The Red dress chapter twelve.

      How do you know when you've fallen in love? Lisa lay on the single bed, in what was once Alan's bedroom, and considered the question. They had only been apart for two hours, and already she missed him desperately. When they had kissed for the first time, she realized that every kiss, every embrace she had experienced in her short time of sexual awareness, had only been a rehearsal so she would know how to recognise the real thing when it actually came along.

     What if she had gone to the Isle of Man and never known how it felt? Lisa shuddered at the thought. When she'd stayed at home and hated her captivity, she had told herself she had nowhere else to go. She was wrong. There were places she could have gone; it was just that none of those places could offer her the things she thought were important.

     She had learnt to covet the same things as her mother, a lovely home, and nice clothes on your back. Now the old cliché of 'you can't  buy love' made perfect sense. The last two years had been lonely at times, especially when she wasn’t at boarding school, but now it was different. At last, she had found someone who believed in her.

     She lay on the bed with nothing to her name but the clothes she had walked out in, and the few things Alan's sister, Karen, had given her. But it didn't matter. She felt wealthier now than she had ever felt in her life. The more she thought about it, the more ironic it seemed, and she eventually fell asleep with a smile on her face.

     As Alan had predicted, his family had been terrific. His Mum had taken to Lisa immediately, as had his sister. By the time his father got home, it was as though she had been formally adopted into the family. Alan had looked over at her at one point, and thought it was as though she was shining. Lisa seemed to have an inner light which reached out and touched everyone in the room. It was just like the night when they had met at Vikki's.
 
     Alan didn’t realise Lisa's new-found happiness was entirely due to him. Now she knew how he felt about her, she radiated her happiness with every breath.    
 
     As he helped his mother carry dishes through to the kitchen after dinner, he asked her what she thought of Lisa. Kathy Turner hesitated before answering. She had seen the way they looked at each other.

     "She seems to be a lovely girl, Alan. If it wasn't for Carla, I could see you falling for her."
 
Alan didn't enjoy being reminded of Carla at that moment in time, especially by his mother. He started filling the dishwasher and tried to change the subject.

     "Are you sure you don't mind Lisa staying, Mum?" he asked.
 
He was already wishing that he could take her back to the privacy of his own flat.

     "Not at all, love. She needs somewhere stable for a while, and she seems to be getting on really well with Karen. It's been a bit lonely for her since you moved out."

     Alan's Mother was right. Just two years older, Karen had been delighted to have someone a similar age in the house.
 
     The minute her parents had explained to her what had happened to Lisa, she had raided every cupboard in her bedroom for clothes and make-up, which she had given to Lisa as soon as she arrived. It was like having a little sister who needed her help. She had enjoyed the experience of being generous, and Lisa took to Karen immediately because she made her feel so welcome.

     The two girls walked into the kitchen at that moment, laughing as they came through the swing door. Karen came over to her brother and gave him a playful poke in the shoulder.

     "You didn't tell me Lisa knew Vikki Clark, you sod!"

Alan hadn't thought to mention it. He just assumed Karen knew where he and Lisa had met.

     "Why - is it important?" he asked. He failed to see the significance.

Karen looked at Alan indignantly, amazed at her brother's failure to remember such an important event.

     "Of course it is! Vikki is having her annual birthday bash at the end of next week. Surely you haven't forgotten we're both invited?"

Clearly Alan had, but with everything else that had been going on, Karen begrudgingly forgave him.

     "I'll give Vikki a call tomorrow, and check that it's okay to bring Lisa along. I'm sure she won't mind, especially as she knows Lisa already."

Alan turned towards Lisa to check that she was okay with Karen's suggestion.

     "What do you think, Lisa, would you like to go?”

Lisa looked embarrassed when she answered.

     "I'm not too sure I'd be welcome. Remember my mother phoned Vikki's to find out where you lived. She probably spun the same story to her as she did to the police, so I don't know that Vikki, or her parents, would want me there..."

Alan's mother put down the pot of coffee she had just made and turned to Lisa.

     "Nonsense! I know Vikki's mother very well, and she doesn't suffer fools gladly. I'll ring her tomorrow and tell her what's happened. She's sure to understand."

Lisa thought of one more problem. She felt embarrassed bringing it up, but thought it necessary.

     "I haven't anything to wear to a party like that. If I know Vikki, it'll be pretty formal."

Karen put her arm around Lisa’s shoulder, and indulged in her new found roll as Lady Bountiful again.

     "Don't worry. I'm sure to find some old rag to fit you," she teased.

This time it was Alan's chance to give his sister a playful poke in the shoulder.

     "You must be kidding! You haven't been anywhere near Lisa's size for ages." he said, momentarily forgetting that Karen's weight was a taboo subject.

 He was in big trouble. Lisa laughed as she watched Karen chase her brother out of the kitchen into the sitting room, where she pushed him onto the sofa, and pinned him down until he apologised profusely.

