Beneath these Stars (Lucy Mitchell Book 2)

by Hannah Ellis

  “Matt said you’d just got a promotion?” Damian said, taking a sip of his beer.

  “Yes. Kind of. I’ll be doing teacher training, which I’ve been wanting to do for ages.”

  He set his beer down and laughed. “What’s the saying? ‘Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach’?”

  Stunned, I put a hand to my mouth, sure that I was about to splutter wine all over him. Which maybe I should have done. Hurriedly, I swallowed my wine. Had he really just said that? I opened my mouth but had no idea what to say.

  “Sorry! It’s a joke I have with Matt. I like to wind him up.”

  “Right,” I said, glancing at the bar and wondering whether to just stand up and shout to Dylan that he needed to save me. I took a breath and decided not to judge Damian on one stupid comment. Perhaps he was nervous. “What do you do?” I asked, trying to move past his comment.

  “I work in online marketing,” he told me.

  At this rate, I’d be drunk in no time. I couldn’t seem to stop putting my wine glass to my lips and it was almost empty already. “What does that involve, then?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation flowing without really caring what his job entailed.

  “You know those creepy ads that pop up on the internet and somehow know what you want or like? I run those campaigns. I work for a fashion company so I figure out who to target and where to place our ads.”

  “That sounds interesting.” I had nothing to say and I was losing interest in Damian quickly. Why did I think dating would be fun? This was not fun. I needed to find some common ground – and quickly. “What do you do in your spare time?” I asked, desperate for him to redeem himself.

  “I’m really into online gaming,” he told me happily. My mouth managed to smile while I cried inconsolably on the inside. Why on earth did Chrissie think we would be a good match? Next time I would try online dating and at least I’d only have myself to blame if I chose awful dates. That’s if I ever dated again. Maybe there’s only one love for everyone – and I’d had mine with Adam. I was probably destined to be alone forever now. My mind drifted to my early dates with Adam, and I felt my fixed smile start to fail me.

  “Sorry,” I said, standing and interrupting Damian, who was in the middle of telling me about his online gaming friends around the world. “I’m going to get another drink. Do you want one?”

  “I’m okay at the moment,” he said, holding up his half-full pint.

  I marched to the bar and glared at Dylan when I got there. “Please help me,” I said.

  He winced. “Not going well?”

  “No! I’m going to kill Matt.”

  “I told him it was a bad idea.”

  “I’m just so bored!” I complained. “I can’t be bothered to meet new people. It’s too much effort. And this guy’s definitely not for me. How can I politely get out of this?”

  Dylan handed me another glass of wine. “Has he been telling you all about himself?” he asked.

  “Yeah. That’s why I’ve been drinking so fast. It’s all very boring.”

  Dylan leaned closer to me with a cheeky smile. “Maybe it’s time you told him a bit about yourself…”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Tell him about your life … Be honest with him.” He grinned. “I bet you can scare him off pretty quick if you want to!”

  “Dylan!” I leaned over the bar to give him a shove. He walked away from me, laughing, and I took a sip of my wine before turning to look at Damian.

  “It must be nice, knowing the owners of a bar,” Damian commented when I re-joined him.

  “It has its perks,” I agreed. “I’m afraid I can’t stay long tonight. I’ve got to be up early tomorrow.”

  “Got something fun planned?”

  “A day out with my kids,” I told him casually. “Well, not my kids – my ex-boyfriend’s kids, but we have a sort of joint custody arrangement since we split up. It’s a long story, and probably not something I should bore you with on a first date!” I smiled, finally enjoying myself. Damian squirmed in his seat. “What were you telling me about the guy in Australia ... the one you play the computer game with?”

  He stuttered a little before regaling me further with tales of his online interactions. His heart wasn’t in it, I could tell. Dylan was right, he scared easily. Far too easily for me.

  It was still early when I walked into Matt and Chrissie’s house.

  “Hi!” Chrissie called from the living room.

