Split Second Read Free Page B

laughing. I’d grown up watching those films, hearing the sound of Dad’s guffaws, seeing his eyes shining with love for
Mum.
    I hated Brian for reminding me. Tears filled my eyes and I turned my face away, not wanting him to see how much losing Mum hurt.
    Brian stopped laughing. There was a pause then he spoke in a low, gruff voice, quite different to the formal tone he’d used before.
    ‘I deserve that, Charlotte,’ he said. ‘I’m truly sorry for all that you’ve been through. My mother died when I was younger. I know how hard it is and I can’t
imagine how impossible it must be for you losing your mum at such a young age.’
    I looked back at him. ‘I’m doing fine,’ I said, ‘and it’s Charlie, not Charlotte.’
    ‘Okay.’ Brian nodded. He beckoned his wife, who drifted nervously to his side, eyeing me as if I were a wild dog that might bite her if she wasn’t careful. ‘Gail and I
would like to help.’
    I stared at them. ‘Help?’
    ‘Why don’t we all sit down?’ Karen tugged me onto the chair next to her. Brian and Gail sat opposite.
    ‘It’s been difficult, as you
know
, Charlie,’ Karen said. She laid her hand over mine. ‘I love you very much but I don’t think it’s really working
out. We’ve both said as much, so . . .’ She tailed off, not meeting my eyes.
    ‘You’re kicking me out?’ I said.
    ‘No.’ That was Brian. He leaned forward. ‘I’m back in London for work and living with the family full time instead of only at weekends. Gail and I
want
to have
you. We have a super house and I’ve got a great job at ViaTech – and a good job is a big deal these days, as you’ll know. Rosa’s your age. Well, she’s nearly ten
months younger, but you’re the same year at school. We’re your family. And I think it’s time we stepped in.’
    ‘We just want to help, Charlie,’ Gail said. Her eyes were round and soft. ‘I only met your mother a few times but I liked her. It’s a shame we lost touch. And I know we
should have done more over the past few months but with Brian spending so much time out of the country it’s been hard.’
    I looked from her to Brian. ‘You want me to come and live with you?’ I turned to Karen. ‘You want me to go?’
    Karen looked down. ‘It’s not that, exactly.’
    Something twisted in my guts. It
was
that. Exactly.
    ‘We’d treat it as a trial,’ Brian said. ‘Like a holiday, trying it out for a couple of weeks. There’s no need to involve social services or do anything formal at
this stage.’
    ‘Does that mean I won’t have to go to school?’ I looked up.
    Brian chuckled. ‘I’m afraid school is non-negotiable. This is an important year for you, with your GCSEs coming up. Anyway, trying out Rosa’s school is part of the reason for
coming to stay for a couple of weeks.’
    ‘It’s a great place, Charlie,’ Gail said. ‘Newbury Park. Rosa loves it. It’s private, with lots of super facilities.’
    ‘A
private
school?’ I sat back. Since the economy had got worse last year, lots of private schools had shut because parents couldn’t afford the fees. You had to be
really rich to go to one.
    ‘We’d be happy to pay for your place there if you decide to stay. It’s not a problem,’ Brian said.
    I sat back, my head spinning. I’d never been to a private school before or mixed with private school kids. And I had no idea what Rosa would be like. On the other hand, the prospect of
getting away from here was tempting.
    ‘Where do you live?’ I asked.
    ‘North London,’ Gail said. ‘Near Hendon.’
    I nodded. Back to London then . . . not far from where Mum and I had lived and even closer to where my dad had grown up. Near, in fact, to the market where Mum had been killed. Still, I could
avoid ever going there again. And no-one would tease me about my accent in London, either.
    Brian stood up. ‘Take some time to think about it. I know things haven’t been easy for you this year. But Gail and I want to