     They seemed such a loving family, and Lisa thought with sadness about her own. The age gap between her and her brother, Scott, had meant they'd never been particularly close. Now she saw the great relationship Alan and Karen had, she couldn't help feeling downhearted. Sadly, it had never been like that for her.



      So the evening went on, and Lisa felt accepted by Alan’s very 'normal' family. Occasionally she would look across at him, and they would exchange a knowing look, reminding her of the feelings he had unleashed inside her when they had kissed.

     Later on, Jack thought it was time they were serious for a moment, and they should discuss what had to be done to obtain a copy of Lisa's birth certificate. His solicitor had suggested Lisa should go to Somerset House in London to obtain a copy, which on the face of it, appeared to be the most sensible thing to do. The only problem was getting her there. He turned to Alan, who seemed to be miles away as he watched Karen and Lisa talking on the sofa.

     "Alan, if you haven't got anything better to do tomorrow, could you drive Lisa through to London? According to Lawrence Hunter, that’s the easiest way to sort the whole thing out."

His father didn't have to ask twice. Alan was delighted, as was Lisa. He made a huge effort to hide his excitement when he agreed, and said it wasn't a problem. He would pick Lisa up in the morning and take her. They both smiled at each other and thought the same thing.

     When it seemed like the right time to go, Alan got to his feet and said goodnight. Because everyone came to the door to see him off, Lisa didn't have a chance to talk to him alone, far less kiss him goodnight, but she didn't mind. She knew they would be alone together the next day, and she would show him then, just how much she cared...
 
                                                                            ................




     When Alan arrived the next morning, Lisa was up, dressed, and eager to set off. He spent ten minutes having a cup of coffee and making polite conversation with his mother in an attempt to cover up the fact he couldn't wait to get Lisa on her own. At last, having promised to get back as soon as possible, they were going.

     His mother was still talking as they went through the front door and started walking towards the car. Neither heard a word she said as the anticipation of being alone, and able to touch, propelled them towards the car as fast as they could decently walk, without breaking into a run.

     They both gave a perfunctory wave as they drove away, and when they had driven a respectable distance from the house, Alan pulled into a lay-by, and turned off the engine.

     He had barely pulled the brake on when Lisa stretched over and kissed him with a passion that defied belief. Their mouths were as one, both tasting of the fresh coffee they'd just drunk. Lisa felt the butterflies rise again from within when Alan's hand instinctively rose to touch her breast. Never before had it felt so right, and the need to be as one, more intense. They had awoken in each other a passionate sexuality which consumed them both, and made their bodies ache for more. The fact they were in a car, and it was broad daylight, didn't stop them. Their hunger for each other was so great...
 
.                                                                           .................



     Lisa felt drained. They had stopped kissing when they realised how close they were getting to going the whole way, and the sweat glistened on both their brows as they separated and took deep breaths. Neither of them had ever experienced that kind of passion before. It had taken over their bodies completely, as their need for each other engulfed them. It had been Alan who'd pulled away first, knowing it was neither the time nor the place.

     "Jesus, Lisa, I don't know how much more of this I can take!" he muttered breathlessly, when he reluctantly broke away from her.

Lisa had thrown her head back against the headrest in an attempt to cool her neck, which was soaked in perspiration  .

     "What the hell are we going to do?" he asked, knowing their need for each other couldn't keep them apart for much longer.

Lisa didn't know either. Having no experience of how chemistry between two people could work, she was totally confused by it all.

     "I've never felt like this before, Alan. I want you so badly; I'm actually aching inside…"

Alan burst out laughing. He had done nothing but ache for the previous three nights.

     "Now that’s something I can easily identify with!” he replied.

He wanted to take her in his arms again, but Alan tried to control himself, and took her hand instead. Tenderly he kissed her finger tips, as he looked at her intently.

     "Lisa, I've tried not to - but I've fallen in love with you."

She smiled slowly, and her hand rose to his face and lovingly touched his cheek.

     "And I love you too," she said, amazed at how easily the words came from her lips. 
 
 


 
     When they at last pulled apart again, Alan turned on the ignition and attempted to clear the condensation from the windows by turning on the fan. It was useless. The car was completely fogged up.

     "Christ, woman, look what you’ve done to my car!" he joked, in an effort to bring them both back to reality.

Lisa burst out laughing and helped him clear the windows of the proof of their passion with a cloth he kept under the seat. After five minutes of window wiping, at last they drove off, topped up for the moment in their need to kiss and touch.

     The drive to London was long and uneventful and, apart from Lisa occasionally touching Alan's hand as he went to change gear, or him placing his hand on her thigh when they were stopped at traffic lights, they managed to complete the journey without setting off their feelings again. It was as though they both knew they would be together soon, and when it happened, they were determined that it would not only be beautiful, but it would be an experience neither of them would ever forget.


                                                                                  ................




     Getting a copy of Lisa's birth certificate was much easier than either of them expected, the only fly in the ointment being the inordinate amount of time it took to find a parking place, which was still miles away from Somerset House.
 
     The sun was shining as they walked back to the car hand in hand. They were both delighted that the piece of paper Lisa now had in her pocket would stop her mother from controlling her life.

