Motherlove

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by Thorne Moore


  Kelly shook her head. ‘She went to the police, and fessed up. They’re still trying to decide whether they should be bringing charges. Heather said no. Brave, don’t you think? Maybe that will count for something. It seems so pointless now, making a big legal thing of it. There are far more important things to deal with.’

  ‘Like getting to know your lost family.’

  ‘Yes. A week ago I thought I was Kelly Sheldon, in love with this lovely guy, and now I’m supposed to be Abigail Norris, with a mother I don’t know how to talk to, and a father who can’t decide if I’m a devil or an angel, and the lovely guy I was in love with turns out to be my brother, who has trouble even looking at me now.’

  Vicky winced. ‘I was thinking of us on interconnected roads. Now it’s as if, at one of those random junctions, there was an almighty car crash. I am so sorry.’

  ‘Yes, a crash, all right. Would it have been better or worse, do you think, if we’d never found out?’

  ‘Worse for me. Worse for Mrs Parish. But better for you. That is sad. I am sorry. What are you going to do? Stay here? Go back to Wales?’

  ‘Attempt both, I suppose. Try to build bridges. Stick by Roz, at least until we know what happens next. I’ve got a friend, a family friend, Roger. I phoned him yesterday, told him all about it. He’s coming over from Dorset. Quite comforting, actually, to think of someone coming to take control.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘He says I should think about university. A means of getting away, starting afresh on my own. Finding my feet as Kelly Sheldon, no one’s daughter or – sister. Just me. It makes sense, I suppose. If I can find a university near a prison.’

  ‘I’m sure she won’t go to prison. Not now.’

  They were silent. A duck came swimming towards them. Followed by ducklings, hurrying to keep up with their dam. Captured in their mother’s wake.

  ‘I wouldn’t be able to give her a kidney, you know,’ said Vicky.

  ‘No. I realised that.’

  ‘I really am sorry there’s no simple happy ending for you.’

  ‘I don’t think there are any endings, happy or unhappy. We just move on. On our diverging roads.’

  ‘Yes.’ Silence again.

  ‘Well. Keep in touch, do you think?’

  ‘Yes. Why not.’

  They parted, two girls, walking in different directions. On the lake, behind them, the ducks paddled aimlessly. Ripples circled out around them, meshing, separating, out and out and on and on forever.

  ABOUT HONNO

  Honno Welsh Women’s Press was set up in 1986 by a group of women who felt strongly that women in Wales needed wider opportunities to see their writing in print and to become involved in the publishing process. Our aim is to develop the writing talents of women in Wales, give them new and exciting opportunities to see their work published and often to give them their first ‘break’ as a writer. Honno is registered as a community co-operative. Any profit that Honno makes is invested in the publishing programme. Women from Wales and around the world have expressed their support for Honno. Each supporter has a vote at the Annual General Meeting. For more information and to buy our publications, please write to Honno at the address below, or visit our website: www.honno.co.uk

  Honno, 14 Creative Units, Aberystwyth Arts Centre Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3GL

  Honno Friends

  We are very grateful for the support of the Honno Friends: Jane Aaron, Annette Ecuyere, Audrey Jones, Gwyneth Tyson Roberts, Beryl Roberts, Jenny Sabine.

  For more information on how you can become a Honno Friend, see: http://www.honno.co.uk/friends.php

  First published by Honno Press in 2015

  ‘Ailsa Craig’, Heol y Cawl, Dinas Powys, South Glamorgan, Wales, CF64 4AH

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  Copyright © Thorne Moore, 2015

  The right of Thorne Moore to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

  The Author would like to stress that this is a work of fiction and no resemblance to any actual individual or institution is intended or implied.

  A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  Published with the financial support of the Welsh Books Council.

  ISBN 978-1-909983-20-5

  Cover design: Graham Preston

  Cover image © Corbis

 

 

 


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