“Look Shazza thanks for letting me know but it’s not my problem anymore. I hope they’re both happy together. I begin to step back towards the door. “Sorry I can’t invite you in. Thanks again and I’ll see you around.” I smile at her and she smiles back as she turns into Goodwood.
“What did she want?” My dad looks slightly annoyed.
“She wants to know if I want to go to a concert with her.” Lying to them is the best way. It means fewer questions, which makes for a happier family life.
“I hope you told her no Livvy. We don’t want you hanging around with that sort. They’re trouble.” When my dad puts on Bob Marley and reads the Sunday tabloids I know this means he wants to me left alone. So I head to the kitchen and help mum cook the Sunday roast. My mum always opens the back door when she cooks. The scent of spices drifts in from the neighbour’s house, making me feel hungry.
“So Livvy are you looking forward to going back to University?
“Yes mum. I’m looking forward to seeing my friends again.” You know I’m thinking of Simon right? “Student support has said that they will help in any way they can until my leg gets better.”
“That’s great honey. I can see from your face that you’re feeling better. You’ve got a shinny, happy expression. Cut the yams a bit smaller darling so they boil nice and soft.”
“I met missus Morris in church today. She told me her son Lester’s got a permanent job at the garage now that he’s a fully qualified car mechanic. He’s trouble that one. I know he stole the Jones’s new car, it’s a shame the police can’t prove it. Still at least it’s some comfort to his mother to know that he’s got a job…” I don’t think Lester’s mum has revealed that her son’s got a girl pregnant and that she’s living with him in the squat he calls a flat. I hope my mum never finds out that Lester was in her house. Part of me misses Lester but the sensible part tells me tells that I’ve had a lucky escape.
I always love Sunday lunch. My nan comes round as do my aunt, uncle and cousins. The conversation is always lively. My dad gets everyone going with his pub philosophy.
“…no Tyler man you’re wrong, I can distinctly remember it was nineteen ninety eight cos that was the year you and Pats adopted Li…” A sudden hush falls, my mum’s face turns grey and my dad just looks stunned. “…I mean the year when my cousin came over from Barbados.”
“Livvy darling will you get the dessert from the kitchen please.” I look back and forth and my mum and dad but neither look at me.
Chapter Five
I’m sitting in my room texting Simon when my dad shouts me to come downstairs. My dad never asks he commands.
“Sit down Livvy darling.” The atmosphere in the room feels odd and my parents look nervous. “Livvy there’s something your father and I want to talk to you about.” My mother looks at my dad for support.
“After me and your dad got married we tried for a baby. Well we tried for years and years. But the good Lord did not see fit to bless us. So we decided to adopt a child from Barbados.
“I know I’m adopted I heard you talking to the doctor when I was in hospital.
“That’s why we finally decided to tell you, because the truth always comes out.”
“So I was born in Barbados then?” My dad looks at my mum and vice versa.
“Yes. They were a young couple, unmarried. We wanted you from the moment we saw you.” My mum smiles that smile at me again.
“You’re lying. I’ve seen my birth certificate. I was born in Leicester. I bolt out of the front door into the dead of the night.
I swing gently back and forth on the rusty old swing, listening to the traffic on Goodwood Road. I know the nosey old whore’s watching me even though I’ve got my back to her. I can hear the rhyme again in my head so I sing along. “Pretty little Vicky dancing around a tree…”
“I knew I’d find you here.” I don’t look at Tyler as he sits in the swing next to me. “Livvy you’ve got to hear this. When me and your mum…” I stare back at him. “When me and Pats give up on having kids, she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and our marriage well…So when I found you I thank the good Lord.”
“You found me, where?”
“I was in my cab picking up an early morning fare on Goodwood Road and there you were by yourself just dancing around a tree wearing a pretty dress, a bow in your hair and little white socks. I parked up and watched but no-one came out to you. So I drove around again to see if I can see someone, anyone. When I came back you were still there. So I put you in by cab and bring you home. I don’t know how old you were but I’m guessing not more than three.”
“You took me from my family?”
“Livvy. No-one came looking for you. No-one reported you missing.” Tyler reaches out and touches my arm.
“Me and your mum we wanted you from the moment we saw you. We still want you. You’re our daughter.”
“What about my birth certificate?”
“It’s forged; my brother got it made up.”
“Living somewhere on Goodwood Road are my real parents, possibly siblings.”
“Babes, in the fifteen years you’ve lived with us no-one has ever come looking for you. You were abandoned. If I hadn’t brought you home you would have ended up in a care home.” I feel the tears running down my frozen face and I wipe away with my sleeve. It’s a while before I stand up and look at my dad. He smiles at me holding out his hand. I finally put my hand in his.
“Let’s go home, your mum’s waiting.” I look back at Goodwood Road from the cab and I say goodbye to pretty little Vicky.
End of part one.
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