'Okay we need to think logically. All she has with her is her school bus pass, coat and phone' Jonny spoke as he spread a tattered ordnance survey map out on Mo and Sacha's kitchen table. An hour of searching had proved fruitless. The police had now been called and Jonny had rounded up as many of their friends that he could contact to help with the search.
'Which buses can she catch around here?' Bernie Wolf asked as looked at the long list of bus routes and timetables on her phone.
'Theres not many' Sacha answered. He looked pale and more worried than Jac had ever seen him. Mo was currently giving as many details about their fifteen year old daughter as she possibly could to the police. He could barely think straight, he had no idea how Mo could remember the details of the clothes Evelyn was wearing, right down to colour of her socks. 'The 40 and 42 but they drop to once every hour after 7pm.' The twins were being kept entertained by Mo's mother in their bedroom upstairs. Oscar had repeatedly asked when Evelyn would be home, Sacha hadn't known what to say.
'Okay Serena and I will drive the route of 42 and Ric can take the 40' Bernie looked up at Ric who nodded in acknowledgement.
'I will look around this section here' Jonny drew a rectangle around his proposed search area. 'Spence is already searching the leisure complex on foot in case Evelyn had enough cash to watch a movie or get food or something' Jonny ringed around the site with his pencil. 'Jac and Ava can search this area' he marked a another square on the map.
'Ava is staying here' Jac spoke firmly.
'No I'm not' Ava huffed crossing her arms 'I came to help, I'm not stopping until we find Evelyn.'
'You need to rest, you'll be better off here in the warm' Jac shook her head.
'I'm pregnant not sick!' Ava glowered.
'We haven't got time for this' Jonny snapped. 'Just let Ava go with you Jac.' It was a testament to how worried Jac was that she didn't argue back. 'Guy can you and Amanda drive to the shopping centre? Most of the shops will be closed but is where she hangs out with her friends so it'll be familiar to her.'
'Not a problem' Guy nodded. 'I keep trying to remember all the places the twins used to go when they were Evelyn's age.'
'We will find her Sacha' Ric spoke positively.
As Sacha simply nodded Jac reached out and gently squeezed his arm. She knew words weren't necessary. 'Thank you' his voice was choked with emotion 'thank you everyone.'
...
'What did Mo and Evelyn argue about before Evelyn stormed out?' Ava asked as she looked out of the window car window, trying desperately to spot a surly fifteen year old girl dressed in a pale blue waterproof coat and grey scarf in the dark gloom around them.
'Is it relevant?' Jac sighed. 'You know I think we're going round in circles, we've already been down this street.'
'It could be relevant. What if Evelyn picked where ever she's hiding on the basis of the context of the row?'
'You should have studied psychology not art' Jac muttered as she pulled over to study the map Jonny had given her.
'Far too boring' Ava rolled her eyes. 'We should look around Southsea Terrace. There's a play park there, Mo used to take us to it.'
'That's as good as plan as any' Jac put the map in her lap and pulled back into the road.
'Are you still cross with me?' Ava asked tentatively.
Jac considered lying before answering truthfully 'a little.'
'I am genuinely sorry, I don't know what I was thinking' Ava spoke gloomily.
'That your guardian is a tart' Jac answered for her. They sat in an awkward silence for a long time before Jac spoke again. 'Not all the rumours you hear about me at the hospital are true you know.'
'I know' Ava spoke quickly.
'I've always said I'd never lie to you. I haven't exactly been an angel, I've done some things I most definitely regret. But that was all when I was young and naive. I would never risk loosing Jonny or upsetting our family for anything. Most certainly not for the likes of Michael Spence.'
'In fairness I think you could do a lot worse than Michael. I mean if you were in the market for a new husband for any reason at least you know he'd treat you nice' Ava shrugged.
'Perhaps you could suggest to Spence he uses that on his online dating profile' Jac smirked. 'He's arrogant and annoying and seriously not my type. But he has taken very good care of me over the years. I literally owe him my life. So yes there is there is lot of love between us, but never in the way you were thinking.'
'STOP THE CAR!' Ava suddenly yelled.
Jac slowed the car down to halt 'what did you see?' she spoke briskly
'Back up a little bit' Ava urged her. 'Keep going' the car inched slowly backwards. 'Stop! Look there – I think that's her!'
Jac leaned over the console to look through the passenger window to where Ava was pointing. Sat on top of climbing frame in a park was a lonely figure in a blue coat with the hood pulled up against the cold. 'Stay here' Jac commanded as she opened the car door.
'But...' Ava started to protest.
'You're to stay in the car where it is safe and warm' Jac spoke firmly 'am I making myself clear?!'
'Fine' Ava huffed.
