The van stinks. I’m sick of living like this. Sick of running.

I know what I have to do.

I sit beside Frankie and stroke her soft hair. ‘How would you like it if we were together forever and ever?’ I whisper.

Chapter 41

Chapter 41
Patrick – Day 7

It was 11:15 in the morning and Sean Philips smelled of drink – not the stale morning-after fumes Patrick had detected on his last visit to this house, but the fresh stink of spirits on his breath. His eyes were watery and unfocused and when he said, ‘You again,’ there was a noticeable slur.

‘You’d better come in,’ he said, walking into the living room and slumping down on the sofa. The TV was on, playing a rerun of Columbo. Sean giggled. ‘Got one more thing to ask me, eh?’

Patrick took a seat. ‘Are you alright, Sean?’

‘Oh, never better!’ His head jerked around like he was looking for something, before he deflated back into the folds of the sofa.

‘Where’s Helen?’ Patrick asked.

‘Don’t know. She took off first thing this morning, before I was even up. Probably sick of the sight of me, and who can blame her? She thinks I’m useless. You saw us arguing the other day. It’s like that all the time now. She sleeps so close to the edge of the bed that I keep thinking she’s going to fall out. I think I disgust her. She just sits on Facebook all day. She was on it when I went to bed last night. Marriages don’t survive this kind of thing, do they? And Alice’s staying at Larry’s. I’ve driven them all away.’

‘Come on, Sean . . . At least you know Alice is safe, anyway.’

‘Yeah but you’re never going to find Frankie, are you?’ He stared at Patrick with red-rimmed eyes. Before Patrick could respond, Sean buried his face in his hands. Patrick promised himself that as soon as he got out of here he would get a FLO back here. Get Sean Philips to a counsellor.

Sean looked up. ‘When I met Helen, I thought she was the best thing that ever happened to me. I mean, I love Alice but . . .’ He swallowed hard. ‘But when Frankie was born, it was like, like . . . I was born. Reborn.’

Patrick waited.

‘She was so beautiful. It was a difficult birth, you know? Helen was in labour for nearly two days after being induced. We thought the baby was never going to come out. Helen was exhausted and when she was finally having proper contractions they gave her an epidural. She clung to me as they stuck the needle in her back. There was a tear . . . it rolled down her cheek, splashed on my bare arm. I’ve never loved her more than in that moment.’