  “Home already?” Matt shouted. “What happened?”

  “I’m not talking to you,” I shouted back, kicking my shoes off and heading for the stairs. “Either of you. Ever again!”

  “It was all Matt’s idea,” Chrissie called after me. I managed a smile when I heard Chrissie telling Matt off and him attempting to defend himself. I decided an early night was in order and curled up in bed. My re-entry into the world of dating had left me disappointed. It wasn’t as much fun as I’d hoped.

  Chapter 39

  When I arrived in Havendon the next day, Adam was in the kitchen. He was busy cleaning up milk, which was all over the table and dripping onto the floor. Tension radiated from him and I could hear Emily crying upstairs. I would’ve rung the doorbell if I’d known Adam was home.

  “Hailey!” he shouted, glancing up but not acknowledging me. “Help your sister get changed. Please!”

  “Everything okay?” I asked.

  “Fine,” he said, squeezing out a sodden cloth into the sink.

  “I thought you’d be at work.”

  “Nope,” he said fiercely. “Sorry!”

  “I’ll go and help Emily,” I told him calmly. I found her standing beside a pile of wet clothes, her knickers on back to front, attempting to put a T-shirt on inside out. “Here, I’ll help you,” I said and pulled off the T-shirt to start again.

  “I spilt milk everywhere,” she told me sadly. “And Uncle Adam’s cross with me.”

  “Don’t worry,” I said. “He’s just tired.”

  “Can you stay forever?” she asked, while I pulled a pair of jeans on her and searched for matching socks.

  “I’ve just come to see you for a while,” I said, unable to look her in the eye. “What shall we do today?”

  “Can we go swimming?” she asked.

  I frowned. “I didn’t bring my swimming things.” Truthfully, they were probably still here, but I didn’t feel like swimming. I liked to be at the pool when it opened on a Saturday, otherwise it would be heaving. “It’s nice and sunny. We could play outside, or go to the playground?”

  “Okay,” she agreed and held my hand. We went to Hailey’s room to see what she was doing.

  “Morning,” I said, pushing the door open.

  “Hi!” Hailey grinned at me and pulled her earphones out. “I’m so glad you’re here. Uncle Adam is being a nightmare!” She sounded like a teenager, and it made me smile.

  “Do you want to come to the playground with us?”

  “Yes! Anything to get away from him!” She jumped up and gave me a hug then we clattered downstairs.

  The girls put their shoes on. I stuck my head into the kitchen, to find Adam filling up the washing machine. “I’m going to take the girls out for a walk, if that’s okay?” I asked tentatively.

  “Okay,” he said without looking up. I thought I heard him mumble “thanks” as I turned back to the girls.

  We stopped at the village shop and bought drinks and snacks, then we spent some time at the playground before going for a walk over the hills and through the woods. The girls were happy and energetic – and oblivious to my attempt to keep them out of the house for as long as possible. The house was tidy when we got back, but there was no sign of Adam. We ate sandwiches at the kitchen table and played card games for a while.

  When the girls went out to play in the garden, I crept upstairs. Adam was fast asleep on the bed. I stood watching him. He looked so stressed – even while he slept. His jaw was covered in stubble. Once, I’d thought stubb
le made him look rugged and roguish, but now it just made him look worn. He didn’t look like someone who’d decided not to shave, but someone who didn’t have the time, the energy, the motivation. He looked like somebody who didn’t care enough to look after himself.

  Suddenly his eyes opened, as though he’d sensed me watching him. I stayed in the doorway, unable to move or pretend that I’d been doing anything other than watching him sleep.

  He wiped at his mouth when he sat up and then glanced at his watch. “Sorry,” he muttered. “Do you need to go?”

  “No,” I said. “Just wanted to check you were okay.”

  He swung his legs off the bed and rubbed his eyes. “Sorry about this morning. Mum’s had flu all week so it’s been a bit hectic.”

