Beneath the Surface (11 page)

‘It’s a bloody prison!’ Becky was laughing as they neared her with their cups of juice. ‘They could film
Big Brother
here, there are that many eyes looking at you.’ Whatever she was pouring into the gathering mass of cups was coming out of a large water bottle. ‘Better to be safe,’ she added, holding up the bottle. ‘Extra water?’ she shouted loudly.

Becky was a carbon copy of Donna. Except for her dark brown hair, which she once tried to dye blonde but failed dismally, they looked like clones of each other. Becky’s shorts were white, and her vest slightly less revealing, but other than that they dressed and sounded the same. And they were both as dumb as each other, Hannah thought, as she held out her cup.

‘I think she’s had enough
water
already,’ Lauren sniggered after they had topped up their cups and were sitting down at one of the benches.

Hannah slipped her sunglasses down to cover her eyes, shifting on the seat so that she could keep one eye trained on the path leading up to the diner from the road.

‘Who are you looking for?’

‘No one.’

‘Come on, Hannah. I’m not stupid. Is it Dominic?’

‘No.’ Hannah could feel the burn in her cheeks and gulped down the rest of her drink. The strength of whatever alcohol Becky had added made her gag and spit it out onto the grass in front of her. Then, just as she looked up, she saw him. Dom was walking towards them, an arm casually slung over the shoulder of one of his friends, a boy called Cal, and they were laughing. She didn’t know if it was at her; she didn’t think Dom would do that but then she didn’t know him well enough to say for sure. They had spoken a number of times; he had always been friendly but there was never more than that, despite Hannah hoping there might be.

He nodded in her direction and saluted before disappearing into the diner with Cal.

‘What a nob!’ Lauren gave a suppressed laugh.

‘No, he’s not.’

‘Oh no, Hannah is properly in love!’ Lauren sighed, rolling her eyes.

‘He’s just so good-looking,’ Hannah said. ‘Don’t you think?’

‘No, he’s not my type at all.’

‘And what’s your type, dear sister?’

‘I don’t know really. Less stereotypical, I guess,’ Lauren said. ‘He’s too surfer dude for me.’

‘You can’t say a toned, tanned body isn’t attractive.’

‘His eyes are too close together.’

‘Oh, for God’s sake!’

‘And I prefer dark-haired guys.’

‘Like Cal maybe?’

‘Jesus, no!’

They both laughed. Cal was known as a player but neither of them could understand why. He was shorter than Dom by at least a head and what he lacked in height he made up for by being loud and brash. Hannah didn’t know why Dom hung out with him other than to make himself look even better.

‘So tell me,’ Lauren said, turning to face Hannah, ‘have you been thinking any more about what you mentioned the other day?’

‘Which bit?’

‘Looking for our dad.’

Hannah was shocked her sister had brought the subject up. It hadn’t been mentioned since the time on the beach, and she was struggling to think how she could say anything to Lauren, given her previous reaction.

‘Yes,’ she said, sitting forward on the bench. ‘I’ve been writing a list of everything I know about him. Or at least everything Mum has told us, which of course we can’t take as gospel.’

‘OK, go ahead.’

‘Really?’ Hannah was excited. It was more than she could have imagined, having Lauren on board so easily.

‘I’m not saying I agree with what you’re doing, but I don’t want to be left out either.’

‘Well…’ Hannah held out a hand and started counting off her fingers. ‘We know his name is Peter Webb. We know he must have left us in about 2001 because that’s when we came to the Bay. We don’t know how old he is but guessing he’s about Mum’s age, then he’s in his late fifties. And we think he might be in Australia.’

‘Do we?’

‘Well, probably not. Mum once told me that but I’m not sure I believe her. It’s a bit clichéd to come up with Australia, isn’t it? I think it was just the first thing that popped into her head. She didn’t look as if she knew what she was talking about.’

‘And is that it?’

‘Yep, major stuff to go on, eh? Looks like he’ll be found in no time,’ Hannah added sarcastically.

‘So where are you thinking of starting?’ Lauren asked, sipping at her drink. ‘This stuff is disgusting, I can’t drink any more of it.’

Hannah reached over and tipped it into her own cup. ‘It’s not that bad. Anyway, I like the buzz it gives you.’ She had noticed Dom coming out of the diner and watched him as he made his way to where Becky was still laughing loudly, attracting a group of students around her who wanted whatever taste of alcohol they could get their hands on. Becky was inching away from the group and making a beeline for Dom. ‘Look at the way she flicks her hair and pouts her lips at him. She’s so obvious. Surely he doesn’t fancy her, does he?’

