Two-Faced (17 page)

The atmosphere in the Delaney household plummeted to new depths over the next two weeks. Michelle and Mia still weren’t speaking, and vicious eye-daggers flew between them whenever their paths crossed – which made Kim feel like she was stuck in the middle of one of those crazy Chinese films where everyone did somersaults and tried to kill each other. Giving up on trying to persuade the girls to make their peace, she took to keeping them apart as much as possible instead. Which, fortunately, wasn’t too difficult: Michelle was at school during the day and spent the evenings reading in her room, while Mia had plenty to keep her occupied preparing for the impending TV shoot.

And it all seemed to be going so well – until the morning of the shoot, when everything suddenly turned upside down and inside out.

‘Please tell me this is just nerves, and you haven’t gone and caught a bug,’ Kim groaned, her face a mask of worry when Mia limped out of the bathroom clutching at her stomach. ‘That’s the third time you’ve puked this morning.’

Turning a sickly shade of green, Mia turned right around and rushed back into the bathroom.

‘It must have been something you had from the chippy last night,’ Kim called through the door, grimacing at the sound of noisy vomiting. ‘Then again, you had the same as me, and I’m all right. Did you get anything after that? You didn’t eat any of that tuna I left in the fridge, did you? Only I thought it tasted a bit funny when I made that butty the other day.’

Her face pale and sweaty as she emerged once more from the bathroom, Mia shook her head. ‘I didn’t even finish my chips,’ she murmured, sounding close to tears. ‘I already felt a bit sick when you brought them in.’

‘Well, it must be
some
thing,’ Kim said, peering down at her worriedly. ‘You didn’t sneak any of my booze, did you?’

‘
No
,’ Mia croaked, feeling queasy again at the thought of it.

‘You’ve only got three and a bit hours until the shoot,’ Kim moaned, glancing at her watch. ‘How about I run out and pick up some Alka Seltzer? That might settle you.’

Mia ran back into the bathroom and retched, but this time nothing came up. As she stood in the doorway watching her daughter heaving, Kim’s jaw dropped as realisation hit home.

‘Oh, my God, you’re pregnant!’

‘No, I’m not.’

‘Well, when was your last period?’

‘I don’t know,’ Mia admitted, looking up forlornly from where she was bent over the toilet.

‘You stupid little
cow
!’ Kim cried, wringing her hands. ‘Oh God, what are we going to do
now
? You won’t be able to film if you can’t stop throwing up. And look at the state of you – you’re
green
! They’ll take one look at you and kick you out. And what the hell am I supposed to tell
Sammy
? Oh, Mia, how could you do this to me at a time like this?’

‘It’s not my fault,’ Mia protested self-pityingly.

‘Well, it sure as hell ain’t
mine
,’ Kim shot back lighting a cigarette, her hands shaking. ‘And whose is it, anyway? And for God’s sake don’t tell me it’s that lad you stole off Michelle. That’d be all we need.’

‘He’s the only one I’ve slept with,’ Mia said, lying.

In actual fact, she had no idea if it was Liam’s or Darren’s because she didn’t know how far on she was. But, given a choice, she’d go for Liam every time. She still hadn’t seen him since the confrontation between Michelle, herself and him and he hadn’t returned any of her calls. But now she had a legitimate excuse to go round to his flat and
make
him talk to her.

‘Well, you can’t have it, and that’s a fact,’ Kim said firmly, oblivious to the fanciful thoughts that were buzzing around her daughter’s head. ‘I’m going to ring the doctor and set up an appointment for an abortion.’

‘
No!
’ Mia crossed her arms protectively over her belly. ‘I want to keep it.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Kim replied flatly. ‘How do you think you’ll get work as a model when you’re covered in stretch marks?’

‘Kate Moss is a mum, and she still gets work.’

‘Yeah, but she can afford all them fancy creams to make sure her skin doesn’t turn to shit.’ Kim sucked deeply on her cigarette and shook her head. ‘No, it’s impossible. Even if we wanted it, we can’t afford it. And anyhow, there’s no room in here for a baby.’

‘We can apply to the council for a bigger house.’

‘Oh, grow up!’ Kim snapped. ‘Look at Fat Slag next door. She’s brought up four kids in a two-bed, and she’s been on the transfer list since the
first
one was born. And they’ve all left home now apart from speccy Graham, so she’ll be stuck there for life. And so will we, ’cos there’s only one way we’re ever going to escape this hell-hole, and that’s by you making a success of yourself and buying us out – which you
won’t
be doing if you go saddling us with a baby! So, no, I’m sorry love, but it’s got to go – whether you like it or not. And for God’s sake don’t tell Shell.’

