We were walking around the woods for a good lengthy 2 hours, and Liam had perked up slightly. As we got to the car park, I perched Mabel and Liam on the edge of the car boot, and prised off their muddy boots. The bottom of Mabel's dress was caked in mud, proving that despite the sunny weather, the floor still lay traces of the recent April showers.
"I muddy" Mabel giggled, swinging her feet from the car. I nodded, and picked her up.
"Liam, stay there, or you'll socks will get muddy" I instructed, placing Mabel securely on my hip.
"I don't care" shrugged Liam, and to my dismay, he hopped onto the ground, letting the mud ooze around his feet. Liam shrieked, and attempted to scramble back into the boot, but he was indefinitely much too short.
"Serves you right" I muttered, strapping Mabel into her seat, and shutting the door with a slight 'thud'.
"'sawl sticky!" Liam cried, looking at his sodden socks.
"I told you not to put your feet on the floor" I sighed, lifting Liam up under his arm pits, and quickly plonking him into his seat. He instantly kicked off his socks, and wriggled his toes.
"Ew" Mabel said from the other seat, wrinkling her nose as the muddy socks fell into a pile onto the floor.
"Mud. It's only Mud" Liam said, sticking his tongue out at Mabel, who furrowed her brows.
I retreated to my own seat, and glanced at the clock on the dashboard.
4:48.
Mabel and Liam were almost certainly going to fall asleep on the long 1-hour journey back to Downlow. Robert's door opened, and he gave a smile, before turning the key. The car quickly settled into a drowsy hum, and I watched the fields of Kent rush past the window.
In no time at all, my predictions were proved right, as Mabel's heavy breathing and Liam's soft snores broke the lazy atmosphere in the car. My own eyes started to droop, and I willingly slipped into a silent slumber, letting the lull of my children's noises, and the quiet vibrations of the car on the country roads, guide me into sleep.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
The next morning, I gave myself a much-deserved lie in. I consciously heard Mabel downstairs, but I decided to let Robert deal with her. I felt him arise, and so I pulled the blanket over my eyes.
"Morning" he muttered, running his hands over his hair to flatten in. I wish he hadn't, though, he looks so much sexier when it's all messy.
"Hi" I said softly, spreading out across the whole bed, "What's the time?"
"8:30" he yawned, stretching his arms behind his head. I felt my mouth fall open.
"Blimey" I murmured, starting to get up, but I felt Robert's hands push me back down.
"Stay in bed a little longer, let me deal with Mabel" he said, reaching down to give me a kiss. I gladly returned it, marvelling at the feel of his lips on mine.
"Thanks" I said quietly, breaking it. He smiled, and left the room, letting me catch a few more minutes of sleep.
I slept for only a little longer, before the urge to get up became too strong. I rolled over, and slipped my numb feet into slippers.
I wandered down the stairs, and yawned. Liam was standing on the 4th step, trailing his hex bug across the banister.
"Liam, what on earth are you doing" I said, bemused. He glanced up at me.
"I'm seeing if Tyron can go down the railing by himself" He shrugged, carefully placing 'Tyron' on the banister again. Liam switched it on, and the vibrations from the small plastic beetle rushed through the banister and rattled the very core of my bones.
"Please don't do that" I shuddered, walking into the living room, and settling on the sofa. We had no plans today, so my need to get changed wasn't that strong. However, just as this thought came into my brain, my phone started to ring.
I sighed, and picked up the buzzing mobile.
"Hello?" I said wearily, thinking it was probably the gas man telling me we had forgotten to pay the bills this month, but the voice on the other side made me still for a second.
"Hi, It's Sarah"
"Hi, everything ok?" I answered apprehensively.
"Yes, I'm fine, we're brilliant"
"What did you –"
"We've moved, Maisy got a place at Downlow Primary, and Dillon and I bought a house late last night"
My mouth fell straight open for the second time today.
"What?" I spluttered, "Have you even seen the house you just bought?"
