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A sudden excitement comes over her. She looks at the phone, pressing the screen into life. It’s shit and basic, but it’s a lifeline.
She stares at Griffin. “Thank you,” she says, starting to cry again.
He looks uncomfortable at her display of gratitude. “Whatever,” he replies. “Just don’t be too long. I’ve blocked the number, but you never know.”
She stands up, moving away and sitting on the sofa. She looks at the phone in her hand, then inputs her mother’s mobile number from memory. Her breath catches in her throat as the phone rings, then cuts to voicemail. She redials.
“Hello?” On hearing her mother, anxious and uncertain, Jess starts to cry again. “Is anyone there?” her mother repeats.
‘Mom?” Jess eventually manages to croak.
“Jess, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me, Mom, but be careful, please.”
“Where are you? How are you?” Her mother’s voice becomes a dramatic whisper. “Come home now! Enough of this messing around.”
‘Mom, I’m sorry, I haven’t got time to argue. Can I speak to Alice, please?”
There’s an audible sigh. “You always were headstrong,” her mother says, as if Jess has been caught being rude to a teacher, rather than fleeing arrest for murder. “Here you go.”
There is a rustle and a bit more whispering. Then a voice, high and on the edge of tears.
‘Mommy?” her daughter says.
Jess feels a rush of relief. Emotion catches in her throat, but she manages to keep her voice level.
“Hi, sweetie. Are you okay?”
“Where are you, Mommy? Where’s Daddy?”
“I’ll …” Jess pauses. “I’ll be home soon. I’ve had to go away for a while, but Grandma and Grandad will look after you.”
“Okay. Can we watch Frozen when we get home?” Jess steels herself again. There’s no home to go to, no Frozen DVD.
“We might not be able to go home for a while, sweetie,” she says. “But Grandma will let you watch Frozen.”
“Promise?” Alice asks.
“Promise. I love you, poppet. Can you pass the phone back to Grandma?”
“I love you too, Mommy.” Then another rustle as the phone is passed back.
‘Mom? You haven’t told her about Patrick?” Jess asks.
“I …” her mother starts. “I thought that was her mother’s job. That she’d need you with her when she found out.”
Jess nods, swallowing. “Thanks, Mom,” she manages to say before she hangs up the phone. She can’t bring herself to say goodbye.
She feels tears welling up again behind her eyes, then anger building. All this emotion—all this crying, however justified—is not achieving anything. She’s made a promise to her daughter now. To be back soon. And that’s what she needs to focus on.
She stands up, and Griffin snaps his fingers at her, gesturing toward the phone. She passes it to him, and he opens up the back, pulling out the SIM card, then breaking it in two.
He sees her looking at it, watching her salvation being destroyed.
“Do you want them to trace you back here?” he asks, and she shakes her head.
Griffin throws the pieces in the trash, then walks over to the bed and slumps down on his back, his hands behind his head. Jess watches him.
