‘Okay. And Gemma…’
‘What?’
‘Try not to worry.’
‘Thanks.’
Gemma ends the call and I walk back to the swings.
‘Was that my mum?’ Eva asks, half-heartedly swinging back and forth, and then kicking at the squidgy playground surface with the toe of her trainer.
‘Yes, it was. She’s very worried. We should tell her you’re safe and sound. It’s been almost an hour since you came and got me. What would you have done if I wasn’t in the coffee shop?’
‘Don’t know. Waited for you outside I s’pose.’
‘Well, it’s a good job I was there, isn’t it?’
I’d been sitting in Crumbs when Eva burst in, her face colourless, her eyes bloodshot. She told me she’d had an argument with her mum and never wanted to go home again. We sat in the café for a while until she eventually said that maybe she should go home. So we left. But as we got closer to the house, she changed her mind and asked to go to the park instead. So, here we are, hanging around in the cold drizzle.
‘Doyouthink it’s unfair that I’m the only one without a phone?’ Eva asks.
‘I understand it’s not fair, but it’s less than a year until you start senior school. Not that long to wait. And running away isn’t going to solve anything, is it? If I could change your mum’s mind I would try. But I can’t. She’s made up her mind and that’s that.’
‘I wishyouwere my mum,’ Eva says.
My heart swells, and I look across at her, at her pale, tear-streaked face, her long brown hair. I suppose people might assume we were mother and daughter. Our colouring is very similar. ‘Your mum loves you, Eva. We need to take you home.’
‘No! I don’t want to go home. I’ll run away again if you take me back. Can’t we stay in the park?’
I sigh.
‘Just for ten minutes?’
‘Okay. But only if you promise to come back home with me after that.’
I think about Gemma back at the house, going insane with worry over her missing daughter. About Robert combing the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of his little girl. One phone call could put them out of their misery. But I think I’ll leave it a little longer. After all, it’s not like Eva is actually in any danger. She’s perfectly safe withme.
Thirty-Seven
The park isn’t far from our house, just a ten-minute walk, but it will be quicker to drive so I grab my phone and keys and jump into the car with Katie. Sadie just left me a message saying she’s there with Eva.Thank you, God. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Before leaving home I fired off a hasty WhatsApp message to Diane, James, Amelia and Robert, letting them know Eva’s safe.
‘Is Eva okay?’ Katie asks as she does up her seatbelt.
‘Yes. She’s with Sadie.’
‘Is she in trouble?’
‘She shouldn’t have gone out of the house on her own.’ I almost wheelspin out of the driveway, then I force myself to slow down. The last thing I need is to have a car accident. I drive the two minutes up the road to our local park, stop at an awkward angle and wait for Katie to get out, before taking her hand and running across the muddy field to the playground at the other side.
‘Gemma!’ I turn to see Robert behind me with his brother and Amelia. They must have arrived seconds after me.
‘They’re in the playground,’ I cry without stopping.
‘Daddy!’ Katie cries, letting go of my hand and running back towards Robert. I let her go to him. On the phone, Sadie said that she’d looked everywhere she could think of, and finally found her in the park. I can see them now, side by side on the swings. Sadie stands and waves. Eva remains on the swing, her shoulders hunched. Apart from Sadie and Eva, there are only a couple of other families here with their kids. No one else wants to spend a wet Saturday at the park.
I barge through the wooden gate and let it fall back with a clatter.
‘Eva!’ I say, rushing over to her. ‘Are you all right? I was worried sick.’
