The Forgotten Girl by Kerry Barrett Page A

fiancé.’
    Suze shrieked.
    â€˜You’re engaged!’ she said. ‘Let me see the ring.’
    She grabbed my bare left hand and looked first at my finger, then up at my face, confused.
    â€˜No ring?’
    â€˜I’ve got a ring,’ I said, snatching my hand away. ‘But I don’t wear it.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜Because,’ I hissed. ‘I don’t want anyone to know I’m engaged.’
    â€˜You don’t want George to know,’ Suze said.
    â€˜Not just George,’ I said. ‘Anyone. No one at work knows about Billy. And no one at home knows about…’
    Suze looked at me.
    â€˜About?’
    â€˜About work,’ I admitted. ‘About the magazine, about what I do – none of it.’
    Suze looked bewildered.
    â€˜But your job is brilliant,’ she said. ‘Why don’t you want to talk about it?’
    I made a face.
    â€˜Things at home are… tricky,’ I said. ‘My mum died when I was little and Dad’s, well, he really only pays attention to me when I annoy him.’
    Suze nodded.
    â€˜Go on.’
    â€˜I’ve not told him about my job because it’s just not worth the grief he’d give me.’
    â€˜Handy with his fists, is he?’
    I felt a flush of embarrassment.
    â€˜Once or twice,’ I admitted. ‘Well, bit more than that really. More when he’s drunk. Or angry at the world.’
    I’d never told anyone what Dad was really like. I forced my gaze upwards to meet Suze’s and was relieved to see no pity in her eyes, just understanding.
    â€˜So where does he think you go every day?’ she asked, raising a narrow eyebrow.
    â€˜He thinks I work in insurance and he thinks I’m only doing it until I get married – or until I go and work for him in his shop.’
    â€˜Shit,’ said Suze. ‘That’s a tangled web.’
    â€˜Isn’t it,’ I said, wryly.
    â€˜So when’s the wedding?’
    I winced.
    â€˜We’ve not set a date yet,’ I said. ‘But I’m thinking… never.’
    â€˜Ouch,’ said Suze. ‘What are you going to do?’
    I looked up at the ceiling.
    â€˜No idea,’ I said. ‘Marry Billy, leave work and have some babies?’
    Suze shuddered.
    â€˜No,’ she said.
    â€˜Break Billy’s heart, make my dad furious and end up on the streets?’
    â€˜Sometimes,’ said Suze, her elfin face serious, ‘the streets are better than the alternative. You just have to be brave and take a risk.’
    We looked at each other for a minute. I felt a sort of connection to her, even though we’d really only just met.
    I nodded.
    â€˜You’re right,’ I said, wondering what had happened to her. ‘I have to take a risk.’
    I smiled weakly.
    â€˜Let’s do it. I’ll bring my typewriter to yours and we can get busy. Who knows, if we sell enough articles we’ll be able to afford to rent a flat.’
    Suze bounced up and down in her seat.
    â€˜Oh I’d love that,’ she said. ‘Imagine the fun we’ll have.’
    And the funny thing was, I could imagine it. I really could.

Chapter 14
    So we put our plan into action. I sowed the seeds at home that evening.
    â€˜There’s a course I’m hoping to do,’ I said to Dad as I sliced carrots for dinner. ‘It’s book-keeping and it’s aimed at small businesses. It’s perfect for the shop.’
    Dad was reading the Standard at the kitchen table, cup of tea at his elbow. I was pleased he’d not started drinking as soon as he came home, like he sometimes did. It would help me if he could follow the conversation without flying off the handle.
    â€˜I do the books,’ he said, not looking up.
    â€˜Oh I know,’ I said, sweeping the carrots into the mince. ‘But one day you might want me to take over. Or I can help Billy at the garage. It’s a useful