Love Is a Secret Read Free Page B

he had been.
    ‘I’d wish Mum was here.’
    Of course. Mark wrapped his arms round his son. ‘She will be soon.’
    ‘Get off, Dad.’ Freddy lashed out with his fists, just missing him.
    ‘And get out of my room.’
    Hurt, Mark moved away. ‘Not till you turn that music down. What the hell is that rubbish?’
    Freddy’s eyes flashed. ‘My band, actually – Space Cadets.’
    Mark gulped. Before they’d had to move here, Freddy had formed a band with his London friends. He’d been happy then, had lived with his guitar strapped to his hip. They had made a demo, and Mark was going to help them send it to some music companies. (It might not get anywhere but the boys were so keen, it seemed wrong to dampen their enthusiasm.) Now he’d destroyed what had been possibly the last vestige of his son’s confidence.
    ‘It’s only that it’s a bit loud,’ said Mark, hastily, in an attempt to repair the damage.
    Freddy turned away from him, face to the wall. ‘You don’t like it.’
    ‘Well, the lyrics are quite rude, aren’t they?’
    ‘We'll put a Parents Advisory warning on it,’ mumbled Freddy.
    ‘Well, how about guitar lessons again, instead of the trumpet?’
    With any luck, it might be less invasive on the eardrums.
    ‘No.’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘Because I can’t be arsed. Get out, Dad. Please .’
    Suddenly there was a sound like a wardrobe crashing to the floor. Where did they get ring tones like that and how much had it cost? ‘Your phone,’ said Mark, wearily. ‘I’ve told you before not to have it on at night next to you.’
    He picked it up and Freddy snatched it. ‘Give it here.’
    ‘OK, OK! I wasn’t going to read your text messages. Now, change, will you?’
    Permanently, he added silently. Not just out of your pyjamas but with a lobotomy on top. ‘Then come down for breakfast.’
    Freddy put his head under the pillow. ‘Not hungry.’
    ‘You’ve got to eat or you won’t get through the day.’
    ‘How are you going to make me? Feed me like a baby or some spastic?’ His voice was muffled.
    ‘You know, Freddy, today’s politically correct term is “special needs”. You and I are very lucky to have the use of all our limbs, and one day you might just realise it. And, in answer to your question, yes, maybe I will feed you, if that’s what it takes to get breakfast down you.’
    Mark knew he was descending to his son’s level but he had a cousin, now in a home, who had never been able to walk or speak and his son’s comments had disturbed him. He’d always tried to explain social compassion for others but it looked like he’d failed.
    Again.
    ‘Dad. Dad! ’
    Florrie was yelling up the stairs now. Always yelling. Never coming to find him.
    ‘What?’
    ‘There are flames coming out of the toaster. Quick! ’
     

 
     
     
    4
     
    LISA
     
    08.40
     
This little bear can make your dreams come true by Christmas!
     
    ‘ So sweet! Do you hear that, Rose? One wish! But we need more than that, don’t we, to make you the prettiest girl in the world? Especially if we’re going to Paris!’
    Lisa turned her belly stud three times to the right for luck and drew her knees up to her chest, clasping them with her arms because it was more comfortable that way. Eyes closed. Ready.
    ‘I wish . . . that you’ll have strawberry-blonde hair, like, that I can tint with pink streaks when you’re older so everyone looks at us and says, “I can see you’re mother and daughter!” I wish that you’ll sleep well at night because we both need our beauty sleep. I wish that you’ll be clever as well as beautiful because I want you to do better at school than me. I wish you’ll always love me. I wish you’ll be happy. And I wish you’ll be healthy . . .’
    She shivered at the thought of her baby being damaged like those poor kids at the centre. Touch wood. Quick. Maybe she shouldn’t sit so near the screen. She ought to get one of those computer guards that were meant to deflect the rays