Single Mother

by Samantha Hayes

  ‘But you hardly ever replied to me, Dad,’ Kate says, scowling at him.

  ‘I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’ve been… I’ve been busy.’

  Busy dealing drugs or stealing, no doubt, Mel thinks.

  ‘And I also gave her the phone because…’ Billy hesitates, glancing over his shoulder, checking the officers are still distracted. ‘Cos I always wanted to know where she was.’

  ‘What?’ Mel says.

  ‘I put a tracker on her phone. And a good job I did,’ he adds. ‘It showed me where you’d moved to, of course, but when she didn’t answer my calls the last twenty-four hours, I got twitchy and checked her location. I didn’t like the look of where she was, out in the middle of nowhere, so that’s why I came here. I saw through the window that git had got her tied up.’ Billy wipes his hands down his face, a sweat breaking out on his forehead as he fidgets. ‘He looked a big bastard, so I broke in round the back to take him by surprise. And then you tipped up…’ He glances at Mel and Tom in turn.

  ‘It seems our girl is a bit of a vigilante.’ He reaches into the van and chucks her under the chin. Kate looks up and gives a little smile at her dad. ‘Before he got the knife on her, she was giving that old boy a right dressing down, from what I could hear. But don’t bloody do it again, all right?’ he adds, squeezing Kate’s hand as he leans over Mel. ‘Leave it to the pros, next time.’

  Kate nods, looking down into her lap.

  ‘What do you mean, vigilante? What are you talking about, Billy?’

  But it’s Kate who replies. ‘Don’t be cross, Mum. I wanted to help Sarah,’ she says. ‘She’s suffered so much, it’s terrible. She told me everything. She’s been talking to me since we arrived. She’s really nice. I’m the only person she’s ever spoken to about it, and she said it’s because I remind her of her when she was young. She begged me not to tell anyone.’ Kate sniffs, rubbing her nose. ‘And she hates being called Miss Sarah.’

  Mel glances at Tom.

  ‘When she was young, that horrid man in the house abused her and beat her up all the time. He did terrible things to her. She was only eight when it started. And when she was only a bit older than me, she had a baby from him. Then she had another and another, and…’ Kate breaks down, choking back her sobs, determined to be brave. ‘Her mother, Joyce, didn’t care about her. Not like you care about me, Mum. Sarah said Joyce had turned hard and cold and didn’t look after her properly. She said it was because her mum’s boyfriend, Donald, liked Sarah more and that Joyce was jealous. It was all so messed up.’

  ‘Oh, love,’ Mel says. ‘You shouldn’t have had to bear all this alone. Why didn’t you tell me?’

  Kate stutters then, glancing between Billy and her mum. ‘I promised Sarah I wouldn’t tell anyone. And… and you’d been through too much already. I love you and I love Dad the same, but all you did was fight. It tore me apart inside. I know Dad did bad stuff he shouldn’t have. I can’t forgive him for that, but he’s still my dad. When I heard about that man hurting Sarah, I didn’t want him to get away with it. It was like I could… like I could punish Dad but without actually hurting him, if you see what I mean. I thought it would make me feel better, and Sarah too.’

  Kate takes a moment to catch her breath. Mel glances at Billy – his head hanging low.

  ‘Sarah told me who had hurt her, that he still lived nearby. And she told me how she was frightened every single day of her childhood, how everyone made fun of her cos she didn’t speak, because she was… somehow different from the other kids.’ Kate sniffs, takes a breath. ‘And you know what? I knew exactly how she felt.’ Her face crumples into a scowl.

  ‘Oh, Kate…’ Mel says, hardly able to stand to hear it.

  ‘It was easy to find out who the man was. Everyone talks in this village. I spotted him a couple of times going into the village shop after I’d got off the school bus. He’d go in for his paper and tobacco, and one time I followed him around a bit. Chloe told me where he lived and I looked it up on the map. Last night, I figured I had my chance. I snuck out while you’d gone to see Tom with that cake and—’

  Mel lets out a deep groan and hangs her head.

  ‘Cake?’ Tom says, bewildered.

  ‘Long story,’ Mel says, not wanting to interrupt Kate’s flow. ‘I came round to make it up to you, but I saw through your window that… that you had company.’

  ‘Ahh, yes, I did. My sister, Lena, is over from Canada for a couple of weeks. She’s staying with Dad but came round to mine last night. It was a big reunion. I’ve not seen her in nearly five years.’