"Oh yes, of course, we've been looking for a house in Downlow ever since I found out I was having Posie"
"And you've been keeping it all a secret"
"Yes, just incase our plans changed, but no, we're driving up now to collect our keys"
"Now" I deadpanned, "You're coming up right now?"
"Yep, all 3 kids in the back, we're halfway down the A299"
"When's Maisy starting?"
"Next week, we need to properly move first"
"Wow," I breathed, unable to contain my excitement. My best friend from 6th form had moved right near me, and was sending her daughter to where I had sent my son.
"Anyway" she continued, "I called to ask if you wanted to come to the park with me, Dillon and the children"
"Uh, sure" I said, not really capable of saying no.
"That's great, we're going to the park"
"Fantastic. We can meet you there after lunch" I suggested, not wanting to change right away.
"Sounds like a plan, see you there" Sarah finished, and she hung up. My hand went limp, and the phone fell from my hand.
"Everything ok?" Robert called from the kitchen. I nodded, before realising the obvious.
"Yes, Sarah Coleman just moved to Downlow" I told him, snapping back into reality. I heard a deathly silence, and my husband's head poked round from behind the door.
"Eh?" he said, drying his hands on a tea towel.
"Sarah and Dillon bought a bloody house last night" I said, stretching my fingers.
"Can you even do that?" Robert said, tilting his head slightly.
"Do what?"
"Buy a house just like that"
"Apparently so" I shrugged. I knew what he meant. The purchase of our current house was a long tedious process. Especially with a rambunctious baby.
Our house wasn't on the huge size, but it was big enough to comfortably allow Mabel and Liam their own rooms, a master bedroom for me and Robert, and a small spare bedroom for any guests that think staying with our rowdy family would be fun. We have a reasonably sized kitchen that connected with the dining room, and the living room opposite the hall. 2 bathrooms were enough for our family, coming to the conclusion that both Robert and I adored where we lived.
"She wants to meet in the park after lunch" I explained, yawning again as the thought of the outside filled my mind. I would much rather stay inside today.
"What did you say?"
"I said yes, of course"
"Ah, well, at least Liam and Mabel will be happy" he sighed, lounging on the sofa next to me, flinging the tea towel into a heap in the corner.
"I've been thinking…" he murmured, before stopping mid-sentence.
"What?"
"I- never mind, it's pointless" he said, staring ahead.
"No, what's on your mind" I egged him curiously. He let out a breath, and inhaled a new one, deeply.
"I wondered if you wanted to go out," he said, a reddish tinge appearing on his cheeks.
"What?" I said, eyes widening in surprise. He glanced at me.
"See? It was pointless, I don't know what I was just thinking. I just-" he stammered.
I lay my hand on arm to quieten him, and nodded.
"Sure, just you and me. No kids" I said quietly, and he finally turned his head to look at me.
"Seeing Harry and Ginny in their young love just made me realise who I need to appreciate more, because I love you Katie, I really do, and I feel like I'm not showing it in a way like I used too" he said sincerely, pulling me in close.
"I know, the kids need working parents though, not two love freaks who can't take their hands of each other" I grinned against him. He pulled back, slightly surprised.
"I assume you're not talking about Harry and Ginny, then"
"No! No, of course not!" I said, swatting him over the head with my hand.
"I was gonna say…" he muttered, grinning.
"Be gone with you" I said, wafting him away to the kitchen.
He leapt up, and walked out the room backwards.
"Prat" I muttered, grinning none the less. I broke my gaze from the door, and settled down to watch the Sunday tele.
After a couple of hours of lounging, playing, and one argument, I finally left the living room.
"Are you joking" I muttered, seeing Liam at the stairs still, playing with the same hex bug he was playing with 2 and a half hours ago "You're still trying to see if it will stay?"
"Yes, Tyron is better than Plowko, though" he said matter-of-factly, placing 'Tyron' in the palm of his hand.
"That's great, but we're going out for Lunch in 30 minutes, so you better get out of your Pj's"
"Oh" Liam frowned, before scampering up the stairs.
"Ridiculous" I muttered to myself, following Liam up the stairs.
