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‘Like what?’
‘Make them seem like they’re an unfit mother. I don’t know. Make them look guilty of something?’
Alice.
The hotel key card with my prints all over it. The missing evidence linking Max to Alice. My whole body heats up. ‘No. He can’t. I was with Poppy that evening. And in the shop all day.’
‘True. But it might be enough to cast doubt in people’s minds. Enough for him to say he should have custody of Poppy. Maybe his plans changed because he’s already killed someone and he doesn’t want to risk doing it again?’
I’ve been holding it together for weeks now, soldiering on, fighting to get to the truth. But now salty tears prick at my eyes, and I feel myself crumbling. Losing all sense of what I need to do. The tears come hard and fast. Right here in Taylor’s home.
He doesn’t say anything, but tentatively reaches for me and holds me close, letting my teardrops spill onto his jumper.
I don’t know how long we stay like that, but eventually I pull myself together, feel my strength returning.
‘What will you do now?’ he asks.
‘I can’t go home. How can I be under the same roof as him when I can’t trust that I’m safe?’ And I’ve already told the school that Max isn’t able to pick up Poppy on his own, and that I need to be with him. Just in case he has ideas about taking our daughter.
Taylor considers what I’ve said for a moment. He chews his bottom lip and studies me. ‘Stay here. At least until you sort out something more permanent. I’ll go and stay with a friend so you and Poppy can have the place to yourselves.’
His offer takes me by surprise. ‘I, um, I don’t know. It doesn’t seem fair to you. And would it be weird? We hardly know each other and you’re doing this huge thing. Look how we met.’
He nods. ‘I know. It’s crazy. But it also feels like the right thing to do. I made things worse for you, I’m sure. Showing up in your life like that. I blame myself for a lot of what you’re going through.’
‘You didn’t make Max do anything. This isn’t your fault.’
‘I still feel bad. The least I can do is offer you a place to stay.’ He holds up his hands. ‘No pressure, though. I’m sure you have other places you can go. But you and Poppy are welcome to stay here, and I’ll get out of your way. Just for a few days. Not sure any of my friends would put up with me for longer than that.’
It feels like insanity to even consider Taylor’s offer, but Sarah has no space, and if I stay at my mum’s then Max would knowexactly where to find me. Mum wouldn’t stop questioning me until she knows everything. ‘Okay,’ I say. ‘Thanks. It will give me a chance to work out my next move.’
‘You can have my room and Poppy can sleep in the guest room.’ He stands up. ‘Let me just go and sort out clean sheets. It’s not a five-star hotel, but you’ll be comfortable and safe.’
While he gets up to make the beds, I message Sarah to ask if she can collect Poppy from school and meet me at her place. She replies immediately.
That’s fine. Saw Dean. Lots to tell you. Oh, and I just messaged Max and apparently he’s gone into work now for the afternoon. I advised against it but you know Max!
And then I feel a huge swirl of guilt that I didn’t even ask her how it went with Dean. Vowing to make it up to her, I go to find Taylor.
He’s in the guest room, making up the bed. ‘I need to get home quickly and pack some stuff. Max is out so I’ve got a small window.’
Taylor looks alarmed. ‘What if he comes back and finds you there?’
‘I’ll lock the door from the inside. I’ll be fine. It won’t take long to throw some clothes in a bag. I’ll be back later with Poppy. I don’t know how I’ll explain all of this to her.’
He nods. ‘Be careful.’
As I’m leaving, it occurs to me that I’ve heard those words too much lately.
The second Sarah opens the door I can tell something’s wrong. ‘What’s happened?’ I ask. ‘Are you okay?’
She throws her arms around me. ‘Life’s a bit weird at the moment, and I feel like I’ve hardly seen you.’
I hear the girls thundering around upstairs, shrieking and laughing. To Poppy, everything is normal. ‘Let’s sit down and talk a minute. Is this about Dean?’
Sarah has had so little of my time over the last couple of weeks, just when she needs me.
We go through to the kitchen, but neither of us sits. ‘I wasn’t ready for it,’ Sarah says.
