‘They said they can’t get to us by road at the moment, and for all of us to stay together, until they can get us help.’

‘When will that be?’

‘How long is a piece of string?’ He shrugs. ‘As soon as possible, they said.’

‘Maybe they’ll send a helicopter,’ Rosamund says.

‘Maybe,’ he agrees. ‘But for now we should head back, don’t you think? Stay in one cottage, like before.’

‘I’m not going back without Elise,’ Rosamund says, her cheeks red raw from the cold. ‘There’s one place we haven’t checked yet, and I’m going there, even if I have to go alone.’

Chapter 34

Present Day

Amelia

By the time we reach the bottom of Vine Hill we are exhausted, and drop down like skittles hit by a bowling ball onto the bench dedicated to Kyla.

‘Are you OK?’ I ask Rosamund, who is holding her stomach, and looking down at her baby bump. ‘You’re not in pain, are you?’

‘I’m fine,’ she says through deep breaths, cold air clouding her lips as words leave her mouth. ‘The baby’s kicking, that’s all. Exercising his little limbs.’

‘You’re having a boy?’ I feel a twist in my belly. I found out my baby was a girl early on. Not that I minded what I had – I just felt by knowing I may bond even more with my unborn child. But, as things turned out, knowing seemed to make it even harder when I lost her.

‘Yes, a little boy,’ Rosamund says, tears filling her eyes. ‘Neil so wants a boy.’

I place my gloved hand on hers, and swallow my sadness. ‘We will find Elise, Rosamund.’

My neck tingles. It’s as though someone else is here, sharing our airspace. Trees move behind us. A clump of snow thuds to the ground.

‘Good God!’ I hold my chest, as I look over my shoulder to see Dad appearing through the bushes, cheeks flushed.

‘I saw you heading down here, from the cottage window,’ he says. ‘There’s not much I can do back there. Maddie is reading in her room, and Thomas is asleep on the sofa.’

‘But we’re meant to stay in groups of three,’ Finn says.

‘Maddie and Thomas aren’t killers, mate.’ Dad rests his hand on Finn’s shoulder and squeezes. ‘Try to relax.’

‘Relax!’ He shrugs away from Dad, his eyed firing. ‘My mum is dead, mate, and Elise is missing, and you tell me to fucking relax.’

‘Enough!’ I yell. ‘Jesus! Fighting among ourselves isn’t going to solve anything.’ I glare at Finn then fix my eyes on Dad. ‘We’re heading to the farmhouse to check Elise isn’t there. You coming?’

He gives Finn a long cold look, before heading away towards the farmhouse, his coat flapping around his calves, his scarf waving in the breeze.

*