by Rosie Green
I can’t begin to imagine how he must be feeling. A lost child – or worse - must be a parent’s darkest nightmare . . .
We arrive at Beth’s and she runs out to meet us.
‘The police are on their way.’ She grabs Zak’s arm. ‘I’ve walked around the streets, calling for her, and I’ve been to the playground, thinking she might have gone there. Then I called Lucy’s mum thinking she might have taken it into her head to go and see her, but there’s been no sign of her. I just don’t know where else to look.’
Zak puts his arm round her and draws her close. ‘We’ll find her,’ he murmurs. ‘She can’t have gone far.’
‘Where are her favourite places?’ I ask, desperate to help. ‘Is there somewhere you go together, just the two of you?’
Beth frowns. ‘The playground. The farm where you can feed the animals – but that’s a couple of miles away. The soft play fun-house, but I called in there and they haven’t seen her. Sometimes we take a picnic to the woods.’
A picnic?
I exchange a glance with Zak.
‘Let’s try the woods,’ says Zak. ‘Beth, why don’t you stay here so you can talk to the police?’
She nods and we get back in the car. Driving away, I look back at Beth standing alone in the doorway, staring after us. She looks diminished, as if she’s aged ten years in the past few hours.
We drive to the edge of the village and Zak pulls into a lay-by. Then he gets out and slams the door, and without pausing to lock it, he sprints across the road and disappears into the woods. I follow close behind, stumbling along the narrow path that’s treacherous with tree roots. I can hear Zak calling Maisie’s name, and I join in, deepening my voice so that it will hopefully reach her.
If she’s here.
If she’s not in the woods, I don’t know where we’ll go next . . .
The woods aren’t extensive but panic is making my heart pump wildly as I follow Zak on his circuitous route, all the time calling out Maisie’s name. We come to a stop in a little clearing. Zak leans against a tree for a moment as we catch our breath, and my heart clenches at the abject fear in his eyes.
‘What if . . . ?’ He closes his eyes. He can’t even bear to go there.
‘She’ll be okay,’ I say in as bright a tone as I can muster. ‘She’s probably playing somewhere, completely oblivious to the fact that everyone is out looking for her.’
He stares at me, wanting more than anything for me to be right.
Then he frowns and swings his head to the side.
‘What is it?’
He shushes me and together, we listen.
All I can hear is the wind rustling through the leaves and a couple of crows cawing high up in the trees. Zak must have imagined he heard something. Wishful thinking.
And then comes the unmistakable sound of a child’s voice.
Zak and I lock eyes in hope, just as a single word reaches us from the trees to our right.
‘Daddy?’
Running in the direction of the voice, we enter another little clearing and there is Maisie, in the same pink dress she was wearing last time. She’s standing beside a bush and when she sees us, she holds up one closed fist.
‘Daddy! Look what I got for you!’
Zak utters a strangled cry and in a few strides, he’s over there, picking her up off the ground and hugging her fiercely. She curls her arms around him but I notice she keeps tight hold of whatever she’s been keeping for Zak.
‘You’re squashing them, Daddy,’ she complains at last.
He heaves a sigh and releases her, then he takes out his phone and calls Beth to say we’ve found her.
Hunkering down, he gently takes hold of his daughter’s hands. ‘Maisie, please look at me. This is important. Please don’t ever go anywhere on your own again. All right?’
Maisie shakes her head. ‘I won’t.’
‘Your grandma and I were really worried.’
I swallow. ‘And so was I, Maisie.’
She looks up. ‘Sorry, Daddy. Sorry, Ellie. I won’t do it again.’ Then she gives her big gap-toothed smile. ‘But I got you some wild strawberries. Look!’
She opens her hand and shows us proudly. The strawberries are squashed together and mixed with a little soil but from Zak’s delighted reaction (which is probably sheer relief more than anything), you’d think they were rubies.
‘Thank you so much, Maisie,’ he says, taking the squidgy mess and grimacing over her head at me. ‘You know how much I love wild strawberries.’
Maisie nods. ‘You said last time, when we were with Ellie, that you would stay with me forever if you had wild strawberries. And I remembered where there were some because Nana brings me here for a picnic sometimes.’
