From the day I learnt about my pregnancy, it took over my life. Nothing was more important than the baby growing inside me. And Mark leaving me had actually made me stronger. Because I had to push aside my grief to prepare a good life for my baby.
And from the moment I looked down at his tiny wrinkled face, I was in love with only him. But it was a stronger, purer love than any I’d ever felt before. One that never ends. You can stop loving a boyfriend. But a child – you can never stop loving your baby.
And now that Mark has taken him, I swear to get him back safe if I have to die trying.
I rush back to reception just as it’s starting to rain.
Laura gets to her feet, alarmed. ‘What is it, Rosie?’
‘Danny!’ I shout as I dash past her.
Where the hell can he be? How did he even get past me? For years I’ve watched him like a hawk so he would come to no harm, and now…
And then Mitchell appears in the doorway of Reception, blocking my path, taking my elbows. ‘What’s wrong?’
Forget our differences. If anyone can help me, he can. I rake a hand across my head that feels like it’s going to explode. ‘Danny’s gone!’
Mitchell’s face turns grim. ‘With this downpour the roads will be flooded soon. We’d better hurry.’
Not in the mood for arguing, and actually grateful for an ally, I follow him into his jeep where he pulls out his mobile phone and starts making calls as he shoves into first gear and we are off. I only hope he has an idea, because the thought of anything happening to Danny is killing me by the second.
‘Laura?’ he barks. ‘Get on the phone with Alex and tell him to post a notice outside the bakery, and to spread the news. Tell his mum to get on the phone too. I want everyone on this, and every house and shop in and out of the village checked. No stones unturned. Get the Chief Constable on it as well. And the Coast Guard.’
‘The Coast Guard?’ I wail. ‘Do you think he might have fallen off a cliff?’
‘Of course not, it’s standard procedure around here when someone goes missing. He’s probably just went out for a walk and got caught in the storm.’
‘He-he was supposed to be waiting for me in the lobby. His suitcase was there!’ And then a thought makes me gasp.
‘What?’ Mitchell says. ‘What is it?’
‘Mark. We had an argument. He wanted to see more of Danny, and I…’
I can tell he has his own questions about that, but he, too, is deferring them to a better time. If there ever will be. Oh, my God, if anything happens to my baby…
‘I told you, Rosie, Danny is probably just having a wander. Kids are like that, distracted and all. Now chin up. We’ll find him.’
‘I only hope he didn’t overhear us. Mark wanted us to move back with him.’
In the darkness of the storm, Mitchell’s face inside the dark cabin of his jeep is illuminated only by the occasional slash of light by oncoming cars. His eyes swing to mine for a brief moment, and in them I can see a mixture of feelings. But not hatred for me. That look is gone. Not that it matters anymore. Nothing will ever matter to me if something happens to Danny.
‘Any idea where he could’ve gone?’ he asks.
I shake my head. ‘He doesn’t know anything outside Little Kettering, except for the coastal paths. Oh my God, this is karma coming back to get me. Oh my God, my poor boy…!’
His hand comes down on mine and steadies them in my lap. His hand is warm and strong. ‘Rosie, listen to me. He is fine. We’ll find him in no time. But I need you to keep your cool, do you understand me?’
I nod. ‘Yes. Sorry…’
‘No apologising. He’s fine. I can feel it, Rosie. Just concentrate on all the places he might be.’ Again, his eyes swing to mine and in them, I can see a certainty I don’t feel, but it’s something to hang on to.
‘He… he likes the coastal path. Only it’s raining now…’
‘I’ll call my mate at the National Trust. Get him to spread the word up there. But he’s in no danger, Rosie. If you and Mark were arguing, he probably went after Mark to try and convince him to reason.’
I dial Mark’s number. I can only hope he hasn’t changed it since he last sent a message.
‘He’s not answering! I don’t even know where he lives anymore…’
‘We have his address on file from when he booked,’ he says, turning his wipers on full throttle.
‘Where are we going?’
‘To the motorway. Then… we’ll see.’ And then he reaches for my hand. ‘We’ll find him, sweetie.’
When Laura calls to tell us that the address Mark gave doesn’t exist, I call Liz, who sends me a text message with the information.
Mitchell pushes a button on his mobile. ‘Kevin is Chief of Police. He’s my best mate,’ he explains to me. ‘Yeah, Janie? Mitchell. Can you out me through to Kevin? It’s an emergency.’
I watch him as he speaks, his face drawn, his jaw tense. And he’s pale, all factors that indicate that he’s as worried as me, even if he’s trying to hide it.
‘Kev—’ Mitchell says into his phone. ‘Danny Anderson, Rosie’s son, is missing. We suspect his father has him – a certain Mark…’ He looks at me expectantly.
‘Wilkins,’ I answer.
‘Wilkins. A right piece of work. Yep, thanks, bye.’
Yes, he is a piece of work. He left me, then came back, only to lie to me. But… what if Mark actually didn’t take him? We might be barking up the wrong tree and wasting precious time. Where could my baby be? He hasn’t got any money except for his weekly allowance. Which, thinking about it, he never spends on anything. Could he have gone to my parents? It might be a long shot. But we have to try it.
‘Mitchell, turn around.’
Without questioning me, he looks for the chance and slips into a private road where he does a U-turn, trying to avoid the water rushing off to the edge of the road. It is now brown with mud, and ankle-deep. ‘Where am I going?’ he finally asks.
‘To Little Kettering train station.’