Page 84 of Somewhere Only We Know

‘I’m with you there.’ Jono’s face set in a grim line. ‘But Daisy wants nothing to do with her. Maybe time will soften the blow, but she shuts down whenever I mention her mother’s name.’

It seemed there was simply a misunderstanding between father and daughter: Daisy wanting to see her mum but worried about appearing disloyal to Jono; Jono not wanting to force his daughter to see Andrea before she was ready. An impasse fuelled by love for each other.

‘Time will help,’ I agreed. ‘Even the bitterest of feelings lose their sharpness eventually.’

‘I hope you’re right. Okay, let’s see where she is.’ He dialled his daughter’s number and held the phone to his ear while it rang. He gave a sigh. ‘Voicemail … It’s Dad. Drop me a quick text, sweetheart, let me know where you are. You’re missing the foot-stomping, you know.’ He ended the call and put the phone back in his pocket.

My stomach twisted; I didn’t like being part of this deception one bit. I was going to drop her one last message too, hoping that both of us getting in touch would entice her to reply. If she didn’t reply, I was going to tell him myself, because it wasn’t fair.

I set down my beer bottle, took out my own phone and found her number, turning the screen away from him.

Daisy, your dad is getting worried. You promised you’d tell him where you were going. I’m sorry but I’m going to have to tell him the truth. xx

‘Has she texted you?’ Jono asked, watching me.

‘Er, no,’ I replied.

I attempted to press send quickly but the phone slipped out of my grasp and onto the ground.

I bent to pick it up, but Jono got there first.

‘Whoops, here you go.’ His eyes glanced at the screen, he saw the unsent message and froze. ‘What the …? I’m going to have to …?’ he read. ‘Maggie, what’s going on here?’

‘Okay, I can explain,’ I said hurriedly.

The intensity of his stare stopped my heart for a second. In my panic, I grabbed the phone from him and sent the message.

‘Is it that boy, Tom?’ he growled. ‘I knew I should have said something.’

‘It’s not Tom,’ I reassured him. ‘But I’m afraid that Daisy didn’t go to school today.’

‘Okay.’ He frowned, not taking his eyes off me for a second. ‘And? Where is she?’

‘She’s gone to meet Andrea.’

‘She what?’ His eyes widened with disbelief. ‘I didn’t even know they were in contact.’

‘I don’t think they were until yesterday. Daisy sent her mum a message and they arranged to meet up today,’ I told him as calmly as I could.

‘Let me get this straight,’ he said, running a hand through his hair, his tone curt. ‘You knew about this all day today and didn’t think to tell me? For God’s sake, Maggie. How would you feel if it was your daughter?’

My face burned with shame. ‘I’m so sorry. She made me promise to keep her secret and in return I made her promise to tell you. But she evidently decided against that part.’

‘Do you know what? Whatever.’ He held his hands up, his eyes hard and cold. ‘Where the hell are they meeting?’

‘Sydney. Daisy got a train there.’

‘Jesus Christ.’ He started pacing, both hands in his hair now. ‘On her own? She’s fourteen!’

He strode off across the yard, swearing so loudly that everyone stopped in their tracks, alarmed. Max started barking and jumping up at him, sensing his master’s distress.

‘What’s up, boss?’ Nora asked, catching hold of his arm. But he shook her off and opened the door to his truck.

‘Wait,’ I cried, reaching the truck as he slammed his door. ‘Where are you going?’

‘To fetch her,’ he growled through the open window. He looked at me as if I was a stranger. ‘I’ll drive to Sydney if I have to. I’m not letting Andrea get away with this.’

He put the keys in the ignition and started the engine.