The Next Girl(Detective Gina Harte #1)(50)

‘She’s so adorable,’ Cathy said, sweeping back in and putting the kettle on. ‘Tea?’

‘I would love a cup,’ Luke replied. The little one opened her eyes, and for a moment, Luke thought he saw a smile. He knew babies of such a young age didn’t smile and that it was probably just wind, but he smiled back. He wanted her to see her daddy, the one who would be there for her no matter what. The one who was waiting for his wife to come home so that they could be a family.

Cathy placed the cup of hot tea on the side. ‘She likes you.’

‘I like her too. I’d like her to stay.’ He held Isobel in silence for a few minutes, and Cathy watched him feed her. ‘Do you want to have a go?’ he asked.

She nodded and sat at the kitchen table. Luke passed Isobel over.

‘How’s Brooke taking all this?’

‘As good as anyone can. We spoke yesterday. I told her about the baby and Debbie. My life has been turned upside down, I can’t deny that, but for the first time since Debbie went missing, I feel as though I have hope. I want her home. I want her here with me, you and the children.’ I keep picturing us all being here for Christmas, happy, a family again.’

‘When they find her, Luke, it may not be that easy. God knows what she’s been through. But she has a good family. The best.’ The baby turned her face away from the bottle and began to wail. ‘Wind, maybe?’

Luke smiled and nodded. He grabbed a tea towel off the side and threw it over Cathy’s shoulder.

‘What I think I’m trying to say is, we can’t expect too much too soon,’ Cathy said as the baby cried into her ear.

Luke began fiddling with the buckle on the car seat. ‘I know. It’s weird, isn’t it? We’re talking like she’s coming home. We still don’t know where she is. All the police seem to have done is taken my DNA and that’s it.’ He paused and looked down. ‘What if we never find her?’

Isobel burped and stopped crying. Cathy kept bouncing her gently. ‘I’ll never lose hope. All this is happening for a reason. I don’t believe in all that luck stuff, but I feel it, Luke. I know something good is going to happen. We have this beautiful little girl and I know our Debbie will put up the fight of her life to be reunited with her.’

Luke looked away. He knew Cathy was right. Debbie wouldn’t give up on her children, in any circumstances. Wherever she was, he knew she was thinking about home. She would be thinking about her little ones.

‘I know that too, Cathy. Thank you so much for just being you.’ He stood and placed his arm around his mother-in-law, inhaling the milky scent of Isobel. He needed Debbie. Isobel needed her. They all needed her. The thought of doing this without her filled him with dread. His heart raced and he gasped for air. What if she was dead?

Devina walked in, just as the kettle switched itself off. ‘I’ll make the drinks,’ she said as she observed the family taking a moment. Luke took a few deep breaths, finally managing to control himself. He hoped his overwhelmed state wouldn’t go against them having Isobel released into their care.





Thirty-Two





He wiped the crumbs from around her face. To her non-surprise, it had been honey on toast again. He placed the tissue on the floor and walked over towards the slop bucket. He lifted it and left the room. She listened as he walked to the other side of the barn, poured the contents down the loo and pulled the old chain. She dragged the blanket towards her chin, covering the patch on her nightie where her breasts had leaked. The sour smell filled her nostrils.

In the background, she heard the television. The Christmas Coca Cola advert came on. It was almost Christmas, again. Another Christmas would pass without seeing her children. Her eyes began to well up as she remembered past Christmases. She remembered the excitement Luke and she shared when they placed the presents under the tree in the middle of the night, their happiness when they saw their children’s surprised expressions. She wondered if they’d be writing their letters to Father Christmas. Then the television was switched off and the sound of Christmas disappeared.

‘Right. Shower time,’ he said, dropping the bucket back at the foot of her bed. ‘You need to get clean.’ She continued to look beyond him, knowing it was time to remove her nightie so that he could watch her shower. Her legs trembled as she stood. He looked down at the sheets. ‘You’ve dirtied them. How could you? I only gave you new bedding the other day,’ he said, as he rubbed his head and began to pace. She glanced back and noticed the blood-soaked sheet that she’d been lying on. ‘For heaven’s sake. You dirty bitch.’ He stared into her eyes and held his clenched fist in front of her face.

‘I’m sorry.’ She began to weep and tremble. ‘It’s because I had our baby. It’s normal, really it is,’ she said, pleading with him. He opened his fist and moved his hand from in front of her face.

‘You should’ve said something. You’ve just been lying there in filth, all this time. This is not the Debbie I know,’ he muttered as he continued pacing. She stepped back as he turned towards her. ‘I understand. I know what you’re going through and I’m trying to support you wholeheartedly.’ He leaned in towards her. She closed her eyes as he kissed her on the cheek. ‘But it can never happen again.’ He drew back and slapped her across the face. She wanted to flinch, she wanted to yell, she wanted to cry – but there was no point.