Monday 18th April
Last night, Rose left Sophia with Lucy so she could join the search for her daughter, instructing Lucy to not open the door to anyone. She hated the thought of Tilly being alone that if by some slim chance Cal hadn't taken her and she had wandered off.
It got to around 9am and the town had been looking for Tilly all night. Jack had spent the whole evening trying to reassure Rose that Tilly would be OK, Rose dismissing him or becoming angry with him every time.
"Rose, you need to go home and get some rest, even if it's just for an hour. You can't search for her in this state" Jack tried to persuade her. "There is no chance I'm going home without Tilly, Jack" she snapped "Rose, listen to me, go home. I will come and find you if anything happens, I promise, but your eyes are closing and you're not thinking straight. I'm not asking you, I'm telling you" he said firmly. She just gave him a dirty look, still furious with him but also knowing he was right. She walked away without saying anything.
—
James disembarked the train, holding on to Tilly's hand, who was crying "I want my Mummy" she sniffled. "It's OK, you're going to see your Dad" he said, he knew it wouldn't bring Tilly any comfort but he needed to say something. "No! I don't want to see Father! I want Mummy!" She shouted but James just ignored her and continued walking.
—
James made it back to the house with Tilly, Cal meeting the 2 of them at the front door. "Matilda" he said firmly, terrifying Tilly, she was only the slightest bit reassured when she saw Anna, who, despite missing Tilly, had hoped that Tilly, Rose and Sophia would be far enough away not to be found, knowing how miserable the 3 of them were.
Despite being furious at Rose, Cal knew none of this was actually Tilly's fault so decided not to take his anger out on her. "Anna" Cal turned to Tilly's Nanny "please take Matilda upstairs to her bedroom and fix her hair, it should not be down, then please have the chef cook her up something to eat for lunch" he said "yes Sir" she nodded "come along Matilda" Anna held out her hand but Tilly didn't move, she just looked up at Cal "where is Mummy?" She asked frightened "oh I'm sure she'll be along within the next few days" Cal nodded, convinced, knowing that Rose wouldn't, or couldn't live without her daughters "now, off you go" Tilly was too scared to ask any more questions so just nodded and walked up the stairs to her bedroom, followed by Anna.
—
Rose got home around 20 minutes after her disagreement with Jack. Just as she got to the kitchen to get herself a glass of water, the landline rang from the living room. She rushed to answered it, in hopes it would be some good news on Tilly.
"Hello?" Rose said frantically "Hello sweet pea" Cal replied. Rose suddenly felt as though she was going to be sick, her stomach in nots "Cal…" "I hear you've lost Matilda?" He said. Rose didn't know what to say, what could she say? "Well, not to worry, she's here with me in Philadelphia" he continued "you have her?" Rose said, she didn't know whether to be frightened that Tilly was with Cal, or relieved that she now actually knew the whereabouts of her daughter. "Yes" he responded, no emotion in his voice. "And when you return to Philadelphia, you can see her again" Rose's heart sank- this was it… she knew that in order to get her daughter back, she would have to go back to her husband too. "Now, I know you're most likely against this-" he began "I'll do it" Rose said immediately "sorry?" He replied, confusion clear in his voice "if it means I can be with Matilda then I'll do it. I don't care" she answered "but Cal, please just let me hear her voice" she pleaded. Cal could hear Tilly coming downstairs with Anna so shouted her in to the study.
She walked in looking terrified "yes Father?" "Your Mother is on the phone. Say hello to her so she knows you're here" "hi Mummy…" Tilly said to the speaker phone. "Hi baby, are you OK?" Rose said, tears in her eyes but Cal told Tilly to leave, cutting the conversation between Rose and her daughter short. "I'll be back by tomorrow morning. Please Cal, be kind to her" Rose begged as Cal hung up the phone.