Page 56 of Take Me Away

Maisie turns pleading eyes to her father. ‘Please, Dad? Just one? It’s not like I can post it anywhere, you won’t let me have any cool apps.’

Kit’s gaze flicks to me, then back to his daughter. ‘One picture,’ he says finally. ‘But it stays on your phone.’ His gaze meets mine. ‘Isla, is it wise for people to know where you are?’ Is he concerned for me? Or his daughter? His gaze is inscrutable.

He’s got a point, though.

‘Maisie.’ I give her a bright smile. ‘I’d love to have my picture with you, but can you promise me you’ll only show it to your best friend, Lily?’

‘Yes!’ Maisie pumps her fist, already pulling out her phone. ‘Dad, can you take it?’

Kit looks like he’d rather wrestle a shark, but accepts the phone with a resigned sigh. Maisie bounces over to my side, throwing an arm around my shoulders. I lean down so we are close together. She smells of shampoo, golden syrup and innocence.

‘Smile,’ Kit instructs, holding up the phone.

I arrange my features into what I hope is a natural expression, but I doubt it matters because Maisie’s smile is bright enough for the both of us.

‘Got it,’ Kit says, handing the phone back to Maisie, who studies the result with satisfaction.

‘Perfect!’ she declares. ‘Thanks, Isla!’

‘You’re welcome.’

‘We need to go,’ Kit says, checking his watch. ‘School starts in twenty minutes.’

‘But Isla—’ Maisie begins.

‘I’m fine,’ I assure Maisie, whose expression has fallen. ‘I need to get back to the cottage anyway, see how bad the damage is.’

‘Will your foot be okay to walk on?’ she asks, concern furrowing her brow.

‘I’ll manage. Maybe your dad has some painkillers I can take. All Maggie’s were out of date and went in the bin.’ Along with all the other toiletries I found in the bathroom when I arrived. It felt like a sin throwing her cold cream into the trash, but at the same time I’m not sure Pond’s Cold Cream is supposed to sit with its cap half screwed on for a few years and still be used. Throwing away Maggie’s belongings is just another layer of guilt for me to contend with.

Kit’s expression is unreadable as he helps Maisie gather her backpack and lunch.

Am I supposed to leave with them?

Should I wash up?

Not knowing what I should be doing, I start to gather their plates.

‘Leave those,’ Kit says. ‘I’ll deal with them later.’

‘It’s the least I can do,’ I insist. ‘You made breakfast. You gave up your bed.’

He just nods once before turning his attention back to Maisie.

‘Coat,’ he reminds her. ‘It’s supposed to rain again later.’

‘Again.’ She rolls her eyes and I love her for it. ‘Bye, Isla!’ she says, stepping over to me and wrapping me in another quick hug before bouncing towards the door. ‘Feel better!’

‘Bye, Maisie.’ I smile. ‘Thanks for the hospitality.’

Kit hesitates in the doorway, keys in hand. ‘There’s painkillers in the cabinet above the sink if you need them,’ he says stiffly before turning to Maisie and saying, ‘She’ll be fine.’

Then they’re gone, the door closing behind them with a soft click. I stand in their kitchen, surrounded by the remnants of a family breakfast I had no right to be part of.

I wash the dishes quickly. I don’t know where things go and am resisting all urges to look through Kit’s cupboards, so I leave a neat pile of clean plates and knives and forks on the table. I do take two painkillers from the cabinet, before locating my bag. Kit has placed it by the front door beside my trainers, still caked in mud from our slow walk up the lane in the storm.

Right. I can do this.