As I sat on the sofa, trying to get my breath back, Debbie went into the kitchen and came back holding a couple of beers.
"I think you could probably do with one of these." She said. "And I think I am going to as well aren't I"
"One beer each isn't going to be nearly enough." I replied before taking a large mouthful.
I finished the beer in three mouthfuls and let my head fall back. Debbie came over and sat so close to me our legs were touching. I turned to face her and saw the beginnings of a tear forming in the corner of one of her eyes.
"What's the matter?" I asked her. "Why are you going to cry?"
"Because looking at the state of you I guess we are going to have to stop doing what we are doing." She replied.
"We will only stop if you want to stop." I reassured her, putting my arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer.
Debbie rested her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes, a solitary tear running down her cheek as she did so. Gently I brushed the tear away and kissed her forehead. All the time Debbie had her head on my shoulder I tried to figure out how to tell her what her daughter and my aunt were up to. I knew she was going to freak out and maybe she would be the one to call a halt to our illicit romance, and I definitely didn't want that to happen. She slept for about thirty minutes and when she woke the first thing she did was kiss me lightly on the lips.
"Let me get us another beer and then you can tell me what got you so worked up." She said easing herself off the sofa.
I sat forward and waited for her to return, my mind racing, unsure whether to tell her everything or just the briefest of outlines. I was sure she would be able to fill in the blanks and then we could begin to work out just what we were going to do. I watched as she walked back into the room, wishing she wasn't my aunt, and braced myself for whatever reaction the revelations I was about to reveal brought.
"You better tell me what you know." She told me after handing me my drink and sitting back down.
"I know who has been sending the messages; at least I am ninety-nine percent sure."
"Tell me who it is." Debbie screamed. "I need to know."
I wasn't expecting the scream and looking at her I could see she was both scared and angry at the same time. And I imagined that things were only going to get worse once I told her the two names that were involved.
"I hope you are ready for this." I began. "One of them is Sadie."
I stopped and waited to see what she did.
"Sadie? You mean my daughter Sadie." She said.
"I'm afraid so yes." I told her.
"Who's the other one?" She asked. "It can't get any worse than my own daughter."
"It does I'm afraid, it's Sharon, my dad's sister."
"What the fuck. Why has she turned up again?" Debbie screamed again. "Is this revenge because she blames me for what happened to your dad."
"I honestly don't know but it gets worse." I told her.
"Worse! How the fuck can it get any worse." Debbie was almost hysterical.
"Because they are conspiring to split you and me up and..."
"And what?" Debbie demanded.