Jonny gave him a nod, knowing that Charlie wasn’t after a fanfare or medal. “That’s a good idea. Me and you can always do a big climb next weekend. I’ll see about getting someone to look after those two.” Those two were now rolling around on the floor, pretending to be lions fighting in the wild. At some point, Sadie Grace’s teeth would be involved and world war three would begin, but until then he was happy for the reprieve.
“Would Rayah come?”
Jonny seriously thought Charlie had more of a crush on Rayah than he did.
“Possibly.”
“Where was she this afternoon?”
“Something came up so I think she had to go into Manchester.”
Charlie nodded. “Cool. I haven’t been to Manchester for ages. Can we go in a couple of weeks or at half term? I want to go to the football museum.”
Jonny ruffled his hair, making Charlie flinch backwards. He laughed. “Yeah, we can manage that. Probably have to go to Manchester museum too and see the dinosaur exhibit for Harry. And take Sadie to the build-a-bear place.” He rolled his eyes.
“Could we stay over for a night? Libby’s mum and dad did that with her and her brother.”
Jonny was hearing a lot about Libby recently. He had a feeling that Charlie had a bigger crush on her than he did on Rayah. “I don’t see why not.”
He felt a vibration in his pocket from his phone. Pulling it out, he saw a response to the message he’d sent her an hour ago.
On a train now.Long story. X
He puthis phone back in his pocket and headed to the kitchen to make a drink. It was almost Sadie Grace’s bedtime, the noise from her and Harry having quietened down, the sounds of the TV now overtaking even their quiet conversation. World war three had been averted, between them at least.
“Can I have half an hour on Minecraft?” Charlie said. “Libby said she was going to build something and I promised to help and it is Friday.”
Jonny smiled at Charlie, seeing exactly the same expression he knew he had when he was going to do something for Rayah, just to make her happy. “Half an hour. Why don’t you ask her if she wants to come round tomorrow for lunch after swimming? She can hang out here.”
Charlie’s face lit up then fell. “She might say no.”
“She might not. You won’t know if you don’t ask.”
Charlie shrugged. “I’ll ask her.”
“You do that,” Jonny said as his eldest headed out of the room.
He pulled out his phone and reread Rayah’s short message, deciding what to answer.
Head over here.I’d like to hear this long story. Kids are on their way to bed. Charlie’s about to ask Libby over.
The dots appeared instantly,showing that she was responding straightaway. He stared at his phone, waiting, nerves tumbling in his stomach.
I don’t thinkmy cousin is only working for the Severton police department. There’s more to this.
Jonny lookedup to the ceiling, the nerves now merging into fear. Rayah was a risk taker; not because she sought the thrill, but because she’d also fight a wrong or prove a point. If anything happened to her, he didn’t know what he’d do, had no idea how he’d manage to get through losing someone else that he loved because he loved her. He was in love with her. He could just about stand the idea that she might not love him back or might make the decision that becoming part of his family was too much, but he couldn’t even tolerate the idea that something might happen to her.
He phoned Alex Maynard without thinking about it, without even considering the fact that he was about to out himself to her cousin about how he felt before he even told her.
“Hello Jonny.” Alex sounded his usual self, answering on the second ring. There was no noise in the background, which didn’t surprise Jonny. Alex was probably reading or doing some ultra difficult puzzle after breaking a record at the gym for the most press-ups in a second, because that was how he rolled.
“Where’s Rayah been?” He heard the possessiveness in his own voice, and the fear.
“Are you digging my cousin that much you’re turning into a caveman?” There was a lightness to Alex’s voice and it steadied him.
“I’m stood in my kitchen shitting myself that she’s gotten herself into something where she’s going to get hurt. I can’t go through what happened with Grace again.”
There was silence, then the sound of a woman’s voice in the background, a familiar voice. Jonny couldn’t make out the words.
