Free Uncovering Kaitlyn by Emma Jane Page A

teaching to
shame.
    I said
goodnight and played for a bit longer before catching up on some sleep.
    ***
    On Saturday
I met Jake at the airport. I couldn’t believe how long I’d been away from him.
Since I was nine we’d only gone about thirty six hours without seeing each
other, and before then we still saw each other at least every other day.
    “Kaitlyn.
God I’ve missed you.” Jake pulled me close. “So how’s America been treating
you?”
    “I’ve missed
you too. It’s not got much on England, but at least it’s got the weather. I
love waking up to the sunshine.”
    “What’s
wrong with waking up to grey cloud and misery?”
    “Nothing if
you want to be sickly pale and depressed for most your life. So what have you
been up to in England?”
    “Not a lot,
I’ll tell you about it when we get to the hotel.”
    We went to
the car and the driver pointed out some sights as he took us back to the hotel.
I picked up an extra key to my suite at reception for Jake. I smiled at a
photographer who seemed to be permanently based in the hotel lobby and somebody
took Jake’s bag upstairs for him as we took a detour through the bar.
    We walked
into the suite with cocktails in hand and Jake laughed at the state I’d left
the place in.
    “You’re not
usually messy. Is this fame for you?” He laughed.
    “Hey. I’ve
been writing music.”
    “And this is
inspiration?”
    “I didn’t
want anyone to disturb me, and I was on a roll. So I didn’t do it either.”
    “And Dad?”
    It always
made me warm inside when Jake said Dad. He didn’t grow up with his parents and
I loved that he accepted my family like that.
    “He listened
some, but he left me mostly. I was playing at three the other morning so he’s
been going out most days. I think he misses the peace and quiet.”
    “Three in
the morning, that’s almost as bad as your friend Jamie.” He teased.
    “I woke up.
It’s an art, you can’t choose when inspiration hits. I pointed out to Jamie
about that, he didn’t even think about the time difference.” I scooped up some
of the mess from the sofa, and piled it onto another chair. It wasn’t like I
was a pig. It was mainly a few towels and a lot of paper from my writing and
scribbled notes. I’d spent some time playing in my bedroom but had taken over
the living room for my notes and for breaks.
    “I’m sure he
was telling the truth. Big famous celebrities never lie.”
    “Jamie is
cocky and possibly arrogant. He isn’t a liar or that rude. Anyway, don’t change
the subject. Clearly something is going on with you, you wouldn’t tell me that
you’d tell me later if there wasn’t. So Spill it.”
    “There’s not
much to say. I cleared all my stuff from Diana’s and I’ve rented a new house
within about ten minutes’ walk from yours.”
    “I thought
you’d move in with us.”
    “I can’t
Kaitlyn. It’s too much.”
    I didn’t
mention it again. I knew that Jake was as messed up as I was and I hated it
when people pushed me because they didn’t understand. Jake got me and I got
him. He pushed me slowly with things he knew I’d more than likely handle.
    “So what’s
the house like?”
    “It’s a
simple two bedroom house. A room for you if you ever want to stay over, small
garden, driveway and best of all, it’s semi-furnished. The lease is only six
months. There isn’t a chance of it being extended because the landlord is
moving back then. That’s good because who knows what you’ll be doing in six
months. This way if you leave I can come with you, or find a more permanent
house in the village.”
    I smiled at
him.
    “So you’re
going to be one of those sad old men, with an obsession. Like a creepy
groupie?”
    “What do you
mean ‘going to’? I already am.”
    We finished
our cocktails, which disappointingly were both non-alcoholic since we were
under twenty-one and I played Jake my new song and the others I’d been working
on for the album. When I finished he stole Oliver and