  “The girls told me she was ill. You should’ve called. I would’ve helped.”

  “It was fine.” He shook his head, standing up. “Angela helped with the girls after school. It’s just the housework that defeated me.”

  “I would’ve had the girls after school,” I told him, angry that he’d not called me, and jealous that Angela had been looking after the girls.

  “I didn’t want to bother you,” he said flatly. “I was going to take the girls to the cinema today. We should probably get going. Have they had lunch?”

  “I made them sandwiches.”

  “Thanks,” he said, already halfway down the stairs.

  I followed him down. “I guess I’ll go then.”

  “Thanks for coming over,” he said without looking at me. I slipped out of the back door and said goodbye to the girls before I left. The drive home was torturous: I was angry, certain that Adam was doing his best to keep me out of their lives just to spite me. Surely there was a better way for us to manage things. I wanted to help him. I wanted him to call me when they needed something. It wasn’t enough for me to see them for a few hours on Saturdays.

  *****

  My bad mood lingered through the next week. I thought I’d been making positive steps in my life, but I suddenly felt that I was drowning again. I hadn’t slept well on Wednesday night and pressed snooze on my alarm a few times too many on Thursday morning.

  When I ran into school just before the bell, Jean Stoke happened to be walking down the corridor. I slammed on the brakes and tried to act casually, giving her a quick smile when I passed. People started work at different times; did she really remember when everyone should arrive? Probably. I was in before the kids were, I consoled myself, so it could have been worse. The fact that I should have been in to set up the classroom was no big deal, surely.

  I slipped into the classroom just as the bell rang and the corridor filled with kids.

  “I’m so sorry,” I told Sarah, who was sitting at her desk. I pulled off my coat and shoved it into the cupboard in the corner with my handbag.

  “Don’t worry about it. I set everything up.”

  “Thanks,” I said, catching my breath. “I bumped into Jean in the corridor. Just my luck!”

  “It’s not like you to be late. Everything okay?”

  “Fine,” I told her. “I’m just tired.”

  “I know that feeling!”

  I spent the first half of the morning helping the children with group work on mini-beasts. It was a fun topic and the kids responded well. It was easy to get them excited and inquisitive when it came to creepy-crawlies. The morning went fast and it was break-time before I knew it. Once the kids had run out to play outside, Sarah and I got on with straightening out the classroom.

  After ten minutes, it had started to drizzle. I glanced at my watch. The kids would be back any minute. I was about to return my phone to the cupboard when it buzzed. It was an unknown number. I frowned as I recognised the area code to be that of Havendon.

  “Lucy, it’s Mike,” the voice told me as I accepted the call.

  “Hi – how are you?”

  “I didn’t know if you knew…” He trailed off, his voice full of uncertainty.

  “Knew what?”

  “Hailey’s missing.”

  My heart immediately started to pound as though it might crash through my chest. “No one’s seen her since last night.”

  “I didn’t know,” I said, my voice sounding strange in my head. “Thanks for calling. I’m coming now.”

  I pressed end and tried to get my brain to function faster.

  “What’s happened?” Sarah asked.

  “Hailey’s missing.”

  “Okay,” she said calmly. “I’m sure she’s fine. Go over there and find out what’s happening.” She retrieved my coat and handbag from the cupboard and passed them to me. “Remember to breathe, and drive safely.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Keep me updated.”

  “I will.” I ran down the empty corridor and was almost at the main entrance, pulling my arms into my jacket, when Jean Stoke stepped out of a classroom and called my name. “I’m sorry, I have to go,” I told her, unwilling to stop and explain.

  “Miss Mitchell…”

  “I can’t talk, I have to go.”

  “Miss Mitchell, if you leave now…”

  “I have to,” I shouted back to her in a panic. “Stuff the job. I have to go.” I ran through the rain to the car.

  The drive seemed to take longer than it ever had before. Every traffic light was against me and the traffic was worse than I’d ever known it. My mind went into overdrive, imagining where Hailey could be. What could have happened to her? And why hadn’t Adam called me? What if Mike hadn’t called? When would I have been told?

