Demon twins

Things with Adam were going so well, until Jess met his daughters¼

Itried my best to like Adam' s children, I really did. I appreciated he had a life before me and no one gets to 40 without acquiring baggage' . It was just that Alice and Jenna were the sort of baggage that I' d rather have left on the luggage carousel than take home with me.

Everything was fine between Adam and me in the beginning. I wasn' t looking for romance after breaking up with Rich, but the minute Adam walked into our office as our new IT manager, I was smitten. And it wasn' t just his good looks there was an instant chemistry between us.

We went for a drink after work that day and chatted as if we' d known each other for years. Adam told me he was divorced and I told him I' d split up from my long-term boyfriend. It seemed fate had brought us together and we were soon dating.

It wasn' t until a couple of weeks later that Adam mentioned the c' word. Children.

He told me he had two girls six-year-old twins called Alice and Jenna.

Stupidly, I hadn' t given the idea of him having kids any thought.

Is it a problem?' he asked, as my face clouded over.

Not at all,' I lied.

I felt cheated of course him having kids massively changed things between us.

It put a whole new perspective on our relationship, which had seemed so exciting and carefree before. He took photos of the girls out of his wallet to show me.

They look sweet,' I said flatly.

I knew I had to make a decision accept them or risk losing Adam. So, I forced a smile on my face and told him I couldn' t wait to meet them.

Alice and Jenna were the sort of baggage that IÕd rather have left on the luggage carousel

I didn' t have long to wait. The following Saturday

Adam brought the girls with him. They looked angelic with their perfectly brushed hair and pretty dresses, but they seemed very shy and subdued. Understandable, I thought.

They were being loyal to their mum and didn' t want to share their daddy with a woman who may or may not be a permanent fixture in their lives.

But as the day wore on, I realised that they were actually very self-assured, and that their quietness was not shyness but hostility towards me. Walking around the city farm, they clung to Adam' s hands and rebuked all my efforts to make friends. Later, as we ate our meals at the pizza restaurant, they sat either side of their father and made no attempt to include me in their conversation. To be honest, I didn' t just find them rude, but unnerving too. It was as if they were six going on twenty-six.

Alice, who appeared to be the leader' , had a way of rolling her eyes when I spoke as if she thought me the most stupid person she had ever met. Jenna was less demonstrative, but she still had an icy stare that could freeze rivers.

Idecided, after that first meeting, not to get too involved with Adam' s Saturday outings with Alice and Jenna. They' d spend the day with Adam, then come back to mine for tea.

The arrangement worked well for a few weeks, then one Saturday while he was out with the girls, Adam rang me in a panic. His mother had had a fall and she was in pain. She thought she might have broken her arm.

I' ve got to take her to the hospital, Jess. Would you mind having the girls?'

Wouldn' t it be better if you took them back to your ex?' I suggested.

I can' t. It' s Lorna' s friend' s birthday and a group of them have gone to a venue out of town to celebrate. They won' t be back until later.'

Oh,' I said, my heart sinking, I mean, OK no problem.'

Thanks, Jess you' re a star. I' ll be back as soon as I can, but you know what hospitals are like¼'

A short time later, the girls arrived on my doorstep.

Be good now, won' t you?' Adam said, kissing each of them in turn.

Yes, Daddy,' they both answered sweetly, in unison.

After making them sandwiches and a drink I didn' t really know what to do with them. They weren' t interested in watching TV or colouring in or playing games. Everything I suggested was just met with a roll of Alice' s eyes or a cold stare from Jenna.

They didn' t really want to interact with me at all, but giggled and whispered together in the secret language they seemed to share.

Right,' I said, getting up. Get your coats on we' re going for a walk.'

Where to?' asked Jenna. The park.'

Sounds boring,' said Alice. Well it isn' t you never know what you' re going to see or meet in the park.

Parks are exciting and unpredictable places. We might even meet some dinosaurs,' I enthused.

No, we won' t,' said Alice. They became extinct millions of years ago.'

You' re right, Alice,' I told her, but there are some giant models of the dinosaurs in the park which I think you' ll find interesting.'

