Destiny by Patricia Dixon

Author:Patricia Dixon [Dixon, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781913419165
Publisher: Bombshell Books: an imprint of Bloodhound Books
Published: 2019-11-24T16:00:00+00:00

Ruby remembered every second of that awful day. They had all gathered on Olivia’s lawn to eat roast lamb and fresh vegetables that the children had helped pick from Henry’s garden. Afterwards the adults relaxed and shared a bottle of wine or two while the cousins tore around and played with their toys. Jacques was being occupied by the bouncy bird that dangled from the hood of his pram while Ruby chatted to her cousin, Rosie, about that morning’s very successful Easter egg hunt.

Michel, Dylan and Henry were engrossed in sporting matters, discussing rugby and the chances of the England squad when the relative peace and quiet of a sunny afternoon in the countryside was interrupted. The sound of a roaring car engine, turned heads, moments before they were all subdued by screeching tyres and then the awful noise that metal smashing into a stone wall creates.

It all happened in a flash, the click of a finger, a brief moment in which everyone looked startled and bemused, none more so than the children. When Odette began to cry, she set Jacques off, which temporarily distracted Ruby from the car crash scenario taking place at the front of the house. While the others went to investigate, Ruby tried to prevent Sabine and Oliver going over to see if anyone was dead or at the very least, some blood and brains!

Ruby saw Marcus get out of the car and fling open the gate, and as her heart thudded and her brain begged for it all to be a bad dream, she witnessed him stagger across the lawn in the direction of the children. In those moments of horror her eyes flitted in panic from one to the other while her body seemed paralysed with fear.

Lily was at the top of the slide and remained where she was, for the moment unperturbed by the intruder who she didn’t recognise. Then with some childlike intuition, most likely noting the way he walked funny, Lily must have sensed that something was wrong and called out for her mum.

In the meantime, Ruby could tell that Oliver had recognised Marcus immediately and appeared frozen to the spot, a skinny rabbit trapped in the headlights, his eyes wide with terror.

The scene unfolded so quickly, a blur of rushing bodies, loud voices, angry shouts, drunken threats and amidst it all, the cries of frightened children. Next came the slurred, sarcastic words from the lips of Marcus.

‘Hi there, Oliver, how’re you doing, kiddo? Hey, it’s me, your daddy. I’ve missed my big boy, come here and give me a hug. Hey, what’s wrong… don’t be shy.’

Marcus held out his arms and swayed, his tall form reminding Ruby of a sapling, blowing in the spring breeze and at any moment it might snap, just like her ex-husband.

The next voice to break through the tension in the atmosphere was Dylan’s. ‘OI! That’s far enough… don’t go one step closer, do you hear me? Stay away from the children!’

Dylan, flanked by Michel, was racing towards Marcus who seemed at first not to hear.

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