I only had to rummage in my drawer for a few minutes, before I found clothes that were suitable for today's promised activities.
An extremely plain light blue top, and fading white cropped trousers.
The only clothes I could ever look good in.
I was doing alright for time, so I decided to bunch up my mousy brown hair into a hairstyle I could never achieve on our hurried school runs. I was pleased with myself as I saw my hair in the mirror on my dressing table, something I never use that often either.
At 11:30, I put on sandals and slid my purse into my handbag. The entire morning I had not done much for either Mabel or Liam, but I wasn't complaining. Robert had given them breakfast, brushed their teeth, got them changed, did their hair, and played with them if they asked. However, it was time to leave, so I yelled up the stairs for Robert to bring the kids down.
"Let's go" he said, Mabel in his arms in a dress that I definitely wouldn't have put her in. I grinned, and nodded in agreement.
"Toby Carvery?" Robert asked, and I nodded. A good old Sunday roast would always fill me up, and it's traditional for my family to go out on a Sunday.
My family were – and still are – very firm Catholics. I used to go to Church every Sunday from when I was born until the day I left for University. When I met Robert, things changed. I spent days with him rather than accompanying my parents to Church, but I didn't feel too pissed with myself. My Mum and Dad were disappointed too see my religion falter, but they supported me through everything.
Although Church isn't my main priority, I do sometimes feel like going to mass one day, just to show my parents I'm still Cristian, just not in a way they brought me up to be.
Because Downlow is quite literally in the middle of nowhere, our closest Toby Carvery is a good 20 minutes away, but it was worth it. After a good old Toby Carvery, no one (cough cough Liam) badgers me for snacks half an hour later; It fills us up incredibly well.
We managed to get both me, Robert, and both kids eating for a total of £18.73, which is a god damn record. I denied pudding for Liam and Mabel, because our timing was getting ridiculous.
12:40.
We quickly hurried back into the car, and raced back off to Downlow.
1:03.
After a quick gathering of park toys and a change of shoes, we were back off into the car again, heading down to Downlow common. I saw Sarah's car there, and breathed a sigh of relief. Robert parked in the small muddy parking plot, and shut off the engine.
The common was buzzing slightly as adults and children marvelled in the May sunshine. I knew everyone's faces, but hadn't spoken to pretty much anyone.
I'm socially awkward, as Robert would put it.
Anyway, I spied Sarah on a bench, talking to Dillon, and cradling Posie.
"Sarah!" I yelled, waving my arms to get her attention. She turned her head, and waved back, waiting for us to come over.
"It's been ages" Sarah grinned, hugging me.
"I know, stupid amount of time" I said back, and everyone laughed at our sarcasm, "But Dillon, it has been ages since we've seen you"
"6 months" Dillon grunted, standing up, "How are you all?"
There were murmurs of 'good' or 'yeah, I'm fine' from mine and Robert's mouths, and he blinked.
"So, you've moved" I smiled, sitting next to Sarah, and letting Mabel and Liam run onto the play equipment.
"Yes, we have, and so far it's going pretty smooth" she smiled back, placing Posie into her pram.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming" I said, incredulous.
She shrugged, "I didn't want to raise any hopes up, you know, unless Maisy didn't get a spot for ages at Downlow Primary"
"I thought she was 3rd on the list?"
"She was, but the two people above her were twins, and they moved to Norfolk a couple of weeks ago" she explained, "the school never took them off the list"
"Did anyone leave, then. For Maisy to get a spot?" Robert asked, and Dillon nodded.
"This kid called Oscar"
I knew Oscar's Dad; Joseph used to work with me at the local card shop. Oscar had been in Liam's year, but they hadn't really got along very well. Oscar thought Liam was a bit weird, and Liam thought Oscar was creepy.
"So Maisy must be in the other class, then" I noted, remembering that Oscar had been in the mirroring Reception class.
"She's in RP" Sarah said, checking a piece of paper in her hand.
"Liam's in RH, the other class" I told her again.
"Oh, there's more than one class" Sarah said, surprised.