They both yawned, but at least they obeyed me and put their coats on.

A few minutes after we' d left my house a light drizzle began.

It' s raining!' Jenna complained. I don' t want to get wet.'

A little bit of rain won' t do you any harm,' I said.

It might,' Alice chipped in. It can cause pneumonia. Mummy never lets us walk around in the rain.'

Then put your hoods up,' I snapped.

I took a deep breath I needed to stay calm. I was, after all, supposed to be the adult here.

My mobile pinged. It was Adam. The waiting room at A&E was heaving and his mother hadn' t even seen a doctor yet, let alone been taken for an X-ray. He was obviously going to be away for some time.

Is everything OK? he asked brightly.

Fine, I texted back, hoping he might read something in the terseness of my reply.

Get a grip, I told myself.

Alice and Jenna were just young children and they were away from

I didnÕ t really know what to do with them. T hey werenÕ t interested in watching T V or colouring in

their mummy and daddy.

They were bound to feel a bit unsettled.

Look!' I exclaimed. Look at that lovely rainbow over there.'

But the girls were wandering towards a dog who was passing by. I walked towards them and grabbed their arms.

You should never pet a dog that you don' t know. It may bite you,' I told them sternly.

Tania used to let us stroke dogs,' said Alice.

Yes,' said Jenna. Tania was nice.'

Who' s Tania?' I asked. Daddy' s girlfriend before you,' answered Jenna. She' s dead now.'

My heart missed a beat. I stared at the girls, open-mouthed. So many questions were buzzing around my head.

That' s very sad, girls,'

I said at last. It must have been very upsetting for you all.'

It was,' said Alice. We were with her when she died. Well, not exactly with her she was at the bottom of the cliff and we were at the top.'

Icould feel my heart thumping inside my chest, like a big drum.

Where was Daddy?'

I asked.

Playing football,' said Jenna. He used to play football some Saturdays, but he doesn' t any more. Tania was taking us for a walk along the clifftop. She was standing on the edge taking a photo of us when she slipped and fell.'

How upsetting for you all,' I said.

We didn' t push her,' Alice said. It was the wind.'

Her words sent a shiver down my spine. Why would she say that? The thought hadn' t even crossed my mind until then.

Before I could speak again a dog rushed past us with his lead still attached.

Dusty!' an elderly woman in pursuit shouted. Come back!'

The dog was heading towards the lake with Alice and Jenna chasing behind as I raced after them. The woman was screaming as the dog jumped into the lake and then to my horror, Alice jumped in after it.

Alice!' I shouted frantically, taking off my coat and shoes.

Look after Jenna,' I told the dog owner.

Then I jumped into the water after her forgetting that I couldn' t swim.

In the meantime, people were gathering and a man had already waded into the lake and was carrying Alice out.

Ifell over into the water and as I thrashed around trying to get my footing, I remember seeing

Alice and Jenna staring at me from the side of the lake. Their faces looked perfectly calm and expressionless. Suddenly, the dog was next to me, nudging me upright and pushing me towards the lake edge.

As I was helped out of the water and wrapped in a blanket, someone managed to grab the dog' s lead and hauled him out of the water. I' m so sorry,' the elderly woman said, as the dog shook itself.

He' s such a disobedient dog. I' ve only just got him from the dogs' home but I am going to take him straight back.'

Please don' t do that,' I told her. He saved my life.' Someone offered to give us a lift home. As we walked towards the car, I turned round and Dusty was looking at me with big, sad eyes.

T he woman was screaming as the dog jumped into the lake and then to my horror Alice jumped in after it

A few weeks later, I was sitting in my new flat on the outskirts of town away from the bustle of city life. I' d split up with Adam and quit my old job. It was for the best,

I' d decided. I needed a fresh start. I' d jumped into a relationship with Adam too soon after splitting with Rich.

Now, I' m loving being alone, enjoying the simple pleasures of life like long walks in the countryside.

Of course, I' m not entirely alone I have my faithful companion and best friend, Dusty, by my side.