Angel Kiss - Laura Jane Cassidy [62]
‘Mum, can we talk more about –’
‘Now!’
‘Mum –’
‘Put some things in a bag. We’re going back to Dublin.’
‘Dublin? No! We can’t go back. I need to be here.’
‘You can still see that Reynolds boy.’
‘It’s not only about him. I need to be here, Mum.’
‘We’re not coming back until the house is finished. I’m not staying in this caravan.’
This wasn’t fair. I couldn’t leave now. Jane needed me. I could cope with not seeing Nick, but I couldn’t cope with letting Jane down. I went into the bathroom, pretending to pack up my make-up, but really just trying to figure out how I was going to stall Mum. When I came back out she looked terrible. Her hands were shaking and her face was white with shock. I watched her put some freshly washed clothes into her suitcase along with her make-up and jewellery.
‘Mum –’
‘Jacki, pack your stuff. Now!’
‘I don’t want to go –’
‘This is not up for discussion. And we’re going to the Garda station first. I’m not letting him get away with that sort of thing.’ Mum was really mad. I could tell there was no use trying to reason with her when she was in this state. I’d wait until later. Maybe after driving for a while she’d calm down, and I’d be able to convince her to come back. I didn’t want to leave Avarna now. Not even for a day.
I grudgingly piled my clothes and shoes into my own suitcase, scurried around looking for my notebook, then stuffed it into my handbag along with my phone and my iPod. Mum ran outside, opened the boot of the car and threw her suitcase in. I followed her out and put my suitcase on top of hers.
‘Right. Ready?’
‘No. Wait two seconds. I have to get my guitar.’ I had to bring it, just in case this was for real and we had to leave.
Mum drove down to the Garda station.
‘Can I go to Colin’s?’ I asked. ‘He said I could stay over whenever I wanted. I could keep an eye on the house until you come back.’ I knew it was unlikely she’d let me, but it was worth a shot.
‘Are you crazy, Jacki? I’m not leaving you here.’
‘But he said it would be OK.’
‘You’re coming back to Dublin with me. We can stay with Gran for a while till the house is finished. Now wait here. I’ll be back in a second.’ She got out of the car and slammed the door shut.
‘No, I’ll come with you,’ I said. I got out too and followed her to the station door. She didn’t protest. I think she was probably glad that I was coming in with her; she still looked pretty shaken up.
The front part of the Reynolds’s house functioned as Avarna’s Garda station, while the back served as the family’s living quarters. The station was painted dull cream and blue and the cabinets and furniture were well worn. Sergeant Michael Reynolds sat at his desk behind the counter, flicking through a pile of paper.
Mum put her elbows on the wooden counter and Michael looked up, not with a jump, but with a slow, composed lift of his head.
‘Can I help you, ladies?’
‘We have a problem,’ said Mum.
Michael placed his mug of coffee down on the coaster.
‘I’d like to report an intruder,’ she continued. I saw tears starting to well up in her eyes, so I interrupted.
‘We think someone might have been spying on us,’ I said. I wasn’t used to seeing Mum like this. She was always so together, so in control. I knew she’d be really embarrassed if she ended up crying in front of Sergeant Reynolds. I put my hand on her arm, trying to comfort her.
‘Someone?’ said Sergeant Reynolds. ‘Do you have any idea who it might have been?’
I was about to say his name, but I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, so I just shrugged. Sergeant Reynolds seemed to know I was holding something back.
‘Any idea at all?’ His intimidating stare was enough to make me cave.
‘Well …’ I said. ‘The guy did look a bit like Des …’
‘Des Butler? Isn’t he working on your house?’ Michael said with a snort.
‘He’s finished working on it,’ said Mum. ‘I’m a bit worried … because we went out together a few times, you see, but then I heard a rumour about him, so I decided to stop seeing him. I think he might be … well, stalking me.’