Chapter 42
42
2001
‘Violet, please don’t be scared, I’m here to help.’
I stop shouting and my breathing slows a little. At least the woman sounds friendlier than she looks. I clasp my hands together. Must be brave. Must be my own hero.
She loosens her collar. The uniform doesn’t look very comfortable. ‘In fact, we can take you home right now.’
‘ Home? ’ I point at Tim. ‘You said you were my friend. Now I’ll get into trouble.’
‘Tim did the right thing,’ says the police officer. ‘It’s very dangerous out here at night. And your mum would have been so panicked, finding out that you’d gone.’
‘No, she wouldn’t,’ I mumble. ‘She’s got Ryan.’
‘Violet. I’m sorry,’ says Tim. ‘You’re a great little girl, but this is for the best. I thought about it all day. I was going to do a runner, but I couldn’t go through with it knowing that you were here, on your own, waiting for me. I went down to the police station and then ran all the way back here so that you weren’t alone, in the dark, if you got here early and the police or your mum hadn’t arrived. One day, you’ll understand – I promise.’
A sob comes out of my mouth. ‘Adults’ promises don’t mean much. Uncle Kevin promised he’d be home at Christmas.’
The police officer jerks her head. ‘Come on. My colleague, Paul, he’s waiting for you down on the ground. He’s just spoken to your mum, who can’t wait to see you. She’s really worried.’
‘I’m going to get told off.’ Tears slide down my face.
‘No, you aren’t,’ she says softly. ‘Your mum will just be really pleased to have you back safely.’
The police officer tells me her name is Clare and takes my rucksack while I climb down the ladder. The man called Paul helps me down the last few steps. Flint’s not around. I’ll have to wait until I see him tomorrow and ask where he went.
Clare says something to Tim about him going to the station with one of her friends and making a statement. The police would then find him a hostel. I wonder if that’s something Tim’s lost.
Tim gives me a quick hug. As usual, he smells. I don’t mind. Never have. I thought he was my friend, but I’m on my own again. Apart from Flint.
‘Take care,’ he says. ‘Things will get better. Your life won’t always be like this.’
Clare and Paul take me home. Mum must have rung Ryan. He’s waiting in the hallway when I walk in. I wait for angry words. I say it was Flint’s fault. That he persuaded me to do it. I feel bad but I bet his mum’s so cool she won’t be cross.
Instead of telling me off, Mum’s crying and I can hardly understand what she’s saying. She gives me the tightest hug and tells me how much she loves me. She asks Ryan to make hot chocolate.
Ryan crouches on his knees and stares me straight in the face.
He’s been crying too.
I don’t know what to say.
He pulls off my woolly hat and says what a sensible girl I was to dress up warmly. He asks if I want a biscuit with my drink as a special treat. I nod.
Clare and I go into the lounge. There is another woman there from something called Social Services. I have to sit with her on my own for a minute. She asks me about the bruises. About Mum hitting me.
Apparently Tim thought I was making it up. Over the last two weeks, I’ve talked to him so much about Alice that he reckoned the bruises were only down to the school bullying.
But for some reason the woman has to hear me say that it wasn’t Mum.
I do and not long after that, she leaves but we might have to meet again.
Secretly I’m glad to be home again. Mum runs me a bath using her fancy bubbles. I’m glad until she tucks me up in bed and says tomorrow we need to talk about Flint; that she’ll be making an appointment with someone next week who will make me realise that Flint isn’t really a good friend at all.