Chapter 23: Dangerous Love

After Dani had given him the letter, Alf tucked it away and immediately forgot all about it. At least until he and Benny were taking their lunch break after a hard morning's work, eating their sandwiches that Leah had carefully prepared for them that morning. They were discussing the possibility of getting in someone else to help Benny when Alf wasn't around.

"You know that Kane Philips is looking for a job," Alf started. "Came to see me a few days ago, asked if I would consider taking him on. He's a good worker, you know, knows the ropes and everything. Reliable."

"So why don't you take him on?" Benny asked, through a mouthful of bread and cheese. "Because of me, I presume?"

"It is common knowledge that you two don't get along," Alf shrugged. "I didn't think it was a good idea with the way things are now. I told him that I couldn't be having my workers fighting or arguing amongst themselves, particularly when I'm not around to put a stop to it. And you were here first, you've proven yourself a good worker and friend, so you stay as long as you want to. Mind you, if you ever do put your differences aside-"

"I wouldn't count on it, Alf," the young man immediately shook his head. "I know everyone else wants to believe that he has changed, but I don't. I don't like him, I don't trust him as far as I could throw him and I honestly don't see that changing any time soon."

"Fair enough," Alf said reasonably. "It was worth a shot, eh?" He brushed the crumbs from his trousers and stood up. "Now if you'll be alright here, I promised Leah that I would pop in and give her a hand."

"Go ahead. I'll be fine." 

"Oh, and before I forget," he pulled a letter out of his shirt pocket. "I've got a letter here for Kane, from young Kirsty apparently. Dani gave it to me this morning, she wanted me to give it to him but I haven't seen him at all today. Reckon his aunt must have had a bad night and he's staying in with her. Perhaps Emma could give it to him if she sees him later?"

"Right," Even before he had the letter in his hands, his suspicions were raised. What was Kirsty doing writing to Kane, her ex-boyfriend who was now with his sister?

When Alf had gone, Benny stared at the envelope for a few minutes, not able to shake off the feeling that something wasn't right. Finally he decided that it wasn't the time for morals and opened it. He read it once, then a second time and a third, not wanting to believe what was written there, even if he didn't trust Kane anyway. If any of it was true, he knew that it would break Emma's heart. 

He had so much to do that afternoon that he had barely had time to think much about the contents of the letter, though the feeling of anger that had risen upon reading it had settled in the pit of his stomach and would not go away. But when he was walking home, his mind came back to it and he found himself wondering about the situation. It was common knowledge that Kane and Kirsty had had a relationship some months before and that they had run away together, but Emma seemed certain that it was over, as did the rest of the Sutherland family. But was it really, or was that just what they wanted people to think? Was Kane merely using Emma to cover his tracks and stop people suspecting anything? Or was Kirsty just a silly little girl who couldn't let go of the past? Well he was going to find out, one way or another.

As he turned the corner, he noticed Kane on the other side of the road, heading the same way as him. And what better time than now?

"Philips!" Kane turned abruptly at the sound of Benny's voice. "I want to talk to you!"

"Right." Wondering what the older man could possibly want to say to him, Kane turned and crossed over to him. "What can I do for-?" He was cut off when Benny roughly grabbed at the collar of his shirt and pulled him closer, so that their faces were just inches apart.

"What are you playing at, Philips?" he spat out. "What sick and twisted game are you playing with my sister?"

"What are you talking about?" Kane struggled, but that only served to make Benny angrier. "What's happened? What am I meant to have done?"

"Don't you play innocent with me, you little piece of scum! You know exactly what I'm talking about!"

"I have no idea." As Benny shoved him backwards; Kane stumbled and almost fell. "Honestly, I don't. If I've done something wrong, tell me and give me a chance to explain myself."

Benny scowled, reaching into his trouser pocket and pulling out a white envelope. "I'm talking about this. You and that Kirsty Sutherland. You must both think my sister a right fool."

"I don't know what you're getting at," Kane snatched the envelope from him and pulled out the letter. "Kirsty and I are just friends now, there is nothing going on…" He trailed off as he read the letter once, twice, suddenly understanding where Benny had gotten the idea.

"That letter says differently."

"This is…" Kane shook his head, crumpling the letter in his hand. "You can't believe this. It's not…its all lies. A teenage girl's deluded fantasy. I don't want Kirsty; I love your sister. I love Emma. You have to believe that, Benny. I would never cheat on her, I would never do anything to hurt her."

