He smiled, then started to eat. ‘I don’t think I would have spoken to the shopkeeper if I wasn’t so angry.’
‘Is that what drove you?’
‘Got me all the way here.’
Beth gestured at the bike. ‘On that?’
‘It’s Olivia’s. She’s a girl from the centre, and she left it outside.’ He quickly shook his head as he frowned. ‘I didn’t steal it. Just borrowed it. She won’t mind.’
‘Wait a minute. Did you ride all the way here from the Sunshine Centre?’
‘It’s not that far.’
Beth looked down the road. ‘It’s in Penzance.’
‘It’s only next door. That’s what Dad always says. It did take longer than it normally does, even with the shortcuts.’
‘I bet you’re normally in a car, that’s why.’
Jax nodded and started munching his food again.
‘Does your dad know you’re here?’
‘Nope,’ he said, mouth full. ‘He wouldn’t have let me.’ He shifted on the ground so he was facing her. ‘But I didn’t have a choice. You didn’t hear what Ryan’s mum was saying.’
‘Listen, Jax, whatever Annette said, it was just because she was upset. She has no power to close down respite centres.’
‘But she said it doesn’t work. But see.’ He pointed at the shop. ‘I showed her.’
Beth nodded. ‘You certainly did, but, Jax, you can’t just go off on your own and not tell anyone.’
‘You know.’
‘Only because I saw you.’
Jax shrugged. ‘It’s done now. And anyway, they’re still in the meeting, so they won’t know I’ve gone. I’m going back in a minute to tell them what I did, and I don’t care about badges. This was for the centre, not me.’
‘I’m going to have to call Spencer. Let him know you’re here.’
‘Can’t we tell him when I get back?’
‘You’re not going anywhere, mister. You’re staying right here with me until someone comes to collect you.’
Jax shrugged, tossing a crisp to an onlooking seagull.
Beth whipped out her phone, wondering if Spencer was none the wiser to the boy’s disappearing act. She thought it best to speak rather than text, even if he was still in the meeting.
Spencer sounded flustered. ‘Beth, I can’t talk. Jax has run off, and we’re all out trying to find him. He left the—’
‘He’s here, with me. Spencer, did you hear me?’
‘He’s with you? Where?’
‘We’re outside Lizzie’s. Let Chris know, and we’ll wait here till someone arrives.’
‘Is he all right?’
‘Yes, he’s fine. I’ll speak to you when you get here.’
