CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
The morning after Danny brought me Mark’s letter to read, I was woken by my mobile phone ringing.
Blearily, I grabbed it from the bedside table and glanced at the time.
It was after nine! I’d slept in and I could hear the TV. Amelie must have woken up and taken herself downstairs to watch children’s programmes.
It was Ellie calling. I quickly answered it, wondering if she needed some help with Isla. I’d asked Maisie to tell her mum I was always here if she needed me.
At first, when she started speaking, I couldn’t make out what she was saying. It sounded as if she was in a panic about something.
‘Ellie, slow down. What’s wrong? Has something happened to Isla?’
‘No! Oh, God, Rosie, I don’t know what to do. It’s Maisie! She’s... she’s just gone.’
‘ Gone? How? I mean, where do you think she is?’
‘I don’t know,’ she wailed. ‘She left me a note on the kitchen table saying she’s got a surprise for Isla.’
‘Right. But she didn’t say what it was?’
‘No! She only said she thought it would make Isla smile and stop her crying all the time.’
‘Stop her crying?’ I repeated slowly, trying to pin down a vague memory that was suddenly niggling at me. In the panic, I was finding it difficult to think straight.
‘I know. What on earth can she mean? She said she’s getting the bus but she’ll be back soon and I’m not to worry about her.
’ She gasped in frustration. ‘As if I wouldn’t worry!
I can’t believe she’s done this. I’ve just phoned Zak.
He’d gone into Guildford but he’s turned round and he’s heading straight back now.
He said to wait and we’ll go out looking for her together, but I don’t think I can wait, Rosie.
I need to be out there looking for her but I’ve no idea where to start. ’
I took a breath. ‘Hey, I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. She’s a sensible girl. She’ll be fine. You’ve obviously tried calling her?’
‘Yes. Loads of times. She’s not answering!’ cried Ellie in despair. ‘Oh, Rosie, this is my fault, isn’t it? I’ve been so preoccupied with my own stuff since Isla was born. Do you think I’ve been neglecting her?’
‘No! And don’t worry. Stupid thing to say, I know. But I’m sure she’s fine.’
‘I hope you’re right. It honestly chills me to the bone thinking of her out there somewhere all on her own. Why wouldn’t she tell me where she was going? She used to share everything with me. Oh, God, she could have gone anywhere , Rosie!’
‘She’s growing up, though, and teenagers are notoriously bad at keeping their parents in the loop,’ I murmured, as the memory I’d been grasping for suddenly slid into my head. ‘Oh, I wonder...’
‘What?’
‘Well, that time I drove her over to mine so we could fit her dress for the show? We called in at that craft and gift shop in Henley Green on the way and she saw a teddy bear rattle she wanted to buy for Isla. We were going to call in on the way back to buy it but we never did.’
‘Right. I know the shop you’re talking about. So you think she might have gone there?’
‘Maybe.’ I could hear a change in Ellie’s voice. My suggestion had focused her thoughts. I only hoped I was right.
‘I’ll head straight over to Henley Green now,’ Ellie said. ‘If that’s where she’s gone, maybe I’ll be able to beat the bus and be there when she arrives.’
‘Okay. I’ll meet you there.’
‘Really? You don’t have to.’
‘No, I want to. I want to help you find her.’
‘Okay. I’ll just call Zak and tell him where I’m going then I’ll jump in the car.’
‘I’ll get Amelie dressed and we’ll see you there.’
*****
The drive was tense. Amelie was silent in the back, probably picking up on my worry.
I was talking to Ellie as we drove to Henley Green from opposite directions.
I wanted to reassure her that Maisie would be fine, but I knew it would be useless. I knew I’d be exactly the same in her shoes if Amelie had suddenly gone off the radar and I’d no idea where she was.
Amelie was obviously a lot younger but I knew I’d feel this way, no matter how old she was. She would always be my baby, even when she was almost a teenager... Maisie’s age.
I’d always be worrying.
And it was the same for Ellie . . .
Pulling into Henley Green, I spotted Ellie’s car immediately. It was parked on the high street and Ellie was just getting out with Isla. It was only then that I realised she wasn’t properly dressed. In her panic, she’d rushed out still wearing her pyjamas and furry sliders!
Ellie waved at us then she hurried into the shop. We got out, I took Amelie’s hand and we followed her inside.
But when I joined her, it was clear from the look on the assistant’s face that she hadn’t seen Maisie.
‘Maybe she’s still on the bus?’ she suggested.
Ellie nodded. ‘She might still be on her way. I’ll look up the times of the buses... see when it arrives here.’
‘How about we wait in the café next door?’ I suggested. ‘We can get a table in the window and look out for her?’
She nodded. ‘Good idea. Yes, that must be it. She just hasn’t got here yet.’
I exchanged a wary look with the assistant. I wished I could be as sure as Ellie seemed to be that this was definitely where Maisie was heading... because now I was having doubts.
In the café, I bought two coffees while Ellie sat in the window, craning her neck for any sign of a bus. Isla was fast asleep in her car seat.
