‘They also found me fully dressed.’
‘Well, it’s easy enough to slip a T-shirt and leggings back on,’ Mum snapped. ‘We were banging on the door for a good minute before we came in.’
‘Why don’t you just say it?’ I said, the words choking in my throat. ‘Ask me if we had sex.’
‘Well, I think that’s pretty obvious.’
Mum couldn’t look at me. Her knuckles were white where she gripped the cold mug of tea in her hands.
‘Is it? Because we didn’t. We did nothing like that. Yes, I like Jonah. But if you read my journal, you know that I was never going to do anything about it. I wouldn’t let a stupid crush ruin his chances of being adopted.’
‘But you did, when you spent the night in his room,’ Dad said, the disappointment on his face even worse than the anger earlier.
‘It was one night! We were chatting and we fell asleep! It was extreme circumstances and we won’t do it again. Obviously!’
‘Libby,’ Robin said, gently. ‘You know Jonah can’t stay.’
At that moment the front door opened, and the unmistakable sound of Jonah’s boots clomped down the hallway. Before Clarecould intercept him, he was standing in the kitchen doorway, his face a mask.
‘Jonah,’ Clare said. ‘Libby was just telling us that last night was the first time anything had happened between you.’
‘Nothing happened!’ I cried, trying to send Jonah desperate messages with my eyes, which he refused to acknowledge.
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, Libby. Please stop this charade,’ Mum said.
‘You want to know the truth?’ Jonah asked, sounding as if he couldn’t have cared less.
‘That would be very helpful, thank you,’ Robin said.
Jonah leant against the doorframe. ‘We kissed. It was the first time it happened, but it wasn’t the first time I wanted it to. And I’m not going to pretend I don’t want it to happen again.’
‘What the—?’ Mum jumped up so fast that Robin reached out and steadied her with one hand on her arm.
‘I’m sorry you found out like this, and that we didn’t wait until I’d moved out. We didn’t plan for it to happen. But I love Libby. I’m not some deadbeat loser taking advantage of your daughter.’
‘That’s exactly what you are!’
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted the tang of blood. It was the first time I’d seen Dad cry. Mum, however, was simply furious.
‘We take you in, offer a home to your brother and sister – to be yourfamily. And this is how you repay us? You not only took brazen advantage of my daughter, you took advantage of me, Tony, Nicola… everyone you hoodwinked with your good-guy, tough-life persona. You’ve made damn fools out of all of us.’
I was too stricken to protest as Robin herded me and Jonah off to our bedrooms. An age later, Jonah messaged me.
I’m sorry. I’m an idiot for thinking that speech could win them over. I know better than anyone that life isn’t a soppy film. I guess you gave me a reason to start hoping for a happy ending. I’m sorry for dragging you into my screwed-up crapheap of a life. No matter what happens, I love youx
I replied straight away.
I loved that speech. They’re mad now, but when they’ve calmed down I can talk to them, make them see. Don’t give up on a happy ending just yet. I love you tooxxx
A few minutes later, the shouting and crashing started. It wasn’t hard to grasp what was going on.
Jonah was leaving. To ensure our family had no further contact with him, Ellis and Billy would be staying with their current foster carer. Placing their brother far enough away to safeguard me meant he’d be hundreds of miles from his siblings, too.
I ventured out of my room, sure that I stood as good a chance as anyone of helping Jonah to calm down, but Robin firmly sent me back, failing to appease me with his offer to bring up a drink or some lunch.
‘My exam starts soon.’
‘He’ll be gone well before then.’