Overcome by another rush of nausea, Mia staggered back to the toilet and dry-heaved for several minutes. Gasping for air when it had stopped, she said, ‘How long will this last?’

‘If you’re anything like me, till you give birth,’ Kim told her grimly. ‘And then you’ll have the pain of
that
– and believe me, it’s the worst pain you’ll ever feel in your entire life, ’cos it feels like you’re being torn apart.’ Sighing, she gazed down at her daughter’s head. ‘Sorry, love, but I’m calling the doctor. It’s the only way.’

Too weak to fight, Mia got back up onto her knees and retched again.

Kim thundered down the stairs and was just about to reach for the phone when it started to ring. Snatching it up, all set to tell whoever it was that she couldn’t talk right now, she grimaced when she heard Sammy’s chirpy voice.

‘Oh, good, you’re up,’ he said. ‘I was only ringing to make sure you hadn’t overslept. I’ll be there to pick you up at nine forty-five on the dot, so make sure you’re ready. And how’s Mia this morning? Raring to go?’

‘Er, yeah, she’s good,’ Kim lied, biting her lip.

‘Good, good . . . well, I’ll see you soon, then.’

Hanging up when he did, Kim cursed under her breath. What was she supposed to do now? She couldn’t let Mia go ahead with the shoot in this condition. Even if Mia
wanted
to do it, she wouldn’t be able to if she was throwing up every two minutes.

Michelle!

The thought popped into her head out of nowhere, but as soon as it came she seized it with both hands.

Of course! It was obvious – Michelle could take Mia’s place and nobody would be any the wiser. They might have to do some extra work on her make-up to get her looking as good as her sister, but they were professionals so that shouldn’t be a problem. And, while Sammy knew that Mia had a sister, no one had ever mentioned that they were twins, so he wouldn’t ask any questions. It was the solution to everything!

‘
Michelle . . .
’ Kim yelled, rushing back upstairs. Bursting into the bedroom just as Michelle was laying her uniform out on the bed, she said, ‘Put that away – you won’t be going to school today . . .’

Sitting in the living room a few minutes later Michelle’s face was a mask of horror as she listened to her mum’s plan.

‘I can’t!’ she gasped when Kim stopped speaking at last. ‘I’m nowhere near as pretty as Mia. They’ll know I’m not her as soon as they look at me.’

‘
I
’m the only one who can really tell you apart just by looking at you,’ Kim insisted, ignoring the
you’ve-got-to-be-kidding!
look that Mia aimed her way at the suggestion than anyone could possibly mistake Michelle for her. ‘Anyway, you’ve
got
to do it. She’s got a stomach bug.’

‘I can’t,’ Michelle repeated lamely. ‘I don’t know the first thing about being a model.’

‘Neither did Mia when she started out, but look at her now. Anyway, I’ll tell you exactly what to do. And I’ll be there the whole time, so I can give you tips if I think you’re not getting it.’

‘It’s a stupid idea,’ Mia piped up sulkily, lying on the couch with a quilt over her legs and a cup of milky tea beside her on the floor. ‘She’s an idiot – she’ll cock it up.’

‘Well, it’s the only choice we’ve got,’ Kim snapped at her. ‘And you’ve only got yourself to blame,’ she added, giving Mia a hooded look.

‘I can’t do it,’ Michelle murmured, standing up and heading for the door. ‘And she doesn’t want me to, anyway.’

Glaring at Mia when Michelle had gone, Kim hissed, ‘Are you trying to ruin everything? You’d better say something – and be quick about it, or you can forget everything you’ve been working towards.’

Mia really didn’t want to have to beg, but she knew that her mum was right: Michelle was her only hope of salvaging her career. So, swallowing her pride, she took a deep breath and called, ‘Michelle . . . can you come back a minute.’ Adding, ‘
Please
,’ when her mum gave her another glare, she clutched the quilt to her breast and sighed deeply.

‘What?’ Michelle said coolly, coming back and staring down at her.

As she met her sister’s cold gaze, Mia’s chin began to wobble and tears filled her eyes. In a small, guilt-ridden voice, she said, ‘I’m so sorry, Shell, and I know I don’t deserve it after everything that’s happened, but if you’ll just do this one thing for me I promise I’ll make it up to you.’

Narrowing her own eyes with suspicion, Michelle pursed her lips but said nothing.

