Sara hadn’t
been at work for about three weeks and had given no excuse she now sat in
Patterson’s office listening to the woman patronising her “You know Miss
Landers this job may mean nothing to you…but it does to me” Sara stared above
her to where a wasp was buzzing about the light ‘I hope that thing stays up
there’ she thought as the woman raved on “Now Miss Landers you have already
had a verbal warning I now intend to give you a written warning” Sara glared at
her “Look I’ll save you the fucking trouble…I fucking hate this job it’s
boring…no worse than boring it fucking stinks!” the woman’s eyes widened in
alarm “Really Miss Landers there’s no need for that type of language” Sara
huffed then reached for her leather jacket “Oh just fuck off you old bat…I
quit!” she yelled as she marched from the office.
The warm
September sunshine hit her face as she emerged she smiled as she made her way
along the street free at last “Sara” a voice called she stopped dead “Ben…what
are you doing here?” she hadn’t seen or heard from him since June “I had to see
you” he said downheartedly she rolled her eyes “Well you’ve seen me now go!”
she said as she walked on Ben swallowed “I’m leaving! I’m going off to Uni” she simpered “That’s nice I hope you do
well” she said without looking at him “Thanks…Sara I’m leaving soon…I’ve got a
place in UCLA” she spun round “UCLA…but that’s in…” he smiled “Los Angeles I
know” she rushed back to him “Ben you can’t go…I mean it’s miles away…I’d never
see you” she was almost in tears “I’m going Sara…I have to” she shook her head
in disagreement “There’s plenty of Universities here Ben why do you have to go
to America?” he bowed his head “Because I can’t stand seeing you with Chris…so
I thought it’d be best if I leave…give us all a fresh start” Sara didn’t want a
fresh start this wasn’t what she wanted she didn’t want Ben on the other side
of the earth what if he met someone over there? America was full of gorgeous girls “I’m having a leaving party on
Saturday I’d like you and Chris to come” he invited she frowned then nodded as
she watched him walk slowly away.
She arrived
home to find her mother in the lounge speaking to someone “It’s only me I’ve
lost my job…I’m going upstairs okay” her mother pulled open the door “Never
mind that just now come in here there’s someone here to see you” Sara’s eyes
narrowed as she stepped into the lounge “Hello Sarah” the woman spoke “What are
you doing here?” Isobel Duncan-Jones smiled “I came to speak with you Sarah”
Sara grew angry “Well I don’t want to speak to you and my name’s Sara” her
mother placed a hand on her shoulder “Just let her have her say darling” Sara
let out a deep sigh “Fine but you stay here mum” she insisted “I was rather hoping that we could go out to
lunch or something?” Sara glanced at the only mother she knew “Go on love…I’m
only at the other end of the phone” Sara shrugged then kissed her mother’s
cheek “I’ll be back soon mum” she said pointedly.
Isobel
Duncan-Jones opened the car door Sara glancing at the silver Audi as she got
into the passenger seat she reached for the seat belt then waved to her mother
“Is there anywhere special you like to eat?” she shrugged as her the woman
backed out of the drive “McDonalds” she muttered then grinned she couldn’t
really see this woman with a milk shake and big mac “You choose” she said as
they headed out of the village towards the town.
About half an
hour later she found herself seated in the restaurant of a luxury hotel “So
tell me Isobel…what changed your mind?” she asked as she watched the woman
delicately dab the corners of her mouth on a the soft white napkin “I have
thought of nothing else since your visit Sarah…Sara you turning up on my door
step like that was a shock I had buried my past so deep that I thought it
couldn’t be reached…silly I know” Sara glanced at her “When my husband came
home the following weekend I told him the whole story” Sara raised her eyebrows
“And what happened?” the woman smiled warmly across to where her daughter sat
“He was so supportive Sara…he wanted to know why I sent you away” Sara smiled
“He nagged and nagged me to contact you again so here I am” Sara lifted the
wine goblet “I’m ready to tell you everything Sara…if you want to hear it” Sara
nodded eagerly.
Sara watched as
this woman lit a cigarette then blew smoke across the table “Well where do I
start” she said “To let you understand…Sara I was a very ambitious woman when I
was young…I wanted more than the typical suburban housewife…I met your father
when I worked as a secretary for a small business we dated a few times but he
always knew I’d never marry him…he joined the army and moved away I never seen
him again…anyway soon afterwards I discovered I was pregnant…well darling you
weren’t part of the plan…when I said I wanted to get rid of you that wasn’t
entirely true I was planning to have you adopted that’s when Irene came up with
her plan…your mum and dad had been trying to have another baby but due to
complications when Kim was born Irene found out she couldn’t have any more
children…we talked it over your mum dad and I and we came up with the perfect
solution they’d raise you as their own and I could get on with my life but that
didn’t stop me loving you…I knew you’d find me one day” Sara had so many
questions running around her head “My real dad what was he like?” she asked
Isobel smiled “He was a really nice man but he was killed during the Falklands
war…here” she opened her bag and produced a picture of a fair haired young man
in his twenties “You have his eyes…I noticed that the day you came to my
door…this is the address of his parents they’re eager to get to know you
darling but only if you want to” Sara glanced at the address her head in a
spin.
That evening
she spoke to her sister then went round to have a chat with Morven “Wow…things
really have happened…what are you going to do?” Sara shrugged “I want to know
everything about my dad Morven but I’m scared…what if they don’t like me”
Morven smiled “I think they’re as eager as you are” she advised but Sara wasn’t
so sure she didn’t want another rejection.
Chris offered
to go with her to visit her father’s parents “No it’s okay…I’d rather go on my
own” she said he looked suspiciously at her “Really?”
“Yes Chris…really”
“I’d feel better if I went with you?”
“Why? Don’t you
trust me?”
“Of course I do it’s just…”
“Chris stop giving me the third degree…you either trust me
or you don’t!”
“I do”
“Well you’ve a funny way of showing it”
“Sorry” he apologised
“So you should be Chris…you question me every chance you
get”
“No I don’t!” he replied indignantly
“Yes…you do!”
“Okay…point taken…I’ll try not to question you, “ he hissed
as he got up from the lounge.
Sara watched
him enter the kitchen she was really beginning to loath him everything about
him annoyed her his voice his touch his very existence. And Ben was leaving because of them or
because of Chris “Did you know Ben’s leaving” she casually announced from the
door Chris whirled round “No…no I didn’t where is he going?” Sara tried hard
not to take her temper out on him “America…Los Angeles to be exact” Chris
frowned “Well I wish him all the best” Sara felt her insides tighten at the
prospect of Ben’s departure “At least he’s going to make something of himself”
she added Chris looked stunned “And I wont?” she bowed her head “Well you
haven’t the faintest idea what you’re going to do when you leave” Chris stared
wide-eyed “I have to consider my options Sara…It depends on my results” Sara
tried to stop herself “Yeah but let’s face it Ben has better prospects than
you” Chris was stunned “Well if you think he’ll give you a better life then go
to him!” Sara had gone too far “Oh I’m sorry” she said as she placed her arms
around him “I didn’t mean it” she apologised Chris embraced her once again ‘Shit
back to square one’ she thought bitterly why couldn’t she be strong and
tell him the truth?