Page 18 of The Christmas Star

He snorted. ‘Just.’

‘There you go then. He’s old enough to know better. And what’s Mum gonna do? Introduce him to the dangers of knit and purl? Make him watch Countdown?’ I knew I was being childish, but thanks to the day that kept on giving, I couldn’t help myself. ‘Tell me, if she’s such a bad influence, how come Jackson keeps coming around?’

‘If Jackson’s such a bad kid, why does Maeve keep letting him in?’

As we both looked at each other, our gazes fixed, my chest felt light. I’d met some obstinate men in my time but Theo beat them all. But regardless of Jackson’s guilt, I supposed it was only natural Theo would stick up for his son and rather than continue in a game of who’s going to blink first, I took a deep breath and to the count of three exhaled. ‘Bickering isn’t going to help us find anyone,’ I said. ‘Whoever’s to blame, we still have to figure out where they could’ve gone.’

Theo kept his silence a few seconds more as if weighing me up. ‘You’re right,’ he finally said. ‘And again, I apologise.’ Like me, he rested his forearms on the table. ‘So, we agree they’re together? We definitely don’t think them both being AWOL is a coincidence?’

‘I don’t believe in coincidences.’ I got up from my seat and reached for the kettle. ‘Tea?’

Theo nodded and I set about making it.

‘Black? White? Sugar?’ I asked.

‘White please.’

‘Hang on a minute.’ Stirring milk into the cups, I paused. ‘Isn’t there a way of tracking their phones?’

‘Of course.’ Theo’s eyes lit up. ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ He pulled his mobile from his pocket and I grabbed mine from the table. ‘I’ve got him on a Find My Friends type set-up.’ Theo’s thumb slid across his screen as he accessed what he needed. He threw his free hand in the air. ‘He’s blocked me from seeing.’

Hoping to find Mum’s whereabouts, my phone also led me to a dead-end. ‘Bugger. I need Mum’s permission to see it.’ Pointless exercise or not, I sent the location request regardless.

‘What about Maeve’s friends?’ Theo asked. ‘Could she and Jackson be out delivering Christmas cards?’

‘Mum doesn’t have friends as such. She and Dad always kept to themselves.’ I handed Theo his drink and sat down. ‘What about Jackson? It’s a stretch, but might they be visiting someone he knows?’

‘I doubt it. He’s a bit of a loner.’

Wrapping my hands around my mug, I pictured Jackson scurrying away every time I turned up. There’s a surprise, I thought to myself.

As if reading my mind, Theo flashed me a look. ‘We’ve just moved here. Getting to know people takes time.’

‘What about Jackson’s mum? Could they have gone to see her?’

‘Not possible.’

I waited for Theo to expand, but rather than divulge he drank a mouthful of tea.

‘I don’t get it. Jackson’s a good lad,’ he said, pensive. ‘Yes, he’s had his difficulties. What kid hasn’t? But he’s never disappeared before.’

My eyes narrowed. ‘What difficulties?’

‘And moving here was meant to be a fresh start.’

‘What kind of fresh start?’ Truancy, drugs, crime… my mind raced with all sorts of theories as to what they’d left behind. I’d said all along Mum had been too trusting.

Theo looked at me direct, his expression earnest. ‘Jackson would never do anything to hurt Maeve.’

Hearing Theo dodge my question did nothing to allay my fears and I had to wonder if Jackson’s issues were the reason Theo had banged on my door at the sight of a police car.

‘He wouldn’t do anything to hurt anyone.’

I recalled the glimpses I’d seen of Mum and Jackson. Her teasing him because of the holes in his jeans. Him returning the favour because holes were the latest in fashion. Mum and Jackson made quite the double act when they got going and whether I liked it or not, theirs seemed to be a friendship that worked.

‘Of course he wouldn’t.’ I fiddled with my collar and shifted in my seat. ‘Like you say, they’re friends.’

CHAPTER 14