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His tone softens. “Let’s go now, Ruth.”
Numb, I let him steer me towards the helicopter. The two women already in there shuffle closer together to make room for me, and Jack helps me up into the cabin. I drop into the spare seat, and Jack clambers back beside the pilot. I’m surprised to see another woman at the controls but I feel safer because of it. Silly really. We’re airborne almost immediately.
Jack swivels in his seat. “Buckle up,” he advises.
I struggle to do so. This is the first time I’ve been in a helicopter, but the middle-aged woman at my side helps.
“There you are, love.” Her smile is warm, sympathetic, as though she knows me.
I mumble my thanks.
“Our pilot is Magda,” Jack tells me over his shoulder. “And to your left is Faith Sampson.”
The woman pats my hand. “It’s lovely to meet you, love. I just wish it was in happier circumstances.”
The shocks keep on coming. I can only gape at her.
Faith? Faith Sampson?
“And this is Beth. Your sister,” Jack adds unnecessarily.
I stare at my companions, open-mouthed, then back at Jack. “You found her? You found Beth?”
“Well, she wasn’t actually lost.”
“I don’t understand…”
“I worked out a while ago who she was but needed to be sure.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I thought you didn’t believe me.”
“Sorry. It was…complicated.”
I rattle on, ignoring his reply, verbalising the confusion and sense of failure that’s been stewing for days. “I thought I’d failed. Let my mum down…” My temper is stirring. “You let me think…”
“I’m sorry,” he repeats. “But I’m telling you now and I’m taking you home.”
Am I supposed to be grateful?“I—”
Mrs Sampson takes hold of my hand. “Let’s not worry about that now. We need to concentrate on your mother. Esther, is it?”
“Yes. Esther Lowison.” I look to Jack again. “You heard from Willowfield? How is she?”
He hesitates for just a moment. “She’s…poorly, Ruth. You knew that.”
I swallow hard, blink back the tears I know will come soon enough. “How long did they say she has? A few days?”
His silence is answer enough.
“Hours?” I croak.
He doesn’t answer, and I don’t press for more.
“How long will it take us to get there?”
The pilot, Magda, supplies the answer. “Two hours and twenty-seven minutes. Our estimated arrival time is two thirty-one.”
I fall silent and pray we’ll be in time.
