It was a slightly odd thing to realise, but it might be that having a life that was easy to separate from Aaron’s would be the key to keeping him in it.

Having a plan of sorts woke her up a bit. She stirred herself to get up and leave, grabbing her car keys as she left the hospital in search of her car, then she drove to the apartment and let herself in to fall on the blue velvet sofa that a few years ago she’d chosen with Will.

As she tried to sleep, she remembered telling Aaron about her relationship with Will, about how their supposed love had been something that built up gradually, over time, and that she found it hard to believe in the kind that took you by surprise in a month or a week. Sleep seemed to get further away instead of closer as she suspected that the empty feeling in the pit of her stomach was nothing to do with missing dinner. It was missing Aaron.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Tense and apprehensive, Aaron was up early on Thursday. His first job was to check his mobile for messages from Clancy or Lee.

Nothing from Lee but his heart hopped to see the text from Clancy. Then he was disappointed to see how brief it was. I’ll be in contact. Did that mean she didn’t expect him to contact her? A glance at his bedside clock told him it was early for a call but he replied to the text: Sorry to hear about the accident. Are you at a hospital? Let me know when I can ring you. xxx

He checked Lee and Daisy’s rooms but was unsurprised to see them empty and undisturbed. He was equally unsurprised that when his landline rang at seven, his usual breakfast time on a workday, that the caller was his mother, voice hushed with strain. ‘Have you heard anything from Lee? When Dad came in after his late shift he said to wait until he woke up at lunchtime and we’d talk then, but do you think we should call the police?’

Aaron’s heart turned over at even discussing that prospect. ‘Surely Lee’s too devoted a dad to have taken Daisy with him if he meant himself harm?’

Yvonne sniffed. ‘So … does that mean Lee and Daisy are somewhere with Alice?’

Then Aaron heard Fergus’s calm voice in the background, regardless that he could have had very little sleep. After a few moments he came on the line. ‘It’s too early to panic. Let’s give him time to contact us at least.’

Aaron agreed. He tried ringing both Lee and Clancy, to no avail, and then rearranged his work so he could be at home today. He had a plan to put together for a prospective customer and he could do that at his kitchen table, keeping close company with the phones.

It was actually approaching lunchtime when his mobile finally rang and Clancy flashed up on the screen. Warmth raced through him. He burst out, ‘Clancy?’ just as Lee and Daisy walked through the door, smiling and looking relaxed, backpacks on their backs.