The Way We Were_ A Novel - Marcia Willett [41]
Her eyes flash back to him so sharply, so triumphantly, that he feels anxious; at the same time he has the impression that this is what she's been waiting for.
‘Brother and sister?’ she repeats, keeping her voice low. ‘But they're not really, are they?’
He is puzzled. ‘Yes, they are. And Andy's my brother too. Andy and Liv are twins. They're eight and Charlie is nearly six. I'm the youngest. I'm four.’
‘But they're not really your brothers and sister,’ she says insistently. ‘Everyone knows that. You're adopted. Hasn't anyone told you?’
‘No,’ he says fearfully. ‘What's adopted?’
‘It means you haven't got your own mother and father.’
‘But I have,’ he cries with relief. ‘I've got a mother and father.’
She glances swiftly round again. Her voice is even lower but just as insistent. ‘They aren't your real mother and father. Yours are dead. That's why you're adopted.’
Dead. Adopted. The sinister words toll, bell-like, in his head; his stomach churns.
‘No,’ he says. ‘No,’ but she is suddenly distracted. Liv is coming towards them and Catriona slips away without another word, avoiding Liv, disappearing from the room.
Zack catches hold of Liv, frightened and confused, unable to think of the right words to frame his question properly.
‘Mummy's here,’ she says. ‘Come on. It's time to go home.’
He slips obediently from his chair, following her out, looking around for Catriona but she is nowhere to be seen. Squashed in the back of the car with Andy and Charlie (it's Liv's turn to ride in the front) Zack perches on the edge of the seat, waiting for his chance to speak.
‘The beastly Cat was there,’ Liv is telling Mummy. ‘They've moved back to Cornwall.’
Zack can't remember seeing a cat but he is too determined to have his say to wonder much about what Liv is saying.
‘Mummy,’ he says, clutching the back of her seat, speaking loudly over the boys’ squabbling, ‘there was a girl at the party called Catriona. She says I'm adopted.’ He stands up so as to be able to speak right into her ear. ‘She says you aren't my mother. She says my mother is dead.’
Liv twists round in the front seat, her face shocked – but it is not the shock of indignation at a lie; it is the shock of pity and fear. Even the boys stop arguing, frozen into watchfulness. In the terrible silence that follows Zack is filled with terror. He knows at once that it is true: he is adopted.
2004
Caroline came into the bedroom as Zack was pulling on his sweatshirt. Her bump was noticeable now, even under her loose shirt, and he was stirred with a mixture of love and anxiety for her. He had to try hard lately not to brood about Tiggy dying when he was born. After all, he told himself, it had been such a one-off situation; a car accident followed by a long walk in a thunderstorm. Even so, it was not always easy to hide his fear for Caroline. He looked at her critically; pregnancy suited her, no doubt about that. Her conker-brown hair shone with health and her honey-brown eyes were clear and happy.
‘Liv's just phoned,’ she said. ‘She's suggested we go down and have some lunch with them. Would you like it? You haven't seen Penharrow since they officially opened. I went down for May Day and we went to Padstow to see the old ’Obby ’Oss. It was such fun. Even Val enjoyed it. The Teaser was hopping round, prodding the old ’Oss with his stick, and the ’Oss was snapping his jaws and then suddenly he grabbed Val and pulled her in under his capes. Well, you know what that's supposed to mean, the fertility rite and all that, and when poor old Val shot out again she was looking all flustered and embarrassed, but laughing too. Liv was in great form as usual. Anyway, she sends her love and says come to lunch.’
Zack sat down on the bed to put on his shoes. ‘Would you like to go?’
‘Well, I would. Liv's always such fun and we could have a walk on the cliffs.’
‘OK, then,’ he said. ‘Why not?’
She sat down beside him and pulled his arm around her shoulder. ‘It's nice here, isn't it, Zack? It's good to have you back.’
He held her gently, his cheek resting on her head,