The Lover's Children novel Chapter 126

CHARLOTTE

The door slams in my face and a second later, the bolt on the other side slams closed. With a clunk, the key turns in the lock, leaving me with Cara and Adam at the top of the stone steps down to the cellars.

My heart bangs wildly and I’m panting so fast that, despite the darkness, I’m seeing stars. I slap sideways to catch the switch I know is there somewhere and the light blinks on.

Muffled, sound carries through the door, “You, what's your name? Mitch, Those your car keys? Walk ahead of me. Get into the driver’s seat. Don't forget I've got the kid. I'll be behind you. If we see anyone, nothing’s happening. We’re just going for a drive…”

Feet clip on tiles, a receding echo until the front door Clunks and all grows still.

Full-blown panic rises in me, of a kind I’ve never felt before…

Mom…

I’m breathing so fast I feel faint…

Get control…

Get a grip…

I’m at the top of the steps leading down into the cellar, a place the children are never permitted to go. Aside from the detail that my Master’s playroom is in the basement, if a child slipped here, they would tumble down a dozen stone steps to crash down onto stone flags at the bottom. This is adults-only territory and the door is always bolted from the outside.

There’s a way out, the escape tunnel constructed by Michael as our insurance against troubled times. It’s seldom seen use of course, but that’s the nature of insurance policies. They’re there for when they’re needed.

But that tunnel is no place for small children. It leads out into the woods, surrounded by brambles and thickets, deliberately so to keep the exit concealed…

A memory, bitter as gall, rises like vomit up my throat, Mom’s question to me once. It seems so long ago now…

“… Ask yourself a question. If something happened: a fire, or a car accident… a terrorist attack maybe… and you were faced with the choice, who would you save? Me or Cara?”

“Mom, I wouldn’t…”

“No, Jenny. Don’t argue about it. Answer the question. If your back was against the wall. If you had no other choice, me or Cara, who would you save?”

“Cara,” I whispered.

“Of course you would. And that’s as it should be…”

I never dreamed her words might be an omen…

… or a prophecy…

“Mommee…” Cara’s piping voice wavers.

I want to weep and sob and scream but with Cara and Adam here, I can't.

Toddlers… Barely more than babies…

At the least, I have to get them safely down the cellar steps. “Hold my hand, Cara. You too, Adam. We’re going downstairs.”

Cara whimpers. “Shhh, Sweetie. We're going on an adventure. You've got to be very brave. And you've got to be brave for Adam too, cos he's littler than you. I know it’s dark down there, but I’ll turn on the lights. Now, carefully…”

Does she understand me?

I've no idea. Cara's not yet two. Adam’s even younger How can she possibly understand that the bad man wants to hurt Granny?

One slow step at a time, I get the two toddlers down the steps, then as both baulk at the dark dank corridor, flick on a light switch. “See, nothing scary here. It’s just a bit different.”

Leave them here and run for it through the tunnel?

Adam clings to my leg, tugging up at my hand and dragging back. “Don’t wanna…”

“It’s alright. Look Cara’s not scared. Do like Cara’s doing…”

Leave them here and come back when I’ve raised the alarm?

They might wander back up the steps…

Slip and fall…

He might come back.

My heart hammers…

Not a possibility…

Gotta take them with me…

But they’re so slow…

The blood hums inside my head. It’s hard to breathe…

Am I hyperventilating?

Slow down…

Stop panicking…

Control your breathing…

Taking tiny steps as the two tots toddle along beside me, I breathe in deep. Breathe out. Breathe in…

“Come on, Sweeties. We’ve got to hurry.”

Carry one and come back for the other?

“Here, Adam. Let me give you a ride. Cara, you follow Mommy.” Sweeping him up I stride along the corridor, kicking open the door at the end, then running through my Master’s room. Behind me, Cara’s wail of panic rises.

Tears stream down my face as I run, Adam in my arms, tucking his face into my chest so he doesn’t see what’s around him. By the concealed exit, I put him down. “Be a good boy. I’m going for Cara. I’ll only be a minute.”

*****

HARKNESS

“Turn in here.” In the mirror, her gaze meets mine. She blinks rapidly, but keeps her face impassive, trying to convince me she’s not scared. She’s lying of course. As she flicks the indicator, pulling in to the motel, my balls tighten.

Those green eyes, wide as you try to scream…

My holdall’s stowed in the footwell next to me. I’m looking forward to opening it… Letting her see. “You stay here. Don’t move. I’ll be watching. Remember who’s got your kid.”

She nods slightly, gripping the steering wheel tight enough to whiten her knuckles. The vein at her neck throbs. So does my groin.

Gonna be a good evening…