She went to the bus stop down the road and got the bus into town, she then went and sat on the front reading she was finding it hard to concentrate on the words, so she put the book away and started to walk along the beach front which was getting a bit busier now it was warming up a bit, Ash stopped to take her coat off when she heard her name being called, she looked in the direction it had come from and saw a group of her friends sat on the beach a few yards ahead, she decided to walk over
"Hi guy's" said Ash
"Hi Ash, how are you" asked Emily motioning for Ash to sit down and join them
"I'm fine, just fed up, what about you lot" replied Ash sitting down
For the next couple of hours they helped Ash catch up with everything that had happened since they had last seen her, a couple of weeks ago. It felt good to be treated like normal to join in with conversations and to have a laugh and joke. She looked at her watch the next bus was in half an hour she would have to get a move on if she was going to get it and get home before the time she had put on her note she would be in enough trouble as it was. She said her goodbyes and planned to see them at the weekend, it shouldn't be too hard it was the weekend at least one of her parents would be working, She got to the bus just in time and climbed on.
Meanwhile back at the Ormerod residence after Gordon had admitted maybe he had been a little harsh, it wasn't like they had caught her listening in she had already been in the kitchen and was trying to get her breakfast. He went upstairs to apologise he knocked on her door and when there was no answer opened the door to find the room empty, the half drunk cold cup of tea stood on her desk next to a note pad and pen.
Next he checked the bathroom which was also empty, then he checked the other bedrooms calling for Ash. Each time the room was empty the panic set in a little more. "Jill" said Gordon his voice starting to waver
"Yes" replied Jill still none the wiser
"Is Ash down there with you" Gordon asked
"No, just let me check the front room" replied Jill, she went to check while Gordon made his way downstairs. They met in the hallway Jill shook her head
"Well, she's not upstairs either" said Gordon
"She's not outside" said Tom
"What's going on" said Katie coming out of the study
"Is Ash with you" asked Jill
"No, why" asked Katie
"We can't find Ash" said Gordon
"I heard someone go out the front door" replied Katie
"When, why didn't you say something" replied Gordon
"I don't know about half an hour ago" replied Katie "I'm sorry" she added
"It's alright, it's not your fault, you weren't to know, is it Gordon" replied Jill
"No, I'm sorry Katie" replied Gordon giving Katie a hug
Jill went over to the phone and found the note which brought back memories of the time before she couldn't bring herself to read it. Tom took the note from her "It says gone for a walk, don't worry be back by lunchtime, Ash" Tom read
"Shall we go out looking for her" asked Jonathon
"No leave it until lunchtime, otherwise it looks like we don't trust" replied Jill
Jill went to the front room and was pacing up and down every now and again she would stand staring out the window when she heard a car or a bus. One of the children bought her a cup of tea but she couldn't tell you which one what with all the thoughts that were going round in her head.
Finally at about half eleven she saw Ash nervously walking towards the house
"She's here everyone act normal" shouted Jill sitting in the chair and picking up the nearest thing to read. Five minutes had past and they still hadn't heard the front door open, Jill got up and looked out the window, Ash was in the front garden lent against the car. Jill thought to herself give her a few more minutes then if she hasn't come in I'll go out to her.
"Where is she, I thought you said she was here" asked Katie
"She's just outside" Jill replied pointing to the cars
"Do you want me to talk to her" asked Katie looking at were Jill was pointing
"No, give her a few minutes" replied Jill
Ash was stood outside the walk had done some good but she was still mad, it seemed like everyone had forgotten that she was the one that had to live with this, and they were just talking about her like she was another patient, she wasn't ready to face any of them yet but she had promised to be back, and she knew that they would be going crazy as it was. She was away with her thoughts, getting ready for the barrage of questions that were bound to come her way that she didn't hear the front door open or see Katie come out.
"Ash are you alright, I know Dad can be a bit full on sometimes" Katie said
"I'm fine, I just needed to be on my own for a bit" replied Ash
"Are they mad" Ash asked
"No just worried, mums been climbing the walls and looking out the window every five minutes" replied Katie
"Great" replied Ash
"They're just worried about you, we all are" replied Katie
"Come on let's go inside" Katie added
"You go on in, I'll be there in a minute" replied Ash
"Are you sure" Asked Katie
"Yeah I'm sure, please" replied Ash
Katie went on in, Ash stayed outside for a few more minutes she needed someone to talk to, she usually went to Jill but she felt she couldn't talk about this with her without hurting her feelings, and there was no way any of her friends would be able to help, and there was absolutely no way she was going to talk to sister Brigid she would love it too much. Maybe she could talk to Katie, she had just come to ask if she was o.k. She shook that thought from her head and made her way indoors.
"Where have you been, what did you think you were doing" asked Gordon
"Gordon, enough" said Jill
"Yes I've had enough of her behaviour, your grounded until I say so" replied Gordon
"Gordon, can we talk about this" said Jill
Ash just went straight upstairs without saying a word, Gordon and Jill just stood watching her
"Gordon, how is that normal" said Jill