Someone Like me (17 page)

chapter 33

‘Can I check in please?’ I asked the receptionist,
whose purple badge declared that her name was Elaine. Malika was flicking through a rack of leaflets on the counter.

‘Is there an adult with you?’

‘My dad has already arrived. Can you tell me which room he’s in please?’

‘What name is it?’

‘Robertson, Michael Robertson.’ I held my breath.

Elaine tapped the keyboard of her computer with her red nails. ‘Here we are. He’s in room 544,’ Elaine said. ‘And your room is 444. Isn’t that a coincidence!’ she laughed and handed me a passkey. ‘Do you want me to call the room and see if he is here?’

‘Actually,’ I lowered my voice and leant towards her, conspiratorially. ‘He doesn’t know we’ve arrived yet and we wanted to surprise him. Would you mind keeping our arrival a secret?’

Elaine chuckled and tapped the side of her nose. ‘Your secret is safe with me,’ she said. ‘Take the lift on the left over there and your room is just opposite.’

I thanked her and we crossed over to the lift.

‘Jasmine!’
Malika hissed. ‘What would you have done if he wasn’t here?’

‘Well he is. Mum would have vouched for us anyway. What did Sara say?’

‘They’ve had the funeral so now she can finally relax. She’s going to stay with Chantal until I come home. She says she’s missing me.’

‘I suppose you want to go back early now?’

‘Of course not! Besides, we have work to do. Did you ask the receptionist about Nora?’

I shook my head. ‘You go and ask her. I’ve already asked her to keep quiet about our arrival. I’ll wait here.’

Malika pulled the photograph out of her bag and went over to reception. Elaine had gone behind the counter and a male receptionist had appeared in her place. I watched Malika show him the photograph. She looked across and beckoned me over. A fire lit up her eyes.

‘She works here. We’ve found her. I can’t believe it. When will she next be in?’ she asked the young man, who was looking slightly bemused at her obvious excitement.

‘I’ll just check the rotas for you,’ he said and disappeared into the office behind the counter. Malika gripped my arm, her nails pressing into my flesh.

‘Ouch,’ I said.

‘She’s using a different name but I know it’s her. I won’t really believe it until I see her though.’

The receptionist reappeared. ‘She is next due in tomorrow morning at five. She’s scheduled to start on the fifth floor.’

We thanked him and headed off for the lift. Once we were in our room Malika threw her arms around me.

‘Can you believe it?’
she  kept  saying,  ‘wait  until  I tell Maman.’

             
‘You can’t say anything until we actually see her,’ I said. ‘I think we should stay in our room tonight. If Michael finds out we’re here he might scare her away. You’ll  just  have  to  be patient. We can order up a feast on room service and watch TV. I suppose you’re going to make me get up at five am aren’t you?’

‘Stupid question,’ said
Malika.

It was dark. Something was digging into my shoulder. I tried to shake it off.

‘Jasmine.’
I could hear my name being called but I was confused. The light coming through the window was in the wrong place.

‘Wake up!’ A hand landed on each shoulder and dragged me awake. I remembered.

‘What time is it?’ I asked.

‘Getting up time.
We need to hurry.’

I
prised my eyes open. Malika was fully dressed. ‘Have you even been to bed?’ I asked. ‘I swear we only just turned the lights off.’

‘Get up,’ she insisted. I dragged my heavy body out of bed and pulled on my jeans and sweatshirt which were lying on the floor in a heap. I cleaned my teeth and splashed my face with water. I still felt half asleep.

The harsh artificial light in the corridor assaulted my eyes as soon as Malika opened the door. The corridor was eerily silent apart from the faint buzzing of the lights. There wasn’t a soul in sight. Malika pointed to the ceiling. Floor five awaited. We took the lift and I turned my back on the mirrored wall inside, horrified by the quick glimpse I had of myself, hair  sticking  up all over the place. Malika looked normal, black scarf in place, clothes neat, as if she always got up at this time of the morning. She looked scared though, her mouth pinched and her eyes giving her anxiety away. The lift door slid open and we stepped out onto an identical floor from which we had come. There was a rattling sound  and a cleaner with a trolley appeared at the other end of the corridor.

‘Is it her?’ I whispered.
Malika shook her head and strode off towards the woman who was filling her arms with supplies from the trolley.

‘I no speak English,’ I heard the woman say.
Malika held out the photograph. The woman looked at it for a long moment. She looked suspicious. ‘Why you want her? No trouble?’

‘She’s my aunt,’
Malika said. The woman relaxed and pointed to one of the rooms. Malika’s body went rigid and she put her hand to her mouth.

‘Come on,’ I said, taking hold of her arm. ‘Thanks,’ I said to the woman who was staring at
Malika. I dragged her out into the corridor. Outside the room next door Malika hesitated.

‘I’m scared,’ she said.

‘I’m right behind you,’ I said and pushed her into the room.

CHAPTER 34

Another woman dressed in a blue overall was folding towels up, her back to us. I prodded
Malika but she remained frozen.

‘Hello,’ I said. The woman turned around, as if expecting company.
Malika stepped forward.

‘Nora? It’s me,
Malika, your niece.’

The woman stared at her for a moment, before a look of astonishment crossed her face, quickly replaced by delight. She let out a sort of squeal and threw her arms around
Malika. They stayed like that for what seemed like ages, both sobbing. Eventually Nora drew backwards, holding Malika at arms length, looking into her eyes.

‘You are the image of your mother as a child. How did you find me?’

Malika’s mouth was moving but she couldn’t seem to speak. I stepped forward.

‘I’m Jasmine. I think she’s in shock.’

‘Aunty Nora. I’ve found you at last. I can’t believe it.’

