Read Never Ever Leave Me for Free Online

takes my Brian to school for me I’ll come with you and show you how to get there.”
    “Aye, nae problem, Pat, we cannae have the lassie getting lost.  Not when we’ve put in such a lot of work to make her look good.”
    “Thank you all so much.  You’re amazing.  I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me,” Katy said.
    “Oh yes you will,” Lisa said.  “You’ll get a job and you’ll get a flat and, if you’re smart, you’ll run away from here as fast as you can and never look back.  Every one of us would do the same.  We support and help each other while we’re here, but this isn’t a normal life.  We’ve been thrown together and we do the best we can, but really, we’re all strangers.”
    “Aye, she’s right Hen.  Once we’re free from this place, we won’t want to think about it ever again,” Marie said and the others nodded in agreement.
    On that rather sombre note the women left the kitchen and went their separate ways.
    “Meet me at the front door at nine o’clock tomorrow,” Pat called as she headed up the stairs to her room.  “That will give you plenty of time to find the place and we’ll avoid the rush hour.”
    Katy felt a shudder of anticipation run down her spine.  Maybe tomorrow would herald a new beginning, the start of a better life.

 
    CHAPTER 7
     
    Katy took a last glance in the mirror before going downstairs to meet Pat.  Finally, a familiar face stared back at her.  She didn’t know if it was her no-nonsense suit or the light make-up she’d applied, but she looked every bit like a young professional.  By contrast Pat wore a short, red skirt topped by a thin, grey sweater, her bomber-style jacket was synthetic to mimic leather, her legs were bare and she sported plastic flip-flops on her feet.  They looked an unlikely pair.
    “Would you look at you,” Pat said approvingly.  “I feel as if I’m going o ut with Victoria Beckham or the Queen.  Don’t you scrub up well?  It’s the hair that makes the difference, of course.”
    “Of course,” Katy agreed and they both laughed.
    It took them very little time to reach their destination.  They easily located the premises of McLay and Bell then spent the next twenty minutes trawling the many charity shops for bargains.  Katy treated Pat to a stylish raincoat that cost five pounds and she reacted as if she’d been bought diamonds.  Katy realised then that her companion had never owned much and had few aspirations.  Trained as a hairdresser she’d been the most qualified of any of her family.  The only shining light in her life was her son, Brian, whom she adored.
    Katy glanced at her watch.  “Well ,” she said, “It’s time for me to go. Wish me luck.”
    “Do you want me to come with you?  I could sit in the front office and wait if you’d like.  We could tell them I’m your sister.”
    Katy couldn’t think of anything worse or a more unlikely lie.
    “Thanks for offering, but I’m a big girl and I’ve got to do this myself.”
    She gave Pat the three pounds fifty pence of change she had in her purse so the girl could get a coffee in the nearby cafe.  Pat said she’d wait there until Katy returned.  Then, shaking slightly with nerves, she made her way to the brokerage and inhaling deeply, entered through the shop front door.
    “I’m , ah, here for an interview,” she stammered to the smiling woman seated at a desk near the counter.
    “Katy Bradley?” the woman asked then said.  “Hi, I’m Sandra.  David Bell will be with you shortly.  He’s just finishing a telephone call now.”
    The office was modern and bright and a vase of fresh flowers stood on the counter.  Within a couple of minutes she was shown through to Mr. Bell’s room which was situated at the back of the building and she was offered a cup of coffee. It was all very relaxed.  David Bell, a man in his forties, was short of stature, slightly plump with a receding hairline and a friendly smile.  After a