His Silence - Chapter 26

Emma picks up the fan and starts flapping it in front of her face.

‘You’re very quiet this afternoon, sweetie,’ she says.

I glance across at her, rubbing sweat from my forehead, in the distance there’s the thrum of a lawn mower. My mind keeps drifting to my conversation with Max a couple of days ago, particularly his revelation about the DNA. What if the police officer was just spouting lies about it because of the way he was treated by the force? He could’ve been saying it to try and bring them into disrepute.

‘Just thinking,’ I reply, picking up my glass of lemonade. I take a sip.

‘Have you and Callum spoken anymore about going away?’ she asks.

She’s looking at me with the biggest smile. She wants me to take this opportunity and go. If only she knew what I was planning.  

‘Yep, we’ve been talking about it.’ I shift in my seat, I haven’t mentioned it to Callum since we spoke on the way back from Leigh on Sea, and he’s not asked me. This is beginning to drive a wedge between us. The last thing I want is to harm our friendship. He’s already done so much for me. If there’s any chance we might have some deeper relationship after this, I don’t want . . . I don’t want to lose that chance. I tighten my grip on my glass.

‘Well, remember, like my mum used to always say, you’re a long time dead, seize the opportunity and go for it,’ Emma says.

I stare at the end of the garden.

‘I’m going to call him now,’ I say, getting up.

‘Go for it, Danielle. I’m jealous, wish I was young and free like you guys are. I’ll have to talk to Michael about booking a Saga cruise while you’re away.’ She laughs and closes her eyes. Perhaps she’s thinking if Callum and I do go away it might put my mind off Harvey.

I pull out my phone as I head back towards the house. Michael’s making himself a sandwich in the kitchen. There are a couple of sheets of paper on the kitchen table, he’s been writing ideas down. He never could give up writing songs, even though he doesn’t play live much anymore.

‘Did you want anything, while I’ve got the bread out?’ he asks as I breeze past.

I shake my head. ‘No don’t worry, just got a call I need to make.

I race up the stairs and dial Callum’s number. He answers as I sit on my bed.

‘Hiya,’ he says.

I sigh. ‘Look, Callum I really, really want to go back to the house. I understand you’ve got your own life and if you don’t want to come with me then . . . that’s fine. But I’m telling you, with or without your help, I’m going.’

There’s silence. He’s going to hate me for putting him on the spot like this. He’s got to come with me. He’s got to. I close my eyes then open them again.

‘Look, how many weeks are you thinking?’ he asks.

I squeeze my duvet. ‘I dunno, Callum, I guess, a minimum of three to four weeks.

There’s another pause. ‘OK, I s’pose I could talk to work, I still haven’t booked off any holiday yet this year. The problem with you sometimes, Danielle is you’re stubborn. Once you get an idea into your head, there’s no one who can change your mind.’ I’m stubborn. He’s never told me that before. I pick at the corner of my eye. Maybe I am.

‘You have to really want to do this Callum. I don’t want to put any pressure on you.’

‘Do you think there’s any way I’m gonna let you go back to that place on your own? I know how important finding out what happened to your family is to you, but promise me this, after four weeks is up we’re leaving, no matter if you haven’t found anything out, that’s it.’

I swallow. ‘Of course.’ I don’t want to stay there any longer than I have to.

‘Let me speak to work and I’ll get back to you.’   

‘Callum, I –’ the phone goes dead before I finish my sentence.

I’m shaking. If work can’t give him the time off I’m going to have to go on my own, no matter what he says. I find Luke’s details in my phone, I think about texting him, but call him instead.

‘Danielle, this is a pleasant surprise,’ he says, I can almost hear the smile in his voice.

‘Hi, I’ve had a chance to think about Oliver’s offer, and I’d love to take up a temporary room,’ I say.

‘That’s excellent news,’ Luke says. ‘Oliver will be overjoyed. When do you think you’ll be able to come?’

‘The earliest would be week after next, I’ve gotta get stuff sorted out here first.’

‘I understand, would it just be you, or your friend, Callum, wasn’t it, as well?’

‘Callum would like to come,’ I say. He might not. I ignore the voice in my head. He will. He won’t let me down.

‘Well, a week should give us plenty of time to get everything organised. I’ll speak to Oliver and we’ll get sleeping arrangements sorted.’

‘Thank you,’ I say.

‘That’s no problem, Danielle. We can’t wait to have you as part of the community here again.’            

I end the call, get up from my bed, and check outside my room to make sure Emma wasn’t listening in. I edge into their bedroom and stare out the window. She and Michael are sitting in the garden eating their sandwiches. The sound of the lawnmower starts up again. Am I doing the right thing? A banging voice in my head overrides my fears. You want to find out what happened. This is the only way.