His Silence - Chapter 27

‘So where’ve you booked to go first?’ Emma asks me, excitement in her voice.

I lean against the kitchen worktop, taking a sip of my tea, breathing in its comforting scent. Emma’s looking at me with wide eyes as she wipes her hand on a tea towel. She hangs it back on the oven handle. My chest tightens. No, I won’t have a panic attack. Everything’s going to be fine. I’ll be leaving in half an hour.

‘We’ve booked Italy first, we’re gonna do Spain next, then we’re gonna move onto Austria and Hungary, all around there basically. I fancy Croatia as well. Everyone keeps saying it’s nice there. We’ve got a few hostels booked along the way, so nothing too dear.’ I decided it would be best to say we’re going to Europe rather than further afield.

Emma picks up a plate with crumbs on the surface from the worktop and places it in the dishwasher. ‘The flights weren’t too dear were they? You know if you’d booked this for another few months, you probably would’ve got them cheaper,’ she says, flinging the dishwasher shut.

‘I’ve got savings, when was the last time I splashed out on myself?’ I take a sip of my tea.

She holds her hands out in defence and takes a step back. ‘I’m just saying, just saying. Well you make sure to keep us updated with lots of pictures. Call us as often as you can, and if you have got some money left over why don’t you treat yourself to somewhere nice to stay at the end of the holiday?’

‘I’ll try,’ I reply, taking another sip of my tea.

‘But most importantly, have fun,’ she says.

I smile and drift into the hallway, breathing a sigh of relief. If only we were going away on a holiday to Europe. My green suitcase is by the front door. I glance back towards Emma, guilt gnawing at my heart. I hate lying to her, but what other choice do I have? There’s no way she and Michael would approve of what we’re really doing, Emma would be worried sick. I want to protect them. I don’t want them to be distressed. Everything’s going to be fine. Before I know it I’ll be back home.

Callum’s car arrives outside at quarter to nine.

‘Have a lovely time,’ Emma says, hugging me. I breathe in the familiar scent of her perfume, wishing I could stay in this position for a few moments longer. It won’t be for long. You’ll be back soon.

I hug Michael.

‘Stay safe,’ he says, tightening his grip on me. His heartbeat reverberates against mine, I shiver. Why do I have the feeling he has some sort of inkling of what we’re up to?

I head through the front porch, slipping my feet into my trainers and step outside. Emma and Michael both step out of the house to see us off. Michael wraps his arms around Emma’s shoulders. She’s not going to relax until she gets a text from me telling her we’re ok.

‘Got everything?’ Callum asks, getting out of the car. He’s wearing his ray ban sunglasses. There’s no excitement in his voice. I resist the urge to look back at Emma and Michael. They won’t notice, they won’t notice.

‘Yep,’ I say.

I dump my suitcase in the boot and wave to Emma and Michael. They think we’ll be landing in Italy at around two o’clock in the afternoon, UK time. Callum waves at them before sliding back into the car. I don’t have to do this. I could tell Emma and Michael I’ve changed my mind, go back into the house. I push the thought further away. Harvey needs me. 

‘You’ve not received any more correspondence from Harvey, have you?’ he asks.

I shake my head and plug my seatbelt in. ‘Nope, nothing.’ Callum sighs and grips the steering wheel. ‘Callum, I did say to you that you have to be certain you want to go through with this. If you want to you can drop me off at the house and drive home.’ I keep my voice soft. I don’t want to make him angry. Not now. Emma and Michael better not have heard me.

‘No, don’t worry, it’s fine, it is,’ he says. ‘Right I s’pose we better get going.’

Please don’t say he’s already having second thoughts. I watch Michael and Emma go back into the house, sit back into my seat and close my eyes as Callum steers the car onto the road.