She stares at me with watery pink eyes. ‘He wanted to run away.’
My heart starts to thump inside my chest. ‘Really?’
She nods. ‘He thought his Aunty Emily had made a mistake about looking after him.’
The hairs on my neck stand on end. ‘Do you think he was planning to run away?’
Miss Hemingway nods. ‘Yesterday I saw he had taken his little rucksack with him.’
Sweat beads have gathered on my forehead. ‘I’m sure Felix would not have done anything silly. He’s quite switched on for his age.’
We both go silent and drink our tea. My mind is awash with thoughts about Emily and Felix. It was never going to be easy for Emily becoming Felix’s main carer. As she said herself the day we split up, her life had been turned upside down. Overnight she had been thrust into the chaotic world of a grieving nine-year old. In the space of a week, she’d moved out of Lizzie’s flat and into Vivi’s house. She thought Felix needed stability in the aftermath of his mum dying. Emily had also been to see to his schoolteachers to talk to them about what had happened, and she’d also managed to get Felix some weekly sessions with a child bereavement counsellor.
When Lawrence died, I was a mess, so I can relate to what Emily and Felix have been through. It can’t have been easy for either of them trying to fill the giant-sized crater in their lives that Vivi left.
‘Felix is a sensible kid,’ I say, trying to reassure myself. ‘His schoolteachers used to say he was one of the smartest kids they’d ever taught. I used to read his school reports pinned up on Vivi’s kitchen wall.’
Miss Hemingway nods. ‘You’re right. I am sure they have decided to stay over in a nice London hotel or something. I need to stop being an old busybody.’ She points the black TV controller at the screen. A newsreader is busy talking to the camera. As the volume is on mute, I can’t hear what he’s saying however the red banner at the bottom brings my heart to a shuddering halt.Search for missing child in London St Pancras continues. Police appeal for information.
My heart grinds to a halt. Felix. Please, God, not Felix.
Miss Hemingway gasps and then lets out a frightened wail.
Shooting to my feet I grab my phone and try to FaceTime Emily’s number. For some reason it won’t allow me to FaceTime so I am forced to call her. To my horror a muffled male voice answers and then… my phone dies. The thirty per cent battery charge from yesterday has finally run out. Who the hell was the male voice? Perhaps it was a police officer?
‘Shit. I have to get to London.’
Miss Hemingway gets to her feet. ‘Do you think Felix is the missing child?’
Glancing back at the TV screen I see the words, ‘nine-year-old boy’flash up. Sickness rushes up my throat. ‘I’ve got to go.’
Charging out of Miss Hemingway’s house I struggle through the snow with my sore legs which feel like jelly. Once down to the seafront, I frantically hail a cab.
CHAPTER39
FELIX
Plucking up courage, Felix taps Emily on the shoulder. ‘Would you film this video for Mummy with me?’
She glances at the phone. ‘Yes, of course – what, now, on the train?’
Nodding he holds up the phone between them and presses the record button. ‘Mummy, it’s me, and look, Emily has agreed to join us.’
‘Hello, Vivi.’ Emily waves and blows a kiss. Felix copies her.
‘Mummy, Emily and I have been talking a lot and we’ve agreed to no more secrets. Haven’t we?’ He turns to Emily with an ear-to-ear smile.
Emily beams. ‘Yes, we have, Felix. All secrets are banned.’
‘Ronnie says his older brother who is at university has lots of secrets.’
Emily lets out a nervous laugh. ‘I’m sure he doesn’t, Felix.’
‘Ronnie says when you get older you have lots of secrets.’
Patting Felix on the arm she grins at the camera. ‘Let’s not think about when you are older, Felix.’
‘Can we still have secrets about birthday presents?’
