‘But you know I would never have done that,’ cried Lauren.
‘Well then your mother has a lot to answer for,’ Justin had said.
‘I don’t care what Mum implied,’ Lauren says now. ‘I’ll talk to her in my own time about what she’s done, but all you need to know now is that Jess is Dad’s daughter.’
‘Lauren saw him with me,’ pipes up Jess, and Lauren wishes she hadn’t.
‘Sorry, what?’ asks Kate.
‘When I was a baby, Lauren saw him walking me in my pram, with my mum.’
Kate turns to Lauren as a searing heat rises up her neck. ‘Did you?’
The question is asked with such intensity that Lauren feels claustrophobic. She looks to Jess, who is urging her on with unbridled enthusiasm, and she is suddenly aware of the very different answers the two women in front of her want to hear. It pains her that she can’t please them both.
She nods, hoping that no one will ask for clarification.
‘And you’ve waited until now to tell me?’ asks Kate.
‘I didn’t want to hurt you,’ says Lauren.
Kate lets out a sardonic laugh. ‘So, you decide to go out and dig up the past by inviting Jess to turn up at our parents’ house not even a year after we lost Dad. Who were you thinking of then, Lauren? Because it certainly wasn’t me. And it certainly wasn’t Mum.’
‘Mum already knew,’ says Lauren quietly.
‘What?’ snaps Kate.
‘I told Mum at the time,’ says Lauren, not supposing it matters much anymore who knew what, and when. ‘When I saw them together.’
‘So, Rose knew your dad was having an affair?’ says Jess, her voice high.
Lauren nods. ‘I told her what I’d seen.’
‘So, she knew about me?’ ask Jess.
‘I didn’t know what it meant – I don’t think either of us did, until now. But yes, I told her I’d seen him with a woman and a baby.’
‘And it didn’t occur to you to talk to me about any of this?’ chokes Kate. ‘Before a girl turns up on the doorstep claiming to be my half sister.’
‘I’m sorry,’ says Lauren. ‘I should have told you, but none of this was done to hurt you. I was, selfishly, only thinking about myself, wondering whether I did have a brother or sister out there.’
‘Am I not enough?’ asks Kate.
Lauren looks at her, exasperated. ‘Let’s face it, we’ve not been close for a long time. If we’re honest, our problems go back to before I had Noah. I thought having children would bring us together, but it’s only served to push us further apart.’
‘Did you ever think why that may have been?’ asks Kate.
Lauren knows what it is, but needs to word it carefully. She doesn’t want it to come out wrongly and make matters worse. ‘Metaphorically, we just live poles apart,’ she says. ‘I don’t think you can relate to what it’s like having a kid because your life is so carefree and glamorous. You’re able to flit off to LA at the drop of a hat to hang out with really cool people, and visiting your sister in her terraced house on the outskirts of London doesn’t feature very highly on your list. And I get that, I really do, but how do you think that makes me feel?’ There. She’s said what’s been eating her up for years and it feels surprisingly good to get it out.
Kate rubs at her head. ‘You honestly think that I look forward to another long-haul flight to go and interview a reality star whose only talent is displayed on a “leaked” sex video? And whilst I sit there, having my intelligence insulted and battling mind-numbing jetlag, my husband is stuck thousands of miles away, meaning any minute chance that we have of conceiving that month is ruined. All I’ve ever wanted to be is you, but do you have any idea how hard that is?’ She’s crying by the end of the sentence.
Lauren breathes in sharply at Kate’s admission. ‘I’m sorry,’ she says, somehow unable to think of anything more adequate. ‘I had no idea.’
‘Well, it doesn’t matter anymore, because after three years of IVF, we’re finally pregnant.’
Lauren feels winded. She had always assumed that Kate was concentrating on her career; happy to overlook any maternal urges that she may have had in favour of the next celebrity scoop. Her heart aches at how wrong she’d got it.
‘Oh my goodness, that’s wonderful!’ says Lauren, going to Kate, who despite her frosty expression, hugs her back tightly. ‘I’m sorry that it’s been so tough for you both.’
‘Congratulations,’ says Jess, awkwardly.
Lauren turns to Jess. ‘This is all my fault. If it weren’t for me, then we wouldn’t be in this mess.’
‘If it weren’t for you, I’d have no idea who I was,’ says Jess quietly.
‘You’re not exactly winning at that though, are you?’ says Kate. ‘You seem to be getting further away from the truth with every passing day.’
‘Meaning?’ asks Lauren,
‘Her real name is Harriet Oakley,’ says Kate, soberly. ‘She’s been in foster care most of her life and didn’t go to university, despite claiming she did.’
Jess’s eyes fill with tears as Lauren stares at her, open-mouthed.
‘That’s not possible,’ says Lauren eventually. ‘Jess’s flatmate is called Harriet Oakley. Jess was adopted by a loving family. Weren’t you?’
Jess looks down at the floor.
‘Weren’t you?’ cries Lauren.
‘I . . . I’m sorry,’ sniffs Jess.
‘What?’ chokes Lauren. ‘But I thought—’
‘I wanted you to think I had the perfect life,’ cries Jess. ‘I didn’t want you to feel sorry for me or think that I came here for any other reason than to get to know my family.’
‘But you said your parents—’ starts Lauren.
‘I know, and I’m sorry for lying to you.’
‘Everything she’s told you is a lie,’ says Kate, not getting as much satisfaction from revealing the truth as she thought she would.
‘Is that true?’ asks Lauren, dumbfounded, more hurt than angry.
Jess nods.
‘So Harriet Oakley is your real name?’
‘It’s
