Page 38 of Fury

I shake my head and stick the long-pronged fork into the joint. “Nah, I haven’t met the one yet.”

She looks away before clearing her throat. “I always wondered about you,” she says. “I called the family you went to after a few weeks had passed. The social worker said to wait at least a month to let you settle.” She smiles sadly. “When they said you’d run away, I was . . . well, it broke my heart. I called the police several times, but they didn’t seem bothered, said you were a troubled kid and you’d only keep doing it if they returned you. But they promised to contact me if you showed up.”

Xanthe frowns, staring at her mum in shock. “I didn’t know any of that.”

Dianna looks guilty. “You didn’t know half of it,” she mutters. “So, Reese, where did you end up?”

“From Manchester, I went to Liverpool, met some friends, and then went to Nottingham. I was there for a long time, and then I met a guy who took me in at the motorcycle club. I moved here a few months ago.”

“What a coincidence,” she says, smiling again. “All this time you’ve been here, and we haven’t seen you until now.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Well, you weren’t to know we were here,” she pauses before adding, “I’m not sure you’d have bothered to look us up anyway.”

“It was a long time ago,” I mutter. “I’m over it.”

She eyes me for a few seconds before nodding at the meat. “Carve it thinly. I hate chewing it.”

“Mum, Reese rides a motorbike,” says Xanthe brightly.

Dianna chuckles. “You had an eye for danger too. A thrill seeker, I used to tell your social worker.”

“I like the freedom that comes with it,” I explain.

“I can picture it,” she says wistfully. “You on a bike, enjoying the road and all that freedom. You were like a caged animal when you first arrived. Wouldn’t sit still.” She gives a sad laugh. “You know, every time a child leaves, you take something on board. A piece of knowledge, a thought that relates to that child, and you . . .” She places her hands on the kitchen worktop and fixes me with a firm stare. “Well, when you left, I had nothing. Maybe it was because I was so sad, but you’re the only child I’ve thought about a lot, that I’ve spent time wondering about.” Dianna sets three plates on the worktop and begins to dish dinner up. “Go take a seat at the table,” she instructs.

I follow Xanthe through to the dining room leading off from the kitchen, Dianna’s words ringing in my ears. Knowing she thought about me warms me a little. I’d just assumed she was glad to see the back of me.

“This is awkward,” I whisper, sitting at the table.

“Not as awkward as some of the stuff I’ve witnessed today,” she retorts, sitting beside me.

“I had to do what I had to do,” I reply. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t have walked out of there alive.”

She twists in her seat to look at me. “Okay, so how many times have you done that?”

“You choose the worst times to discuss this sorta thing,” I mutter, shaking my head in annoyance. The truth is, I don’t want to discuss it at all. She’s not happy with it, and once she knows the truth, she’ll want to be far away from me, and I’m not ready for that.

Dianna comes in carrying two plates stacked with roast beef, potatoes, and vegetables. “Tuck in,” she says with a smile as she places one down before each of us. “Gravy is coming,” she adds,going into the kitchen again. She returns seconds later with her own dinner and a gravy jug. I take it and pour some over my dinner. It’s been way too long since I had a homecooked food like this, and I’m desperate to get stuck in.

“How’s work?” Dianna asks Xanthe.

“Same old,” she replies. “Busy. I’m taking a few days off actually.”

“You are?”

Xanthe nods. “I broke up with Donnie, so I thought I’d spend some time catching up with Reese.”

Dianna’s eyes flit between us before she forces a smile. “Well, makes sense. You were practically brother and sister.”

I shudder, dropping my fork back on my plate and pushing it away slightly. Xanthe arches a brow and smirks. “Really, Mum?”

“Don’t do this now, Xanth,” I warn.

She ignores me, glaring at her mum, who stares back with a look of guilt on her face. “I know what happened,” Xanthe continues. “I know you sent him away.”

Dianna shakes her head. “It wasn’t just down to me.”

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