  As if on cue, my phone rang. It was Ruth.

  “Has she turned up?” I asked.

  “There’s no sign of her. Half the village is out looking. I don’t know what to do.”

  “I only just heard. I’m on my way. We’ll find her. Everything will be fine.”

  “Adam kept saying she’d turn up, but there’s no sign of her. He’s just called the police!” Ruth sounded frantic, and the worry in her voice made me panic even more.

  “I won’t be long,” I said, ending the call and pressing my foot harder on the accelerator.

  Chapter 40

  The drizzle had changed to pouring rain by the time I pulled up at the house. A police car had taken my space so I couldn’t park on the driveway. My stomach lurched. I ran towards the house, not sure what I would walk into.

  A policeman sat at the kitchen table, Ruth beside him. Adam was pacing and stopped when he saw me.

  “Where is she?” I cried.

  “We don’t know,” Ruth said, getting up.

  On impulse I ran upstairs, passing a policeman on the landing and running into Hailey’s room. Somehow, I expected her to be on her bed with her earphones in, listening to music.

  Ruth was waiting at the bottom of the stairs when I hurried back down. “The police just got here. I’m sure they’ll find her soon.”

  “They will,” I told her, as confidently as I could manage. I gave her a hug and she sobbed quietly into my shoulder.

  We moved back into the kitchen and I glared at Adam. He looked worn and weary, worry etched over his face. “When did you last see her?” I asked tearfully. I sounded accusing, but I couldn’t help it: I was so worried.

  Finally, he met my gaze. “I looked in on her before I went to bed. When I got up this morning, she was gone.”

  “Did you check the garage?” I asked frantically. “She likes to go in there sometimes.”

  “Of course I checked the bloody garage!” Adam snapped at me. “I’ve looked everywhere. She’s not here. I’ve called her friends and no one’s seen her. I didn’t know what to do.”

  “You could have called me,” I said scornfully. “Why didn’t you?”

  He turned away from me to look out of the window.

  “You’re here now,” Ruth said, lowering herself into a chair. “That’s all that matters.” She looked suddenly frail and I went over to her, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  “I have a few
more questions,” the policeman said calmly. I noticed the photos of Hailey laid out on the table beside his papers, and my heart raced. “It would be really helpful for us to know if any of Hailey’s things are missing.”

  He escorted Adam and me up to Hailey’s room. When Adam looked nervously around the room, I strode past him. “She wouldn’t run away,” I stated, sure that was what we were trying to establish.

  Adam shuffled to the window. “Maybe she did,” he muttered.

  “No! She wouldn’t.” I was sure of it.

  I yanked open her drawers and rifled through her familiar clothes. Nothing seemed to be missing. The wardrobe was its usual mess, and the desk was scattered with her things. I couldn’t find any clues and I felt the policeman’s eyes on me. The sight of the photo on Hailey’s bedside table made me burst into tears. I picked it up. It was a family photo: Hailey and Emily with Becky and Will.

  “She wouldn’t leave without this,” I cried, holding it out to show Adam. He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around me.

  “We’ll find her,” he told me through his tears. Part of me felt like clinging to him, while another part wanted to punch him. He was supposed to look after them. It wasn’t his fault, I told myself. He loved the girls and he’d always done his best for them.

  “She didn’t run away, though,” I spluttered. “I know she didn’t. Where is she, Adam? What’s happened to her?”

  Adam looked down at me, fear and worry in his eyes. “I don’t know.”

  Satisfied that nothing was missing, the policeman led us back down to the kitchen where Ruth was making tea with shaky hands. “I just need something to do,” she told us.

  The policeman asked for the names of Hailey’s friends and any places we thought she might go, explaining that once his colleague had finished searching the property, they would start looking further afield. He was scribbling on his notepad when something caught my eye.