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Back What I Did Save as PDF
Chapters (87)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Dedication
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. Twelve
  16. Thirteen
  17. Fourteen
  18. Fifteen
  19. Sixteen
  20. Seventeen
  21. Eighteen
  22. Nineteen
  23. Twenty
  24. Twenty-One
  25. Twenty-Two
  26. Twenty-Three
  27. Twenty-Four
  28. Twenty-Five
  29. Twenty-Six
  30. Twenty-Seven
  31. Twenty-Eight
  32. Twenty-Nine
  33. Thirty
  34. Thirty-One
  35. Thirty-Two
  36. Thirty-Three
  37. Thirty-Four
  38. Thirty-Five
  39. Thirty-Six
  40. Thirty-Seven
  41. Thirty-Eight
  42. Thirty-Nine
  43. Forty
  44. Forty-One
  45. Forty-Two
  46. Forty-Three
  47. Forty-Four
  48. Forty-Five
  49. Forty-Six
  50. Forty-Seven
  51. Forty-Eight
  52. Forty-Nine
  53. Fifty
  54. Fifty-One
  55. Fifty-Two
  56. Fifty-Three
  57. Fifty-Four
  58. Fifty-Five
  59. Fifty-Six
  60. Fifty-Seven
  61. Fifty-Eight
  62. Fifty-Nine
  63. Sixty
  64. Sixty-One
  65. Sixty-Two
  66. Sixty-Three
  67. Sixty-Four
  68. Sixty-Five
  69. Sixty-Six
  70. Sixty-Seven
  71. Sixty-Eight
  72. Sixty-Nine
  73. Seventy
  74. Seventy-One
  75. Seventy-Two
  76. Seventy-Three
  77. Seventy-Four
  78. Seventy-Five
  79. Seventy-Six
  80. Seventy-Seven
  81. Seventy-Eight
  82. Seventy-Nine
  83. Eighty
  84. Epilogue
  85. Acknowledgements
  86. Extract from To Keep You Safe
  87. About the Author

The estate agent opened a door: ‘A stairs in a cupboard! Isn’t that a stunning character feature?’ and I was charmed enough to agree. The stairs were behind the door; U-shaped and creaky. I followed him up, each riser groaning, to the top of the house where there were two low-ceilinged bedrooms built into the eaves at each end, with a tiny bathroom in the middle. We went to the first bedroom. It had leaded windows and was only just big enough for a double bed.

‘This could be the master,’ he said, ‘Or you might prefer the views from the other bedroom – excellent as well, of course.’ I followed him to the other. ‘Both the same size,’ he said, ‘so you have the choice between them and then you’ll have the added benefit of a guest bed or upstairs office.’

‘I have a son. This will be his room.’

‘Oh! Forgive me, your details said it was for a household of one.’

His manner, his young certainty, annoyed me for some reason. ‘Jack’s in the car.’

I was glad to see a shadow of confusion cross his face. ‘Oh, I didn’t see . . .’ but he recovered quickly and smiled. ‘This will be a great bedroom for him, I’m sure.’

I examined the wardrobes; the bathroom. Every step upstairs creaked and gave a little. ‘Do you think this floor is safe?’

‘A surveyor visited just last month – no woodworm and the joists are sound. It’s a character property; adds to the charm.’

I followed him out onto the drive. ‘I’m going to take it,’ I said, agreeing that I’d come into the office to get the tenancy set up.

He held his hand out. ‘Great, I’m sure you will be so happy here – you and your son,’ he looked over to see Jack, but Jack’s hand was no longer hanging out of the car and he’d pulled his leg in; I was glad he’d hidden from sight. Since saying it, I’d been regretting mentioning him. I told the estate agent’s office it was just me for a reason and should’ve kept it that way.

I shook the man’s hand.

‘You’ll be checking out local schools this afternoon, I’ll bet. I understand the nearest one is in the village of Cleasong; it’s outstanding and is only four miles that way.’

I looked in the direction he was pointing, but could see only farmland, and what might possibly be a farmhouse. ‘Thanks, but Jack’s going to be home-educated.’

I lingered, watching him drive away, my arms, despite the heat, wrapped round me.

Four

four:

– now –

Listening to the screaming, I realise I’m too late to save Jack. I hear the wind-chime again and I realise that I’m wrong – the screaming is only the scream of mating foxes in the dusk.

Is that true?