Nora’s delight was transforming into something else. She rubbed her hands over and over.

‘How did you find me? I don’t use the name Nora here. Have you told the hotel I am not who they think? I need this job.’

Malika
rattled something off in French. They spoke for a few minutes and then hugged each other again. Malika  turned  to me. ‘She’s going to come to our room after her shift has finished. It will be about nine o’clock.’ She turned and looked at her aunt again.

‘You promised me,’ she said. ‘I never want to lose you again.’ They embraced again and Nora pulled out a large tissue and wiped her eyes.

‘I will be there.’

Malika
and I went down in the lift in silence.

‘Let’s have breakfast,’ I said, suddenly ravenous.

‘What about Papa?’

‘No way will he get up this early. Please, I’m starving.’

A grin transformed her face. ‘Me too,’ she said.

The breakfast was a buffet and I decided to try and have a piece of every single thing on the menu.
Malika rolled her eyes at me and took some toast and a cup of tea. I had got through two cups of hot chocolate, cereal, a round of toast and jam, and was just starting on a chocolate croissant when Malika suddenly looked horrified.

‘Don’t look round,’ she said, ‘
it’s Papa. He’s got his back to us. Quick, we can get out here.’ She indicated the exit to her left. We rushed out of the door. I managed to hold on to my croissant. We didn’t bother with the lift but took the stairs two at a time, haring down the corridor to our room. Once safely inside we collapsed on the bed, panting heavily.

‘That was close,’ I said.

‘We didn’t clear up the table,’ said Malika, looking worried. ‘They will think we are very rude.

‘It was an emergency,’ I said, stuffing the remnants of the croissant in my mouth, ‘it couldn’t be helped. ‘I’m going back to sleep. Wake me in an hour.’

I heard Malika starting the water in the shower and I lay still, waiting for my heartbeat to return to normal. I didn’t sleep for long and got into the shower myself to freshen up before Nora’s visit.

‘Do you think she will turn up?’ I asked when there was a rap at the door.
Malika hesitated, then went and opened it. She came back into the room followed by her aunt. Nora ignored the armchair, perching instead on the edge of a hard backed chair close to the door, as if ready to flee at any moment.

‘Speak in English,’
Malika said.

‘How did you find me?’ she said, her French accent was very strong.

‘Jasmine found you. Jasmine is my half-sister. We only just found out about each other.’

‘Caroline’s daughter,’ said Nora, ‘I can see the likeness.’

‘You know my mother?’ I asked. She shook her head.

‘I’ve seen a photo.’

‘Dad’s mother is ill and Caroline called to tell him,’ continued Malika. ‘Jasmine found out he’d been in England and she wanted to know what he was doing here. He’s been very strange, Nora, he didn’t tell us he was in England. He went to visit his mother and left your photograph there. Jasmine  saw your photo and assumed it was Maman. When she showed me the photograph I knew straight away it was you and that it was a recent photo, which meant  that  you  were  alive. Why did you disappear like that? I was so afraid you were dead.’ She wiped her eyes. ‘I have some bad news for you.’

Nora sat down on the bed.

‘Not Sara?’ she whispered, her eyes large and filled with fear.

Malika
knelt down beside her and took her hands.

‘No. You must prepare yourself. It’s your brother. Ali has died.’

A strange sound escaped from Nora’s mouth and her skin went a strange colour. ‘Ali, dead? Really, are you sure?’

‘I’m sorry to tell you so suddenly but I thought you would want to know. It only happened last week. Mum has gone to stay in Lille. I know you were very close. I’m sorry to make you sad.’

Nora stood up and went over to the window. She gazed outside for what seemed like a long time. Then she came back over to us, shaking her head.

    ‘You aren’t making me sad
mon enfant, quite the opposite. For the first time in years I am happy.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked
Malika.

Nora remained silent, staring out of the window. At last she turned around to face us.

‘Ali is the reason I left France,’ she said, sighing.

‘What do you mean?’
Malika said, sitting down on the floor.

Nora nodded, ‘I think you are old enough to hear the truth. When I was sixteen I had a boyfriend and I became pregnant. My parents knew nothing about my relationship and when they found out they were horrified. Ali in particular took the news badly. He was angry when he found out and he hit me so hard, I was afraid that I had lost the baby. He wouldn’t leave me alone after that, he was constantly taunting me about the shame I had brought upon the family. I was so young, and I was terrified, but I couldn’t bear to give up my baby. Ali swore that if I gave birth he would kill the child. I couldn’t stay in the same house as that monster any longer so I ran away. I ran as far as I could and ended up here in England.’

‘Mum would have understood, why didn’t you come and live with us?’

She smiled sadly. ‘I know that now but at the time I believed my mother when she said I was disgracing the whole family. Sara was pregnant with you and I was scared that if she knew where I was Ali would be able to find me.’

‘Your mother went back to Morocco shortly after that.’

‘I know, I heard.’

‘From Michael?’ I asked. She nodded.

‘I don’t understand
, why does Papa know about you? Has he always known? How could you tell him and not Maman?’

‘It wasn’t like that. I only got in touch with him recently. I had a problem that I needed help with. Michael was the only person I could think of to help me.’

‘What problem. . ?’ Malika started to say, the words drying up in her mouth as somebody started banging loudly on the door. We all looked at each other, frozen with shock.

‘Open  the
  door!  I know you’re in there.’  Michael’s voice sliced into the room. Nora stood up and went slowly towards the door.

‘
I’ll let him in,’ she said. I turned to Malika.

    ‘You know what this means?’ I said, relief flooding through me. She looked at me, her eyes shining and nodded. ‘Michael had a reason to be here. Maybe he had nothing to do with Miriam after all.’