Back at the table, I looked up the bus times and my heart sank. There seemed to be just one every two hours which meant if Maisie had got on it, she would have been here half an hour ago and the assistant would have seen her.
‘Try her mobile again,’ I suggested.
‘What? Oh, okay.’ Ellie quickly redialled and I could hear it ringing.
And then I heard a faint, ‘Hello?’ as Maisie answered.
‘Maisie?’ gasped Ellie. ‘Oh, Maisie, where on earth are you?’
She was frowning, the phone pressed to her ear as she listened. She made a wide-eyed expression at me and I couldn’t tell if it was a good or a bad sign.
‘Right. Stay where you are. I’m coming to fetch you.’
Ending the call, she stood up, looking hugely relieved. ‘She’s in Sunnybrook, would you believe? I’ll just phone Zak and let him know because he’ll no doubt have been just as frantic.’ She breathed out a big sigh as she waited for him to answer.
Outside on the pavement, I told her we’d follow her in my car.
‘Really?’ She looked relieved. ‘Well, I’m paying for the petrol you’ve used and no argument. And for the coffees!’
‘You don’t need to do that.’
‘Yes, I do.’
I sighed. ‘I just feel bad that I set you on completely the wrong track, thinking Maisie would have gone back to that shop to buy the rattle.’
‘Well, never mind.’ She smiled. ‘At least we know where she is now.’
‘Which is where exactly?’
‘She’s waiting outside the village store and the little rascal had better still be there when we arrive.’ She dashed over to her car and jumped in, almost losing one of her sliders in her hurry.
Maisie was there. We pulled up outside the shop and got out, and Ellie rushed over and enveloped her daughter in such a long hug, I thought she was never going to let go. When she finally pulled away, Maisie gave a gasp of horror.
‘Mum, what on earth are you wearing ? You’re still in your pyjamas !’
‘Yes, well, you had me so worried, I just dashed out of the house completely forgetting to get properly dressed. Honestly, Maisie, never do that to me again! Promise? Not until you’re at least twenty-five and I can trust you to go places on your own!’
‘But you can trust me now ,’ pointed out Maisie, sounding rather offended.
‘I know I can,’ she said more gently. ‘But you see, you’re my precious daughter and I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you, okay?’ She drew Maisie into another hug. ‘You’ll understand when you have babies of your own.’
‘But I’m not your baby. Not like Isla is.’ Maisie sounded sullen. ‘I’m just your step-daughter.’
‘What?’ Ellie looked alarmed as she drew away.
‘It’s true.’ Maisie shrugged. ‘You really wanted a baby of your own and now you have Isla. And she’s your proper daughter.’
Frowning, Ellie held Maisie’s shoulders and looked urgently into her eyes. ‘Maisie, for goodness’ sake. Is that what you really think?’
‘Sometimes. I mean, I know you love me.’
‘Well, that’s the understatement of the century.
Maisie, I love you so much I’d lay down my life for you!
And I know that probably sounds melodramatic to you, but as I said, you’ll understand when you have children of your own.
You will do anything for them. Anything.
And whether you’ve actually given birth to them or they’ve magically appeared like the world’s greatest blessing in your life, it really makes no difference. You love them all exactly the same! ’
Maisie looked as if she might be about to cry, but then Amelie broke away from me and ran up to her and offered her one of her sweeties. And Maisie smiled.
‘Thank you, Amelie. The strawberry ones are my favourites.’
‘I like them as well,’ agreed Amelie. ‘What’s that?’ She pointed at something white that was sticking out of Maisie’s pocket.
‘This?’ Maisie pulled it out and showed it to her, and I smiled as I recognised it. It was just like the teddy rattle Maisie had seen when she was with me the other day. ‘I bought it for Isla.’
‘You bought it in the village store here?’ I chuckled.
‘Rosie and I have been all the way to Henley Green,’ gasped Ellie, ‘thinking you’d gone back to the shop there!’
Maisie frowned. ‘Mum, I’m not that silly! I thought you wouldn’t mind me getting the bus to here because it’s not very far. But I wouldn’t go all the way to Henley Green on my own.’
‘Right. Well, that’s me told, isn’t it, Rosie?’ Ellie turned to smile at me. ‘But by the way, you still should have told me where you were going, Maisie.’
‘I didn’t think you’d notice if I’d gone.’
‘Yes, well, that’s nonsense. I not only noticed , I was terrified in case something had happened to you.’
‘She was,’ I confirmed, and Maisie looked a little subdued.
‘Sorry, Mum.’
‘That’s okay.’ Ellie put her arm around her. ‘All’s well that ends well. Do you want to give the rattle to Isla?’
Maisie nodded and ran over to the car. She pulled open the back door and called, ‘She’s asleep! We’ll have to give it to her later.’
‘It’s a miracle,’ grinned Ellie.
I smiled. ‘Are you feeling better now you’ve decided you don’t need to be Supermum?’
She nodded. ‘Much better. And thank you for today.’
‘No problem. I’m just glad everything’s okay.’
As we drove away, I was thinking about Maisie. Ellie appearing in her pyjamas would have shown Maisie just how worried her mum had been.
I had a feeling that things were going to be much better between them from now on...