Someone Else's Life (28 page)

Rosie

I can’t believe only a week ago I was in Boston with Kitty. It feels like a dream, her appearing out of the blue like that, and then that wonderful afternoon in the park. And now she’s disappeared again, as quickly as she arrived. I know she’s just busy, but I keep calling and emailing her anyway, keep thinking of new things to tell her—we have so much to catch up on.

It’s just as well she hasn’t called back, really, I think, glancing at Jack as he dresses a lobster—though things between him and Megan seem to be a little better, thank goodness. Jack’s been bringing her huge bouquets of flowers every day and the house smells wonderful, though Megan complains that they keep dropping petals everywhere. She loves them, though. Whenever Jack’s not around, she lingers over them, inhaling their perfume and constantly rearranging them in their vases. Which is why they keep dropping petals everywhere.

At least someone’s love life’s working out. I sigh. I keep calling Andy’s mobile in the vain hope he’ll answer, but he never does. I went round to the B&B, but he’s left. Gone without a trace. I don’t even know if he’s traveled down to Washington like he suggested—if he’s even still in the country! He’s probably a million miles away by now, seeing the world just like he planned. Like we planned.

I tuck my necklace under my hoodie and sigh, determined to learn from my mistakes. I’m not going to run away from my problems anymore. I’ve caused this mess and now I’m going to stick around to try to sort it out.

Somehow.

All week I’ve been trying to make myself useful wherever possible, babysitting gorgeous Ben whenever I can and helping Jack at the restaurant every day, as half his staff have gone down with a bug.

This, officially, is also what’s wrong with Holly, who’s been off school for a week and has barely left her room. She won’t answer to anyone, not even her friend Melissa, not even Josh. He sat outside her door for a whole night, but still she wouldn’t see him. And when she does come out, she doesn’t talk, just goes off swimming or for long bike rides by herself. I’ve been trying to think of ways to reach out to her, help her, but after Kitty, I’m worried I’ll just make things worse. I can’t force this, I have to be patient, wait till she wants to talk, till she’s ready. And when she is, I’ll be here, waiting. However long it takes.

“Oops—missed a spot.” Jack points at a pool of tomato sauce that has somehow leapt from the pan I’m stirring onto the floor.

“Thanks,” I say, kneeling to wipe it up, and he grins as he arranges a tray of crab cakes a sous chef has just prepared.

“If a job’s not worth doing right—”

“It’s not worth doing at all,” I mutter good-naturedly, swabbing the tiles.

“Right you are—Holly!” he says suddenly, staring at the doorway.

I freeze, hidden from sight on the floor.

“Hello, stranger!” he cries, rushing over to hug her. “I was beginning to forget what you look like. Want some lunch? You look a little pale. Lucky kippers are today’s special!”

“No—no thanks,” she says. “I’ve already eaten.”

I peer round the counter. She does look pale, like a ghost, ashen and drawn, heavy bags dark under her eyes.

“Dad …” She takes a deep breath, her finger twirling in her hair. “Dad, do you think you could lend me some money? Just a loan …”

“Sure,” Jack says. “How much?”

She hesitates. “Five hundred dollars?”

Jack whistles. “That’s a lot of money, sweetie. What’s it for?”

“It’s important,” Holly bites her lip. “It’s …”

As she hesitates, a deliveryman pushes through the door into the kitchen, laden with vegetables. “Mr. Woods?”

“Guilty,” Jack says, taking the clipboard. “What’s it for, Holls?”

“It’s just—I’ve decided …” Holly falters, her eyes flicking to the deliveryman. “There’s just something I really need.”

“For five hundred dollars?” Jack asks, looking up from the clipboard.

She nods.

“Sweetie, if I’m giving you that much money I wanna know what it’s for,” Jack says, signing the delivery note and handing it back.

She hugs her arms as she watches the deliveryman leave.

“It’s just …” She hesitates. “It’s … I want to take the test.”

The breath catches in my throat.

Jack stares at her, swallows. “The Huntington’s test?”

She nods, her eyes wide.

“Sweetie …” He sighs. “Don’t you think we should talk about this? Take some time? There’s no hurry …”

She shakes her head. “I need to know.”

“Jack!” A waitress bursts into the kitchen. “The Prescott party’s just arrived—they want to talk to you about catering for a wedding.”

