Summer Loving by Rachel Ennis

Author:Rachel Ennis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2016-08-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

‘Yes, she told me,’ Elsie said when she looked in the following morning while Jess was washing up. ‘Poor little maid. I’d give them what-for if I got my hands on ’em.’ Anger had brought hot colour to her lined face. ‘Anyhow, that’s not why I come, though I’m some grateful, Jess. What it is, Alan have just rung. In some taking he was. He’ve had a letter from the Stantons’ solicitor saying they’re going to sue for defamation.’

‘They’re what? I don’t believe it.’

‘True as I’m stood here. They’re saying Tegan been making false claims about their son. Bleddy nerve! She’s fifteen years old and expecting his baby. There idn nothing false about that. What that boy done is against the law. If they want proof, soon as the baby’s born we’ll have one of they DNA tests done. No need to look at me like that, bird,’ she said as Jess’s brows climbed. ‘I seen it on the telly.’

Jess hugged her. ‘Elsie, if ever I’m in trouble, I want you on my side.’

‘So I will be, my lover.’ She snorted in disgust. ‘Easy to see how the boy come by his arrogance. That apple didn’t fall far from the tree. They Stantons can threaten all they want to. They don’t frighten me. And I aren’t letting them bully Tegan.’

‘Good for you. Can I suggest something?’

‘’Course you can.’

‘Before you go to the police would it help if I find out where Tegan stands legally? I won’t be offended if you say no. This is your private family business –’

‘Nothing private about it after what was writ about Tegan on that there internet.’

‘True, but Alan might already have instructed his solicitor –’

‘Not yet he haven’t. He’s mad because he don’t want his name dragged into it. Him and Carol have always cared more about theirselves than Tegan. Still,’ taking a deep breath she shook off her bitterness. ‘That’s all water under the bridge now. I’d be some grateful, bird. I know how busy you are.’

‘It’s no trouble. I can’t stand bullies either.’ Drying her hands on a towel, Jess followed Elsie to the door. ‘What about Tegan? Legally she’s still a child, but this is her life and her situation –’

‘Don’t you worry about she. Tegan trust you. She told me. She said you always been straight with her.’ Elsie gave Jess a brief, fierce hug. ‘You’re some good friend.’

‘And you’ve got enough on your plate without this.’

‘I’ll go and get Tegan up. Like you say, she got a right to know what’s on.’

After closing the door on Elsie’s departing figure, Jess sat down and opened her laptop.

An hour later the three of them were sitting at Elsie’s kitchen table. Jess had her laptop open and read from the screen.

‘The law says that sexual activity is an offence if either or both people are under the age of sixteen.’

‘There –’ Elsie began. Jess raised a hand.

‘But it also says that the law is not intended to prosecute mutually agreed sexual activity between two young people of a similar age unless it involves abuse or exploitation.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.