She’s smiling broadly, so pleased with herself, and my heart melts with emotion. Goodness knows how Zak is feeling.
If ever he wanted proof that his daughter really does need him . . .
*****
Beth bursts into happy tears when she sees Maisie and hugs her hard, warning her never to run away like that again.
‘I didn’t run away, Grandma,’ Maisie protests. ‘Don’t cry. I’m here now.’
I phone Sylvia and she’s over the moon to learn that Maisie has been found safe and well. Before I even have a chance to ask about Mum, she tells me that she and Rose have been watching old movies and Mum has decided she’d like to stay the night.
‘Really?’ I ask in surprise. ‘She normally likes to get back home to watch Bargain Hunt.’
‘Well, not today!’ says Sylvia merrily.
‘Oh. Okay, then. See you later.’ I end the call, not quite sure what to make of it. Maybe Mum felt she had to be polite to Sylvia. When she sees me, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she decides she wants to go home after all.
We stay at Beth’s for a while, then we end up taking Maisie back to Sunnybrook with us as she doesn’t seem to want to let her daddy go now. Beth seems perfectly happy, waving us off. She looks exhausted after the emotional trauma of the afternoon.
I think for a moment about how hard it must be for Beth. At an age when most people are looking forward to kicking back and enjoying life after spending years bringing up their kids, Beth has had to be a mother all over again, presumably giving up any dreams she might have had for her retirement.
I glance across at Zak, who’s currently singing Nellie the Elephant in a funny voice that has Maisie doubling over with giggles in her car seat.
Perhaps it’s time Beth has a little less responsibility in her life. After all, they do say the joy of being a grandparent is that you can hand the little terror back at the end of the day . . .
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
It’s past Maisie’s bedtime and starting to get dark by the time we get back to The Little Duck Pond Café.
The place is all closed up and Sylvia has left us a note that says: Thank God Maisie is okay. I’m in the flat with Rose and we’re watching Carousel. They don’t make them like this any more!
We go upstairs. Sylvia and Mum are in the sitting room. Zak pops his head round the door to say hello then goes off to his room, and Maisie runs over to give Sylvia a hug. The little girl stares shyly at Mum.
Sylvia tweaks her nose. ‘Maisie, this is a very good friend of mine called Rose. Rose, this is Maisie who I was telling you about.’
Mum smiles. ‘I’m very pleased to meet you, Maisie. I hear you love singing.’
Maisie nods.
‘What’s your favourite song?’
‘Nellie the Elephant.’
‘Oh, that was my favourite song when I was a little girl!’ Mum clasps her hands together in delight. ‘Will you sing it for me?’
Maisie nods and goes to sit next to Mum while Sylvia and I nip through to the kitchen to put the kettle on.
‘Mum seems happy.’
‘She’s so lovely. And she’s great company.’ Sylvia pours a glass of orange juice for Maisie. ‘You know, I’ve been reading up on her condition online,
and studies show – hang on, I wrote it down.’ She puts down the juice and picks up a scrap of paper, grabbing her reading glasses. ‘Basically it says Alzheimers patients with a better social life in the earlier stages of the condition can actually slow down the progress of memory loss.’
Tears spring to my eyes. I’m so touched Sylvia’s gone to the trouble of researching the disease online – she who has an allergy to modern technology!
She removes her glasses and smiles at me. ‘So bringing Rose here, to a friendly village environment, would be perfect, don’t you think? If she were to live just along the road at that sheltered housing complex, you could spend more time with her and so could I. She’d love the old movie nights you were planning for the café, and she’d meet lots of new people into the bargain.’
I stare at her, my heart beating faster, seeing for the first time a hopeful future through Sylvia’s eyes. If Mum and I both moved to the area, maybe I wouldn’t feel quite so alone, looking after her . . .
But it’s Mum’s decision. It has to be.
We take Maisie’s juice through, although she’s obviously having too good a time singing along with Mum because she puts it straight down on the coffee table without even taking a sip.
‘You’d come to our black and white movie nights with me, wouldn’t you, Rose?’ says Sylvia when the song ends.