“I’ll be there in a minute,” Jack tells her, turning back to Holly.

“Holly-berry, this is a huge decision, okay? We need to sit down and talk about it properly, discuss everything. I really don’t think this is something you want to rush into—”

“But Daddy, I
have
to—”

“You don’t
have
to do anything, sweetheart, okay?” He strokes her hair behind her ear. “But if you still want to go ahead after we’ve talked about it all properly … of course I’ll pay, okay?”

“Jack!” The waitress appears again, looking frazzled.

“Okay, Holly-berry?” Jack repeats.

“Okay.” She nods, staring at the floor. He kisses her forehead before following the waitress into the restaurant.

Holly closes her eyes and sighs heavily.

I take a deep breath and stand up. “Holly?” Her eyes fly open.

“Rosie!” she gasps. “I didn’t see you there.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you—I was just … mopping.” I show her. “Your dad’s a slave driver.” I smile.
Your
, I think. Careful to say
your
.

“Right,” she says, hugging her arms around herself. “Tell me about it.” She smiles weakly, leaving through the back door.

“Holly, wait.” I follow her outside. “Listen, you shouldn’t have to pay—for the test, I mean. Either of you.”

She turns.

“This is my fault, my responsibility, and … I owe you.”

“You don’t owe me anything, Rosie,” she says coolly. “Least of all money.”

God, that came out wrong
—
like I’m trying to buy her off or something
.

“No, I didn’t mean …” I swallow, choosing my words carefully. “What I mean is … there’s Trudie’s inheritance money.”

She looks at me, surprised.

“It’s yours, Holly. It belongs to you, not me. You should have it.”

She bites her lip, hesitating.

“I can’t get it for you all at once, obviously, but look, here’s fifty dollars,” I say, fishing in my purse. “I can get more from the bank later.” I hold the money out to her and she hesitates.

“Thank you,” Holly says finally, taking it. “I’ll pay you back.”

I shake my head. “It’s yours.”

She smiles. “Thank you.”

She folds the notes up carefully and tucks them into her jeans pocket.

“Well,” I say, anxious not to ruin the moment by saying or doing anything stupid. “I’d better get on.” I head for the door.

“Wait,” she says suddenly. “Rosie … are you doing anything tomorrow?”

Holly

Rosie’s eyes immediately light up, and I hesitate.

Is this crazy? Have I gone nuts?
What am I doing?
Of all the people in the whole world …

But then, of all the people in the whole world, who better? Andy’s gone, and she’s been through this already. She’s my other half, the flip side of this coin. She thought she was at risk and now she’s not. I thought I was fine and now I’m not. She had her mother’s disease to worry about, I have my baby’s. She’s the girl in the looking glass with my life—only backward.

“I’m free,” she tells me eagerly. “Tomorrow. All day.”

I smile weakly. “And … do you have Trudie’s medical records?”

She looks at me, surprised. “I … no, but I could probably get them …”

“Thanks,” I say awkwardly. “It’s just … it would be good to see them. Find out if there are any more genetic surprises, you know.”

Rosie’s face fills with pain. “I think it’s just the Huntington’s,” she says quietly.

I nod.

“What made you want to get tested?” I blurt suddenly.

She looks at me, surprised.

“I …” She takes a deep breath, considering. “I couldn’t live with the not knowing,” she says simply. “I watched my mum—Trudie, I mean,” she corrects herself quickly. “I watched her suffer and then die and I had to know if it was going to happen to me too.”

I nod again.

“But a lot of people choose not to get tested,” she says quickly. “Jack’s right, you need to take some time, think about it all properly—”

“It’s
all
I think about,” I counter. “All I
can
think about.”

“I know.” Rosie nods miserably. “Holly, I’m so sorry, I should never have told you. All I’ve done is ruin your life—”

“No,” I say, though it kills me to admit it. “No, Rosie. You did the right thing. I needed to know.”
I need to know
.

She stares at the floor. I look at her. My reflection.

“Rosie, it’s not your fault,” I tell her, a gift.

She looks up at me, her eyes filled with tears, then suddenly flies at me in a hug, holding on to me as if her life depends on it—this girl who’s stolen my life and trampled on my dreams. I should hate her, but how can I? She was me; now I’m her. This mistake that switched us, that placed us in each other’s worlds, each other’s lives, has linked us forever. She’s the only one who
can
understand.

