His Silence : His Silence - Chapter 90 by Jacob1395 |
‘I knew he’d said something to you that day I took you to the prison,’ Michael says wiping his eyes. He coughs. ‘I didn’t believe for a second you and Callum were going to Leigh on Sea for a day trip. You know Callum's Dad’s been sick with worry these past two weeks, he’s been ringing us every day to see if we’ve heard from you.’ There’s tension in his voice as he speaks. I know he’s not angry at me, he’s angry at himself for not being there to protect me. Guilt gnaws at my chest. Did he speak to Emma about his concerns when we left the house the other week? If he had, Emma would’ve been beside herself. She would’ve been ringing me up, telling me to come back. Emma rubs his shoulder. ‘You should’ve spoken to us, Danielle, before running off to this place on what could’ve been a wild goose chase,’ she says, her voice cracking. ‘I know I should’ve but, I . . . I didn’t want to worry you, I didn’t . . . I didn’t think things would turn out the way they did.’ I take in a steady breath; I knew this conversation was going to be tough. Thank God Callum’s already explained to them what happened. At least I don’t have to go through that with them, having to explain what Harvey told me; everything I found out from Mary. I think of her languishing in a cell somewhere. She must be thinking about me, how I ruined everything for her. She’s probably plotting how she’s going to take her revenge, even if she'll only ever be able to think about it in her head. Emma scrunches her empty water bottle in her hand. ‘All last week I thought you were travelling,’ she says, shaking her head. ‘Those text messages you kept sending me, they were all lies.’ There’s disbelief etched in her voice. ‘I had to go there,’ I say, trying to keep my voice calm. ‘If there was a slim possibility Harvey might be innocent, I had to help him, and I’ve been desperate to find the truth for years, you know that. If I’d spoken to the police, or spoken to you, things might’ve . . . I might never have got to the truth. And now it turns out Harvey might not be my full brother but my half-brother.’ I pick up the glass of water on my bedside table and take a sip, closing my eyes as the cool liquid rushes down my throat. ‘Well, the media have certainly taken an interest,’ Emma says, her voice a little stiff. ‘It’s going to be hard to avoid them outside the hospital, then they’re going to probably end up camping outside our house, once they know where we live.’ She sighs and chucks her water bottle in the bin beside my bedside cabinet. ‘I know why you had to do what you did, Danielle, but if you’d spoken to us, we could’ve helped, we wouldn’t have let you put yourself in danger.’ ‘I’m sorry.’ It’s all I can say. If I’d spoken about it to Michael and Emma, they’d have insisted on calling the police, the police wouldn’t have listened and I would’ve been back to square one. I keep the thought to myself. ‘Well, we should be able to go home this afternoon, if you’re OK with that?’ Michael asks. ‘Once the police have taken a statement from you, of course, but only if you’re up to talking to them.’ I nod. ‘Yep, that’s fine, I think . . . I think it’s time I started calling you both Mum and Dad don’t you think?’ Emma’s eyes widen. She glances across at Michael and then back to me. ‘Oh, of course, darling, but, you honestly don’t have to, we’ve never . . .’ I shake my head. ‘No, I want to. You’re the ones who’ve always been there for me. You’re my family.’ Silence stretches out between us, before a wide smile breaks out across Emma’s lips. ‘Well, of course, sweetheart, um, think I’m just gonna grab a coffee, I won’t be one moment.’ She hurries out of the room, keeping her head down. Michael reaches out and squeezes my hand. His eyes turn watery again. ‘She’ll be alright,’ he says. ‘We’re just glad you’re safe and that you didn’t come to any harm. Whatever comes next, we can deal that.' ‘I know.’ I relax into my pillows. For the first time in my life, I feel like things are going to be alright. All these years I’ve been searching for the truth; I’ve felt disconnected from Emma and Michael, when really they’ve been my true family all this time. I’ve just failed to see that.
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