Two days later
Arriving back at her father’s house after a clothes shopping trip for Ella – with a new soft toy thrown in as a bit of a treat – Claire felt a familiar sense of desolation run through her as she stepped into the empty hall. Would her life always be full of loss? she wondered.
‘Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you a snack,’ she said, dropping her bags in the hall and making herself smile for her little girl’s sake as she steered her towards the kitchen. Ella could probably use a nap, but they hadn’t had much for lunch and Claire doubted she’d sleep on an empty tummy. ‘What do you fancy?’
‘Oreos,’ Ella said with a decisive nod. They were her favourite biscuits in the whole world, and she would eat a whole packet if Claire didn’t keep an eye on her.
‘One Oreo,’ Claire said, determined not to be influenced by her daughter’s petulantly protruding bottom lip as she took the biscuits from the cupboard. ‘Then how about you make us both some peanut butter apple slices while Mummy takes our shopping upstairs?’
Ella brightened at that. It would be messy, but worth it. She loved helping out in the kitchen, and the peanut butter snacks would provide her with some protein as well as keeping her occupied, for a short while at least.
Claire sliced up an apple, then poured a glass of milk and opened up the peanut butter. ‘Won’t be long, sweetheart,’ she said. Smiling as Ella dipped the spoon in the jar, no doubt to be licked clean in between dolloping the contents onto the apple, she headed back to the door, and then stopped, her nerves jarring as her mobile rang. She checked it before answering – she really had been feeling besieged by Luke’s constant texting – and then, relieved, accepted Sophie’s call.
‘I’m not stalking you, don’t worry,’ Sophie said quickly. ‘I just rang to make sure you’re okay. I won’t become a nuisance caller, I promise.’
‘It’s not you who’s the nuisance, Sophie,’ Claire assured her, smiling wanly.
‘Hello, Auntie Sophie,’ Ella called, waving a peanut-butter-encrusted spoon. ‘I’m making Mummy some snacks,’ she informed her, going importantly back to her task.
‘Peanut butter and apple slices,’ Claire provided. ‘There’ll probably be more peanut butter in her hair and on the table than on the apple, though.’ She smiled indulgently.
‘She’s a lucky little girl to have such a hands-on mum,’ Sophie said, giving her ego a small boost. ‘Some mothers wouldn’t bother.’
‘I’m not so sure she’d agree when I snap at her,’ Claire said, glancing back at Ella, whose welfare she’d promised herself would be her number one priority from now on.
‘That’s normal, Claire,’ Sophie pointed out. ‘It’s what harassed mums do when their patience is stretched thin. It’s called being human, and it’s perfectly acceptable.’
‘Maybe,’ Claire said, still feeling bad that she’d been so short-tempered with Ella when she was already bewildered by the things happening around her.
‘Definitely,’ Sophie chastised her gently. ‘So, how have you been?’
‘Okay… ish. You know.’ Claire sighed. The truth was, she was worried. About her dad. About Luke. About Ella. When and where she should start looking for a job. Whether she should. She desperately didn’t want to leave her daughter with people she couldn’t trust implicitly, who weren’t trained to know what to do in an emergency. She’d found the perfect nursery where they’d lived in Herefordshire, but nothing suitable here. She didn’t really have a choice, however. Without her carer’s allowance, she would have to work. And though she felt guilty – again – even thinking about it, there would be little money left in the pot now that the house needed to be sold to meet the care home fees.
‘You sound a bit fed up.’ Sophie cut through her thoughts. ‘Luke hasn’t been harassing you again, has he?’
‘No,’ Claire assured her, her heart growing heavier as she acknowledged that that was indeed what Luke had been doing. She’d never have believed him capable once. Was that such a short time ago? She’d gone to the station regarding the text. Made it her first priority on the way back from Rhyl. She had wondered why she cared enough to, when he no longer seemed to care for her. But then if he’d been no more than a friend to her, she would have gone. Whatever he’d done, she could never allow him to suffer any more interrogation at the hands of the police, possibly even face charges about the woman’s disappearance. She wasn’t happy with the suspicious way she’d been treated though, particularly when she’d realised that Sophie had accidentally deleted the text from Anna along with Luke’s messages. Fortunately, they could retrieve the deleted texts. Claire had a distinct feeling the police had thought she had something to do with the whole sordid mess.
Checking again that Ella was occupied, she took the phone through to the hall. ‘It’s just things in general,’ she said, picking up a handful of bags and heading up the stairs. ‘Things I need to sort out and have no clue where to even start with.’
‘You have a lot on your plate,’ Sophie sympathised. ‘Look, it’s just a suggestion, but would you like me to come over? It would be no trouble, and you sound as if you could use some company.’
She could, Claire had to concede. She felt as if she were rattling around in the house, but surely Sophie couldn’t just drop everything and leave? ‘What about your job?’
‘Not a problem,’ Sophie assured her with an expansive sigh. ‘I wasn’t going to say anything when you already have so much to deal with, but I apparently no longer have one.’
‘Oh no. Why?’ Dumping her bags on the bed, Claire went back to the landing.
‘Because my boss is a tosspot,’ Sophie supplied bluntly. ‘A groper, to be more precise. We had words when I was last in. I didn’t quite tell him where to stuff his job, because I needed the money. Looks like he took exception to me telling him to keep his grubby paws to himself, though, so… Taking an extra day off when you were here didn’t help, but I wasn’t about to leave you two after the awful ordeal you’d had.’
‘But that’s terrible.’ Claire was shocked. ‘He can’t get away with that, surely?’
‘He can, apparently. I was only casual, cash in hand, so I have no rights as such. In any case, I can’t prove anything.’
‘What an absolute b—’ Claire clamped her mouth shut before the word fell out.
‘My thoughts entirely,’ Sophie concurred. ‘What really upsets me is that I’ll probably lose my flat now as well. The landlord doesn’t let to people on benefits. I’m guessing anything I might be entitled to would take ages to come through anyhow, and I already owe a month’s rent, thanks to the pittance I was being paid.’
‘God, Sophie.’ Claire felt bad for her. ‘If there’s anything I can do…’
‘Thanks,’ Sophie said gratefully. ‘There isn’t really. I’ll go into town tomorrow. Some of the shops will be hiring, with the summer season coming up. Don’t worry, I’ll get something sorted. I usually do.’ She paused. ‘So, would you like me to come over? I won’t be offended if you’d rather I didn’t, but the offer’s there.’
Claire thought about it. She hadn’t wanted her here at first. Couldn’t imagine she ever would, but now… Ella would love it. She adored Sophie, and Sophie was so good with her. Luke’s comment about allowing her access to Ella came to mind, and she hesitated. And then stopped dead, her heart freezing as her gaze fell on something on the landing windowsill. Something that had most definitely not been there when she’d gone out earlier this morning.
She stepped towards the half-full wine glass as if it might bite her. Either she was losing her mind, or… Her stomach turned over. ‘Yes,’ she said, suddenly petrified at being here on her own. ‘Please come.’