The Woman Who Lied(38)
It was ironically at a party, something she usually tried to avoid, where they got talking. Her flatmate had dragged her along. Ash was standing in the corner, nursing some kind of blue drink and looking around with a neutral expression. When Daisy walked in, their eyes locked, and they held each other’s gaze for what seemed like an eternity, until the spell was broken by someone walking between them. She could only watch in horror as a pretty girl with a short skirt and a see-through shirt showing off a lacy bra made her way to Ash, cigarette in one hand and a plastic cup in the other. Daisy couldn’t hear what they were saying but, to her delight, Ash ditched the girl and walked over to where she, Daisy, was standing.
‘I hate parties. Do you want to get out of here?’
She could only nod, her heart pounding with excitement, the sound of the White Stripes still ringing in her ears.
They talked all night in Daisy’s room, slowly revealing more and more about themselves as the cheap lager flowed. She was surprised when Ash told her about a breakdown and a short stay in a psychiatric ward as a teenager. Daisy was careful not to mention her mother’s murder. She’d once made the mistake at primary school of telling some of her friends about it, and the looks of horror and pity they exchanged made her never want to tell anyone again. She felt as if she was tarnished with bad luck and that it might be catching.
They were kindred spirits, Daisy and Ash. Ash and Daisy. Inseparable after that party.
But more than anything, it was down to Fate that they met.
Because if they hadn’t, she’d never have found the Doodle Man.
25
According to Elliot, Jasmine and Nancy had walked into the house bedraggled, contrite and bracing themselves for a telling-off.
‘I’m sorry to waste your time,’ Emilia says, to Louise and PC Bryan, as they file out of Jonas’s house, although she knows she doesn’t sound very apologetic. She’s too ecstatic that her precious daughter is at home where she belongs. That’s all she cares about right now. She’s euphoric with relief. She could take on the world.
PC Bryan says she’s just happy that they’ve been found safe, then hurries off to her car, but Louise stops in the front garden, the sun catching the red in her short dark hair. ‘It was no bother,’ she says. ‘I’m glad I could help, and I’m just so pleased they’re okay. But tell that daughter of yours not to do anything like that again or I’ll have to have strict words.’ She winks at Emilia and gives her a hug before getting into her little red Fiat 500. Emilia waves her off and turns to the others, who are standing in a patch of sunlight on the pavement outside Jonas and Kristin’s house. Kristin has hold of Jonas’s hand proprietorially.
‘I can’t believe they did this,’ Kristin says, shivering slightly. There is a chill in the air despite the sun, and she never seems to wear warm enough clothes. ‘What were they thinking? They must have known they’d get found out.’
‘That’s what I want to know,’ says Marcie, her chin set determinedly, her tears now forgotten. She turns to Emilia. ‘Can we come back to yours?’
Emilia can’t feel cross with the girls, not yet. She’s too relieved that they’re home, that they haven’t been kidnapped by her stalker. ‘Of course. Elliot’s making them something to eat and he’ll keep an eye on them until we get back.’ She turns to where Jonas is standing with Kristin. ‘Maybe you should come too. Show a united front?’
A cloud passes across his face. ‘Will Elliot be okay with that?’
‘Of course,’ she lies. Elliot won’t like it one bit, but tough.
Jonas reaches into his jeans for his car keys. Kristin steps forwards too, but Jonas shakes his head at her. ‘I think it’s best you stay here, darling.’
Kristin’s face falls, and Emilia can tell she’s inwardly seething but doesn’t want to make a scene in front of Marcie and Frank. ‘Fine,’ she says, white-lipped. ‘She’s your daughter. Whatever you think is best.’ She turns on her heeled boots and marches back into the house before Jonas has a chance to reply. He raises an eyebrow at Emilia but doesn’t say anything.
They drive in convoy to Emilia’s house. Jasmine and Nancy are sitting at the kitchen island, looking small, with their fingers wrapped around mugs of hot chocolate when they all rush in.
‘I’m going to take Wilfie to the park,’ says Elliot, tactfully, steering Wilfie away from the others. Despite his feelings towards Jonas, he’s polite and shakes his hand as he leaves the room, which Emilia is relieved about.
‘Is Jas going to get told off?’ she hears her son ask hopefully, as he follows his dad into the hallway.
‘Thank God,’ cries Marcie, enveloping Nancy in a hug. ‘We were so worried.’
Jasmine looks up sheepishly when she notices her parents, and slides off her stool, running into their arms. ‘I’m sorry,’ she says, bursting into tears as they both embrace her in a group hug. Emilia doesn’t ever want to let go. Thank you, thank you, thak you, she thinks, inhaling her daughter’s familiar scent mixed with something earthy and unwashed.
Jonas is the first to release her. ‘What were you thinking?’ he says, sternly but gently.
‘Yes,’ agrees Emilia. ‘What the hell happened? We’ve all been out of our minds with worry. Where have you been?’