Underground Rivers by Mike French Page B

where she was going; but every step she took away from where she had lived for the past ten years seemed to be leading her towards this place.
    You have to go home, face your demons .
    So, here she was.
    The train pulled out, leaving her alone on the platform. She frowned and stared at her surroundings. Unfamiliar buildings huddled round the station. She could smell car fumes where once the scent was grass.
    On the station forecourt were a couple of taxis, their drivers leaning against car doors, fiddling with their mobile phones. She checked in her purse, unsure if the meagre amount of money she had was enough to pay for a taxi and a bed for the night.
    Going where?
    As she walked towards the front cab in the rank, its driver looked up from his phone in anticipation. Then, from behind, she heard, “Rachel!” and the sound of stilettos tapping on the pavement. She turned and waited until her sister was in front of her, red-faced and panting.
    â€œHayley? What’re you doing here?”
    Her sister leaned in for a hug as Rachel pulled back.
    â€œWell, I ..., well, I knew today was the day ... they, you, got ...”
    â€œâ€˜Released’ is the word you’re looking for, Hayley. Today is the day they set me free.”
    Hayley nodded, “Hmm, yes, well ... I decided I would meet the trains this morning just in case you came. My car’s round the corner. I can take you -”
    She stopped, biting her lip.
    â€œWhere? Home? Do you still live with Mum?”
    Her sister nodded.
    â€œDo you really think she really wants me pitching up there? And I’m pretty sure I can’t afford a B&B round here. I’m not exactly flush with money, you know. They don’t shower you with gold when you leave.”
    Her sister took a step backwards, opened her arms and shrugged, “I’m sorry. I thought I’d come to see if you turned up. I figured, well, that if you did, it was because you wanted to come home. You must have had a plan to go somewhere when you set out this morning. I just came to help you. But I’ll go if you like.”
    Was that a tear in her eye?
    Hayley turned to walk back the way she had come. The taxi driver, who had been watching the exchange, walked to the passenger door of his cab, opened the door and motioned Rachel to get in, remarking, “Families, eh?”
    Rachel’s head snapped up, “And how is this any of your business?”
    He stepped back, hands held up in surrender, “Lady, if you chose to argue in public, you make it everyone’s business.”
    â€œScrew you.”
    She turned around, intending to walk away and bumped into Hayley.
    â€œI thought you’d abandoned me. Again.”
    Hayley shook her head. “Look, this is difficult for me too, you know. I feel so bad that I wasn’t there for you, but Mum said I wasn’t to contact you, and Robert backed her up, and, and ...” The rest of her words were lost in sobs and splutters as she opened her handbag and extracted a tissue.
    Rachel waited, standing stiffly, arms locked at her side, looking everywhere but at her sister.
    Eventually Hayley blew her nose, stood a little straighter, “Look, this started badly. Let’s go and get a coffee, have a chat and take it from there.”
    As Rachel hesitated, Hayley said, “Just coffee. No hidden agenda. Look, I tell you what, we’ll go to the new library. It’s the pride of the town.”
    â€œThe library?”
    â€œThey raised the funds to rebuild it so it could be partially self-financing. They’ve added a performing arts centre, function rooms and a coffee shop which does the best latte you would wish for. I bet it’s been a long time since you had a decent coffee. Come on.”
    Rachel stood for a moment, then nodded, “OK you can buy me a coffee.”
    As they walked away, Rachel shouted back to the taxi driver, “And you can find someone else to insult.”
    In the