Pulling into the car park of the fast-food restaurant on the outskirts of Southampton, Kate quickly fired a message off to Ben, apologising that she would be late for dinner. Inside the restaurant’s main window, Kate could see Tara staring forlornly into the milkshake in front of her, her face in stark contrast to the excitable and vibrant girl she’d first met last summer.

Kate knew deep down she should call the supe and ask him to meet her here, but she wanted to give Tara one last chance to do the right thing. Tara nodded as Kate approached, but made no effort to smile.

Sliding in behind the table, Kate passed Tara a paper napkin to dab her eyes with. ‘What am I doing here, Tara?’

Tara picked up the napkin and wiped her swollen cheeks as fresh tears fell. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know who else to call.’

‘Why are you so far from home?’

Tara stared out of the window as she tried to blink away the tears. ‘I went home after college, and the place was empty, but when Mum came back at lunchtime she had another go at me about staying out. She accused me of wasting my education, of trying to throw away all the hard work she and Dad have done for me. I tried to explain but she wouldn’t let me get a word in edgeways.’

Kate was sure she was the last person who could judge another mother on her parenting technique. ‘I’m sure it’s only because she’s worried about you,’ she tried, weakly.

‘She’s the reason I’m not right,’ Tara spat back bitterly.

Kate was tempted to remind Tara that her mum wasn’t the cause of Tara’s current predicament, but opted for a more civil approach. ‘You need to try and put yourself in your mum’s shoes. She loves you and she’s worried about you and fear makes people behave in strange ways.’

Tara’s head snapped round, rage in her eyes. ‘If she loved me, she wouldn’t have locked me in my room!’

Kate looked surprised. ‘She did what?

Tara’s gaze returned to the window. ‘She was going on and on, saying how I would be lucky to get into any university if I didn’t get my head down, and I’d had enough, so I told her I was going to my room and slammed the door. The next thing I know, I hear a key turning. What kind of person does that?’

One who is terrified of losing their daughter, Kate wanted to say, but she could already see the hurt in Tara’s eyes. ‘What happened next?’

‘I banged and banged on the door, but she refused to open it. She even put on the radio to drown out my screams. So I escaped through my window.’

‘The window? You’re on the second floor!’

Tara gave Kate a half smile that said it wasn’t the first time she’d left the property undetected and Kate tried not to think too hard about the risk to the little life now growing inside Tara.

‘That still doesn’t explain how you wound up all the way out here. We’re miles out of the city.’

‘I ran from the driveway and caught a bus to town. I decided to take your advice and called the father. He works in town, so I phoned him and told him we needed to meet. I figured it was about time I told him. I know he has his own flat, so I thought if I spoke to him about what’s going on with my parents, he’d let me crash at his for a bit – I didn’t want to keep bothering you, because I know it’s awkward for you and my dad – but he refused to take my calls at first. So I went to where he worked and kept calling until he came out to meet me. He drove us here so nobody we knew would see us.’

Kate wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to the next question, but her imagination was already performing somersaults. ‘How old is he?’

‘What difference does it make?’

‘You said he works in town, has a car and his own flat. I’m guessing he’s not someone you met at college.’

‘He’s in his twenties, so not that much older than me.’

‘You’re seventeen, Tara.’

Tara glared at her. ‘And?’

Kate bit her lip. ‘Is he married?’

‘No! What do you take me for?’

Kate breathed a sigh of relief. ‘What happened when you got here?’

‘He drove us through the drive-thru, and then parked up. I told him we should go inside, but he had this… this look of revulsion on his face, like he didn’t want to be seen dead with me. And then when I explained what had happened with Mum, he told me I should have an abortion. He just came out with it: you should have an abortion. Like it was so simple, like it was his choice. What an arsehole!’

Kate was tempted to agree, but stayed silent.

‘I was so angry that I told him I’d decided to keep the baby and would be naming him on the birth certificate, and then he’d have to support the two of us. He called me a stupid little child, shoved me out of the car and left me stranded. I never should have involved him in the first place. I’m better off without him in my life.’

Kate’s anger simmered. ‘Where does this guy work?’

Tara frowned. ‘Why?’

‘I want to have a word with him.’

Tara reached out for Kate’s hand. ‘No! Listen, I wish I’d never told him. I don’t want him involved anymore. Besides, I’ve decided I’m going to have an abortion anyway.’

Kate’s heart sank.

‘It’s the right thing to do,’ Tara continued. ‘I’m not ready to be a mum, and it would mess up me going to university, and moreover I won’t have to tell my parents about it.’

And there it was. Kate winced.

‘Have you discussed this with any of your friends?’

‘Uh, no, I don’t think so.’

Kate couldn’t help but think of Georgie’s previous statement that Daisy couldn’t be pregnant because she was saving herself. ‘But don’t you have a best friend who you share everything with?’

‘Not this. You and… him are the only ones I’ve told.’

Kate reached for the milkshake and took a sip. ‘Whatever decision you reach, it affects more than just you. I know it’s your body, and therefore your choice, but if you were my daughter, I’d want to know about it and to help you reach a decision having discussed all your options. Please, Tara, don’t shut out your mum and dad. Despite everything, they mean well, and you really should be open with them first.’

‘They don’t need to know. And I’m sure they would agree that it’s the best decision anyway. I’ll make an appointment with my GP in the morning and take it from there.’

‘I’m begging you not to rush into anything without speaking to your parents. I’ll drive you there now, and I’ll stay with you for moral support.’

‘I was hoping you’d let me stay at yours for tonight; once I’ve had it done, I’ll go home, and everything can return to normal.’

Kate could feel Tara’s eyes burning into her, but she had to remain firm. ‘No, Tara, I’m sorry, but I can’t keep this from them any longer. Grab your coat, I’m taking you home.’

---

The gravel crackled beneath the Audi’s tyres as Kate parked on the large driveway in front of the detached property.

‘You don’t have to come in,’ Tara repeated. ‘I’ll tell them.’

But Kate could sense the lie. ‘They need to know that you’re safe and I think it’s probably time I came clean with your dad about where you’ve been the last couple of nights.’

Tara sighed in frustration as she pushed the car door open and headed to the porch. She’d barely put her key in the lock when the door was opened and the supe appeared, dressed in chinos, shirt and sweater, pulling Tara into his arms. ‘Oh, thank God you’re safe.’

Kate locked the car, the bleep causing the supe to open his eyes and register her presence.

‘Kate? What are you—’

‘Tara phoned me,’ Kate responded. ‘I said I’d bring her home.’

The supe released his daughter who hurried inside and hugged a tearful Judith, saying how sorry she was. ‘I appreciate you bringing her home, Kate. You know what teenagers can be like.’

‘Think nothing of it, sir. I’m glad she felt able to reach out to me.’ Kate continued to watch Tara, willing her to tell her relieved parents exactly why she had left. But as Kate waited, Tara’s lips remained sealed.

‘Was there anything else, Kate?’ the supe asked, curious as to why she hadn’t moved.

Tell them, Kate urged herself, but the words wouldn’t leave her lips.

Tara turned to face her, shaking her head just enough so Kate would see it.

‘I’ll see you in the morning,’ Kate finally exhaled, angry at her own weakness.

‘Thanks again, Kate,’ he said, as he closed the door.

Getting back into her car, she was relieved to see Ben had messaged to tell her he would slow down the cooking until she arrived. Maybe Laura was right: what she needed was a night off.