'If it is Evelyn I'll wave and you can call Mo' Jac instructed as she got out of the car. She walked towards the little metal gate to the play park, pushing it open to gain entry. She let it slam shut behind her before walking towards the climbing frame calling out 'Evelyn?'. The girl didn't react but Jac recognised her as she got closer. She turned and waved at the car, knowing Ava would do as she had been asked and call Evelyn's mother. 'Can you come down please Evelyn?' Evelyn didn't answer, instead she just hunched further inside her coat. Jac sighed. Melodramatic teenagers were not exactly her forte. Tantrums were far easier to deal with than sulky silences. 'You know I've just had an extremely long day at work and now I've spent most of my evening looking for you. The least you could do is have the courtesy to get down off that health and safety nightmare.'
'Everyone hates me' Evelyn spoke with a sob.
Jac tutted. Evelyn sounded so pathetic she didn't have the heart to yell at her. 'No one hates you Evelyn.'
'Sophie and Lauren both said the reason why Finlay wouldn't ask me out was because I was fat and then they wouldn't let me join their team during PE' Evelyn sniffed.
'So that's what you're upset about?' Jac arched her eyebrow disbelievingly. The Evelyn Jac knew was fairly confident and had little time for playground bullying.
'No, I'm upset I told my mum I hated her' Evelyn sobbed. 'Because I was angry from school.'
Jac sighed as she resigned herself to having to climb up next to Evelyn in order to comfort her. The climb was easy enough, although the metal was extremely cold against her bare hands. She carefully positioned herself to sit next to Evelyn.
'Your mum knows you don't hate her' Jac spoke softly.
'I told her she didn't love me' Evelyn sniffed.
'Again she knows that's not true' Jac answered.
'I said the reason why she doesn't love me is because she still blames me for Isaac.' Evelyn coughed. 'She got mad at me because my math grades are slipping, and because I was already upset from school I said all of that. People should hate me.'
'You think you're first person to ever lash out in anger?' Jac reasoned. 'Okay, you said some pretty hurtful stuff but its not unforgiveable.'
'I used Isaac's death to hurt her. I hate myself for that' Evelyn cried.
Jac hesitantly released one hand from the bar she was gripping to carefully put an arm around Evelyn. 'I don't hate you for it. It wasn't great what you said but I can understand it. I remember how your mum was back then.'
'She was sick' Evelyn shook with sobs.
'Yes she was very ill for quite some time' Jac agreed. 'But I know how much her behaviour back then hurt you and your mum knows that too.' They sat in silence for a few minutes, waiting for Evelyn to gain control of her tears. 'Your mum has always loved you Evelyn and she always will love you. Its an unconditional thing, you'll understand it one day.'
'Even after what I said?' Evelyn spoke softly.
'Yes' Jac reassured her. 'You know my girls have said some pretty horrible and stupid things to me too. Just today Ava accused me having an affair.'
'With who?' Evelyn giggled as she wiped away her tears with her hand.
'That doesn't matter. The point is, whilst I'm mad at her for embarrassing me, I don't hate her and I most certainly don't love her any less.'
'Was it my Dad? Mum once accused Dad of being in love with you during a row. He told her he had never once found you even mildly attractive - too many bony edges.'
'I'm just going to pretend you didn't tell me that' Jac sighed. 'The thing is by running away and hiding out you're actually making things worse. Your mum and dad are beside themselves, I never seen your dad look so worried. And as for your mum, well her heart is pretty much breaking.'
'So what should I do?' Evelyn asked.
'Go home and hug your mum and tell her you're sorry.' Jac squeezed Evelyn lightly. 'Life doesn't need to be complicated Evelyn. Just tell your mum you love her and it'll be okay.'
'Really?'
'Yes really.' Jac thought for a moment before adding 'I'd also consider making some different friends. You don't need to be hanging around with those idiots. Your friends should be building you up not knocking you down. You're a beautiful girl Evelyn Levy, both inside and out.'
...
'Thank you so so much' Sacha Levy enthused as he hugged Jac tightly.
'Okay that's enough gratitude' Jac groaned. 'Don't be too hard on Evelyn, she's being tough on herself as it is' Jac warned her friend as he released her from his bear like embrace.
'No, I know' Sacha looked through the doorway to the living room where his wife and daughter were cuddled up on the sofa, tearfully talking to the police officers. 'I think maybe its time to look at some family counselling. You were right, that period of grief affected Evelyn even though I tried to protect her from it.'
'You did everything you could, you're a great dad.' Jac gently squeezed his arm 'no one is to blame for this.'
'You're my best friend Jac Naylor' Sacha nodded. 'I'm lucky to have you.'
'Alright I'm going to leave before you start blubbing' Jac rolled her eyes.
Sacha chuckled before asking 'can you pass on my thanks to Ava, and to everyone really, who helped look for Evelyn?'
'Of course' Jac nodded before opening the front door and stepping over the threshold 'just concentrate on Evelyn for now.'
'I will' Sacha smiled. 'Jac?' She turned back to face him. 'I love you.'
'I love you too.' She quickly closed the front door before he could see her tears. She sniffed and composed herself before walking to the car to where Ava was waiting. It would be okay now Jac thought to herself . It will all be perfectly fine.