Read Online Living a Lie by Josephine Cox - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Josephine Cox
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and I’m still full of a cough so I’m afraid I won’t be able to visit as promised.
Anyway, I thought I should write and tell you that everything is fine.
As I explained in my last letter, most of the proceeds from the sale of your father’s house and business are safely put away. Of course there have been some expenses, and as trustee I have had to use some of the money to get the best possible financial advice. These things are never cheap. But you mustn ‘t worry, I’m looking after your interests.
Miss Davis has kept me informed of the situation concerning your fostering. I am also told that you seem reluctant to go. I must say I
think you’re being ungrateful. The family sound just the right sort of people to help you get back into society. You know I would love to have you with me.
Unfortunately, it isn’t possible and never will be.
I’ll have to end here. I feel quite ill. I have no idea whether I’ll be able to see you before you’re fostered out, and I certainly won’t see you afterwards. But I’ll be thinking of you.
From your Aunt Mildred
“Old cow!” Georgie sat up, her eyes glittering angrily.
“Why don’t you write back and tell her you don’t care if she’s ill? Tell her you don’t bloody well care if she drops dead as long as she leaves your money behind… what’s left of it, that is.”
“Do you really think she’s stealing my father’s money?” Kitty herself had long suspected that might be the case.
“Stealing your money… not your father’s any more, is it? And all that claptrap about wanting to have you with her but it not being possible… she’s lying through her teeth. The bugger never did want you.” Suddenly aware that she was hurting Kitty, she apologised.
“Sorry, gal. My tongue will hang me one of these days.”
Kitty was under no illusions where her aunt was concerned.
“It’s all right,” she murmured.
“Everything you say is true. She’s been promising to see me ever since I’ve been in here, but in almost two years I’ve had only three letters from her. She’s never set foot inside this place … not once. Even when I was brought before the assessment board she sent a message saying she was too ill to attend.”
For too long now Kitty had turned a blind eye. Now,
though, she took a moment to let the truth sink in.
“She could have had me with her from the start. She made excuses then and she’s been making excuses ever since. At first it hurt like mad. Now it doesn’t hurt so much. If she doesn’t want me, there’s no use pining over it, is there?”
Stretching out her arms, Georgie entreated, “Come here, gal.”
Kitty fell into her embrace. She didn’t speak. Mildred’s letter was stark in her mind and she was too full for words.
Georgie spoke, though, and what she said lightened Kitty’s heart.
“Who cares if the old bugger don’t want you, eh?” she declared. ‘ do, so you stick with me, gal and to hell with everybody else! “< p>
“Georgie?”
“What?”
“Do you think I’m being ungrateful, not wanting to go to the Connor family?” Easing herself out of Georgie’s embrace, she looked her straight in the eye.
“Tell me the truth.”
“Well, if you really want the truth, I’d say you’ll be sent anyway, so you might as well give it a damn good try.”
“What if I don’t like it?”
“Do what I did and kick up holy hell. They’ll have you on your way before your feet touch the ground… with your bags packed and a label stuck to your arse saying:
DON’T CALL US, WE’LL CALL YOU.
“
Kitty smiled at that, then she giggled, and soon the two of them were roaring with laughter. Someone at the far end of the room yelled, “Shut your gobs! We can’t hear the telly!” That only made them laugh all the more and,
under orders from Mrs. Austin, they were marched upstairs.
In the dormitory they fell on Kitty’s bed, laughing so hard the tears spilled down their faces.
“I don’t
Anyway, I thought I should write and tell you that everything is fine.
As I explained in my last letter, most of the proceeds from the sale of your father’s house and business are safely put away. Of course there have been some expenses, and as trustee I have had to use some of the money to get the best possible financial advice. These things are never cheap. But you mustn ‘t worry, I’m looking after your interests.
Miss Davis has kept me informed of the situation concerning your fostering. I am also told that you seem reluctant to go. I must say I
think you’re being ungrateful. The family sound just the right sort of people to help you get back into society. You know I would love to have you with me.
Unfortunately, it isn’t possible and never will be.
I’ll have to end here. I feel quite ill. I have no idea whether I’ll be able to see you before you’re fostered out, and I certainly won’t see you afterwards. But I’ll be thinking of you.
From your Aunt Mildred
“Old cow!” Georgie sat up, her eyes glittering angrily.
“Why don’t you write back and tell her you don’t care if she’s ill? Tell her you don’t bloody well care if she drops dead as long as she leaves your money behind… what’s left of it, that is.”
“Do you really think she’s stealing my father’s money?” Kitty herself had long suspected that might be the case.
“Stealing your money… not your father’s any more, is it? And all that claptrap about wanting to have you with her but it not being possible… she’s lying through her teeth. The bugger never did want you.” Suddenly aware that she was hurting Kitty, she apologised.
“Sorry, gal. My tongue will hang me one of these days.”
Kitty was under no illusions where her aunt was concerned.
“It’s all right,” she murmured.
“Everything you say is true. She’s been promising to see me ever since I’ve been in here, but in almost two years I’ve had only three letters from her. She’s never set foot inside this place … not once. Even when I was brought before the assessment board she sent a message saying she was too ill to attend.”
For too long now Kitty had turned a blind eye. Now,
though, she took a moment to let the truth sink in.
“She could have had me with her from the start. She made excuses then and she’s been making excuses ever since. At first it hurt like mad. Now it doesn’t hurt so much. If she doesn’t want me, there’s no use pining over it, is there?”
Stretching out her arms, Georgie entreated, “Come here, gal.”
Kitty fell into her embrace. She didn’t speak. Mildred’s letter was stark in her mind and she was too full for words.
Georgie spoke, though, and what she said lightened Kitty’s heart.
“Who cares if the old bugger don’t want you, eh?” she declared. ‘ do, so you stick with me, gal and to hell with everybody else! “< p>
“Georgie?”
“What?”
“Do you think I’m being ungrateful, not wanting to go to the Connor family?” Easing herself out of Georgie’s embrace, she looked her straight in the eye.
“Tell me the truth.”
“Well, if you really want the truth, I’d say you’ll be sent anyway, so you might as well give it a damn good try.”
“What if I don’t like it?”
“Do what I did and kick up holy hell. They’ll have you on your way before your feet touch the ground… with your bags packed and a label stuck to your arse saying:
DON’T CALL US, WE’LL CALL YOU.
“
Kitty smiled at that, then she giggled, and soon the two of them were roaring with laughter. Someone at the far end of the room yelled, “Shut your gobs! We can’t hear the telly!” That only made them laugh all the more and,
under orders from Mrs. Austin, they were marched upstairs.
In the dormitory they fell on Kitty’s bed, laughing so hard the tears spilled down their faces.
“I don’t
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