“No, not at all. He was the one who knew he shouldn’t have taken you.” Maisie’s voice cracked and she looked at me over the top of his head.
“But he said you’d said it was okay because you were at work and Nanna couldn’t pick me up.”
When Frankie let out another shuddering cry, I pushed my arm through the two front seats to the back where he and Maisie were huddled together. I placed my hand on his back, feeling the rise and fall of his sobs and I had to force myself not to push over the seats and wrap them both in my arms. I hated seeing my boy so upset, and I hated seeing how much pain Maisie had been in – I wanted to protect them both with my life.
As I tried to regulate my breathing and remember that he was safe, a soft, warm palm cupped my cheek.
“He’s okay,” Maisie whispered. “We have him back.”
I nodded and swallowed hard. “I know.”
As we both stared at each other, Frankie lifted his head and sniffled.
“Can I have ice cream when I get home?”
His voice was quiet and timid, but the glint in his eyes was one I recognised from myself, and I let out a laugh.
Maisie rolled her eyes, holding Frankie away from her body and looking into his face. “You can’t trick me Frankie James West. It’s bed time when you get home and you know it,” she said, with a little smile tipping her lips up at the corners. “Maybe tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Frankie sighed and snuggled back against her.
I watched them both and felt something in my world shift. My heart had never felt so full and despite the absolute fear that we’d experienced for the last few hours, I didn’t think I’d ever felt more content. This kid was working his way into my soul. Every day he claimed another little piece of my heart, and with each piece he took, my guilt grew at a rapid rate. He had no idea I was his dad and that was all on me for being stupid and selfish, for being pathetic when I should have been strong and supportive.
Clearing my throat, I pulled my hand away from Frankie’s back and started the car.
“I told the police if they need to question him, they can’t do it until tomorrow. Is that okay?” I looked at Maisie through the rear view mirror, wondering if I’d over stepped the mark when she didn’t answer immediately.
“Yes,” she finally breathed out. “That’s fine, Sam.”
I waited to see if she was going to say anything else, but when her head dropped to rest against Frankie’s, I put the car in gear and drove them home.
* * *
Frankie had been in bed for almost an hour and I was still finding it difficult to leave. I was fucking scared beyond belief that Josh would be let out and make his way back to the house. Every little sound had me jumping up from my seat on the sofa and going to the window, or standing in the hallway and listening.
“Do you think they’ll let him out?” Maisie asked, worrying her bottom lip.
“They’d better fucking hadn’t,” I growled. “But I doubt it.”
“So why are you so edgy then?” She managed a small smile, but I knew she was just as worried.
“I think I should stay again,” I said firmly. “Until we know for sure what’s happening with him.”
I was surprised when Maisie didn’t argue, but nodded. “Don’t know about you, but I fancy a drink. You want one?” she asked.
“When you say drink, you talking about alcohol, because I’ve got to be honest Maisie after tonight, I could murder one.”
“Alcohol it is then,” she replied. “I think we both deserve one.”
* * *
After almost half a bottle of vodka between us, my gut was warm and my head light. In fact, everything felt warm and relaxed. Maisie’s cheeks were also pinker than usual and she was laughing loudly at pretty much everything I said. She was currently giggling as I told her the story of when Elijah and I were fourteen and sixteen and went skinny dipping on holiday and our clothes floated out to sea.
“So what did you do?” she asked, leaning closer.
We’d somehow both ended up on the sofa, at opposite ends, and Maisie had her legs up with her tiny feet almost touching my thighs.
“What else could we do? We ran to the hotel and scared half the resort to death as we streaked through with our white arses on show. Mum and Dad went ballistic with us when we got back.”
