Page 88 of Skullduggery
I grinned at her. ‘Much more important.’ I reached across and used my free hand to clasp Hugo’s.
Mum gasped. ‘Has Hugo proposed?’
I stared at her. ‘Mother! Seriously? We’re not even in a real relationship!’
Hugo leaned into my ear. ‘I’m not so sure about that,’ he murmured. His thumb rubbed my ring finger.
Now it was my cheeks that were growing hot. ‘It’s not that,’ I said stiffly. I resolutely refused to look at him and focused on my shoes. ‘There’s something else I haven’t told you.’ I held my breath for a moment and then plunged ahead, ripping off the metaphorical plaster as quickly as I could.
‘I’m a drug addict. I’ve been addicted to spider’s silk since I was fifteen years old.’ The words were tripping over each other. ‘I’m finally in a position to do something about it so I’m planning to start rehabilitation. Getting clean has to be my main focus and it will be awful. The thought of it terrifies me but I know I can do it. IknowI can.’
I continued to stare at my shoes as Hugo’s fingers tightened around mine.
I couldn’t hear any sharp intakes of breath so eventually I raised my head, terrified of what I might see but unable to hide from the truth anylonger.
Gordon and Hugo were watching me carefully, as were Hester and Otis – but they already knew. It was Rose, my parents, Hugo’s parents and even Alain who were all looking at me with genuine concern but also unexpected warmth. Huh. It was obvious that they were deeply worried, but they weren’t disgusted. They weren’t running away.
‘Oh, Daisy, this is our fault. We knew there was something going on,’ my mum said. ‘I didn’t realise it was drugs. I never imagined…’ She swallowed. ‘I’m so sorry.’
I was absolutely adamant. ‘It isnotyour fault. There are a million and one reasons why I’m a drug addict and you are not one of them.’
‘Why didn’t you tell us?’ my dad whispered.
I still felt shaky. ‘I was scared. I didn’t want to hurt you or worry you. It was better this way.’
‘Oh, my poor girl.’ Mum reached for one of my hands and Rose took the other. ‘We should have done something. We should have helped you, Daisy.’
I met her eyes. ‘Believe me, there is nothing you could have said or done that would have made a difference.’
‘Since you were fifteen?’ Dad asked in a small voice.
I bit my lip and nodded.
‘The fire,’ my mum said as realisation dawned. ‘When the house burnt down.’
‘Yeah.’ My fingers twitched nervously. ‘That was my fault. I couldn’t control my magic and it flared up during the night when we were sleeping. After that, I started taking spider’s silk because it helped me to control my powers.’
‘Oh, Daisy.’
I gave a tremulous smile. ‘It’s okay. I’m okay. And soon I’ll be better than okay because Iwillget clean.’
‘You have our support all the way,’ Rose said.
‘All our support,’ my mum agreed.
As I looked at both of my mothers, a wellspring of happiness bubbled up inside me. With their help, I could do this. Suddenly I knew that nothing else mattered. Athair didn’t matter because he didn’t have people like this around him. These people were mine and I was theirs, and drug addiction would soon be nothing more than a note in Daisy Carter Assigney’s history book .
‘You also have all our love,’ my dad added. ‘Always.’
‘Yes, Daisy,’ Hugo murmured by my side. ‘You have all my love, too.’
‘But you don’t have diamonds,’ Hester muttered.
A huge grin flashed across my face. ‘We’ll set up a treasure hunt for some as soon as I’ve recovered.’ I glanced at Hugo. ‘If you’re in?’
His dimple appeared in his cheek. ‘Always.’
