‘Like this. It’s you that’s the problem. I don’t feel like you’re here. I mean I can see you. You’re there, but you might as well not be. The girls talk to you and you don’t listen. I only asked if you wanted more sugar for your coffee and you ignored me. I know coming back here is hard but think of the kids. They need you to be present.’
‘I am.’
‘You’re not. You’re either glued to your phone or in a weird trance. It’s too much.’
My muscles tense. ‘What is too much is coming back here where my baby sister went missing and not having your support. You said you’d come with me so that I could finally say goodbye. I’m trying but burying the memory of my baby sister isn’t easy when you take me on a boat trip that takes me back to that day. You don’t understand.’
The three women turn to look at me and Rachel’s baby starts to cry. They get up and go inside the café. I’ve lost them and it’s Damien’s fault.
‘I do understand. I know that you’re consumed, obsessed and it’s driving us apart. You keep going off on your own gripping that phone like your life depends on it. I love you, Kate, more than anything but right now, I’m fed up. I wish we never came.’
My head is swimming. Millie looks back and waves, I wave back with a smile pretending that everything’s okay. ‘I’ll put my phone away. I’m sorry. You’re right. Maybe I need help, some more counselling. It’s just hard, you know. I thought coming back here would help.’
‘Let me see your phone.’
‘Damien.’ I tilt my head and my brows furrow. I can’t let him have my phone, my browser is open. I need to deflect him. ‘Back at the harbour you looked at Cody’s daughter like a dog on heat. It’s no surprise that I have a face like thunder.’
‘How the hell can you say that? I thought it was sweet how the man’s daughter brought him some breakfast. How can you even think I was leering? You’re just saying that to detract from what’s going on here. You know me better than that.’
He’s right. He wasn’t leering or being creepy. ‘I was out of order. I didn’t mean—’
‘You know what they say about those who throw out the accusations. They’re the ones who are lying. Right now, I don’t trust you. Here, have my phone. Look at whatever you like.’ He throws his phone on the table.
I don’t reach for it as I trust Damien one hundred per cent. I give up and place my phone on the table. ‘Please, Damien. I need you to trust me on this.’
He shakes his head and picks up my phone. He knows that my passcode is Rosie’s birthday. Before he looks at what I have open he glances at the girls and they’re both fine. ‘I knew it.’ He swallows and puts my phone back down. I know my Instagram was open and so was the internet and it was logged in and on my Facebook messages. ‘Who were you seeing at the harbour yesterday?’
I go to answer but before I can say anything, he’s up off the chair and he has the girls’ hands. ‘Right, girls. Mummy needs to rest because she’s not feeling too good so we will go and get ice cream.’
They cheer and giggle as they’re led away, leaving me holding my phone. I glance down and see the message he was reading.
It was lovely to see you at the harbour. X.
Sent from Will. I’ve royally messed up.
The server places a cooked breakfast, two slices of cake and a cheese sandwich in front of me. ‘Hope you enjoy your food.’
She doesn’t stick around or ask why I’m on my own. The smell of fried egg hits my nostrils and my stomach turns again. Pushing the food away, I hope that no one is judging me for the waste. I want to scream that I’ve been abandoned but no one will listen.
As I stand to leave, I glance back and see that Daisy is about to leave. She hurries to her bike and walks it over to me. ‘Hi.’
I glance at her and smile. ‘Hi, you’re Cody’s daughter.’
‘That’s right. Sorry if I’m out of order for saying this but we all know who you are and I read that article that was in the paper. Your poor dad, having to live with that on his mind. I just wanted to say, I’m sorry for your loss. I know it was a long time ago but you never forget. Coming back here must be hard.’
A tear drizzles down my cheek. ‘Thank you. That’s really kind of you to say.’
I glance into her bright hazel eyes and her peachy cheeks are well structured. For a moment, I wonder if Jess would have looked anything like her, then I mentally kick myself. All this second-guessing at what happened isn’t helping. Jess is dead and a few moments ago, I thought Rachel’s baby was Jess. I feel as though I’m cracking up. This place is doing that to me. Every street, every turn, I’m back there. I hear Jess, feel her presence and I’m angry that Will is messing around with me like this. What will help is if I find Will and have this out with him, in person. If her father is masquerading behind the identity of a pirate, maybe asking will trigger Daisy into speaking up.
‘I don’t suppose you know anyone who goes by the name Will Wilcox,’ I ask her.
‘Only the long-dead pirate. We all know about him over this way. Have you been to Polperro and seen the cave?’ There wasn’t a glimmer of anything untoward in her reply or expression.
I shake my head. Maybe Will isn’t prepared to give me another clue until I’ve cleared the ones that he’s already sent me. I shake my head. What the hell am I thinking? This isn’t a game. ‘Maybe I should check it out.’
‘You should. It’s gorgeous over there. I’m a teacher and we sometimes take the kids there on a trip. They love it. I bet your family would have a great time. Go during low tide if you want to see the cave and take plenty of change. The car park costs a fortune. You can’t drive into the town. You have to walk and it’s a bit cobbly. Wear sensible shoes.’
‘Thanks for the tip.’
