Chapter 35
Five months later
Laura walked down the street, enjoying the pleasantly warm weather. She'd thought when she left Oxford she would miss forensic work. And, at first, she did. Now, she liked the work she was doing, the people she worked with and, most importantly, being home at a decent hour.
Letting herself into her home, she smiled when she heard Matty's chatter from the kitchen. She hung her things on the hooks near the door then made her way to the kitchen. Standing in the doorway to the kitchen, she watched him dance around. He'd blossomed in their time here.
"May I have this dance?"
Matty whirled around, "Mummy."
He ran to her, leaping into her arms. She struggled under his weight, laughing as she whirled him around, "Have you had a good day?"
"I have. Did you have a good day mummy?"
Putting him down, she kissed his head. "I did. And the best part of my day was getting home in time to take you to football practice." Matty jumped in the air. "But if you don't hurry along, we'll be late."
Matty ran from the room and she soon heard his clattering footsteps going up the stairs. She smiled at Sarah, "Anything happen today?"
The younger woman smiled, "No, he was great. I talked with one of his teachers when I picked him up she said he's been great lately."
Laura nodded, happy to hear what she had noticed herself. "You can head out once we leave. Have a long afternoon to yourself."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive. Go have a life."
"Not much of one, I have some studying I need to do."
"Well don't study too hard. It's a beautiful day outside."
A thundering on the stairs alerted them to the return of Matty, "Mummy, I need help with my socks."
Sarah moved to the doorway, "I'll go, you can change."
Laura stopped her, "Sarah, go. We're fine. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon." She walked around the woman, "Coming Matty, have a seat at the foot of the stairs."
The next few minutes were spent wrestling Matty into his socks, shin guards and shoes. They grabbed his bag and made their way out of the house. Walking hand in hand down the street Laura asked him the question she asked every day, "What was the best part of your day today?"
He swung their hands in the air, "Easy, mummy, you coming home early from work."
She laughed, easily, "I think it might be the best part of my day too."
"I also got to see the nice police man."
"What nice policeman?"
"The one from the night the bad people came to our house."
She looked down at Matty, "PC Delaney? The police officer who was in our yard?"
He shook his head, "No, mummy, the one who pulled me away from the bad people. He brought me back to you and Uncle James. I don't know his name. But he was very nice."
Laura was stunned for a moment, had stopped walking. Feeling Matty tugging on her hand, she forced a smile, "Where did you see the nice police man, Matty?"
"Across the street from our house," he dropped her hand and ran off to join his team. Laura stared after him, finding herself suddenly quite breathless.