Page 55 of From Now On

He’d kept his eyes trained on the policeman, trying to lip-read.

‘Are you watching that new series with dragons on Netflix?’ the lady had asked.

‘We don’t have a TV,’ Duke had replied, although perhaps they did now. There was one in Aunt Violet’s lounge but she only seemed to switch it on for the news.

‘That’s unusual for kids these days.’ The lady had looked at him differently then, with more sympathy, like he lived in a cult or something.

‘I don’t mind, I like books,’ he had said. She’d asked him who his favourite author was and when he’d told her ‘J. R. R. Tolkien’ she’d totally impressed him with her knowledge of hobbits.

‘You’ve read the series?’ Duke had been delighted.

‘Seen the films,’ she admitted.

It’s only when they’ve been talking about Middle-earth for a few minutes that he realizes he hasn’t been watching the policeman. The policewoman is better at diverting Duke’s attention than Mum ever was. He’s a little bit impressed, although he now has no idea what’s been said on the phone.

The policeman gets back into the car and starts the engine. Duke doesn’t ask where they are going; he’s afraid and then relieved when they pull up outside of Pippa’s. On the kerb, waiting with folded arms, are Aunt Violet and Charlie. Duke climbs slowly out of the car, not sure who to turn to, but then he sees Pippa and he runs to her instead.

‘Let’s get inside; we’ll get everything sorted out,’ she says as she leads him towards his old house.

‘So,’ says the policeman, once they are all crowded into the lounge, ‘who is responsible for Duke?’

Charlie begins to talk but Aunt Violet raises her voice louder. Pippa tries to calm them both but it’s impossible.

Nobody but Duke notices Nina slink in.

‘Okay—’ the policewoman raises her hand ‘—obviously it’s been an incredibly difficult time for your family and I am sorry for your loss. Of course, services don’t have to be involved if amicable and acceptable arrangements are made but you don’t seem to agree on where the children should live and the fact Duke ran away indicates he’s not currently happy. I think I should call—’

‘No. Wait.’ Charlie steps forward. ‘Please, can Aunt Violet and I have a few minutes to talk in the kitchen?’

The policewoman looks to Violet who nods and then they both leave the room.

Nina wraps her arms around Duke and he’s about to tell her he’s pleased to see her too when he feels her squeezing him tightly, too tightly, her fingernails pinching his arms.

The words she whispers in Duke’s ear are cold and hard.

They spin around his brain until they begin to make sense and then for the second time that day he wants to cry.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Nina

Nina knows she is hurting Duke and she is glad. She digs her nails into his upper arms, tightening her grip when he tries to wriggle away. Her mouth finds his ear. Her words hissing angrily,

‘You’re such a fucking idiot. Now we’ll probably be taken into care and split up.’

He stops struggling, his body slack with shock. She pushes him roughly away. He staggers backwards, landing heavily against the sideboard. The wedding photo of Mum and Dad wobbles before toppling over with a smash.

Before Nina can stop him, Duke has righted the frame and is sweeping the fragments of broken glass into his cupped palm.

‘Ouch.’ Duke turns to her, his finger dripping crimson blood.

She watches as the police officers exchange a knowing glance, one of them reaching for her walkie-talkie before hurrying from the room, head down.

Nina had thought living with Aunt Violet was as bad as things could get. Now she thinks things are going to get a whole lot worse.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Charlie

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