     She felt euphoric with the realisation that not only was she free of her mother's clutches, but she was free to love Alan. It was a new beginning, and the happiness Lisa felt as they walked along hand in hand, was unlike any feeling she had known before.

     They had lunch in a wine bar before setting back, and nearly got a parking ticket in the process. As the traffic warden was just about to write it out, Alan rushed over to her and claimed his girlfriend would have left him, if he hadn't taken her to lunch. The poor woman looked over at Lisa and tried not to laugh.

     "So this is your fault then?" She asked.
 
 Lisa nodded her head vigorously and tried to look guilty.

     They thought she was still going to write the ticket, so Alan got down on one knee and begged her to give him a break. It worked. She put the ticket away, and smiled at him disapprovingly.

     “Well go on then, I'll let you off, just this once, but I don't think it's me you should be getting down on one knee to, young man!” she teased, inclining her head towards Lisa.

Alan looked back at the traffic warden, a look of enlightenment on his face.

    "You're absolutely right!" he declared, and she watched in amazement as Alan got down on one knee on the dusty
 pavement in front of Lisa, a concentrated look of adoration on his face.

     "Will you be mine, Lisa?" he asked, to the delight of all the passers-by who'd stopped to see what he was doing.
 
Lisa knew exactly what he meant, and pretended to think about it before she answered.

     "As soon as I can!" she replied sheepishly.

Everyone, including the traffic warden, started to clap as he jumped up, took her in his arms and kissed her.



     Lisa and Alan drove off, still laughing at the expression on the traffic warden's face. After they had driven for a couple of miles, Alan took his eyes off the road to look at her for a moment.

     "Did you mean what you said back there?" he asked, before turning his attention back to the road.

Lisa smiled and looked back at him lovingly. Since the moment he'd taken her in his arms and kissed her, she'd wanted nothing more.

     "Yes," she answered simply, feeling the butterflies rising inside her by just thinking about it.
 
There was a moment's silence before Alan spoke.

    "We could go back to my flat…"


 
 

     Alan was driving as fast as he could without breaking the speed limit. The thought of taking Lisa in his arms and making love to her for the first time in the privacy of his flat, made him desperate to get back as soon as he could. Lisa broke the silence by asking Alan how long it would take to get there, and he checked his watch.

     “If we're lucky we should make it before the rush hour starts. I’d better phone Mum and tell her we've been held up, and I won't be bringing you back until later. I don't want her to start worrying if we're late."

Lisa watched as he spoke to his mother and noticed his expression change to one of concern. By the time he finished the call, she’d started to feel nervous.

     "What's wrong?" She asked, remembering the last time he'd phoned his mother.

Alan wasn't quite sure how to tell her, so he just blurted it out.

"The police want you to phone them as soon as possible. Your mothers turned up at the station..."
 
                    

 
Lisa's hands were shaking when she got out the card Eve Brookes had given her. Alan reached out and touched her cheek reassuringly.

     “Don't worry, Lisa. They can't make you see her.”

Lisa hoped he was right and picked up the phone and dialled the number. After what seemed like an eternity, Eve answered.

     “Hi, Lisa. I trust you got my message?”

Eve heard her hesitate at the other end of the line.

     “Yes, but I don't want to see my mother. Can't you just tell her that?”

Eve could hear the fear in Lisa's voice, and tried to calm her down.

     “I know this is not what you want to hear, Lisa, but you'll be better speaking to your mother here than anywhere else. At least if the meeting's here, we'll be able to help you if there are any problems."

Lisa began to shake again. The very thought of seeing her mother filled her with dread.

     "I don't know if I could cope with it, Eve. Do I have to see her?"

It was Eve's turn to panic. If Lisa didn't come to the station, then she had no idea how they would get rid of the mother. They had already put up with her for over two hours.

     "No, Lisa, you don't, but you would be doing Sergeant Wilson and me a big favour, if you would. She's refusing to leave the station until she's seen you, and we don't know what to do with her. Your father's here too - if that helps you decide."

The fact that her father was there seemed to calm Lisa down a little. She had never seen her mother nasty in public, especially if her Dad was with her. Fiona Collins was yet to make that mistake. After five minutes of Eve's gentle persuasion, Lisa agreed to go back. But she only agreed on the basis that there was no chance she would have to go back to Scotland with her parents after the meeting. Eve assured her that she wouldn't have to, especially if she had managed to get a copy of her birth certificate. When Lisa told her that she had, Eve let out a sigh of relief.

     "Then there's nothing to worry about, Lisa. Nobody can make you do anything, or go anywhere you don’t want. You have just acquired the ticket to your freedom." she added.

Eve just hoped she'd said enough to convince Lisa that there was nothing to worry about. She had. Lisa hung up after she reluctantly promised to go straight to the station as soon as they got back to Chelmsford.
 
     Alan took Lisa’s hand and raised her fingers to his lips. The last time they had gone to the police station, they had been pleasantly surprised. He was certain they couldn’t be that lucky twice in a row...