“Wow, so you’re not going back to Sweden?”
“Not for some time. Unless you want to come on a holiday with me?”
“So, why were you so unhappy?”
“I didn’t know if I could. It is not usual.”
“And so you’ve found out you can?”
“Ja, isn’t it great?”
Pete realised that Kayla wasn’t going to go away in a few short weeks. Despite the grey day and drizzle, the sun suddenly came out inside his little world. His grin grew until it threatened to decapitate him.
“So, ready to go to the party?”
“Of course, why do you think I dress up?”
“You look wonderful!”
Kayla hugged her parents and Ingrid before leaving on the arm of her boyfriend.
“Our little girl has all grown up!” Rebecca said.
“At least we avoided puberty!” said Jake with a grin. “I need a strong whisky!”
12.
Roger Groves wasn’t desperately looking forward to the party. Kirsty was sixteen, so most of those invited were her year group from school. He’d been allowed to select thirteen of his buddies to keep him from moaning too much. His current girl of the moment was Georgina Nash, so with a few from school, Pete’s American cousins and the absolute babe of a Swede, his group was complete.
Kirsty had wanted to invite nearly eighty people, but her parents had put a ceiling at fifty. The house was full to bursting with that many. All fifty pimply sixteen year olds had turned up, as well as the fourteen of Roger’s age. Their parents had six friends, godparents, as moral support, planning to retreat to the pub after the meal.
Needless to say, Sally was still flavour of the month with Rob Rickman, so she was there. Kayla and Sally screamed with delight when they saw each other, stunning everyone by disappearing to the loo immediately.
Kayla brought Sally up to speed with developments.
The latter gaped and shook her head at the speed things had happened.
“So, let me get this right, you’re now Swedish, for real?”
“Ja.”
“And a real girl?”
“Ja.”
“And English?”
“Yup.”
“And officially your parent’s daughter, adopted and natural?”
“Yup. Simple, isn’t it?”
“No. Who the fuck are you?”
“I am legally Kayla Olsen, Swedish national. I am also Kayla Manning, British Subject.”
“Okay, I’m sure that something is not legal, but who the hell am I to complain?”
“You, Sally girl, are the author of this complicated saga. It’s all your fault!”
They left the loo, rejoining their small group.
Several of the girls who didn’t know Kayla, eyed her enviously. Roger’s parents and their friends couldn’t help but notice the strikingly attractive blonde girl who was with Peter. The tall Scandinavian girl seemed to know many of those who went to the school, yet she was really down to earth and good company.
Roger’s mother called him over before they had dinner.
“Who’s the pretty blonde with Peter?” she asked.
“Oh, that’s Kayla Olsen. She’s a Swedish exchange student.”
“Oh, that’s her!” Ruth Groves said, having heard quite a few people talk about an attractive foreign girl.
Henry Groves came over.
“What’s that?” he asked, only part heard the conversation.
“The tall blonde girl, in the black dress with the white jacket, that’s the Swedish exchange student everyone has been talking about,” his wife told him.
“Really? Roger, come on, introduce us!”
Roger approached Kayla, who was chatting to Kelly Rickman.
“Kayla, come meet my folks. My Dad’s bursting to meet you,” he said, slightly embarrassed.
Kayla accompanied him over to where his parents were standing.
“Dad, Mum, this is Kayla Olsen, from Sweden. Kayla, this is Henry and Ruth Groves, my parents.”
“I am pleased to meet you. You are very kind to allow me to come. Thank you,” she said, shaking their hands and smiling.
“It’s a pleasure, my dear. We knew if young Peter came, you wouldn’t be far away,” said Ruth.
Kayla blushed, smiling.
“I am pleasing to making the acquaintance of yourself!” said Henry in very basic Swedish.
“How wonderful! You are the first British person who has spoken to me in Swedish. Thank you so much!” she said, in her virtually fluent Swedish.
Ruth looked surprised, Roger looked disbelieving while Henry just looked pleased with himself. He did, however, continue in English.
“I’m sorry my dear, I am terribly rusty. I once went backpacking in Sweden, so I picked up the rudiments when I was in my gap year. Rather too long ago now.”
Kayla and Henry spent twenty minutes talking about Sweden, as Roger went off to find Pete.
“Don’t look now, but my dad is chatting up your girlfriend!”
Pete glanced over at Roger’s father. He saw Kayla doing what she did best, charming people.
“Well, I’ll only get worried when they start undressing each other,” he said with a grin.
They watched Kayla and Henry Groves from a distance. Pete could only admire the way Kayla charmed everyone she met. With a smile, she kissed Henry’s cheek and returned to where they were standing.
“You’re dad is fun, I think,” she said to Roger.
“I never knew he spoke Swedish,” he admitted.
“He doesn’t, at least not much,” she said, chuckling.
Everyone was standing around, drinking and chatting. Finally, they were instructed to start helping themselves at the buffet in the dining room. Pete was astounded at Kayla’s change in demeanour over the afternoon. She sat on the stairs next to Pete with Rob and Sally on the next stair down.
They had decorated the house with white and blue balloons, matching the table decorations. Gradually everyone found somewhere to sit, either on chairs or on the floor. Kayla sipped her wine cautiously, but feeling more relaxed than she had in ages.
“So, why has your English family legally adopted you?”
“I want to stay and study here, perhaps. As my grandparents in Sweden are not able to have me at their home, due to not being well, the family had a conference and we decided that it would make my university choices greater.”
“Wow, does that mean you are officially British as well?”
“My mother was born here, so I have dual nationality,” she said, not uttering one word of a lie.
“Cool!”
They ate for a minute as the full implications sank into Pete’s brain.
“So, are you going back to Sweden after the end of term?”
“I may have to, we’ll see.”
“So will your qualifications be recognised by our universities?”
“Yes,” she said, knowing her A levels would be just fine, if she was successful, that is.
Roger changed the subject to one of athletics, and Kayla was able to relax again. She desperately wanted to tell Pete the truth, but at least she was able to avoid telling outright lies now.
They finished their food, moving into the main living room where a disco had been set up. After a few minutes of dancing, Kayla became aware her mobile was vibrating in her pocket. She left the room and answered it. It was her mother.
“Kayla, we have a problem.”
“What?”
“It’s Ricky Hamley; his mother has just called. Apparently, he’s been ever so depressed of late and gone missing. They want Kyle’s phone number believing he’s the only person who would know where he’d go. You see Kyle was his only friend. They fear he’s going to kill himself!”
“Oh shit!”
“Sorry love, but we have to do something!”
“Okay. I’m stuck without any means of getting anywhere.”
“We could come and pick you up, if you want?”
“No. Now is as good a time as any!”