And she didn’t steal my life, not really. She couldn’t have taken it if it wasn’t rightfully hers. She brought the truth, and all the harsh realities that carries with it. But no, she hasn’t stolen my life.

The truth is, I’ve been living hers.

Rosie

I hold on to Holly tightly, this girl, this amazing girl, whose life I’ve managed to single-handedly obliterate, who’s actually accepted my olive branch. It’s just a beginning, but I can be there for her, I can understand … It won’t ever make up for the pain I’ve caused, but I can at least do some good.

“Holly, if there’s anything—
anything
—I can do for you—if you want to talk, if you need anything at all—”

“Actually,” she says hesitantly. “Tomorrow I’m … I’ve decided that—”

“There you are!” Jack calls, opening the kitchen door. “Someone’s arrived to cheer you up.”

We both look up in surprise. Then I follow his gaze to where Andy stands awkwardly.

Andy
. My heart soars. This moment, this very moment I’m making peace with Holly, now Andy’s come back too. Someone up there’s smiling on me today.

“Hi!” I beam. “You’re back.”

“Hi,” he says awkwardly, his hands deep in his pockets. He glances at Holly.

“I’ll—I’ll leave you to it,” she says, moving toward the door.

“Actually,” Andy says, stopping her, “it’s Holly I’ve come to see.”

Holly

“I wanted to check if we’re still on—for tomorrow?” Andy asks me. “I’ve left you a million voice mails …”

I hesitate as Rosie’s face turns white.

“Right,” she says eventually, her voice tight. “Right. Well. I-I’ll leave you to it, then.” She ducks her head as she stumbles away around the corner.

I glance at Andy, who’s staring at his feet. We stand in silence for a moment, words difficult to find.

“I thought you’d gone,” I say eventually. “I think we all did.”

“I thought about it,” Andy admits. “But I wanted to be here in case you decided—in case you needed someone to go with you. Tomorrow.” He shuffles his feet. “And you’ve got my phone.”

“Oh,” I say, fishing in my bag. “Right. Sorry, I completely forgot.”

“You forgot?” he says, surprised. “How’d you forget when it keeps ringing?”

“It hasn’t,” I tell him, pulling it out. “It hasn’t made a sound since—”

“Pass it here,” he says. “It’s turned off.” He smiles, pressing a button, and the screen comes to life. “You’d better check your voice mail—it’s full.” He shows me, passing it back. “I thought you were ignoring me.”

“Why would I?
I’m
the one who—” I break off, my cheeks burning as I remember our kiss. “I’m so sorry, Andy—I don’t know what came over me last week, I should never—”

He shrugs. “It happens. I’m a lovable guy.” He grins.

“Whatever.” I smile, rolling my eyes. “But Rosie …”

“Rosie and I have got our own problems,” he tells me. “Don’t worry about us—you’ve got enough on your plate.” He looks at me, his eyes softening. “So are you still going? Tomorrow?”

I take a deep breath and nod. “I’ve decided I’m gonna get myself tested first.”

“You’re sure?”

I nod. “I’m not putting my baby at any unnecessary risk. If I’m negative, then there’s no point.” I bite my lip.

“And if you’re positive?” he asks, his voice gentle as cotton candy.

I close my eyes, shivering as the wind whips past.

“I still don’t know.”

Rosie

The image of Andy kissing Holly burns in my memory and I feel sick.

All this time—
all this time
—I’ve been calling him, leaving him messages, begging him to talk to me … all this time he’s been calling
her
…?

Be careful what you wish for
, I think, blinking away my tears as I hurry away down the street. All this week I’ve been praying for a way to make things up to Holly—swearing I’d do anything, give up anything for her … but I never dreamed it would be Andy. He’s my future. At least, I thought he was.

Perhaps this is destiny?

I swallow hard.

Perhaps they were always meant to meet?

If Holly and I had never been switched, I’d have been brought up here, after all, and Andy and I would never have met. Instead, Holly and Andy would both be back home in Bramberley.

And now I’m the one who’s brought them together. After all, Andy wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me—if I hadn’t dragged him on this roller-coaster ride.

I sigh.

Yet again, I’ve got no one to blame but myself.