Chapter 4
Family Issues
'WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING BACK?' my mother shouted as she slammed the front door.
'Hi mum.' I said, very quietly.
'Well, I'm waiting.' She folded her arms and stood in front of me.
'We decided to spend Christmas together in Scotland. I wanted to spend it with my family and I wanted you to meet Embry.'
'Who?' I grabbed Embry and pulled him forward. He held out a hand.
'How do you do? I am Embry Call.' he smiled his sweetest smile. Mum shook his hand but didn't return the smile. That was one of my favourite of his smiles, how could she not respond to that?
'So you're…'
'Cathy's boyfriend.'
'Cathy? Since when have you been called that?' Oh, wonderful. Here we go.
'Since I decided a new place meant a new start. Did you expect me to stick with the various nicknames that you called me?' I asked.
'No I suppose not. So why now do you decide to come back?'
'I thought it would be best if I made amends before the New Year, I can't go another year alone.' This was the first time I'd said it out loud.
'You were never alone.' She said. Liar.
'I was. And now I have Embry so I'll never be again.'
'Do you know the shame you've brought upon this family? I can't leave the house without speculations being made. Is she dead? Is she lesbian? New cult or religion? Pregnant? Everyone was asking so many questions and gossiping.' she was shrieking. It took all I had not to laugh.
'I'm sorry about the gossip, but I'm glad I left. Mum I'm not back for good. I'm happy now. I have friends who don't pity me, a home and somebody who loves me for me. Who loves my music and my odd ways. And now I'm going to study music.'
'NO. You can't throw your life away. People here don't pity you.'
'They do. I'm building my confidence again. Watch this.' I went and got the mirror off the hall wall and brought it through. I looked in it at my reflection and tried not to think of the pain.
'How can you…?'
'It's all Embry.' was all I said. He looked confused and I planned to keep it that way.
Mum didn't seem to take to Embry. Mum was not very nice and reckoned he was ten years older and was raping me, cow. Link loved him, Jo hid in her room and Craig quite liked him. After tea I went up to talk to Jo. Huge mistake.
'Why are you here? I was finally coming to terms with it.' She yelled at me.
'I'm sorry but I have it worse.'
'I needed you and you never came back.' She looked so betrayed.
'I'm here now and I'm always just a phone call away.' I hugged her and she began to cry.
'I need your help.' She said. I didn't like the sound of this.
'What with?' Was all I could say.
'Everything. My life's a mess.'
'I'll try and help.' in my heart I knew I had to make it up to her for everything I done to her.
Mum said we could stay in my room, after muttering something about Embry. It used to be two rooms and it had two double beds in it. We stayed in the one nearest the door and Link slept at the bottom of the bed. Just as I thought my troubles couldn't get worse I felt that old wound open and it was all I could do not to cry.