Aidan frowns. ‘So you’ve no idea where they are?’
‘They might be in Aberdeen. But that could be a lie he madeRachel tell me. So I’ve really no idea.’
‘Maybe Rachel and Poppy escaped without him?’
I shake my head. ‘I got a text from Rachel – just one singletext – saying that the three of them had moved to Aberdeen and she thought themove would be good for their little family.’
‘You don’t believe that?’
‘No, I don’t. Darren was so controlling, my guess is he putpressure on her to send that text. He needed to get Rachel away from me becausehe knew I was a threat. He knew I’d try to persuade her to leave him.’
‘You haven’t heard anything from Rachel since then?’
I shake my head. ‘I keep hoping. But I haven’t even heardfrom Poppy.’ I gulp down the emotion that’s surging to the surface. ‘Darrenwill have taken her phone to break off all contact with me, of course. But oh,Aidan, I can’t stop worrying about her. Rachel as well, of course. But Poppy’sso little and so brave. I can’t bear not knowing how she is.Anythingcould have happened to her. While she was here, she had me to look out for her.But how can I help her if I don’t even know where she is?’
Tears of despair are rolling down my face now.
He groans and steps forward, pulling me into his arms. And Ilet it out... all the desperate worry and misery I’ve beenfeeling since they disappeared, pouring out of me in great racking sobs onAidan’s shoulder.
*****
A little later, after I’ve mopped myself up, and we’ve sattogether on the sofa and talked things through – and broken down the barriersthat were keeping us apart – Aidan gently wipes a stray tear away from my cheekwith his thumb and gets up to make me some tea.
‘Are you sure you don’t want something stronger?’ he callsfrom the kitchen.
I think about the bottle of white wine in the fridge. Sooften, since I’ve been living here, I’ve used alcohol as a crutch to help methrough the bad times. Maybe it’s time for a fresh start?
‘No, thanks,’ I call back. ‘Tea would be perfect.’
I watch as he sets down our mugs on the side table. He sitsdown in the armchair and my heart sinks. I’d felt really close to him as we saton the sofa and talked. He’d pulled me into a hug again when my emotionsspilled over, and my heart sang as I hoped we might be able to get back to howthings were between us before it all went so wrong.
But the distance between us has somehow opened up again. Ilong for him to come and sit next to me but I’m not confident enough to suggestit, and we drink our tea in silence. Maybe too much has happened between us forthose strong feelings to resurface? For him, anyway.
At last, he puts down his mug and rises from the chair.‘Well, I’d better go and leave you to sleep,’ he murmurs. ‘You look exhausted.’
I stand up reluctantly. ‘Actually, I don’t think I’ll beable to sleep. Far too much to... um...think about.’ My chin trembles a little as I look at him, and his smilevanishes. There’s a tension in the room that’s almost palpable as we lock eyes,and my foolish heart is filled with hope again. Until he turns away to leave...
‘The Olive Tree night was a disaster,’ he murmurs at thefront door.
I smile ruefully. ‘Yes. Yes, it was.’
‘Do you think... do you think maybe wecould have another go?’
My heart is beating very fast.Is he asking me to havedinner with him again?I open my mouth to reply but the words get stuck inmy throat.
Aidan starts backtracking. ‘I mean, only if you want to. Andnot a date. Just as friends, if that’s what you’d prefer.’
‘No!’ I blurt out. ‘A date is fine. I’m free tomorrownight.’
I don’t care if I sound sad and desperate. It’s thetruth. I am sad and desperate! And one thing’s for sure: it will only be truthbetween us from now on...
He smiles. ‘Great. I’ll call you tomorrow.’
‘Okay.’
He pauses for a second. ‘Just one thing before I go. Therewas only that one Santa up when I came for the pottery lesson...?’
I smile. ‘I had to take them all down before you arrived. Ididn’t want you to think I was a complete nutter. I just forgot about Santa inthe hammock. It took me ages to put them all back up again!’
