They wouldn’t be okay. Heidi would be scared, maybe too brave – I could see her standing up to someone. Mia would be terrified. Joel’s mum would be like Heidi, probably wielding the heaviest object she could find. Hopefully they were safe somewhere.
I’d know in another few seconds.
Those few seconds felt like hours as the cottage came into view. A jam of cars were outside, parked haphazardly. Liv had joined them at the same time we got there, running up to the gate where a big burly police officer stopped us.
“I’m Romy – the girls’ mum. Are they okay?” The words didn’t sound coherent.
“They’re safe inside with two of my colleagues. Unharmed but shaken up. Who are you?” He eyeballed Cassian.
Cas explained who he was, which made the officer relax further.
“What happened?”
The officer – who introduced himself as Sergeant Clarke – pointed behind him. “They attempted to break in by barging down the door. Your mum ran upstairs and got the girls in the wardrobe so they didn’t see anything. She hid under the bed.”
I frowned. “It’s an ottoman bed. She pulled it down on herself?”
“She did. Your security guy got her out. They were there within about ninety seconds.”
I looked around and saw Roe Holland, who hadn’t been at the police talk.
“I really need to see my daughter and Mia.” I could find out who I needed to thank after.
Liv strode over, nodding at Sergeant Clarke. “She’s cleared to go in and come out with them. I’m sorry, Romy, you can’t stay there tonight. I’ll come in with you and you can pack bags for you and the girls.”
Bile threatened to show itself. I swallowed, feeling wobbly, then felt Cassian’s arm around me, pulling me in for a hug I didn’t know I needed.
“You can stay next door, if that’s okay?”
Liv looked at me and shook her head. “There are going to be police here all night. Lights and noise, and we’ll have to take the car away that was abandoned.”
“Do you think they were trying to snatch Mia?” That seemed the only explanation. I was crying now, the tears not able to stay inside. Cassian kept his arms around me and for once I felt some of the weight was shared, even though he’d asked for none of this.
Liv didn’t answer properly. “That will be one line of enquiry.”
“That means yes, that’s what you think. How do I keep her safe? If someone’s trying to kidnap her, what do I do apart from keep her with me all the time?” I was sounding hysterical now. “And what if they took Heidi by mistake?”
“If Mia was the target, they were foiled. Security worked. Roe’s team disturbed them.” Liv looked over to where Roe was, about two feet away from us now.
“We nearly caught them. One of them probably has a broken jaw too. I clocked him pretty hard, just couldn’t keep hold of him.” He rubbed his fist. “We need to move you somewhere for the next few nights.” He looked at Cassian. “Can we use the school house?”
Cas nodded. “It isn’t in great shape, but it can be made do of.”
“I need to see Mia and Heidi.” I was feeling more nauseous by the second.
Liv took hold of my arm and guided me through my own front door, the garden flattened, probably by Roe and his fight partner.
“Mummy!” Heidi sprang up off her feet and leaped at me. “A bad man came and got in.”
Mia was there too, clinging along with Heidi. I crouched down and hugged them both, kissing their heads and squishing them, feeling that they were alive. My eyes closed, my heart rate settled. The feeling of sickness passed.
I eventually opened my eyes and looked at Joel’s mum. She was smiling, her usually perfect hair a mess, but she looked okay.
“Thank you.”
She shrugged. “What for? That’s my granddaughter and her best friend. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them. I have to say though, Romy, you need to find somewhere else to store your personal toys.”
I felt myself start to laugh. The feeling grew until I was laughing loudly and hard enough to make the girls take a step back. Tears mixed with the laughter, from both me and Deryn.