"Only 2" I said.
"There was only one at Brom Wessie" Dillon commented, leaning back.
"They've expanded very recently, because more people are moving to Downlow" Robert replied, watching the kids play.
"It's getting popular, for some odd reason" I muttered.
"It's a very nice place, you know" Sarah said, "Nice and quiet, hidden, and beautiful. Definitely somewhere you want to raise children"
"That's why we moved in the first place" Robert nodded, "Liam was 4 months old when we moved from our flat in Foulness, and we found this place as we were passing to get to Manston"
"Theres no sign or anything, just an obscure little village" Sarah smiled, glancing at Dillon.
"Would have no idea where the hell this place is if it wasn't for Sarah" he said, looking at the sky, "It's just my work that seems to bug me. 45 minutes' drive to work every day"
"Katie knows someone who travels up to London everyday" Sarah said, looking at me, "You might know him"
"Who?" Dillon said, following Sarah's gaze.
"Liam's friend's Dad" I said, shifting uncomfortably.
"How would I know him" Dillon asked.
"He's in the police too" Sarah told him, "Isn't he, Katie?"
"Yes" I said awkwardly, not really knowing what else to say.
"Which department?"
"He's in charge of the Sheffield murders" Sarah finished, looking at me for confirmation. I nodded briefly, unsure of what I should have done. Dillon's eyes widened.
"Chief Johnson?"
"What? No, It's Potter" Robert said, looking vaguely confused. Dillon looked instantly alert.
"Potter lives here?" he muttered, and glanced behind him very briefly, "I might finally get some information then"
"What do you mean?"
"The Police at Gillingham are working with Police all over the country, Potter's in charge, though key information is only shared with his workers, and the Met Police. Trying to get a course of this murderer is crazy, like tracking someone that just walked through water"
"Have you met him?"
"No, no one has, except Josie Johnson," Dillon said solemnly, "We're no way near important enough to be speaking first hand to the chief of the whole damn case"
"Do you know who-"
"No clue" Dillon spat, "We don't have a bloody clue, because Potter and his hand-picked little Police investigators won't tell us anything"
I had listened to this whole affair with slight disbelief. Dillon seemed very flustered, and kept looking over his shoulder, as if he was waiting for someone.
"If I could just…" he muttered to himself, but Sarah stopped him.
"Don't ask him, Dillon, it would be weird"
"How?"
"Imagine someone you don't know comes running up to you and starts bombarding you with questions about a murderer"
"Well I'm not head of this, so sure, I would definitely do that" Dillon replied, "He seems like a bit of a git to me"
"Hang on, he's a good guy, not what you'd expect from a guy rolling in cash" Robert said, firmness on his tongue, "I've met him, and you wouldn't see him first as a man who works right up there with the Police"
"So he's Liam's friend's Dad" Sarah said, directing the topic elsewhere. I nodded, and gladly explained a bit more about James, Ginny, Al, and Lily.
"They only moved late April, and then their daughter, Lily, came 3 weeks earlier than expected, and then the Sheffield murders started"
"Ginny seemed really chill, though" Sarah said.
"I reckon she's like that most of the time. They're still young compared to us lot, though" Robert grinned.
"How young?"
"I think Harry's turning 28 this summer, and Ginny's 26" I said, feeling stupidly rude that I was telling Dillon and Sarah my friends ages.
"He's not even 28? How'd he get right up to the top of department?!" Dillon said, eyes narrowed.
"I think something happened" Robert said quietly, "Things have been cropping up in conversation. Things that indicate Harry did something huge a few years back"
"Like what?" Dillon questioned.
"His youngest son, Albus, is named after 2 people who saved his life. I mean, people don't save your life that significantly enough that you have to name your child after them. No, he must have done something heroic" Robert continued. I must say, I was impressed with the way Robert's mind worked. I, myself, had thought something along these lines but Robert said it in a way that made it sound plausible.
"Probably" shrugged Dillon, "That's how you get high up in the Police"
"So little Al is turning 3 in December, and James was 5 a couple of weeks ago" I continued, not wanting to pursue the previous topic.
