We headed back to the lodge to shower while some of the other teams finished off the challenges. Thanks to the bleep test and the kayaking, we were top of the leader board so far, even after being slowed down yesterday, but it was a slim lead, and a couple of the other teams could overtake us if anyone stuck out the bleep test.
I sat outside the lodge, freshly showered, shaved and wearing clothes that still smelled of washing detergent. I had that ache that you only get after a really decent workout, the after-burn still there, and the high from that was bliss. A slice of Scottish sun had poked through the clouds and I was making the most of it.
The ringing of someone’s phone indoors disturbed the quiet. I heard Dee answer it, sounding chirpy at first. That changed after two sentences.
“What? What’s she done?”
I tried to block it out.
“Shit! I can’t leave here! We have another day of training before we travel back!”
I stood up. Izzy had already disappeared back to the club house and judging by Dee’s tone, she was going to need to offload whatever this was about, even if I wasn’t her number one choice. And I wanted to know what had turned Little Miss Sunshine’s smile to a frown.
“So she’s said that’s okay? He can stay there?”
Relief mixed in with panic. I didn’t hear what came next as I went back into the lodge and headed to Dee’s room, opening the door and walking in.
She was sitting on her made bed, the phone now next to her. When she saw me, her eyes widened.
“I can go if you want, but I overheard bits outside.” I nodded to her open window. I’d been sat pretty much underneath it. “Can I do anything?”
She rubbed her face and shook her head. “Not unless you can drive me back to Manchester.”
“I can hire a car and take you.”
Another shake of the head. “No. No. I can’t leave.” She closed her eyes. “I don’t do drama in my life, Rowan. That’s not me.”
“Depends on what your definition of drama is.” I folded my arms and gave her the look I usually reserved for my mother when she was being obstinate. “What’s happened?”
She looked away from me, her armour of smiles and beams completely dropped.
“My sister has fucked off to London and left my nephew with the mother of one of the other kids in his class. She’s not answering her phone to anyone, and there’s no one to pick Toby up.” Her eyes met mine. “He should be at holiday club tomorrow.”
“Can his friend’s mum take him?”
She shook her head slowly. “They’re not really friends. And his mum is going away tomorrow morning so she’s pissed that she still has Toby.”
“How do you know? Did she call you?”
Dee laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “No. Oh no. She phoned the club and left a message. She knows I play for Athletic and basically said if I didn’t come for Toby, she was going to report my sister to social services.” Another laugh. “She’d be in her right to. He’s basically been abandoned by Joanne.”
“You need to go back home.”
She shook her head. “I do. But Genny’s come to the rescue again.”
I got the feeling she didn’t like being rescued.
“Toby’s with her?”
Dee gave a single nod. “He’s spent time with her when I’ve taken him to the beach or the zoo, and she’s hung out enough round my house that he sees her as a safe adult. He’s staying with her tonight and she’ll drop him off at holiday club in the morning.”
“So you don’t need to go home right now. He’s safe and he’ll have a good time with Genny.” Genny had met my sister a few times and she’d been amazing with her. “What will you do when you get home?”
“Murder Joanne? That’s how I feel right now.”
It was then I noticed how fuming she was, her anger just starting to bubble over. “That’s not going to happen.”
“I know. Who would Toby have then?”