‘Don’t all the guys? Anyway, back to us.’

Hannah sighed. ‘I have to get my hands on someone’s iPad. I thought of using Morrie’s computer but I can’t risk him telling Mum. And I tried at school but social media sites are blocked and Facebook must be the easiest place to start looking. Can you believe in this age of technology, it’s nigh on impossible for you and me to search the internet?’

Kathryn had been clear she didn’t want them having access to the web. ‘There’s too many people out there who’ll pretend to be someone they aren’t,’ she told them. ‘It’s safer walking the streets than being in some chatting room.’

‘Chatroom, Mum. And even thirteen-year-olds can use Facebook,’ Hannah retorted.

‘I don’t care! They’re not my daughters.’

Eventually agreeing to buy them mobile phones, Kathryn had spent ages choosing ones that didn’t have access to Wi-Fi or 3G connections. Hannah had thrown the phone in her bag in disgust when she had been given it. She wasn’t going to let anyone at school see she didn’t have the latest iPhone – they’d be laughing stocks.

‘Hey, girls!’

Hannah looked up to see Dom walking towards them, Cal slinking behind as always, trapped in his shadow. Dom was smiling directly at Hannah, a smile that heated her up, and she prayed she wasn’t blushing. She took another large mouthful of her drink and, getting used to the taste, managed to swallow it without flinching.

‘Do you mind if we sit with you?’

‘Actually, I’ve just seen Sophie,’ Lauren said to Hannah. ‘I’m going to talk to her. I’ll be back in a bit, OK? And we’ll need to go soon,’ she added, looking at her sister pointedly.

Hannah sidled up the bench to make room for Dom, handing Lauren’s empty cup to Cal, who’d said he was going for refills.

‘So, are you going into town later?’ Dom asked.

Hannah shook her head. ‘I doubt it,’ she said. ‘You?’

‘I’d rather not but I imagine Cal will drag me down there later. It’s a shame you’re not coming, I might enjoy myself a bit more if you were there.’ He smiled at Hannah and she took another gulp of her drink. Was he coming on to her? Hannah had never had a boyfriend, and she had no idea how she was expected to act.

‘Maybe we could get our drinks and go for a walk on the beach instead?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know.’ Hannah felt the heat spreading down her neck. She knew she must be the colour of beetroot by now. She saw her sister with her back to her, deep in conversation with Sophie. She would have to tell Lauren if she went off with Dom, she couldn’t just slip away. But if Lauren ended up going home without her then there’d be hell to pay. ‘I mean, my mum’s expecting us back and I don’t know—’ Hannah stopped, annoyed she was still letting her mother dictate what she did. Dom wouldn’t be interested in someone who ran back to her mummy, not when he had Becky ready to pounce on him, given half a chance. ‘OK,’ she smiled. ‘Let’s do it.’

‘Great! I’ll tell Cal if he ever gets back with the drinks, but by the look of it he might be a while. I think Becky has snared him, poor guy. He’s probably in his element, though I can’t imagine why he would be.’

‘Oh? You don’t think she’s pretty?’

‘Becky?’ he asked, turning back to look at the group, who were by now dancing and singing loudly. ‘She’s OK. Bit too plastic-looking for me,’ he laughed.

Hannah smiled. ‘I’ll go and tell Lauren we’re going,’ she said. She knew how her sister would react and was prepared for them to fall out over it, but their arguments never lasted long. Hannah wouldn’t be late and as soon as she got home that night and into bed, Lauren would be fine with her again. It was her mum who would take more careful handling, but right now all she could think about was being alone on the beach with Dom. It was a risk worth taking.

‘You have to be kidding,’ Lauren said. ‘Mum is going to be furious. She’ll probably go out looking for you.’

‘Then just don’t tell her where I am. Tell her I’m with Sophie, or one of the others. Please, Lauren. I promise you I won’t be late. I’ll only be an hour or so then I swear I’ll come home.’

Lauren shook her head. ‘Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

*****

Hannah didn’t notice how late it had got and when she looked at her watch and realised two hours had passed, she told Dom she was going to have to go. He insisted on walking her back to her house, but they stopped at the corner of the lane, where he held her face between his hands and kissed her gently on the lips, then told her that he would like to see her again if that was OK with her. Hannah hadn’t been kissed before, and when she quietly closed the front door behind her, she leaned back against it and touched her lips gently: she was in love.

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ Her mum’s voice made her jump. Hannah turned and saw Kathryn sitting at the table. ‘You said you’d be home at ten, and it’s nearly eleven. Where have you been?’