  ‘Your sister?’ Mel says, wishing the ground would swallow her up. She clears her throat, patting Kate’s arm. ‘Carry on, love.’

  ‘It took ages to walk all the way up here. And it was scary on my own, but I wanted to spy on him, maybe even catch him doing… doing some bad stuff and get photos. I was going to send them to Dad and get him to sort it, or I would call the police. Maybe I was going to let his tyres down or put something horrid in his letterbox. But…’ Kate covers her face. ‘But he must have seen me arrive because he suddenly came out and grabbed me. I tried to get away, but he was too strong and dragged me inside. He shoved me in a room and locked me in until today. All I had was water. I was so scared, Mum,’ Kate cries, nestling into Mel’s hug. ‘I was stupid and upset, and I wish I hadn’t done it. I wasn’t thinking straight after… after I’d found the skel…’ She trails off for a moment, collecting herself, her shallow breaths heaving in and out of her chest. ‘I thought I was going to die, that I’d never see you or Dad again.’

  Kate sobs for a while, with Mel exchanging glances with Tom and Billy as she cradles her daughter, stroking her head.

  ‘I… I feel like I’m stuck in these two worlds, Mum,’ Kate continues, blowing her nose. ‘Your world and Dad’s world, because I love you both the same. But I’m just so angry about everything! Angry like Sarah is angry. And when I found those bones… I knew it was Sarah’s baby. She told me the first time she got pregnant she didn’t even know what was happening to her. She… she always had to hide in her room to keep away from Donald, and one day she just gave birth, all alone. Her mother didn’t know and, if she did, she didn’t even care. But the baby died and so Sarah buried it secretly one night. It was where Chloe and I were digging, so I knew her story must be true.’ Sobs tighten Kate’s throat as she tries to get it all out.

  ‘Sarah told me there was another baby a year later and she had to bury that one too, near the first one, and her mother caught her doing it. Then she had two more babies but they lived. Joyce was so cross with her that both times she took them away as soon as they were born. She just left them to be found. Can… can you even imagine that happening?’

  Kate breaks down again, burying her face in Mel’s shoulder, shaking her head from side to side.

  ‘No, love… no, I can’t,’ Mel says, fighting back her own tears.

  As Tom, Mel and Kate wait in the truck as instructed by the police, it feels as if time stands still. The air in the wooded yard hangs heavy with a foetid smell – a mix of animal dung and tractor diesel. Billy paces around outside, chain-smoking, as they wait. Mel glances at him occasionally, wondering what is going on inside his head – now, and way back.

  Things had been good once, she tells herself. It wasn’t all bad. She pulls Kate closer, not regretting meeting Billy because otherwise she wouldn’t have her daughter. But she’ll never forgive him for what he did to her, and for what he put Kate through.

  Fifteen minutes later, PC Gordon comes out of the old house, her expression dour. Mel and Tom get out of the truck, joining the officer and Billy.

  ‘A detective and a forensics team are on the way up. You’ll all have to make official statements, obviously, but I’d like a quick rundown of what happened,’ she says, addressing all of them.

  Mel opens her mouth, ready to explain everything – how she’d only intended to stun Donald Bray just long enough to grab Kate. Though she suspects the co
nsequences will be pretty dire, even if her actions are deemed to be self-defence. The man is dead.

  But Billy gets in first, giving Mel a sharp look.

  ‘I hit the old git with the poker when his back was turned,’ he says, matter-of-factly. ‘Sharp blow to the back of the head. He’d got my girl, a knife at her throat, so what’s a man supposed to do? I hit him again and then he let go of Kate, but he fell down. Stupid bugger landed on his own knife.’ Billy shrugs and lights another cigarette.

  Mel feels Tom’s eyes on her as her cheeks burn scarlet. She looks back at Kate sitting in the truck, her knees drawn up under her chin as she rocks gently, a frown on her forehead.

  She needs me, Mel thinks. She needs her mother…

  ‘Yes, that’s correct,’ Mel says to PC Gordon, giving a sharp nod of her head. ‘Billy was acting purely in self-defence, for all of us, as well as in Kate’s best interests.’

  ‘Agreed,’ Tom says a moment later, clearing his throat. He shuffles from one foot to the other.

