"Dani, Dinners ready. Sorry it's late, but I got lasagne take out. Your favourite!" said Shelley outside Dani's bedroom door. No answer. "Dani?" Shelley swiftly opened the door, to see Dani staring into the mirror, with tears running down her face. "Dani, what happened?"
"Kane happened, Mum. Why didn't you tell me he'd taken Kirsty and that they were together?" Shelley had been dreading this moment for ages, putting it out of her mind, but now she had to face the inevitable. She recited the speech she'd been preparing.
"Listen Dani, we didn't want to hurt you. I know what you went through before, and I knew what this could do to you now. Your father and I were just trying to protect you…"
"Protect me? Why does everyone think I need protecting? What, you think I can't handle anything just because of what he did to me? I've moved on. I'm stronger now."
"But you were taking time to get over this, I didn't want to bring the past up again and risk hurting your recovery. I knew this would destroy you." Shelley sighed. It was so hard to please everyone, two sisters with opposite views. "I'm sorry Dani, I'm sorry we didn't tell you, but I didn't think I could. I'm just beginning to understand it myself." Shelley looked into Dani's eyes. She was transfixed by the mirror. "Dani?"
"I… I just can't understand this, I mean; she knew how I felt about her seeing Kane after the accident, but she carried on. I would never, never even think about going out with someone who hurt her. Why has she done this to me?"
"I don't think she did it to spite you Dani, she just…" Shelley didn't want to continue to cause further pain to her daughter. She left the soundless room, before bursting into tears on the stairs herself. It was all getting to her, Kirsty's selfish attitude, Dani's reaction, Rhys' anger. She wasn't sure how much longer she could cope.
***
It was just beginning to get dark on the roads, but Kane was still driving, trying to get as far away from Holly Springs as possible. Kirsty rested her hand on his thigh, and grinned. In a non-murdering way, she was glad Jayne was out of the picture. She hated jealousy, she wasn't sure if she saw Jayne as a threat but it certainly made her angry.
"You know, I'd never cheat on you." It was as if Kane read her mind.
"You weren't even tempted?" Kirsty joked. "With her thrusting her chest at every opportunity?"
"Nah, that doesn't do it for me." Kane smiled. "You didn't need to see her as a threat, no one could take me away from you." Kirsty rested her head on his shoulder.
"We gonna stop soon? I'm getting kinda hungry. We could get a hotel room, we've got enough money to cover us."
"We'll see." Kane passed another sign. 'Creighton On Sea, next turning.' "That place sounds nice, it'd be near a beach, "said Kirsty. Kane turned, and they were immediately greeted with small cafés, intricate shops and one-storey redbrick buildings. This town seemed like something out of a school novel. Kane pulled over by a café. "Would the lady care to join me for dinner?" Kirsty obliged.
After dinner, they had a walk around the town, seeing no sign of hotels as yet. Kirsty, tired, kept her eyes to the floor as they walked. Their first real dinner date with Kane. It was like a dream come true. Suddenly, she noticed something on the ground. A black purse. She grabbed it and opened it. It contained well over a hundred dollars.
"Someone must have dropped it, " said Kirsty, searching for some form of identification. "That's a lot of money to lose, we'd better return it." Kirsty found a name card, "Edwina Hawkins, Cherington House, Cherry Tree Lane. That's gotta be near." Kirsty wasn't even tempted to keep the money. Kane admired her.
"Yeah, maybe if we return it she'll give us a reward, " Kane said hopefully. They got back into the car and drove around, asking for directions as they went. Cherry Tree Lane, was a long road with many sharp bends, which sent Kirsty flying over onto Kane's lap. They laughed it off before they reached a gate with the sign, 'Cherington'. They rung it, a bright, high-pitched voice answering. "Hello?"
"Hi, It's Kirsty here, is that Ms Hawkins?"
"It is."
"Um, yeah, we found your purse on the street, we've come to return it." The gates majestically opened, Kirsty and Kane drove in. It was like driving through a park, with perfectly manicured lawns and flowers. It seemed like ages before they reached the actual house. The house was nothing like Kirsty had seen before, except on television. It was enormous, with well over a hundred gleaming windows.
"Wow, " said Kane. "This woman must be loaded." They parked by a nearby tree, and were soon greeted by a woman of about fifty, with white hair scraped into a bun, dressed elegantly in satin.
"Good evening, "she spoke with an English accent. "And you are?"
"Kirsty, and this is my boyfriend Kane." Kane was too overwhelmed by the houses presence to speak. 'What must it be like to live here?' he thought. "Um, we found your purse by the café in the village." She handed it back. "All the money's in there."
"Thank you. I must have dropped it when I was out shopping. Would you like to come inside? I was just putting on a brew." Kirsty nodded. They entered a hallway, easily as large as the Sutherlands house, with a high ceiling and a polished mahogany floor. Kirsty was even more stunned, by the lavishly decorated ceilings. It was like a palace. They were led into a kitchen, with marble units, numerous chrome appliances and the French doors framing a view to die for, the huge garden complete with swimming pool.
"Please, do take a seat, "said Edwina who went to make the tea using one of her expensive appliances. Kirsty pulled a shocked face to Kane, who nodded. Neither of them knew what to say, to a woman old enough to be their grandmother, with tons of money. They couldn't have much in common.
"Nice place you got here." Kane broke the silence.
"Thank you. I've had it for many years; it was the first thing I built when I started to make money. It feels a bit hollow here, ever since my husband died. Cancer." Edwina, glanced at the sparkling ring on her finger.
"I'm sorry to hear that, " said Kirsty.
"Oh don't worry about that. It was a long time ago." She brought over the tea. "My grandson lives with me now. Oliver. He tends not to talk to me." Kirsty sipped the hot, sweet tea. It reminded her of the tea her Mum made. Home. "Anyway, what brings you to Creighton?"
Kane shrugged. "We're travelling around Australia for a while, and needed a place to stop."
"Where are you from?"
"Down south, " replied Kirsty. She decided not to say Summer Bay, not just because she was afraid of being discovered. She wanted to put that place out of her mind. "It's getting late Kane, we'd better go."
"Where are you staying?"
"Um… nowhere yet. We couldn't find a hotel."
"Then it's settled. You'll stay with me." Kirsty was overjoyed, but put on a polite front. She didn't want to seem too obsessed with the luxury. She acted as if she was invited to stay in mansions every day.
"Are you sure? I mean, we only just met."
"You seem like decent enough people. Most people would take the money and run. I'm getting a positive aura from you two, you intrigue me and my predictions are rarely wrong. I could do with the company too. I'll show you to your room." Kirsty squeezed Kane's hand as they were led to their room. Not only was she going to be staying in a place like this, but she was with Kane as well. She smiled. Nothing could keep them apart.