Understanding, Kim eased the baby from his arms. ‘You can talk to me, you know, Adam,’ she assured him. ‘I’m a good listener. And I promise you I’m the soul of discretion.’
Adam pressed his thumb and forefinger against his eyes and took another long breath. ‘It’s Cassie,’ he said at last, glancing at the ceiling. ‘She’s been accused of shoplifting. Charged, to be precise.’
‘Oh my God.’ Holding Samuel closer to her, Kim stared at him.
‘She says she didn’t…’ He faltered, his expression cautious as he scanned her face. ‘She hasn’t been well, as you know. And then, with what happened to Josh… She’s been distracted, depressed, I think. Not sleeping. She might have put something in her bag without realising. I probably shouldn’t have told you, but…’
‘You didn’t want me to hear it from anyone else,’ Kim finished sympathetically. ‘What was it?’ she asked him. ‘The item she…’
‘Hair straighteners.’ Adam laughed wryly.
Kim widened her eyes. ‘But that’s bonkers. She doesn’t need… Unless she wanted to straighten her fringe maybe?’ she pondered out loud.
‘I’ve no idea.’ Adam sighed heavily. ‘I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention it, Kim,’ he said, now looking guilty.
‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ Kim promised. ‘And if Cassie says anything, she can count on me for support. I get why she would have been distracted, trust me.’
Adam’s smile was one of immense relief. ‘Thanks,’ he said throatily. ‘I should probably go up and check on—’
They both glanced upwards as a floorboard creaked overhead.
Kim’s gaze slid back to him. ‘It might be better for me to pop back tomorrow after she’s had a good sleep,’ she suggested. ‘She might want an ear, you never know.’
‘Thanks. I’m not sure she knows how to talk to me. Or whether she wants to, to be honest.’
‘Not a problem,’ Kim assured him. ‘I suppose she won’t be able to apply to adopt Samuel now, will she?’ she asked carefully. ‘Not that I was thinking she would want to, when we’re all getting along so well,’ she added. ‘It’s just that I overheard you talking.’
A troubled frown crossed Adam’s face. ‘I don’t think she could have…’ He stopped, glancing awkwardly at her. ‘I doubt she was serious, Kim. She was just worried, for Samuel’s sake. She knows you’re doing a fabulous job with him. We both do.’
‘Thank you. And don’t worry, I’m not judging her. She has a lot on her mind.’ Kim paused. ‘I’d better get off.’
Turning, she collected up her bags, cursing as the handle of the large carrier she’d stuffed other purchases into gave way. She froze as she noticed that one of the items was in full view on the floor. Adam had clearly also noticed it. She watched him bend to scoop it up, her heart almost stopping dead as he squinted quizzically at the Boots own-brand nappies and then at her.
‘You were in Boots?’ he asked her.
Kim panicked for a second, and then realised there was actually no reason she shouldn’t have been. ‘Yes,’ she said, arranging her face into an innocent smile. ‘Cassie said she would grab some things for me, but as I was out…’
Nineteen
Joshua
January 2019
Josh watched Kim carefully as she came down the station steps. He couldn’t see any sign of a limp. He’d wondered whether she would show up again, whether she might have been taking a later train, thus avoiding him. It was no skin off his nose if she was, but he would quite like to establish why she’d lied to him about where she lived. He’d gone back to the estate a couple of times, made a nuisance of himself knocking on doors. No one had even heard of anyone fitting her description. It shouldn’t bother him, but it did, and not because he’d shelled out a fortune on the cab fare, but because of the things she’d said before she’d stormed off up the steps at the station. She’d asked him to stop following her – and this was after he’d seenherat his school. He’d believed her when she’d denied she was there, convinced himself he must have been mistaken. Now, he wasn’t so sure. He really couldn’t get his head around any of it. Either she had a serious problem, or she thoughthedid, and that was why she’d given him a false address. And that did bother him.
Walking along the platform, she faltered as she saw him. Then, taking a visible breath, she continued on, stopping a foot or so away to search his face nervously. Why the hell would she be nervous of him?
‘I have your phone,’ he said coolly. Drawing it from his pocket, he handed it to her, holding eye contact as he did; trying to read what was going on in her mind.
Accepting it, she glanced down. ‘I owe you an apology,’ she said, appearing to brace herself as she looked back at him.
Josh waited. He didn’t want an apology. An explanation might be nice, though.
‘You probably think I’m mad.’
Correct, Josh didn’t say.
‘Do you mind if we…’ She indicated the far end of the platform, where there were fewer people.