  PC Gordon stares at them all for a moment, her eyes narrowing, only speaking when an ambulance trundles into the yard through the narrow gateway. ‘Right,’ she says, raising her eyebrows and taking a breath. ‘Billy, I’d like you to come with us to the station to make a formal statement. Mel, after Kate’s had a medical check, you can take her home if the crew say she’s OK. Officers will be up first thing to take your statements. It goes without saying that it wouldn’t be a good time to leave the area.’

  ‘Of course,’ Mel says, glancing at Billy. He smokes the last of his cigarette before dropping the butt and treading on it.

  ‘Do you have a vehicle here, Mr…?’ PC Gordon asks Billy.

  ‘Last name’s Morgan,’ he says flatly, flashing a quick look at Kate in the truck. ‘Yeah, my van’s parked a little way up, by them old barns. Didn’t want to announce myself.’

  ‘If you give me the keys, I’ll arrange for someone to pick it up.’

  Billy fishes in his pocket for the keys and hands them over, giving Mel a look. She knows he rarely bothered with road tax or insurance, let alone an MOT. But she also knows that he’ll very likely talk his way out of that, as well as the mess he’s purposefully landed himself in to protect her. And, while he might have twenty-four hours or so at the station, he’ll likely be swaggering out of custody some time tomorrow.

  ‘Take care, Billy,’ Mel says as PC Gordon leads him over to the police car.

  He stops, giving her a nod, raising his hand to his brow almost in a salute. ‘Look after my girl,’ he replies. ‘Tell her I’ll see her soon.’

  Mel nods and, as she watches him get in the car – hands shoved deep in his pockets, head ducking low – for once in her life she actually feels grateful to him for turning up like the bad penny she knows he is.

  Fifty

  Tom drives steadily – mainly to reflect the sombre mood, though of course Mel is awash with relief that Kate is safe, even if she is badly shaken up. She holds her daughter tightly, never wanting to let go, as they sit side by side in the front of the pick-up, relieved the paramedics had given her the all-clear.

  ‘I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you, Tom,’ Mel says, touching his arm as he grips the steering wheel. ‘For going through that with me, for being there.’

  He gives a lopsided smile, glancing sideways with one of those looks in his eyes.

  ‘You could bring that cake round?’

  ‘Ah,’ Mel replies, clearing her throat. ‘I may… well, it may have got eaten. But I’ll happily make you another, though I’ll make sure it’s not curry-flavoured this time.’

  ‘Curry-flavoured?’

  ‘Don’t even ask,’ Mel replies. ‘You can help me, Kate. You know what my baking’s like.’

  Kate gives a little nod, snuggling up closer to her mum. ‘Why have they taken Dad away? Will he get put in prison again?’

  ‘So he can tell them what happened, love,’ Mel replies, giving Tom a quick look. ‘I’m sure they’ll let him go soon.’

  ‘Did he hurt that man Donald?’ she asks. ‘Is he dead? I didn’t see anything. It was all so quick and I was really frightened. I can’t remember a single thing apart from having a knife at my throat one minute and then Tom grabbing me.’

  Mel makes a sound in her throat – not quite denial or confirmation.

  ‘Did Dad save me?’ Kate asks.

  ‘Yeah,’ Mel says through a sigh. ‘Yeah, he saved you, love.’ She kisses Kate’s cheek.

  Tom touches the brakes lightly as they round a descending bend, heading back down into the village, but then he steps on the pedal harder when he sees someone walking on their side of the lane and a car coming the other way.

  ‘That’s Angus,’ Mel says suddenly. ‘Pull over.’ Mel winds down her window. ‘Angus! Angus… it’s us.’

  Angus swings round, a panicked look on his face, but then relief when he sees who it is.

  ‘We wondered where you went,’ she says, leaning out of the window. ‘Hop in the back.’

  Angus nods and gets in the rear door, belting up behind Mel. ‘Thanks for stopping,’ he says. ‘I’m so relieved you found Kate.’

  ‘Where did you go, mate?’ Tom asks, flicking a glance in his rear-view mirror.

  ‘I… well, I hid outside for a while… in case you needed backup,’ Angus says nervously. ‘Then I went… I went to get help. I thought it best.’

  Tom gives him another look.

  ‘Wouldn’t it have been quicker to phone for help?’ Mel says.

