‘I’ve had this too, over the years.’
‘Messages.’
He nods. I hadn’t thought for one minute what my dad had gone through. ‘I started reporting them to the police, like you. They all turned out to be nothing and eventually they stopped listening. This is different, someone tried to kill you today.’
‘I’ll think about it.’ I don’t need him telling me what to do.
‘Do you want me to go?’
I shake my head. ‘I can’t do this alone, Dad.’ I pass him the blanket. ‘I’ll get you a pillow.’ I don’t know how I’m going to explain all this to the girls.
‘Thanks.’ He goes to hug me but I move back.
‘Sorry.’
Embracing my dad would be weird. I feel as though I don’t know him. Shame burns through me.
‘The people who helped me back at the pub in Polperro called the police, but I left them so that I could hurry home to Damien and now he’s left me. My phone was dead and damp and I thought he’d be worried.’ I begin to rub the sore bump on my head.
‘He’ll come round. Give him a bit of space.’
‘It was all over that message.’ I pat my seeping head with a tissue.
My dad gives me a sympathetic look. ‘Let me take a look at that.’ He gently walks around me and pulls my hair apart. ‘It’s red and a little scabbed. You should really have it looked at.’
‘No.’ There’s no way I’m leaving the girls to wake up and find him in the house without me at least explaining what has happened and I don’t want to spend all night in a queue at A&E. ‘It’s just a bit of a lump. It’ll go down. I’m okay.’
I think my dad is right though. My head is banging and I’m still nauseous, but then again, I did swallow a lot of seawater and then there’s the stress of it all.
‘You’re not okay. You’re going through a lot.’
One of the girls starts walking down the stairs.
‘Who’s there?’ I call.
I pull my hair back over my sore head and smile. The last thing I want to do is alarm my children.
‘Come here, Rosie.’ I give her a huge hug, enjoying her warmth and the smell of shampoo in her hair as she clutches Millie’s flamingo toy.
‘Where have you been, Mummy?’
‘I’ve been on a bit of an adventure and a big wave went over my head but I’m okay now.’
‘We missed you today, Mummy.’ She pouts and waits for me to answer, looking cute in her Little Mermaid costume.
‘I missed you too, sweetie. Mummy had a few things to do, that’s all.’
‘Like what?’
‘I had to spend a bit of time on my own, thinking about Jess.’
‘Poor Mummy.’ My sensitive little girl hugs me again. I close my eyes, trying hard to contain my tears. She rubs her eyes and stares at my dad. ‘Who’s that?’
‘That’s your grandad. He’s come to spend some time with us.’
‘Hello, Rosie. It’s lovely to meet you.’ He holds a hand out for her but she hides her head behind my arm.
‘I love your mermaid costume. Are you a mermaid?’