Mum beams at her. ‘Just try and stop me.’
‘Of course, it would be better if you lived a little closer, then we could meet for lunch and Bargain Hunt as often as we liked.’
Mum looks surprised.
Sylvia glances at me. ‘I’m trying to persuade Ellie to move here and take over the café, but she’ll only do it if you come, too. Do you think you might, Rose?’
Mum looks from Sylvia to me and then back at Sylvia. Then she smiles. ‘I might.’
Back in the kitchen, making the tea, I nudge Sylvia’s shoulder and murmur, ‘Good work. I think you might have convinced her.’
She smiles. ‘Fingers crossed.’
‘I’ll believe it when it happens.’
‘Oh ye of little faith!’
I laugh. ‘I’ve got a stubborn mother.’
‘Speaking of stubborn people,’ says Sylvia, shooting me a sidelong look, ‘How are you and Zak? Have you come to your senses yet?’
‘Sorry?’
She laughs. ‘There’s no need to look so horrified. It’s obvious you like each other.’
‘Is it?’ I glance at the door, terrified Zak should appear while we’re discussing him.
‘Yes, it is. All you need to do is tear down those barriers, both of you, and bingo!’
I laugh nervously. ‘Bingo? How do you know Zak – um – likes me?’
She grins. ‘Anyone with half an eye could see it. The way he looks at you when he thinks no-one’s watching? The way he’s stayed in Sunnybrook far longer than he originally intended? The hope in his eyes when you offered to go with him to find Maisie? Zak needed you today.’ She smiles. ‘I happen to think you need each other. You’ve both been through such terrible times, but together, you can start to heal.’
My heart is racing. ‘Gosh, you’re a wise old bird,’ I tell her, fighting to remain calm, as if I’m not in the slightest bit elated at her words. ‘If only you actually knew what you were talking about!’
She laughs. ‘Hey, less of the old. I’ve got great instincts when it comes to love.’
‘Maybe for other people. But not when it comes to your own love life. You had a pretty big barrier up yourself to keep Mick out!’
She flushes slightly. ‘I know. I’d rather forget how badly I treated him. In my mind, I felt I was betraying Snowy by liking Mick, so I tried to deny it, even to myself. But true feelings will surface however hard you try to suppress them.’ She smiles. ‘A brush with your own mortality is great for helping you get things in perspective. Mick is lovely and you know what? I know Snowy would approve.’
I nod. ‘I never met Mr Snow but I feel as if I know him. And I think you’re right. He would want you to be happy.’
‘It’s time you were happy, too, Ellie,’ she says with a sly look.
I swallow hard. Hearing Sylvia say that Zak is attracted to me makes me feel wonderfully light-headed and happy. But am I really ready to risk everything in love again?
‘Sylvia, I’m terrified,’ I whisper. ‘I was devastated after Richard . . .’
She slips her arm around me. ‘Ellie, Zak is not Richard. You mustn’t tar all men with the same brush, just because that Dick of yours was a prize knob-head.’
Laughter bursts out of me. Then Sylvia joins in and we can’t seem to stop, holding onto each other and crying tears of mirth.
‘Can anyone join the party?’
We swing round with guilty faces at Zak’s voice, like school kids caught smoking.
Sylvia dabs her eyes with a handkerchief, still laughing, and presses his arm. ‘I’d better get back to the party next door. I can’t miss the end of Carousel.’
She turns and gives me a meaningful glance, before leaving Zak and I alone together.
‘Listen, Ellie, I just want to thank you for coming with me to find Maisie.’
‘I was glad to help. That little girl is very special.’
He smiles. ‘I agree.’
‘And she needs her dad. That much is obvious.’
We lock eyes and he takes a step closer, pulling me against him. Closing my eyes, my limbs turn to water as his mouth finds mine.
‘Daddy!’
At the sound of Maisie’s voice, we break apart and smile down at her.
‘Daddy, you really like Ellie,’ pipes up Maisie.
Zak meets my eyes with an intense look that drains all the strength from my knees. ‘You’re right, Maisie. I really like Ellie.’
