“I won’t sleep until you’re there.”
Patrick kisses my cheek. “I bet by the time you’ve had a shower and a hot drink, you’ll be fast asleep in no time. At least the house was nearly empty.”
I nod. “I keep thinking about all the things we could have lost.”
“Ms Warren?”
I turn toward the police car. Sophie’s sitting in the back seat, and I force a smile at the police officer waiting.
“I’m on my way.” I give Patrick’s hand a squeeze. “Call me if you need to.”
Despite thinking I won’t sleep, I’m dead on my feet by the time we get to Lauren’s.
When we walk in the front door, I pull Sophie into my arms and close my eyes. Tonight could have ended in disaster. Thank God for smoke alarms and dreams of Mark.
“I’ve got some of my clothes for both of you to change into,” Lauren says. “There were a few things Mark left that Patrick can use for the night.”
“Thank you, Lauren.”
She flashes me a faint smile. “I'm just glad you’re all safe. You can have Mark’s room—I figured you’d want to stick together and his bed’s big enough for the three of you.”
“I appreciate it.” Tears well in my eyes.
“Go get in the shower,” she says to Sophie. “There are pyjamas at the end of Mark’s bed.”
She pulls away from me, but I don’t want to let her go at first.
“Mum, I’m okay.”
I press a kiss in her hair. All I can smell is smoke. “Go.”
As she walks away, I turn to Lauren.
“I’d hug you, but all I can smell is smoke. You can use my ensuite if you want a shower too.”
“Oh, I’d love that. Are you sure?”
“Of course. I’m just so happy to see you. I’m not sure I could cope with losing you two.”
I give her forearm a squeeze. “I’ll go and have that shower and come back. Put the jug on.”
After heading up the stairs, I go through Lauren’s room to her ensuite.
The hot water is reassuring. The clothes, I think I’m going to have to throw out as I’m not sure about getting the smoky smell out of them.
But that’s a problem for another day.
When I’m finished, I wrap a towel around me and head to Mark’s room. There’s a pair of pyjamas on the end of the bed, and Sophie’s fast asleep.
God, how I love this kid.
I sit beside her and scrape her hair back that’s fallen on her face. It’s still damp and it’ll need a good brush in the morning, but that’s the least of our worries tonight.
She’s alive and well, and we’re all okay.
I place a kiss on her temple and turn out the light as I leave.
Lauren’s waiting downstairs when I return with a hot mug of coffee, and I join her in the living room.
