I Know Where You Live by Pat Young

Author:Pat Young [Young, Pat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Published: 2018-02-28T22:00:00+00:00

41

‘Can’t Daddy take me?’

Penny said, ‘Sophie will take you.’

Angeline folded her arms and sat on the sofa, head down. ‘I don’t want to go.’

‘Sweetie,’ said Penny, kneeling in front of Angel. ‘We spoke about this. I thought you wanted to go to school today.’ She put a fingertip under Angel’s chin and gently raised her little face. Perhaps it was a crazy idea to send her to school. Seth had called in sick. The police wanted to see them again this morning.

‘Mommy, I do want to go to school.’

‘But?’

Angel whispered, ‘I don’t want Sophie to take me.’

Usually the problem was Angel’s refusal to go anywhere without Sophie.

Penny lowered her voice, aware that Sophie had just gone upstairs. ‘Can you tell me why you don’t want Sophie to take you?’

Angeline shook her head. What was going on here? Seth and Penny were planning to talk while Sophie took Angel to school. Seth had already voiced his reservations about leaving their daughter alone with Sophie, but Penny had overruled him, feeling it was important to keep Angel’s routine as close to normality as they possibly could. Given the circumstances it was difficult, but at mealtimes, bath time and family time, they were trying hard to sound upbeat and cheerfully normal. Only bedtime had changed.

‘Would you like to go to school if Mommy takes you?’

Angeline nodded. ‘It’s Colette’s birthday today. Her mommy is bringing cake to school so we can have a little party at lunchtime.’

It had to be a good sign that Angeline was thinking about little girl stuff instead of her missing brother. ‘Did we buy her a present?’

‘No. Sophie and I were going to buy her something but Ethan got borrowed.’

So she had been thinking about him. It was naïve of Penny to think otherwise. ‘I’ve got an idea how we can give Colette a little gift.’

Angel’s face brightened up.

‘Why don’t you give her one of the presents I brought you back from Toulouse?’

Angel considered the suggestion. ‘Good idea, Mommy. I’ll give her my drawing book and pencils.’

Penny knew how much Angeline adored a new drawing book. Under normal circumstances the pages would be filled by now, but the stationery gift lay untouched. It was a generous gesture from a small child. She hugged Angel to her and said, ‘That’s a lovely idea, sweetie and very, very kind. Shall we quickly wrap it up in some pretty paper?’

As Angel raced off to fetch the gift Seth asked, ‘What was all that about?’

‘Mm. Not entirely sure. I’m gonna go walk her to school and hopefully I’ll find out.’

‘When will we talk?’

‘Later. In the meantime, maybe you could help Sophie with the breakfast things and have a chat at the same time?’

‘Pen,’ he said, under his breath, ‘I can hardly bring myself to look at the girl and you want me to have a “chat”. Are you kidding me?’

She shrugged and hollered from the foot of the stairs, ‘We need to hurry, Angeline. Sophie! You don’t have to rush. I’ll take Angel to school today.

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