  ‘My battery had run out,’ Angus replies in a way that almost sounds like a question rather than a statement of fact. ‘I thought one of us should stay outside, you know, to get the police if needed.’

  ‘I’m surprised you didn’t see them pass before,’ Tom says.

  ‘Oh, oh, yes. I did. A big relief.’

  ‘You missed all the action,’ Tom says, giving another glance in the mirror. Mel spots the smirk on his face and gives him a little poke in the thigh. ‘It’s OK, Angus. I don’t blame you for legging it. It wasn’t pretty,’ he adds.

  ‘Sorry,’ he says meekly. ‘I’m… I’m just glad Kate is OK.’

  ‘Uncle Micky?’ Kate says as they go into the bar area. She runs up to him, launching herself into his open arms.

  ‘My little Katie-Matey,’ he sings back, grateful that Mel texted him an update. ‘Christ, you had us all going there, young lady. Whatever it was you did, don’t do it again.’

  ‘I won’t, I promise,’ she says into his neck. ‘I feel stupid and scared and—’

  ‘Kate…’ comes a voice across the room – a soft yet warm voice, almost singing Kate’s name. Everyone turns to the table in the window. Sarah is standing there, her arms outstretched. Kate walks over to her.

  ‘Nana Sarah,’ she says as the pair embrace, sharing a whisper so quiet no one else can hear.

  ‘Mum?’ Angus says cautiously after Kate has sat down, taking the glass of water Mel has poured for her. Mel makes a lemon drink for Sarah then goes round closing all the shutters, not wanting anyone outside to see inside now that it’s dark. She goes to check the sign outside, but Nikki had left it set to closed earlier. Both she and Rose have gone home.

  Sarah stares at Angus, sipping on her drink, giving Mel a little smile when she tastes the gin in it. She tips her head sideways and squints at Angus, sizing him up. ‘So you’re Angus,’ she says. Her voice sounds almost sweet, yet with an undertone of authority. As though she knows exactly what she’s saying, is sure of every syllable, but has just been waiting for the right moment to say it.

  Mel stops halfway across the room, balancing a tray of glasses and a bottle of Scotch for everyone. She catches Michael’s eye, who beckons her to follow him out of the room with a flick of his head.

  ‘I am indeed,’ Angus replies. ‘I’m Mel’s brother. Which also makes me your son,’ he adds, a coy, unassuming tone to his voice as he sits down beside Sarah.

  ‘I see,’ she says, hardly
able to take her eyes off him.

  Fifty-One

  Mel puts the tray down and follows Michael out into the back hallway, switching on the light.

  ‘You OK?’ he says, lightly taking her forearms, sliding his hands down to hers.

  Mel shakes her head. ‘Barely,’ she says. ‘What a bloody day. I don’t even know which way up I am. But thank Christ Kate is safe. I’d never have forgiven myself if—’

  ‘Sshh,’ Michael says, placing a finger over her lips. ‘That’s not allowed, OK?’

  ‘OK,’ she says, managing a small smile. ‘But I’m never letting her out of my sight again,’ she adds. ‘You wouldn’t even believe what happened.’

  ‘Nor you with what’s happened here,’ Michael says. ‘Sarah spilled her guts to me while you were out. By the way, don’t call her Miss. Trust me, just don’t do it.’

  ‘I already know that,’ Mel says. ‘And I know why.’ She shudders. ‘Did she tell you about Bray? The babies? Her past?’

  Michael nods. ‘Fucking tragic, all of it.’

  ‘You realise that Angus and I are the ones who got taken by Joyce and abandoned? Him dumped on the police station doorstep, and me put on a train like left luggage.’

  Michael nods, glances at the floor.

  ‘Tom says his dad remembers Joyce as a decent sort when she was younger. Walter, his dad, had a massive crush on her, apparently. She used to be vibrant and full of life, but Bray sucked it out of her over the years. Then he started in on her daughter.’

  ‘Sadly, that all makes sense,’ Michael says.

  ‘How so?’ Mel asks.

  ‘First thing is that Sarah seems to trust me. Perhaps because I was the one who did the DNA test, rightly or wrongly,’ he adds, holding up his palms in defence. ‘And therefore I led her to you. But…’

  ‘Go on,’ Mel says.

  ‘It figures why this Bray chap would latch onto Joyce. According to Sarah, she was worth a bob or two. Easy prey for someone like Bray, who’d got nothing going for him.’