“Where the hell are you, you prick?”
I unlocked the door and flung it open to see Sam standing with his back to me, looking around the garden which was lit up by the security light.
“Sam,” I called. “Has he gone?”
Sam turned and stalked toward me, his arms outstretched. “Are you okay? Is Frankie okay?” As he reached me, he took hold of my biceps and stooped down to look me in the eyes. “The truth, Maisie.”
“He’s fine,” I croaked out. “We’re both fine, just scared. He wouldn’t stop banging on the door and shouting and banging and-.”
“Hey, hey,” Sam soothed. “Calm down, he’s gone now. I think he jumped the fence.” He nodded toward the fence where my garden bench was pushed up against it.
“He’s definitely gone?” I asked, my eyes searching the garden warily.
“Yes, he’s not here, I promise. Come on let’s get you inside.”
Gently he ushered me inside and when I moved over to the table I heard the door lock behind me. As I wrapped my arms around my stomach, I felt Sam’s hand on my shoulder.
“Sit down and I’ll get you a brandy or something. Do you have any brandy?”
I looked up at him and shook my head. “I’ve got some vodka in the cupboard over the fridge, but I don’t want any.”
“Just a shot,” he said, moving away from me. “Just to calm your nerves.”
“Mummy,” Frankie’s tiny voice came from the doorway.
I pushed off the chair and went to him, kneeling down in front of him and pulling him into a tight hug.
“It’s okay sweetheart, he’s gone. Sam checked and he’s not here.”
Frankie looked over my shoulder and I sensed that Sam was behind me.
“Has he really gone?” Frankie asked.
The next thing I knew, Sam was crouching down next to me. “Yes buddy, he’s gone.”
My gaze shot to the man next to me, and I felt my breath hitch as I saw how his eyes were full of warmth and comfort as he watched his son. This man who didn’t want to be a father, who’d told me over eight years ago there was no way he could be a father, was looking at Frankie like a father looked at a son.
“But what if he comes back?” Frankie asked, bringing my attention back to him.
I drew in a jagged breath, my heart sinking at the sound of my little boy’s fear. I released him slightly and looked directly into his eyes.
“You don’t need to be scared, Frankie,” I whispered. “I will never let him hurt you, I swear.”
“Neither of us will,” Sam added.
The sound of his deep voice and the words he said made my heart miss a beat. Having him here made me realise how hard it was doing this alone and how Josh had never really supported me. Sam’s four words gave me more comfort than Josh had ever done in almost four years.
“Did you call the policeman?” Frankie asked.
I looked to Sam who gave Frankie a comforting smile. “I did, they said they’d keep a look out for him.”
Sam gave Frankie’s shoulder a squeeze and then looked at me. There was something off in his gaze as his jaw tightened.
“Hey,” I said brightly, turning back to my son. “How about you go and get back into bed and read a book for a little while. There’s no school tomorrow, so you can have your light on for half an hour, okay?”
He gave me a grin and nodded. “Can I have my iPod too?”
“I don’t think so,” I said around a quiet laugh. “Don’t push it. A book and that’s it.”
