“Will you be going back now?”
“I don’t know,” I replied.
No, absolutely not.
Mum and Jasper were still behind me. We hadn’t spoken since we arrived when the plan had always been to go back. I was in a much different place now, not to mention the fact that I was an adult.
“Do you still have those memories here?”
“They’re quieter now. I’ve spent a long time working on myself. My past will always be there, but it won’t define me or what I want for my future.”
“Are you angry that Cole was hauled off to the station?”
“I’m not angry at the police—they should look into every allegation against a child,always—but I’m angry with my father for trying to tar Cole with the same brush. Cole was my lifeline growing up. He wouldn’t hurt me. Thank you for listening. I’m going to wait for him now.”
As I turned around, I was surprised that no one called my name. No one asked Mum or Jasper to answer any questions.
I blew out a breath as I walked away, shocked and proud that I’d managed to do that without too much anxiety. But this was for Cole.
Mum closed the door and hugged me. “Darling, you were brilliant.”
I shook my hands. “Yeah, you think they’re going to be rooting for Cole?”
“They already were,” Jasper said, squeezing my shoulder. “You have the heart of everyone, Oakley. Read a paper once in a while. Re-join the twenty-first century and get on social media.”
I turned my nose up. “I’m good, thanks.”
“How did it go?” Mia asked, hope big in her eyes.
“She did amazing. No one will believe the shit that wanker is saying now,” Jasper replied.
“Language!” Mum scolded. Miles smirked behind her.
What would happen to them if I didn’t go back to Australia?
There was so much to consider. Mum and Jasper would follow me around the world, as they’d proved, but I couldn’t ask them to.
It was time for them to live for something other than me.
Chapter 24
Oakley
“Call Jenna again,” I told Mum for the third time in about three minutes.
Mia put her hand over mine. It’d been two hours now.
Two long hours. I probably had grey hairs and a stomach ulcer by now.
How many questions could they be asking him? They’d be thorough, I knew that, but this was taking too long.
They had to believe him. I gave my statement, and he was going to say the exact same thing. What we’ve said would match and then what else was there to do?
“They’ll call when they’re on their way,” Mia said. “Have faith. This is going to work out.”
“Why aren’t you clawing your skin off, too?” I asked.
“Because he’ll be home soon.”
