Read Thursday's Children for Free Online

If you asked me is Becky capable of making up something like that or exaggerating it just as a way of frightening me or hurting me, then I would have to say that she is.’
    ‘But she didn’t tell you,’ said Frieda. ‘She tried to keep it from you. She showed symptoms of great distress, whichalarmed you. And then, when you brought her to me, she was extremely reluctant even to mention it.’
    ‘Perhaps because it isn’t true. And even if it is true, at that age, couldn’t she just be talking about something that went too far, something she did and then regretted?’
    ‘That’s not what she said. Your daughter told me and then told you that she had been raped. That was a big step for her and it took trust and it took courage. You need to think about how to respond to her. You also need to think about her going to the police.’
    ‘No, no, absolutely not.’
    ‘It’s a serious crime.’
    ‘That’s easy for you to say. You wouldn’t have to go through it all.’
    ‘Do you mean Becky would have to go through it? Or that you would?’
    Maddie looked up sharply. Frieda recognized a flash of the haughtiness she’d displayed when she’d first arrived at Frieda’s house.
    ‘I’ve thought about what Becky would have to go through,’ she said. ‘And I’ve thought about it as a mother, not as some kind of spectator. Imagine if she went to the police. She didn’t report it when it was supposed to have happened. Nobody else saw anything. It’s just the word of a fifteen-year-old girl.’
    ‘Just the word of your daughter.’
    ‘Yes, my daughter. And imagine what would happen if the police decided to proceed, and if Becky could be persuaded to reveal the name of the person who may have done such a thing. Becky herself would be on trial, her lifestyle, her sex life, her psychological state. Even the fact thatshe’d been seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist, whatever you are. That could be used against her. You’ve talked to Becky. Would you put her through all that? Do you think it would do her good to be in the newspapers?’
    ‘She’s underage,’ said Frieda. ‘Her name would be withheld in any proceedings.’
    Maddie pulled a face and made Frieda think briefly of when they were fifteen years old themselves.
    ‘I don’t know much about modern technology but these things always get out. Everybody would know.’
    ‘I think you’ve misunderstood me,’ said Frieda. ‘I don’t tell people what to do. Well, not most of the time. I just wanted to lay out the options. The decision about what to do is yours and Becky’s. My real concern is about Becky’s state of mind. That’s what you came to me about.’
    ‘Exactly. And look what happened. You haven’t exactly cured her.’
    ‘Is that your reaction to what your daughter has told us? That I haven’t cured her after two brief meetings?’
    Maddie got up, walked to the window and looked out at the huge building site. ‘I hate London,’ she said. ‘I could never live in a city. I can’t even bear Ipswich or Colchester. When I’m here, I feel like I’m holding my breath until I can get out into the fresh air.’
    ‘I’ve got pretty mixed feelings about it myself,’ said Frieda.
    Maddie turned round. ‘We weren’t really friends when we were at school, were we?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ said Frieda. ‘We were in the same class.’
    ‘You were part of this group and I had a fantasy of being part of it. I used to see you together at parties. You probably didn’t even know I was there, but I still rememberthem. There was Chas Latimer. There was Jeremy. Your boyfriend.’
    ‘Briefly.’
    ‘And Eva Hubbard. You were best friends. I was always the one wanting to join the gang.’
    ‘I think everyone feels like that.’
    ‘You didn’t.’ Maddie gave a strange smile. ‘When I left school, I thought I’d be leaving all that behind, but it stays with you, even twenty-five years later. Don’t you find that?’
    ‘No, I don’t.’
    ‘Maybe