Page 73 of Knowing You
‘Home?’ I stare at Tim. ‘You said you were my friend. Now I’ll get into trouble.’
‘Tim did the right thing,’ says the police officer. ‘It’s very dangerous out here at night. And your mum would have been so panicked, finding out that you’d gone.’
‘No she wouldn’t,’ I mumble. ‘She’s got Ryan.’
‘Violet. I’m sorry,’ says Tim. ‘You’re a great little girl, but this is for the best. I thought about it all day. I was just going to do a runner. But I’d have been worried knowing that you were here, on your own, waiting for me. I went down to the police station and then ran all the way back here so that you weren’t on your own if you got here early and the police or your mum hadn’t arrived. One day, you’ll understand – I promise.’
‘Adults’ promises don’t mean much. Uncle Kevin promised he’d be home at Christmas.’
The police officer jerks her head. ‘Come on. My colleague, Paul, he’s waiting for you down on the ground. He’s just spoken to your mum who can’t wait to see you. She’s really worried.’
‘I’m going to get told off.’ Tears slide down my face.
‘No, you aren’t,’ she says softly. ‘Your mum will just be really pleased to have you back safely.’
The police officer tells me her name is Clare and takes my rucksack whilst I climb down the ladder. The man called Paul helps me down the last few steps. Flint’s not around. I’ll have to wait until I see him tomorrow and ask where he went.
Clare says something to Tim about him going to the station with one of her friends and making a statement. The police would then find him a hostel. I wonder if that’s something Tim’s lost.
Tim gives me a quick hug. As usual he smells. I don’t mind. Never have. I thought he was my friend, but I’m on my own again. Apart from Flint.
‘Take care,’ he says. ‘Things will get better. Your life won’t always be like this.’
Clare and Paul take me home. Mum must have rung Ryan. He’s waiting in the hallway when I walk in. I stare at the floor, waiting for angry words. I say it was Flint’s fault. That he persuaded me to do it. I feel bad but I bet his mum’s so cool she won’t be cross.
Instead of telling me off, Mum’s crying and I can hardly understand what she’s saying. She gives me the tightest hug and tells me how much she loves me. She asks Ryan to make hot chocolate.
Ryan crouches on his knees and stares me straight in the face.
He’s been crying too.
I don’t know what to say.
He pulls off my woolly hat and says what a sensible girl I was to dress up warmly. He asks if I want a biscuit with my drink as a special treat. I nod.
Clare and I go into the lounge. There is another woman there from something called Social Services. I have to sit with her on my own for a minute. She asks me about the bruises. About Mum hitting me.
Apparently Tim thought I was making it up. Over the last two weeks, I’ve talked to him about Alice and he worked out it was her and her friends.
But for some reason the woman has to hear me say that it wasn’t Mum.
I do. She believes me. Not long after that, she leaves but we might have to meet again.
Secretly I’m glad to be home again. Mum ran me a bath using her fancy bubbles. I’m glad until she tucks me up in bed and says tomorrow we need to talk about Flint. And that she’ll be making an appointment with someone next week who will make me realise that Flint isn’t really a good friend at all.
Chapter 30
There is a chair in front of the dressing table. Farah pulls it over to my bedside. She and Irfan leave. Kath sits down. She takes off her summer rain jacket and puts her handbag on the floor.
‘Lenny actually came to get you?’
‘He was looking for Bella. He came up and asked if I knew where she was. He thought she might be able to help you.’ Kath moves to get comfortable. ‘Lenny seems very worried, and determined to help sort things out. On the way over, he told me how much he’d valued your relationship and that he was mortified at how badly he’d behaved back in February. He didn’t look well. I don’t think he could have slept much last night.’
I couldn’t cope with the idea of Lenny actually caring about me. Not at the moment. It was all too much to take in.
‘Last night, did you enjoy your birthday buffet? I know you were looking forward to having everyone around.’
‘Yes. We missed you though. I believe your big bash last night – things didn’t go to plan.’
