On A Dark Sea (The DCI Dani Bevan Detective Novels Book 2) (22 page)

              ‘Go ahead.’ He didn’t have the energy to look stern.

              ‘I decided to make her life a misery instead. I wanted to freak her out, I suppose.’ She took a deep breath. ‘It was me who moved Gabriel’s pram.’

              ‘What?’

              ‘I’d been watching the house and saw that Kristin had left him outside. I didn’t want to hurt him, just scare her a bit, so I ran over and wheeled him into the trees. He didn’t wake up and I was always close by. I certainly didn’t expect her to call the police. It took them
ages
to find him. Bloody idiots.’

              ‘Maisie, that was a very cruel thing to do. Kristin was beside herself.’

              ‘I know. But she didn’t care that
I’d
been pushed out of the family. I wanted her to know what it felt like to lose someone you love. I realise it was wrong now. I’m genuinely sorry.’

              ‘What made you turn up at the house today?’

              ‘I knew you were here on your own. I’ve been keeping an eye on things. I saw Kristin and Gabriel leave. I just needed to pluck up the courage to face you.’

              ‘I’ve been praying day and night for you to come home. I’d hardly have been angry with you.’

              ‘But I’ve caused so many problems and I upset Kristin. I thought I’d be in trouble.’

              Charles cupped his daughter’s face in his hands. ‘Of course not, to have you here with me is a miracle. We must tell your mother, we can’t let her go on suffering.’

              ‘Being in the cabin has given me time to think. I still don’t feel I can live with her, but I realise that Mum was only doing her best.’

              ‘Good, because she loves you very much, you mustn’t ever doubt that. Now, I’ve been doing some thinking myself. I’m going to move back to Scotland. It will have to be Aberdeen I’m afraid, because that’s the only place I’ll get work. You can come and live with me. We’ll find you a good school nearby.’

              ‘What about Gabriel?’ Maisie looked concerned.

              ‘I’ll see him regularly. The flight from Aberdeen to Stavanger is very short.’

              ‘I don’t want you to do that. He’s just a baby. I can’t be responsible for taking his dad away from him. I’ve been watching the little guy during the time I’ve been in the cabin. He’s really sweet. I want to get to know him better.’

              Charles was puzzled. ‘What are you suggesting?’

              ‘We can stay here. I can go to a local school. I like it in Norway, I feel happy here and I want to get to know my little brother. I don’t want to leave the forest.’

              ‘I’m sure that desire will change, but for now it would make sense. I don’t want to live apart from you
or
Gabriel. But what about your mother? We can’t abandon her completely.’

              Maisie smiled. ‘She’s got Phil to look after her. Having some time on their own to get to know each other better would do them both good.’

              ‘I thought you were worried about Georgie Boag?’              ‘It’s not like her dad will be going anywhere and when I thought about Phil, while I was in my cabin, I remembered how sad he always seemed, at home in that big house by himself. Mrs Boag doesn’t need anyone else. The school is all that matters to her. Georgie can have two mums.’

              Charles nodded and patted Maisie on the knee. ‘That’s enough talk for now. Let me make you up a bed for the night. I want to be allowed to look after you for a while, before the outside world descends upon us.’ He stood up.

              ‘I’d love that, but before I go to bed, can I use the phone? I’d really like to ring Mum.’

*

                © Katherine Pathak, All Rights Reserved, 2015

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Katherine.

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