She smiled up at me. ‘I’m not okay with anything to do with Leanne but it’s going to go one of two ways for Mum and Dad and I need to see the positive in both.’
‘That’s Pam and Billy’s car,’ I said, frowning at their car parked in the road as I pulled onto Mum and Dad’s drive a little later. ‘I wonder what they’re doing here.’
Unlocking the door, I was greeted by the sound of excited squeals and two little girls dressed as fairies ran down the hallway with Lucy in hot pursuit. Lucy stopped when she saw me and planted her hands on her hips.
‘Funny story…’
‘I presume that’s Piper and Savannah.’
The fairies had stopped and were looking at me curiously. One was dressed in a green costume which I recognised as Tinkerbell’s and the other was dressed in red.I knew she was one of Tinkerbell’s fairy friends as the girls had loved them when they were younger but I was so confused by the twins’ presence that I couldn’t grasp for a name.
‘Yes, but how about we do the introductions later? I think you’d better go through to the kitchen.’ She reached out a hand to each twin. ‘Why don’t I show you my bedroom?’
I glanced at Tara, bewildered. ‘Better find out what’s going on.’
She followed me through to the kitchen where Billy, Pam and Mum were sitting at the breakfast bar and Dad was standing beside it, all four of them discussing something in hushed tones.
‘What’s going on?’ I asked.
They all turned their heads and Mum pushed back her stool. ‘We were just about to call you.’
‘Ingrid’s left,’ Pam said. ‘Show him the note, Janice.’
Mum picked up a scrumpled piece of paper from the breakfast bar and handed it to me. I recognised Ingrid’s messy scrawl.
Mum & Dad
By the time you read this, I’ll be in the air on my way back to Aus. I can’t let it end with Declan. I know you don’t like him but he’s my world and I can’t live without him so my birthday gift to myself is to get him back. Please look after the twins and Aaron for me and tell them I’m sorry for leaving them like this – Erin and Lucy too. I know I’m asking a lot, especially during Dad’s treatment, so I don’t expect you to do this on your own. Please ask Jed and his parents to help. Dad – take care of yourself and fight this thing. Everyone – please don’t hate me. I have to do this and I’ve done it this way because I didn’t want anyone trying to talk me out of it. Ingrid x
I read it several times, my mouth opening and closingbecause I couldn’t seem to push out any words. What the heck? Feeling numb, I passed the note to Tara so she could read it too.
‘Aaron?’ I asked.
‘In the lounge,’ Mum said. ‘He’s okay. Or at least we think he is.’
I needed to see him but I had to be sure everyone else had interpreted the note in the same way as me. ‘She’s never coming back?’
‘That’s what we were just discussing,’ Billy said. ‘We don’t know. It could be read that way.’
‘Has she definitely gone? I mean, have you tried ringing her?’
Pam nodded and I noticed her tear-stained cheeks. ‘Her suitcase has gone and all her clothes and toiletries. We’ve called but it goes to voicemail.’
‘She’s already on the plane,’ Dad said. ‘Lucy got Ingrid to install that stalking app too.’
‘We think she left in the night,’ Billy said. ‘She’d booked a trip to Nottingham for us all – said it was to celebrate her fortieth and to say thank you for having them. We were ready to set off yesterday lunchtime but she said she had stomach ache and felt dizzy.’
‘I wanted to stay with her, but she insisted we go,’ Pam added. ‘She said she wouldn’t enjoy her birthday if she cancelled her treat for us. We got back an hour ago and found the note.’
Tara placed her hand on my back and I appreciated the warmth and reassurance from her touch.
‘What do the kids know?’ I asked, wondering where you’d even start to explain something that made so little sense. Yes, I could understand Ingrid’s desperation to try again with Declan. After how upset she’d been in the pub about him, that part wasn’t a surprise. But this wasn’t the way to do it.
‘The twins think their mum’s on holiday but Aaron knows the truth,’ Billy said. ‘He’s the one who found the note.’
My stomach sank to the floor and I could imagine the pain he must have felt from what appeared to be another rejection.
‘I need to see him.’
