‘I should go back,’ Eva said urgently. If she rushed, maybe Dad wouldn’t find out that she’d left the lodge.
Jamie shrugged. He sauntered back towards the swings.
‘You should come with me,’ Eva continued. ‘I have to go right now. Will you come with me?’
‘No. Maybe tomorrow, if I feel like it. But if I go back now, I’ll just get a row. It’s the holidays. They should give me a break.’
‘But I have to go back,’ Eva said. ‘My dad will be worried.’
‘Will he? Why?’
‘He just will.’
‘OK, but I want one more go on the swings. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ He grinned at her. His eyes were a mix of browns and yellows, like a cat in sunshine.
She had no choice. She had to go back by herself.
The sun was right above her, shortening all the shadows. Her own shadow was right beneath her, a dark body walking upside down – touching hers on the soles of her feet. A second Eva. It made her feel uncomfortable.
She turned up the drive towards the lodge.
Oh.
Dad was there already.
She was too late.
He sat on the steps outside the lodge. He held his head in his hands. Sally stood by him. As Sally reached out to touch his shoulder, he pulled away violently.
This looked bad.
‘Dad!’ Eva called.
His head lifted. His face looked pale and drawn, even at this distance.
Eva broke into a trot. ‘Dad!’
Dad got to his feet slowly, as though he was ten years older than he’d been that morning.
He walked towards her. Sally hovered at his side, ready to hold him if he needed it.
‘Eva.’ He swayed slightly, but kept moving. ‘Eva!’
When she got close, it was easy to see how frightened he was. His skin was clammy, despite the warm breeze. His hands were shaking as they reached for her.
Eva held him tight. Willing him to be OK.
He stepped back, out of her arms. ‘You left. People saw you leave after that boy. That McIntyre boy.’
Eva felt herself redden. ‘Yes. He was upset. I had to –’
‘You had to stay here. I told you. I made it clear, didn’t I? You weren’t to leave until me or your gran came to collect you.’
‘I’m sorry, I wasn’t –’
‘You weren’t what? You weren’t listening? You weren’t interested?’ His voice got louder with every word.
Sally stepped closer. She was frowning, looking from Eva to Dad, then back again. ‘Martin,’ she said, laying her hand on Dad’s arm. ‘Martin, are you OK? Do you need a minute?’
He shrugged her off. He looked as though he were going to say something, but instead he drew a clipped breath and held up his hands.
‘OK,’ Sally said slowly. ‘OK. She’s back safe and sound. That’s the main thing.’ Sally turned to look directly at Eva. ‘Your dad’s right. You shouldn’t leave here while you’re in our care. Do you understand that?’
Eva nodded. She felt her cheeks flare. Of course she knew – she just hadn’t been thinking when she did it.
‘Eva . . .’ Sally paused and glanced at Dad again. ‘How much do you know about Jamie?’
‘Not much,’ she answered.
‘His life’s a bit tricky. Melanie told me a few things. I won’t go into it. You seem to be a very sensible girl. But, the thing is, it would be better if you rubbed off on Jamie, not the other way round.’
‘What do you mean?’
Dad stepped between Sally and Eva. He put his hand heavily on Eva’s shoulder and held her tight. ‘That’s enough,’ he said to Sally. ‘Stop it. My daughter is not some pawn for your social worker, or a babysitter for that boy. She’s been through enough. What she needs is security. Her family. Me. She won’t be having anything more to do with him. Not here, not at home, nowhere.’
He turned his back on Sally. ‘We’re going home,’ he said to Eva. ‘And you’ll not be seeing that boy again. Is that understood?’ He strode down the drive. The shaking had left his hands. They were pulled into tight fists.
‘Jamie wouldn’t hurt me,’ Eva said, trying her best to keep up with Dad’s long strides.
‘He has already. He made you leave, didn’t he? You’d have done as I said if he hadn’t interfered. You’d have been safe.’
I was safe, Eva wished she could say. I was having fun. Brian and the ice cream seemed like it had happened to someone else. The shadow girl.
‘I don’t want you to see him again. Am I making myself clear?’
He was.
Eva didn’t know what to say to make him change his mind. She nodded carefully, answering the last question only.