Page 97 of The Half Sister

‘What the hell’s going on?’ cries Lauren as she comes through the door that Kate hadn’t yet had a chance to shut.

The anger that Kate feels towards her sister knows no bounds. ‘Howcouldyou?’ she spits.

‘How could Iwhat?’ says Lauren in a high-pitched voice. ‘Jess, why haven’t you answered my calls? I’ve been ringing and ringing.’

Jess looks from one sister to the other in confusion. ‘I’m sorry, my phone must be in my bag.’

‘Where are the children? Are they all right?’

Jess nods. ‘Yes, of course, everything’s fine.’

Lauren slumps forward, as all the adrenaline that has put her on high alert drains out of her body.

‘Oh my God, I thought something had happened,’ she breathes. ‘So, what’s going on? Why are you here, Kate? Why have you been calling me incessantly?’

‘If you’d answered, you’d have found out.’

‘Please,’ says Lauren, rubbing at her head. ‘Just tell me what’s going on? Is it Simon? Where is he?’

‘Oh,’ says Jess. ‘I thought he was with you.’

Lauren shakes her head. ‘Er, no, he’s working. I went out with a friend.’

‘I’ve just come from Mum’s...’ starts Kate.

Lauren raises her eyebrows expectantly.

Kate throws a sideways glance at Jess. It’s taking all of her resolve not to launch into a blistering attack on Lauren, because, despite herself, she doesn’t think it’s fair on Jess. Then she remembers that Jess hasn’t exactly played by the rules either, so the game still feels as if it needs to be won.

‘She told me what happened when you were sixteen,’ Kate says, leaving it hanging there.

‘Wh-at?’ says Lauren, choking on the word.

‘Does Jess know?’ shouts Kate, unable to contain herself.

Lauren looks to her pleadingly, as if begging her to stop. ‘Does Jess know what?’

‘That you’ve uploaded Emmy’s DNA instead of your own?’

‘What?’ shrieks Lauren. She’s a good liar, Kate has to give her that, but there is no denying the truth now – it all makes perfect sense. ‘Why would I do that?’

‘Because it would be the only way to show Jess as your half sister when she’s not.’

Jess looks to Lauren and back to Kate with a manic expression. ‘What are you saying?’ she says, her voice verging on the hysterical. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Lauren has used her own child’s DNA to prove a match with yours.’

Lauren shakes her head as she looks at Jess imploringly, reaching towards her with her hands. ‘Don’t listen to her. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.’

‘So you were prepared to drag Dad’s good name and reputation through the mud, inventing a past he never had, all to protect your own.’

‘What is going on?’ asks Jess, her face etched with confusion.

‘Are you going to tell her, or am I?’

‘Tell me what?’ cries Jess.

Kate looks to Lauren, who merely shrugs her shoulders, leaving Kate with no choice. ‘You’re not Harry’s daughter,’ she says to Jess, before laughing sarcastically and shaking her head. ‘My God, you’re not even Rose’s.’

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