‘I didn’t realise the time,’ Hannah said calmly. She knew her mother was angry but she didn’t care. Nothing could ruin her good mood. ‘I was just talking to the others who didn’t go into town, and I forgot the time.’

‘Were you with a boy?’

‘There were boys there.’

‘Don’t be smart. I’m asking if you went off with a boy, Hannah. You’re too young to be doing things like that.’

‘Actually I’m not, Mum. I’m perfectly old enough to have a boyfriend if I want one.’ Hannah started walking up the stairs. This was getting ridiculous, she was sick of being treated like a child.

‘If I find out you’re lying to me—’ Kathryn shouted as Hannah got to the top of the stairs and closed the bedroom door behind her.

‘You’ll what?’ she muttered to herself. There were plenty of threats but Hannah wasn’t ever sure they would come to anything. Besides, there was little her mum could do to stop her seeing Dom.

‘You still awake?’ she whispered to Lauren, crawling into the single bed next to her sister’s.

‘Just.’

‘Dom’s amazing,’ Hannah sighed. ‘I was really nervous going down to the beach with him but he was so lovely. We did nothing but talk, it was so nice.’

‘I heard Mum waiting downstairs for you,’ Lauren said.

‘He asked me out,’ Hannah giggled. ‘We’re meeting up next Thursday, as soon as we break up.’

‘Seriously?’

‘I
know
,’ Hannah giggled.

‘Mum will freak, of course.’

‘Of course.’

‘Does she know how old he is?’

‘He’s only eighteen, Lauren. He’s hardly a dirty old man,’ Hannah sighed. ‘He’s gorgeous. And he’s so into me, asking loads of stuff about me, like what I’m going to do after school, if I want to go to Uni. “What are your dreams?” he asked!’

‘Sounds like a prick.’

‘You’re just jealous. Anyway, guess what? He’s going to lend me his iPad. He says he’ll help look for our dad. He seemed really into the idea.’

Lauren rolled over and stared at her sister. ‘
What
? You told him you were looking for our dad? What the hell did you do that for, Hannah? Now it’s going to be all over the Bay.’

‘It won’t. He said he wouldn’t tell anyone.’

‘You’re unbelievable,’ Lauren said, rolling back and closing her eyes. ‘Now shut up and let me get some sleep. And Mum’s pissed off with you, by the way.’

‘So what’s new?’ Hannah said, plumping the pillow beneath her and lying on her back. She lay awake for a while. There were too many exciting things to think about and suddenly the summer seemed like it was full of possibilities she hadn’t imagined a week ago. With Dom’s help she could find their dad. Since planning to look for him the thought of it had been burning away inside her. He was another piece of her jigsaw. Yes, she got that he left them when they were children, and she could see why Lauren might not be interested in giving him a chance, but Hannah wanted to. Because what if they had some connection she had been missing out on all her life? What if he was the parent she actually got along with? They could spend summers and Christmases together, and he could drive her to places and listen to what she was up to, and tell her to follow her dreams rather than trying to suppress them, like her mum did.

She listened to the gentle slowing of Lauren’s breathing and knew when her sister had fallen asleep. Listening to her was like the familiar ticking of a clock. Hannah blew her sister a kiss, and closed her eyes. She couldn’t imagine being able to sleep if Lauren wasn’t in the bed next to her, but the more she dreamed of bigger things, the further she felt she was slipping away from her.

There was a time when Kathryn was eight that she remembers clearly. She was walking with her mother, holding hands. It was autumn and the pavements were heavy with leaves. Brown, gold, red … Kathryn couldn’t take her eyes off the colours as she watched them tumble over her shoes. Cars were swooshing past her, but she was trying to concentrate on the crunch of the leaves underfoot. It was a busy road and that was why her mother had such a tight grip on her, one that occasionally felt too tight on her hands.

‘Walk carefully.’ She felt a yank on her arm. But the leaves were so beautiful and she wanted to run through them and kick them high into the air. Kathryn started to skip. She was still in step with her mother, knowing not to go ahead. ‘Stop it,’ her mother hissed. ‘Stop skipping,’ her voice louder that time. Kathryn’s hand was pushed away and she no longer had anyone to hold onto, no one keeping her safe, and suddenly the roar of cars was louder than the crunching of leaves. Her mother had already started walking ahead of her, and Kathryn had to run to keep up with her. Head down, she knew she was being punished by no longer having her mother’s hand to hold but she couldn’t understand why. Was it her happiness that annoyed Eleanor?