Chapter 63
Chapter Sixty-Three
T hankfully, Rose picked up the phone straight away. Evie could hear kids in the background, as she waited anxiously to hear her friend’s voice and to know she had a safe place to go.
‘Something’s happened, Rose. I can’t tell you over the phone, but you said to ring you if I ever needed a place to stay. I’m catching a train down your way tonight, and I wondered if I could stay a day, or maybe a couple.’
‘Oh Evie. Of course you can. Are you alright?’
‘Yes. Yes. I’m okay. I just need somewhere to stay for a little while, until I work out what I’m going to do next.’
‘Are you still with that fella?’
‘No.’
Rose gave her the address and said, once again, that Evie was more than welcome to come and stay for as long as she needed. ‘You might be able to give me a hand with these two kids. They’re giving me hell at the moment.’
When it came time to say goodbye to Matilda, Evie almost changed her mind about leaving. Matilda squeezed her hand. ‘You’ve got to go, Evie. It’s okay. You and me, we share secrets. We keep them safe.’
The two women hugged, and Evie started crying. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done without you. You’ve saved me and I won’t ever forget you.’
Matilda also wiped her eyes. ‘I call you my daughter. Just ring and let me know when you’re with your friend. You’ll be okay.’
It was just as hard to say goodbye to Baker. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the top of her head. ‘Go and make a life for yourself. Don’t waste any more time.’
He stood on the platform waiting for the train to depart. She waved through the window, watching him stand with his hand raised, as the train pulled slowly out of the station. Before long, she could no longer see him, the track ahead leading her away from the station, the town, and from the ashes of Bob and her life. Now she was on her own again. Really on her own.