‘Where am I sleeping tonight? Where’s my bed?’ she wants to know.
Zak and I glance at each other.
‘I hadn’t really thought about sleeping arrangements,’ he murmurs, looking at me for inspiration.
‘If you like, Maisie, we could have a girls’ sleep-over,’ I suggest. ‘What do you think?’
Maisie’s eyes light up.
‘We could make a lovely bed with pillows and duvets in my room for you to sleep in and it would be like camping! How about that?’
‘Would we have marshmallows?’ she asks shyly, clinging on to Zak. ‘Gran and I always toast marshmallows when we go camping.’
I catch Zak’s eye and we exchange an amused glance. ‘I daresay we could have marshmallows, yes.’
She looks up at Zak. ‘Can I have a girls’ sleep-over with Ellie, Daddy?’
He chuckles. ‘I think that sounds amazing.’ The warm smile he gives me makes me feel as if I’m floating on air.
Mum and Sylvia appear just then. We decide that Sylvia will go back to her own house, Mum will have the spare room and Zak will sleep on the sofa in the living room.
Later, I lie there, listening to Maisie’s steady breathing. She was all for staying up, but I read to her and she was asleep before I was even half way through the story.
I’ve felt the whole range of emotions today – from the panic and fear when Maisie went missing to the flare of hope I felt when Mum almost agreed to move to Sunnybrook! From the hilarity with Sylvia in the kitchen to the burst of joy when Zak and I kissed. It’s been a rollercoaster of a day, yet I still have no real answers.
One positive thing did happen today that I was pleased about. As we were driving back with Maisie, Richard called me on the mobile and told me he’d accepted an offer on the house. If it all goes through, I should receive my half of the proceeds very soon. And then I’ll be able to put the past and Richard firmly behind me.
But what I will do with the money, I still don’t know.
I feel as if I embarked on a mystery tour when I came to Sunnybrook.
And I’m still trying to work out where my final destination will be . . .
*****
Next morning, wh
en I wake up, Maisie’s not there.
I sit up and look at the clock.
It’s not yet six-thirty. Children wake so early at her age.
I pull on my robe and check the bathroom but she’s not there, so I try the kitchen. No luck. After listening outside the living room for signs of life from Zak within, I’m emboldened by the silence to push the door open a crack.
There’s no sign of Maisie anywhere, and I’m starting to panic. Unless she’s gone through to Mum’s room . . .
Peering in, I see to my horror that her bed is empty, too.
Oh God, Mum! Where are you?
A memory of the time I lost her in the shopping centre races into my head and panic rises up.
What if . . . ?
No, don’t think like that! They’ll be fine.
I rush to my bedroom window and look out – and my heart leaps. There they are. Mum is holding Maisie’s hand and they’re standing at the edge of the duck pond.
My hand flies to my mouth.
It’s just as well it’s a sunny, blue-skied start to the day because they’re both standing there in their pyjamas!
‘Everything okay?’ says Zak at my shoulder. ‘Where’s Maisie?’
‘She’s down at the duck pond with Mum,’ I tell him, brushing past and heading for the door. ‘I’ll go and get them.’
I run down the stairs, telling myself they’ll be fine. Most of the time, Mum is absolutely fine but I don’t want to take any risks with Maisie – not after yesterday.
If Mum doesn’t keep hold of her hand, she’ll be in that pond for sure!
Bolting outside, I run through the little garden but have trouble with the catch on the gate. Zak, who’s right behind me, murmurs, ‘Here. Let me,’ and his hand brushes against mine, stirring up all sorts of feelings.
We walk down towards the pond through the little copse of trees and I call out, ‘Mum?’ but she doesn’t hear me.
‘Wait,’ says Zak, and we stop a few yards away from them. ‘They’re just fine. Look.’
I watch them, and I’m not sure if my heart is beating so fast because of my panic or because Zak is standing so close. Mum is keeping hold of Maisie’s hand, even though the little girl keeps darting along the edge of the pond. At one point, Maisie bends down and picks something up. A stone, perhaps, or a fir cone. But Mum doesn’t let go. It’s as if all her focus is on her precious little companion.
