”

  With the lift of an eyebrow she’d seen him do on his video when he was singing the words “Are those smiles meant for me,” he said, “Cullum wanted to come with me, you know, to say sorry and everything, but I told him to pick his own time.”

  Paige gave a choked laugh, though she wasn’t sure why.

  “So how are you doing?” he asked.

  “I’m cool. I mean, it was all a bit…you know…”

  “Sure. You had us all pretty worried.”

  He was worried about me. “It was just dumb,” she said. “Kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing that got out of hand.”

  He nodded and came to lean against the wall next to her.

  “Do you want to come in?” she offered. It was freezing out here, but no way was she going to put a coat on and cover up what she was wearing.

  “I’m here to apologize,” he said, as though he hadn’t heard the invite. “I should have realized what was happening….I mean, I did. Cullum told me, and obviously I got that Kelly and her mates were making out they were you sending messages, putting stuff on my Facebook page, and all that. I should have done something about it, but I didn’t, and so I definitely owe you an apology.”

  “It’s OK,” she assured him, her heart so full she could hardly speak. He’d understood it wasn’t her, and now he felt bad for not coming to her rescue, which meant he wished he had. She wished he had too. “It wasn’t up to you to look out for me,” she said.

  “Yes it was. I can’t stand it when people are picked on, it really gets to me, and I could have made it stop. Honest to God, I kept meaning to, but there was like this other part of me that kept saying, ‘They’re just messing around, trying to get your attention, don’t rise to it.’ ”

  “I don’t blame you for thinking that.”

  “Kind of arrogant, though.”

  “Depends which way you look at it.”

  He cast her a glance, and when he smiled she felt her heart turn inside out. “Are you going back to school before the end of term?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “I don’t think so. Ap
parently I don’t have to, but that kind of feels like running away.”

  “No one would blame you if you wanted to hang loose for a while. Apart from my brother, who’s desperate for you to do the part of First Voice in the production on Good Friday.”

  Paige smiled. “Because if I don’t he’ll have to?”

  “I think that’s how it goes. He told me to tell you he’d pay you whatever you asked if you’d agree to do it.”

  Though Paige wanted to say she would, if only to prove to Oliver that she was coping with everything, she truly didn’t know if she could face it. “Tell him he’s not rich enough,” she quipped.

  Oliver laughed. “OK, I will. It’s kind of unusual having a girl in the part,” he added.

  “I’m down for other roles as well, but only minor ones.”

  He nodded. “I could never really get my head round that piece.”

  Not wanting to sound like a swot, she simply said, “I know what you mean.”

  After an awkward pause she went on, “It’s really good of you to come.”

  “It seemed the right thing to do, and now I’m glad I did.”

  Knowing she’d read massive amounts into that later, she said, “So where are you going now?”

  “Home, I guess. I’ve got a load of reviewing to do.”

  “When do your exams start?”

  “Middle of May, so not long.”

  “Will you take a gap year before going to uni?”

  “You bet. I’m ready to get away from this place, see a bit more of the world.”

  Filled with dismay at the thought of him looking forward to leaving, she said, “Who will you go with?”

  “Liam, I expect, and a couple of others.”

  It was out before she could stop it. “Lindsay?”

  He shook his head. “We’re not together anymore.”

  Paige’s heart felt like it was trying to leap out of her body. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “It’s cool. It was kind of coming for a while.” He turned to look at her. “That’s not to say…I mean, you and me…” He was clearly embarrassed and starting to blush.