"Yeah, Alex won't be with 'Al', as you called him" Sarah nodded, "He's late August"
"Alex and Mabel will be together" Dillon said, still looking slightly disgruntled.
"Yes, and Posie will be with Lily Potter" Robert grinned, "Your kids all have someone we know in their year"
"I'm glad, it will help us all settle easier" Sarah smiled. We all sat in silence for a few minutes, our own trains of those thought rushing through our minds, distracting us from the presence of others.
"Well" announced Sarah suddenly, jerking me back to 2008, "We really do need to collect that key, Dillon"
"Oh yeah, we do" Dillon muttered, starting to get up.
"Which agency are you with?" Asked Robert, also getting to his feet.
"Brampton's" Dillon answered, calling over to Maisy and Alex.
"Mummy!" Maisy squealed, her dark brown curls bouncing on her shoulders, "Liam said he goes to the same school I'm going to go to!"
Sarah nodded in confirmation, "Yes, so you won't be alone when you start next week"
"Good, I can play with him" Maisy said in satisfaction.
"No, I'm gonna play with James" Liam said, appearing at Maisy's side. She frowned, her olive-green eyes crinkling in confusion.
"Who's James?"
"My best friend" Liam said proudly, "He's really cool"
"Oh" Maisy said, looking disappointed, "So I will be by myself, Mummy"
"No, I'm sure Liam will let you play with him, until you make some new friends" I said firmly, casting a warning glance at Liam, who shrugged, but nodded.
"Ok, she can play with us at play time" He muttered, scuffing his toes along the pavement.
"They're new shoes, Li. Don't scuff them please" I told Liam, catching his foot mid scrape. He let out an impressive huff, and rolled his eyes.
"Liam!" A voice suddenly yelled, and everyone turned to see Presley, her golden hair fanning out behind her.
"Presley!" Liam cried, and he ran to embrace her. They were a little off, but their kids voices made it easy to determine what they were saying.
"I was playing, and then I saw you just now" Presley beamed, shoving her hair behind her ear. She suddenly frowned, and looked around "Where's James?"
"He didn't come with me" Liam said, glancing at me momentarily.
"Who's that?" Presley said, pointing at Maisy, who was watching the exchange tentatively.
"Maisy, she's comin' to our school" Liam said, eyes following Presley's extended finger.
"I've never seen her before" Presley said apprehensively.
"She's new" Liam explained, "But I known her since I was a baby"
"Oh"
"She's nice"
"Is she in our class?"
"I dunno, lemme check" Liam said, his shoulders twitching up once again. He ran back over to us.
"Is Maisy in my class?"
"I'm in RP" Maisy said quietly, looking curiously at Presley, who was watching her.
"That's not my class" Liam said, perplexed, "I'm in RH, with Mrs Haymann"
"Mummy!" Cried Maisy, turning outraged to Sarah, who's eyes widened with surprise, "Liam's not in my class!"
"Sweetheart, there was no space in Liam's class, but-" Sarah tried to explain, but Maisy broke down in tears.
Somehow, between sobs, she managed to say a few sentences: "I don't wanna move! All my friends are at my old school, and in the new one I'm not going to know anyone!"
"You'll make plenty of new friends, Maisy, and you'll see Liam at playtimes and lunch" Sarah said, looking at me for reassurance. I nodded in encouragement, so Sarah continued.
"Liam didn't have any friends until James came along, so I'm sure you'll find one really fast"
"I know lots of people in RP" Liam said helpfully, "There's Jake, Tom, Aidan, Madison, Grace, Isla and Ava"
"I don't know them" sniffed Maisy.
"I'll intro – introdupe – no – introduk –" Liam said, struggling to pronounce the word 'introduce'.
"Introduce?" Offered Robert, and Liam nodded.
"Yeah, I'll do that" He told Maisy, who smiled slightly.
"Thanks, who's that?" she said, starting at Presley.
