They held each other tightly, and her nipples hardened under his caressing touch, passing electrifying sensations through her whole being. She felt a dampness between her legs, understanding her body was telling her it was ready, if she chose to surrender to him.
She broke off, breathless and aching with desire. He looked down at her, his own passion barely checked.
“I love you,” she whispered.
He kissed her again, nuzzling her neck below her ears. The small diamond studs gleamed, as she tilted her head back allowing him more freedom to nuzzle.
She dropped one hand, caressing the outside of his trousers, feeling the monster within, aching to be set free to attain the dark and damp cleft that was his sole ambition.
She understood the drives that made men and women become parents. For the first proper time, she was almost overcome by sexual desire and passion. Almost!
She broke off again, this time completely. Peter stared at her, breathing deeply, and reaching for her.
“No. I promise before we ever go that far, you will understand. That way, neither of us will be hiding anything!” she said. Then, turning, she walked off towards her home.
Peter watched her go, his heart racing, as his body returned to near normality.
He ran after her.
“Kayla, wait!” he shouted, but she kept walking.
“Kayla, for fuck sake, wait up!”
She stopped and turned round. He ran up to her. She stared up at him and, once again, he saw tears in her eyes.
“Stop tormenting yourself, please?”
She smiled.
“Soon. I promise.”
“Look, do you remember we talked about the Summer Ball?”
“Yes, my first day, wasn’t it?”
He grinned, nodding.
“Yeah. Will you come as my partner?”
“If you’d like me to?”
“You have to ask that?”
She smiled.
“I’d like to. Thanks.”
“Okay. Go and sort yourself out. I’ll see you later.”
“Why, what’s happening?”
“We’re going to a party.”
She frowned.
“Where, what party?”
“Kirsty, Roger’s sister, it’s her birthday, remember? I told you about it last week.”
“Oh, yes. Sorry, I’d forgot.”
“Forgotten, you’d forgotten. Never mind, wear something sexy, I’ll pick you up at half seven.”
“Okay,” she said, giving him a smile that seemed to wipe all the sadness away.
“It’s getting harder, isn’t it?” Ingrid asked her as she walked in.
“Oh, Gran, I can’t bear it any more! I almost told him today. He knows something is wrong. I can’t keep lying to him. It’s not fair on him, is it?”
“Not really, but think of the alternative.”
“I do, but I’m getting so tired of pretending.”
Ingrid smiled, for even though the girl was clearly upset, her Swedish was more fluent than ever. She could just discern that Kayla was not natural born, but with the various local accents, it would probably go unnoticed.
“There’s not so much pretending any more, is there?” she asked.
“How do you mean?”
“Well, you’re not pretending to be a girl anymore, are you?”
“I suppose not. It’s the Swedish thing, really, and not being able to be Kayla Manning.”
“What’s in a name, sweetie. You’re still you!”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes dear, I know. But while you’re still living here, going to school and generally existing in a very small pond, these things matter. In a few short weeks, you’ll be able to spread your wings and leave all the pretence behind.”
“Yeah, and then what?” she said in English. Turning away, she went upstairs to her room.
Shaking her head sadly, Ingrid went back into the kitchen. Picking up the phone, she punched in a number.
“Jacob, how did you get on?”
“Promising - I’ve an appointment at the consulate this evening at six. The solicitor was difficult to convince, but that was only because we’re doing something unique. When he could finally grasp what we were doing, he was helpful. We’ve managed to get the official birth certificate altered, so there’s no need for a deed poll, or anything else. I’ve Kayla’s new applications for passport, driver’s licence and everything. Obviously all as Kayla Manning, so the immediate problem hasn’t been solved yet, but we’re getting there.”
“Shall I come with you to the consulate?”
“We’re all going. They want to interview Kayla.”
“Oh, shall I tell her?”
“I’ll drop by when I get back from work. I’ll tell her then, on the way.”
“I don’t think she’ll be here. She’s going out.”
“Damn. Why?”
“Some birthday party.”
“Oh, right, I’ll come back a bit early. Will she be there at five?”
“I think so.”
“See you then.”
Kayla was surfing the internet. She occasionally logged into Sapphire’s Place and Maddy Bell’s site. She liked some of the stories that seemed to go on forever. In particular, she adored the story of Gaby on Maddy’s site. She was able to identify with Drew/Gaby, hoping that s/he found where he would be happy.
Ingrid knocked on her door.
“Ja?”
Ingrid came into the room.
“Your Papa will be here at five. He needs to talk to you.”
“What about?”
“You.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think he’s got some news about your identity.”
Kayla frowned.
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I, he’ll be here at five. Have you decided what to wear tonight?”
“I don’t think I want to go. The way I feel, I’d just make everyone miserable.”
Ingrid gave the girl a hug. She knew enough not to push it.
As it happened, Jake was a little late. He was surprised that the girl was moping in her room. The girl he had come to know recently would normally have been bubbly and eager to go to the party.
“Hi Daddy,” she said, giving him a sad smile and a hug.
“Getting you down, all this?”
She nodded, still with her arms wrapped round his chest and the side of her face against his shoulder.
“Well, I’ve some good news. You are now officially a girl. Your new birth certificate came through this morning, showing that you are registered as a girl. I want you to sign some application forms.”
He disengaged from her embrace, opening his brief case and placing some sheets of paper on the desk. Kayla signed them with little interest.
“What’s really bugging you?”
“I can’t tell Pete the truth.”
“Oh. Well, this evening, we’re all off to the Swedish consulate, to make the truth something nearer our lie.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“We’ve applied for your entitled Swedish nationality - as Kayla Olsen. They want to interview us all this evening. That way, we’ll just have to adopt you to our family.”
“What about Kyle?”
“What about him?”
“Won’t everyone ask questions when I turn up with his A levels?”
“Howard has sorted those out. They are in your name, Kayla Manning.”
“So what happens when he never comes back from Sweden?”
“Who’s to bother? We’ll tell the family, and Kyle didn’t exactly have the most sociable lives, did he?”