Benny studied him for moment before he spoke. "I want to believe you," he said finally. "If only because I don't want to see Emma get hurt again. You seem to be telling the truth-"

"I am!"

"And you did appear genuinely surprised to read what she wrote there," he continued, as though Kane had not spoken. "So maybe you are telling the truth. But if that is the case, you need to have a serious talk with young Kirsty about where she stands and soon. And know that I will be keeping a very close eye on you, Philips. If you even give me reason to suspect that there is something going on between you and her behind Emma's back, I will make you suffer like you've never suffered before. Now get out of my sight, I've got a family to get home to."  

*~*~*~*

After dinner, Kane wandered the beach, his mind still on the letter and what Benny had said. After their conversation at the hospital and the way she had acted since he had returned, defending him against the people who wanted to split up him and Emma, he honestly hadn't realised that she still had such strong feelings for him. He knew that Benny was right, for everyone's sake, Kirsty's, Emma's and his own, he had to talk to her and set her straight, explain that nothing was ever going to happen between them again. But he doubted that it was going to be that easy.

After half an hour or so of wandering up and down, pausing occasionally to throw stones into the sea, he was just starting to consider going home when he saw Kirsty sitting on some rocks. After glancing around to make sure that they were alone, Kane went over to her. She was staring out to sea, thinking of nothing in particular, not taking notice of anything until his shadow fell over her. "Hello Kirsty."

She looked up and her heart skipped a beat. "Kane?"

"I think we need to talk," he sat beside her, though still keeping his distance. For a moment he stared straight ahead, before turning to look at her. Though his tone was fairly pleasant, his expression was serious. "I got your letter. Benny gave it to me after he had read it himself and come to some rather interesting assumptions."

"Oh no," Kirsty's cheeks burnt with embarrassment. "What did he say? He didn't-"

"He thought that we were seeing each other," Kane told her wearily. "I managed to persuade him that it wasn't what it seemed, but when I read the letter, I could understand why he assumed what he did."

"I didn't mean to cause you any trouble, Kane." She caught his hand and he flinched, but didn't pull away. "I didn't even plan to give it to you, I just wanted to get my feelings out. I love you, Kane."

He sighed. "I thought we went over all this when I was in hospital. We agreed that we could just be friends."

"And I thought we could, I really did." There were tears in her eyes and she quickly brushed them away. "I thought that being your friend would be better than not having anything to do with you and I really do want you to be happy. I tried so hard to put everything behind me, but I just can't help the way I feel. I love you and seeing you with her breaks my heart."

"Kirsty…" Kane finally drew his hand away, although it took some effort, as she was unwilling to let go. "I know what you want me to say, but I can't say it." He paused and turned away, unsure of how to proceed. "I know things ended badly between us, that's my fault and I'm sorry. I'm not sure if our relationship could have ever worked, not without you betraying your family and I didn't want that, but I could have ended it differently, made it all easier for the both of us." Another pause. "You were the first person who saw anything good in me, who looked past all the bad things I've done in my life and saw the person underneath. I'd never been in love until I met you and you taught me to be a better person. And that's why there's a part of me that still loves you and why I will never forget what we shared." She looked at him hopefully and he sighed and shook his head.

"But that changes nothing," he continued. "I never wanted to hurt you, Kirst, but I've moved on. I love Emma and I love Jordan and I want to be with them. As much as I care for you, there is no way we can go back to how it was before, I'll be your friend if that's what you want, but nothing else. There will never be anything else between us." His voice softened slightly and he finally looked at her again. "I can imagine how hard this must be for you, but the sooner you try to accept it and move on, the happier you'll be. If you and Seb are finished, find someone else who you can have a proper relationship with, without the lies and secrets, the feelings of guilt. Don't dwell on what could have been, just think about the future."

"I'll try," Kirsty swallowed, fighting back the tears. She didn't want to cry, not in front of him. "I think I need to be alone now, to think about what you said."

"I think I should be going anyway," Kane stood up and awkwardly patted her shoulder. "I meant what I said, Kirsty, you've been a very good friend to me since I came back to the Bay and I'd hate to lose your friendship, but I'll completely understand if you feel that it would be too hard. I'll…see you around."

She nodded and he left, walking back down the beach and leaving her alone. She sat there for a long time, until darkness was beginning to fall and the light evening wind had dried the tears on her cheeks that she had no longer been able to hold back. 

Next chapter: Lucy finally gets her man and Kane and Emma discuss the possibility of taking their relationship to the next level.