"That's our friend, Presley, she's in my class" Liam said happily, grabbing Maisy's hand, and pulling her over to Presley. This time their talk was inaudible, but I was glad to see Maisy and Presley both smiling, not an inch of dislike in the air.
"She'll be fine, won't she" muttered Sarah to Dillon, "She'll settle in quick enough"
"Yes, she will, and my watch is telling me we need to get that key" Dillon replied.
"Oh God, yeah, forgot about that" Sarah grimaced, before standing up and fetching Alex from the swings.
"Maisy, lets go" Dillon yelled, and Maisy skipped back over, looking immensely pleased with herself.
"Presley said I was really nice, Daddy" Maisy said earnestly, tugging at the sleeve of her father's jacket.
"It's true, but we've got to go now, Maisy" Dillon told her. His mood was tense, and his eyes seemed dazed, almost like he was in deep thought.
"Oh" Maisy looked down. I turned away, and watched as Sarah picked up Alex, and came over to my side.
"Well," she said, smiling, "I expect we'll see you quite a bit this week, Katie"
"Why?" I asked, instantly apologising as I thought I sounded slightly rude. Sarah grinned.
"It's fine. We're moving our furniture this Tuesday – the 20th – but we're staying at a hotel in Minster whilst they empty our old house" she explained.
"So you'll be about 10 minutes away" I nodded, noting that the closet hotel was in the neighbouring village, 10 minutes away from my house.
"Yeah, something like that" Sarah said, acknowledging my statement with a slight dip to the head. She grabbed the handle to the pram, and started to walk away, before a question hit me.
"Hey, Sarah," I said, watching as she turned around to look at me, "Which lane did you move down?"
"Uh, Melford house, down Layters Lane" She said, before heading back on her way.
That night, I crawled into bed and stared up at the ceiling, thinking hard. Layters Lane. It definitely rang a bell, and ever since lunch, I'd been trying to place it in Downlow. On our way home from the park, I had instructed Robert to go via back routes, even though it added an extra 13 minutes to our journey.
"Still dwelling on Layters Lane?" Robert murmured as he walked into the room.
"I'm positive I've heard of it before" I muttered, not taking my eyes of the ceiling.
"I've placed it, I mean-" he said, catching my confused look, "- I've figured out who lives down Layters Lane"
"Who?" I asked curiously.
"Knox. Knox and Helen Nightingale"
"Oh shit" I said quietly, the pieces coming together all at once, "She was telling me before Christmas that she and her husband were building 3 new houses and selling them out"
"So-"
"Sarah lives down the same fucking road as Helen!" I almost shouted. I realised I might wake the kids, so I lowered my voice to a hoarse whisper, "It's going to be so damn awkward whenever I need to visit!"
"But-"
"Listen," I said, sitting up, "Do you think she knows?"
"What-"
"Sarah, do you think she has any idea who sold her the house?"
"She said she was with Brampton's" Robert said, looking bewildered.
"I'm going to warn Sarah" I announced, starting to get to my feet, but Robert grabbed my phone.
"Katie, it's 11:30, you can't just call Sarah now and tell her the ins and outs of Helen Nightingale, c'mon" he said, a frown upturning his lips.
"You're right, I'm over reacting" I sighed, sinking back into the pillows, and continuing to trace the lines on the ceiling with my eyes.
"You are, you're tired" Robert nodded, carefully placing the phone on the bedside table.
It was silent for a bit, as Robert got into bed beside me, imitating me and gazing at the roof of our room.
"Why are you so worried about it, Katie" he said quietly, and I rubbed a hand over my eyes.
"I don't want to see Sarah being dragged into Helen's lies" I muttered, feeling stupid.
"Hey, don't think like that" Robert said, edging closer to my side.
"It's hard" I sniffed, turning my head to burrow into his side, "Everything that's going on in Downlow seems to include me"
"It's fine" Robert assured me, kissing my temple like I was Mabel or Liam, "It'll get better"
"Don't say things like that" I muttered, turning back over, and closing my eyes.
"I'll say what I like" He murmured back, making me smile, and giving the cue to sleep.
