“So, whether we are successful in acquiring Swedish nationality for Kayla is incidental, but would add weight to her story. We would like the world to see her as our daughter. We all know who she is really, but in such a closed minded society, we want her past to be as clear-cut as her future and free from the smears of petty minded bigots who can’t see beyond the end of their own inadequacies.”
“So, your daughter is legally your daughter, with an amended birth certificate?”
“Yes. It used to show her as a male, but that was altered officially on the medical evidence.”
“Right, so exactly why do you want to adopt her?”
“Richard, we don’t need to adopt her, we want legal papers to show she is adopted.”
“There’s a difference?”
“You’re the solicitor. As I understand it, legally she is Kayla Manning, who anyone who wants to check can find out she was once Kyle Manning, born a boy. Now, in order to remove that, we want everyone to see her as Kayla Olsen, now the adopted daughter of Jacob and Rebecca Manning, her uncle and aunt.”
“Won’t you need a Swedish birth certificate?”
“Richard, we don’t want to adopt her, we want everyone to think we’ve adopted her.”
“Oh,” said Richard, clearly not understanding at all.
“Okay, let’s go back to the beginning. Stop me if you don’t understand. Kayla was born…..”
It was a glorious June afternoon. School was over for the week for the A level students. There were one or two more exams for them in the following week, but they’d finished for this week.
Kayla was lying in the grass next to the river Thames, as it slithered past, inexorably towards somewhere else. Her eyes were closed, and she was just enjoying the sun on her face. Pete lay beside her, on his side, supporting his head on one arm, watching the girl next to him. She was wearing a thin pale blue top, with straps rather than sleeves, and a short black denim skirt. Her long blonde hair fanned out on the grass behind her, looking like a halo. What had been quite pale skin was showing a healthy glow, as she reacted to the warm early summer sun. She had that skin that bronzed easily, missing out the red and blistering part.
He watched her firm pert breasts rise and fall with each breath. He thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world. To him she was an angel.
He reached out with his hand and traced the line of her cheek down to the nape of her neck, then down to her shoulder. She opened an eye and, turning towards him, looked him in the eye.
“What you doing?” she asked.
“Admiring something that is so beautiful!”
She smiled; however, her eyes took on that sad look, which he’d seen all too often these days.
“Why so sad?” he asked, knowing what her response would be.
On cue, she shook her head, turning away so he couldn’t see the tears. Misunderstanding that it was because she was due to return to Sweden soon, he didn’t pursue it. He too felt sad, but retained a hope that somehow they could get together in the near future. Pete seriously considered proposing to her, as he felt he never wanted to lose her.
“Kayla?”
“Mmm?”
“Have you ever been in love?”
She turned towards him.
“Perhaps, why?”
“You know I love you?”
“So you’ve told me, lots of times.”
“Good, just so you know.”
“Pete, I love you too. I just hope you can forgive me!”
“I forgive you everything, you know that. But what exactly?”
She shook her head.
“Come on, Kayla, you’ve obviously got something on your mind. It’s eating you up. Please tell me?”
“I can’t. Not yet. Oh, Pete, I love you so much, and I am such a bad person!”
She started to cry again, so he took her in his arms. She sobbed quietly for a few minutes and as the sobs died, he kissed her. She returned the kiss passionately, holding him tightly, as if she was afraid of losing him.
Pete didn’t understand girls!
They walked back towards the house she was staying in, holding hands tightly, as all young lovers do. Pete was slightly troubled, as his girl was increasingly unhappy, yet although she assured him it was nothing of his making, he was still concerned.
“What’s your home like?” he asked, hoping that if she talked about Sweden, she’d feel better.
“Like this. There’s lots of water, fields and farms. Some wild country and towns.”
Realising that conversation was going to be tough, he changed tack, facing her.
“Kayla, I know you’re unhappy. Is it anything to do with having to go back to Sweden?”
She stopped, looking him in the eye.
“No. It’s something else. Having to leave you is part of it. Look, I can’t tell you, not yet anyway. I promise that I will tell you, eventually and when the time is right. But only if you and me are still together.”
“Is it something I’ve done?”
He looked so worried, that she smiled, kissing him.
“Sweet Peter, no, nothing you’ve done. This is of my own making. I must unmake it.”
It suddenly dawned on him, his expression changed.
“Shit! I am so stupid!” he said.
She looked worried.
“What?”
“I know what it is, and I am so sorry. I never thought about him!”
“Who?” she asked worried. Had he guessed?
“I knew I was right! I just knew it. Look, I’ve been a completely selfish arse. You told me, right at the start, but I chose to ignore it. How could I have been so unfeeling?”
“Peter, what is it?”
“Okay, you didn’t want to mention it, so that’s fine. I understand now, and I can see why you don’t want to. I promise that I won’t stand in your way!”
Kayla was perplexed and upset. She hadn’t a clue what he was talking about. It certainly didn’t appear that he’d guessed the truth.
“Pete, stop teasing with me, what do you guess?”
“That’s - stop teasing me, and what did you guess,” he corrected, automatically. “Look, if you don’t want to discuss him, I understand how hard this is for you.”
“WHO?” she shouted, stamping her foot in frustration.
Pete stared at her in surprise. It was the first time she’d raised her voice at him.
“Your boyfriend, back home, of course,” he said.
She relaxed, almost weeping with relief. Yet in a perverse way, she was a little upset that he hadn’t guessed. At least she could end the painful deception.
“Oh, forget him. There is no boy in Sweden. Sally and I invented him to give me a little space. I told you he wasn’t important.”
“Are you sure?”
“Peter, I’ve fallen in love with you. That is one thing I can’t lie about.”
He smiled a little uncertainly.
“What do you lie about?”
She gave him a furtive and sad smile.
“Not real lies, I just don’t tell you everything.”
“Why not?”
She shook her head.
“Don’t ask me. It’s not that time.”
“Will it harm me and you?”
She stared at him her eyes looking so blue and so sad.
“I don’t know. Perhaps. It depends whether you really love me,” she said.
“I really do.”
She stroked his face with her palm. He caught her hand, kissing it.
“Then, I promise not to mention it again, if you promise not to be so miserable about it!”
“I’ll try. Thank you for being so patient with me. I realise I must be bad to live along with.”
He smiled. One her most endearing feature was the way she got little things wrong. Her English had come on really well in the weeks he’d known her, but sometimes she got mixed up.
He said nothing, kissing her again. They stood there, in the middle of the towpath, simply locked together. Kayla felt indescribable feelings. It was as if her innards were aglow and melting. She felt a slow passion building up, accentuated by the awareness of Pete’s arousal, which she could feel through their clothes.