‘I know you’re still mad at me,’ Mia went on, swiping at a tear that was trickling slowly down her cheek. ‘And I don’t blame you, ’cos I’ve been well out of order. But it’s at times like this that you realise that blood really
is
thicker than water. Mum’s been telling me that for ages, but I’ve been too stubborn to listen. But I get it now, honest. And I’ll totally understand if you tell me to get lost, but I really, really need you to save this job for me, so I’m
begging
you to forgive me and help me.’

As she gazed down at her sister a flicker of uncertainty flashed through Michelle’s eyes. Mia looked and sounded genuinely contrite, but was she really, or was it just a ploy to get what she wanted?

Rushing to the couch when Mia began to sob, Kim pulled her into her arms and gave Michelle an imploring look. ‘Please, love, you can see how upset she is, and you know it won’t have been easy for her to say what she just said, so give her a chance. And if you won’t do it for her, do it for
me
.’

Michelle sighed and shrugged. ‘Okay, I’ll try. But don’t blame me if I mess it up, because I won’t have a clue what I’m doing.’

‘Oh, thank you, love,’ Kim gushed. Then, squeezing Mia, she crooned, ‘See, everything’s going to be all right now. Michelle will take your place until you’re back on your feet.’

Mia nodded, then sniffed loudly. ‘Thanks, Shell, you’re a star.’

Moved by the emotion in her sister’s voice, Michelle blinked back her own tears and went upstairs to get ready. It had been a terrible few weeks, but maybe this was what they needed to put things back on track between them. It still hurt that Mia had stolen Liam from her, but it was done, so there was no point holding on to the resentment. Anyway, this wasn’t just about her and Mia, it was about their mum as well, and they had to pull together for all their sakes.

Downstairs, Mia had stopped crying as abruptly as she’d started. Giving her mum a slow smile, she whispered, ‘And the Oscar for best actress goes to . . .
Mia Delaney!
Yay . . . !’

When Mia mimicked the sound of an audience cheering, Kim tutted and stood up, saying quietly, ‘You’ll be the bloody death of me with your play-acting, you. And you’d best not let madam hear you,’ she added warningly. ‘
Or
find out why you’re really sick. She only agreed to stand in for you because she thinks you’re sorry for what you did, but if she finds out you’re taking the piss she’ll go right off on one.’

‘Nah, she well thinks I meant it,’ Mia scoffed unconcernedly.

‘I hope so,’ Kim muttered. ‘Anyway, I’ll ring the doctor and set up that appointment. And you hurry up and drink that brew before it gets cold.’

‘Oh, did you have to?’ Mia moaned, feeling nauseous again at the mention of the tepid tea she’d been trying to ignore.

‘For God’s sake get yourself upstairs if you’re going to be sick,’ Kim snapped, jumping back in fear of Mia projectile vomiting on her freshly washed clothes. ‘And stay up there till we’ve gone, ’cos I don’t want Sammy catching sight of you when he gets here and putting two and two together.’

Mia tossed the quilt aside, threw a hand across her mouth and dashed upstairs. Hammering on the bathroom door, just about remembering that she was supposed to have turned a new leaf, she said, ‘Sorry, Shell, I just need the loo. I won’t be a minute.’

Michelle came straight out and stood aside as Mia rushed past her and dived over the toilet. Feeling sorry for her sister as she retched and heaved, she asked, ‘Is it food poisoning?’

‘I think so,’ Mia grunted, wiping her mouth. Then, smiling weakly up at Michelle, she said, ‘Must be my punishment for doing the dirty on you, eh?’

‘Don’t say that,’ Michelle murmured, feeling guilty now. ‘We all make mistakes, but at least we’re friends again.’

Friends?
Mia thought scathingly, still smiling as she hobbled back to bed.
As if!
Let’s see if Michelle still wanted to be friends when she realised that not only were Mia and Liam back together but they were about to have a baby.

Sammy arrived to collect Kim and Michelle a short time later. After watching from the bedroom window until the car had turned out of the street, Mia got dressed and rushed out to catch the bus to Liam’s flat. She swallowed down the nausea that kept washing over her and made her way up the path. Knocking on the door, she stepped back so that Liam would see her if he looked out. But there was no sign of movement.

Getting no answer after several more attempts, she sat down on the filthy top step and hugged her knees to her chest. She was freezing, and she wished she could stop feeling so sick, but she supposed it was a small price to pay to get Liam back. And she would, she was sure, because he was far too decent to turn his back on his own child.