"Right...

Kane didn't know how to react.

"...look, Mr Sutherland...I... I can't keep this from Kirsty"

"You've got to"

Rhys' voice was menacing.

"Look, I'm sorry - I just can't"

"Look, after what you did to Dani this is the least you can do"

Kane looked at him. He knew he had the upper hand. Rhys was more desperate not to be found. Kirsty would be sixteen in a couple of weeks and no one could touch them.

"It's going to cost you"

He had to provide for Kirsty. And if that meant going against all morals then that's what he'd do.

"What?!"

"Kirsty's fifteen - still a child - your child. Call it child benefit"

"Is this some sort of joke?"

"Have we got a deal?"

A look of disbelief passed over Rhys' face.

"I'm not earning enough - besides I'm planning on sending money to Shelley for my family"

"Kirsty is your family"

Rhys sighed. He didn't have a choice. He didn't want to be found. He was too ashamed.

"How much do you want?"

"Two hundred dollars a month sounds fair enough"

"How much? I've told you, I don't have that sort of money"

"Don't give me that - one man living on his own"

"I daresay you know the price of accommodation round here"

Rhys knew that he could afford it at a stretch. He was living with some colleagues in a rented flat. Under a false identity.

"This is for your daughter - you don't want her living in some back street somewhere do you?... one hundred and fifty. Take it or leave it"

Rhys nodded reluctantly.

"I get my wages at the start of every month... you'll get your money a week on Friday"

Kane nodded. The cash would be useful. Kirsty's birthday was a few months away but he knew this extra money would help him make it memorable. Her sixteenth.

"I'll be here"

Rhys took a look at Kane, half wanting to teach him a lesson. Half knowing that he couldn't risk it. He had to trust Kane. Trust him not to tell anyone. Trust that Kirsty was indeed with him and he hadn't left her anywhere. He hands Kane a scrap of paper with his mobile number scrawled on it before climbing out of the car and watching it disappear down the road. From the car park opposite, Sylvia watches. As Kane's car disappears, she starts the engine of her own car and drives away

B+B

Kane walks into the empty reception area, mulling over his rendezvous with Rhys. Taking a deep breath, he composes himself and climbs the stairs. Trying the handle, he finds the door locked. He'd left Kirsty with the key and she should have finished work. He knocks and receives no reply. Turning, he descends the stairs. As he returns to the reception area, Sylvia enters and passes him an icy look.

"Hi"

He greets her awkwardly as he crosses the room and opens the door to the dining room.

"Hey"

He calls across the empty room to Kirsty. She smiles and walks across.

"I'm just finishing up here then I'll get changed"

(10 minutes later)

Kane waits in the reception area. After a while, Kirsty appears. They kiss and walks outside, where the car is parked directly outside the door. He opens the car door for her.

"So... where we headed?"

She smiled at him

"Got a coin?"

Her smile fades as she catches sight of Sylvia greeting a group of people.

"I guess that's the family then"

"And I guess that's the prodigal son that's staring at us"

They stare back.

"Recognise him?"

Kane frowns and a worried expression falls over his face

"Yeah... maybe"

If he did know them it could mean the end of their stay there. He smiled at Kirsty reassuringly.

"It's probably nothing - come on, let's go"

Kirsty climbs into the car. Kane walks around to the other side and also gets in, still looking puzzled. He could swear he'd met that man before.

..............................

CARAVAN PARK

Shelley stares blankly at the stack of papers before her. Rhys usually dealt with their finances and now she could understand why. It was such a mess. Not just the large withdrawal to Pete. One thing stood out. Money being transferred every month to another persons account. A significant sum of money. The account was registered to a Ms. Angela Russell. She remembered Angie from school. One of Rhys' old flames. Or maybe not so old as she had thought. Tears formed in her eyes. He had probably run off to be with her. Maybe the money wasn't for Pete. Maybe Rhys had been planning for months how to shaft her and take off with his mistress. Did he not care about the family? Nothing made sense. She dropped her head onto the table, sobbing, as Dani entered.

"Mum?"

Shelley raised her head slightly as Dani attempted to comfort her.

..............................

Weeks went by, and weeks drifted into months. Shelley turned to drink for her problems and Dani was left to support the family. Kane received payments for Kirsty. They all went into their savings. A tin, in their room. He didn't like to put it into the bank. He'd been travelling 20 miles just to visit an ATM in fear of being traced. Kirsty had enquired about the money, but he'd made excuses. He hated lying, but it was for the best. It meant they could be together.

Kirsty discovered Rhys' infidelity through her now weekly call to the caravan park but Kane kept his word to Rhys', keeping quiet when Kirsty talked about her Dad. The pain he was putting them through.

..............................

B+B ROOM

Late afternoon

Kane enters. Kirsty sits on the bed, flicking through a magazine.

"Where have you been?"

"Work, I told you"

"Don't lie - I called your boss and he said you had the afternoon off"

He shuffled uneasily. He'd been with Rhys. But he couldn't tell her now. The lie was too big.

"Well?"

"Just trust me Kirst"

"Kane, we're meant to be a couple - no secrets"

"Look Kirst - it's best you don't know"

"Kane, just talk to me - what's wrong... what's happened"

"Nothing"

"Did you go and meet someone?"

He considered his answer.

"Oh great, so who is she?"

"Kirsty..."

"I should have known - all this time you spend doing extra shifts"

"Kirsty... it's not like that"

"Then what is it like? What can she give you that I can't... actually, don't answer that"

She turned away, preparing for the blow. Would he admit it? Was there even anything to admit. She didn't know anymore. She was just blinded by the fact there could be someone else. She had abandoned her family for him and yet he might not have loved her at all.

"Kirsty will you just... just stop"

Kane tried vainly to calm her but he didn't know what to say. He couldn't think of a viable excuse.

"Are you going to tell me the truth"

"I can't... I just can't"

"Oh, fantastic - so I'm just supposed to accept your lies?"

Kane raised his voice, becoming more agitated.

"Look Kirsty, this relationship is meant to be built on trust - if we haven't got that, then what have we got?"

She doesn't reply. She's still reeling from the possibility that there's someone else.

"Look, I'm going to work"

He stormed out and the door slammed shut behind him. He was furious at himself for the mess he was in. He hated himself for lying. For shouting at her. He hadn't meant to, he was just so scared of the truth coming out. He'd lose her. All because he had given Rhys his word.

Kirsty fell back onto the bed. Why did things have to be so difficult? Why had she got so mad? He had told her he loved her, that he wanted to be with her and no one else. No. He hadn't. He had never said those three words 'I love you'. She picked up her purse and pulled out a family photo. It was an old one. Taken when they first moved to the bay. She still missed them. Even her Dad's tempers. It was such a mess. Was this adventure away from home the biggest mistake of her life?