At last ‘A life’
By Julie D Cole

Chapter 61 Inspector Julie

Well I wasn’t sure what Julie was driving at and neither was Mum or Sally. I didn’t really understand what she was looking for on her computer until she looked up and said.

‘This is what I found last week. The database at the university says Darren Harper was a lecturer and he is the father of 3 children — two boys and a girl.’

‘Yes?’

‘Well I thought that you said that Jessica is the illegitimate daughter of Kates’ sister and that she was adopted.’

‘Yes that’s what she said.’

‘Doh!! Chrissy Doh!! Are you still trapped in a male cocoon? Don’t you see?’

‘If Kate is Darren’s daughter she had two brothers and no sisters.’

‘Maybe the data base is wrong.’

‘ OK it could be wrong. But another theory might be that Kate is not telling the truth and that she is Jessica’s mother.’

‘No she is too young.’

‘How do you know, some people look very young but in fact they are several years older.’
‘Well I don’t know for sure but as I know she is around 36 or 37 years of age and quite young for her position.’

‘So she could be older and maybe she could be Jessica’s mother.’
‘I don’t think so they have different personalities and they don’t seem to be that close and it’s hard to imagine.’

Mum chipped in ‘Yes maybe the website is wrong.’

Julie retorted ‘Well it’s hard to believe it would be wrong since this is a famous University.’

Sally was thinking deeply and I could tell that she agreed with Julie.

‘I don’t think that Julie is saying that Kate is telling lies but maybe she is just being economical with the truth. Does it matter anyway if Jessica is leaving and you have information now that indicates she was not the person who accessed your bank accounts.’

‘Well it is not that important but I wouldn’t like to think that Kate was Jessica’s mum and that she’d taken advantage of her position to employ her and promote her. Maybe that’s why she moved me out of the way. Maybe that’s why I got the job without any previous experience.’

Mum chipped in again ‘Yes but she is confirming the job now and offers to give you a raise so why would she do that if she just shifted you out of the way? Why would she listen to you and to Anne?’

Julie just shook her head ‘Or maybe Kate is not who we think she is.’

‘Rubbish. I like her and I feel she wouldn’t tell lies. I think she is very honest ’

‘Look sis she did tell you Jessica was her niece and she asked her to help her to make Jessica better at her job. I’m not saying she is a criminal or that she is a bad person and I know you think she is a wonderful boss but I still say she is not who we think she is. That’s all I’m saying. Why don’t you have a chat with her.’

‘I can’t do that. What do I say? Julie thinks you haven’t been honest with me. Is Jessica your daughter?’

‘No but you could do it in a more subtle way because if you change your life and she drops you like a stone and doesn’t support you then it’s added pressure that you don’t need. She might be at the back of all this you know.’

‘Why would you think that? It was Jessica and the girls in the office who encouraged me to dress as a girl and it wasn’t anything to do with Kate.’

‘But Kate supposedly mistook you for a girl remember. Didn’t you say that she had a boyfriend who was a transvestite? Maybe she influenced him to dress like that.’

‘Julie she couldn’t influence him. He either had the desire or he didn’t.’

‘Well I still think there is more to this than meets the eye.’

‘Come on girls I think that’s enough for tonight'

Julie still scrolled down the website and said she’d like to know more about this family since they did have a connection to us through Aunt Judith. I did feel that she had a point and all this information did cause me to think about Kate and Jessica and try to recollect things that had happened. Why would Kate accept me so readily?

We left it at that for the night and I was soon snuggled up in bed. But Sally was now becoming more intrigued.

‘Chrissy do you think Julie was right that Kate is Jessica’s mum?’
‘No I don’t but there is a link.’

‘But why would she say she was her niece if she didn’t have a sister? She is the only daughter of the family’

‘I don’t know the answer but I’m sure that as I get to know Kate that I’ll find out.’
‘Does that mean you are taking the job and changing your life?’

‘Ha Ha are you trying to trick me? I still didn’t decide and I suppose that’s the natural conclusion.’

‘What are you going to do? Will you try to find out?’

‘Well I am going to go to work tomorrow and carry on. I have to help Anne since she has helped me and I need to see my own GP and look into the problems that might come from living like this on a permanent basis. At least I need to give myself some space to think about this’

‘But Chrissy how do you really feel? Are you happier recently or do you have any desires to switch back?’

‘Well I’m still me but I must say that I like myself much more living as Chrissy than I did as Chris. I like the complements and how people treat me. I don’t have to hide my emotions and I don’t have to try to be more of a man.’

‘Chrissy I like you and I must say that since you changed your life style you became much more interesting and more confident. I think you are a very special and unique person’
OK I’ve got the message. You vote I take the job.’

‘Ha Ha, yes if that’s how you want to put it because you’d have a good income and you could look after me.’

‘Oh yes, are you thinking of settling in full time then? How do you know that I will be worth living with if I can’t come to terms with the situation.’

‘Well I’d be there for you so of course I’m confident. This is you isn’t it and not the guy who I met who was too shy to speak.?

‘that’s very nice to know but what do you really think about me. Am I a freak?’

‘No I think you are a natural woman and I like you.’

‘If I was a man would you like me?’

‘But you are not a man. I’m sorry to say that but I think of you of my girlfriend not as my boyfriend.’

‘But what would people think about you living with me as two women? Isn’t it likely to cause problems with your family?’

‘Chrissy my family are important but I do feel they’d like you even if you had three legs.’
‘Ha ha many a true word.’

‘You silly thing.’

‘Sally what do you want really?’

To be continued………