Page 60 of Return to the Waratah Inn

“It’s not a big deal.”

“It’s big to me,” Reeda snapped.

“Whatever.” Simone went quiet and stared out the window.

“I expect you to be where you’re supposed to be. I expect you to do what you say you’re going to do. That’s called integrity. And when you live in my house, integrity is an important part of your character. Your siblings rely on you, and so do I.”

“Well, stop relying on me. I’m only twelve. Or have you forgotten that?” Simone’s cold demeanour shifted as fire flashed in her eyes.

“I haven’t forgotten, and I’m not asking very much of you. But you can’t stay at school when you’re supposed to be on the bus. How did you get away with it, anyway? Didn’t the teachers notice?”

Simone snorted. “They don’t have a clue.”

“That’s not something to be proud of, Simone.”

The girl glared at her. “Just let it go. It’s over, you won, I’m coming back to prison with you. Move on.”

“Prison? You think our home is a prison?”

She shrugged again. “Am I allowed to leave?”

“Of course not.”

“Then what else would you call it?”

“Where would you want to go?” Reeda asked. Her heart constricted. As much as she wanted to know the answer, part of her braced for the impact Simone’s words would make.

“Home. I wanna go home. But nobody cares what I want.”

Back at the house, Simone rushed inside and slammed the door in Reeda’s face. Reeda inhaled a sharp breath, then opened the front door again and followed the girl inside. She intended to say something about the door slam, but Simone was already down the hallway by the time she made it into the foyer.

Jen peeped around the corner. “I heard the door. Are you okay?”

Reeda pressed her lips together and walked towards the kitchen. “I’ll be fine. Simone is home. And we can all have a nice tea together.”

“Hold that thought,” Jen said, falling into step beside her.

Reeda halted, looking at her friend. “What is it?”

Jen tipped her head to one side and met Reeda’s gaze. “You should probably take a look at Carly before you worry about tea.”

Reeda’s stomach dropped. She hurried to the living room, where Carly lay prone on the couch, her glazed eyes fixed on the TV screen. She knelt beside Carly. “Hey, sweetie. How are you?”

Carly looked at her and blinked. Her cheeks were red, and her brown hair clung in sweaty strands to her forehead. “I’m cold.”

Reeda pressed her palm to Carly’s head. It burned to the touch. “Oh, I think you have a fever. I’ll get the thermometer and check. You wait here, sweetheart.”

When Reeda took the child’s temperature, it was just over forty degrees celsius. Jen looked over her shoulder. “Uh, Reeda?”

Reeda glanced at her friend, whose eyes were wide. “Yeah? Is that bad?”

“Can I talk to you in the kitchen a moment?”

Reeda followed Jen into the kitchen. “That’s bad, right?”

Jen spun to face her. “You have to take her to the hospital.”

“Really?”