Staying Away at Christmas Read Free Page B

found her?’ Isa asked.
    ‘I didn’t mean to.’ Lulu’s voice caught on a sob.
    ‘What’s the matter, darling?’ said Miranda quietly. ‘If you know anything, tell us. No one’s going to be cross.’
    ‘I’m sure it’s nothing to do with you, Lu,’ said Isa, trying to be comforting.
    ‘I shouldn’t have told her –’
    ‘Excuse me!’ Anthony called up the stairs. ‘If we’re discussing Amy, could you please involve me?’
    Miranda threw him a look and then returned her attention to the girls. He was desperately worried and it made him angry. She wanted to protect her girls from it if she could. ‘Have you any idea where Amy might be?’ she asked.
    Isa shook her head. ‘Not really.’
    ‘We were telling Amy about how wonderful it is here. I mentioned the look-out point,’ Lulu said, fighting tears. ‘Amy got up … we thought she’d gone off to find Dan. You don’t think she’s gone there do you, Mum?’
    ‘OK, we’ll go and tell Anthony about this.’
    Anthony listened while Isa explained what had happened. It was to his credit, Miranda thought, that he didn’t shout. ‘OK, can you tell me how to get there?’
    ‘It would make more sense for me to go,’ said Miranda. ‘I know where it is.’
    ‘Amy is my child! I’m responsible for her!’
    Anthony obviously didn’t think it was so necessary to keep his temper when he was talking to Miranda.
    ‘But I know where she might be.’
    ‘Then we’ll both go,’ said Anthony.
    ‘Shall I come, Dad?’ said Dan.
    Anthony considered. ‘No, you stay here and take any calls from her friends’ parents. I’ve left so many messages –’
    ‘I could do that, if you like,’ suggested Isa.
    Anthony shook his head. ‘No. If she came home, it would be nice if Dan were here.’
    The plan agreed on, Miranda hurried into her boots and coat, whilst Lulu and Isa hovered beside her.
    ‘Try not to worry, girls. We’ll find her, I’m sure. Now keep the fire going, Isa, we’ll need it when Amy comes back. Oh, and make sure the lasagne doesn’t burn.’
    ‘I’ll take care of that,’ said Dan.
    After everyone had promised to call the moment there was news, Miranda and Anthony headed off into the night, torches in their hands. Anthony agreed to go in the direction of the village and then if he didn’t find her, he was going to drive round the lanes. Miranda was headed for the point.
    Miranda didn’t much like the dark. It wasn’t a real phobia but at home she always made a point of putting a light on in her bedroom before she went to bed so she wouldn’t be going into a dark room on her own. She had a time switch on lamps in the sitting room too, so no matter how early the evenings were drawing in there would always be a light on when she got home from work. But now she set off up the path as fast as she safely could. She felt sick and her mouth was dry. She didn’t know Amy, she’d exchanged very few words with her, but she was a child and was lost – and because her own daughter might be inadvertently to blame for her disappearance, Miranda felt responsible. She must do everything she could to help.
    Miranda knew where she was going. The girls had told her about this little ruined building up on the cliffs that had a wonderful view of the village and the harbour beyond. Then they’d taken her there with a picnic. Isa had pretended to be blasé about it but Lulu had loved it. She had taken a rug up there one day and spent hours looking out at the world and reading. If Lulu had told Amy about it and Amy was prone to running off it might easily be where she had headed.
    As she walked, her eyes grew accustomed to the light level, and it didn’t seem nearly so dark. There was a moon somewhere behind the clouds and a few stars pricked through.
    Miranda turned off the torch and put it in her pocket. She wanted both hands free in case she stumbled and needed to stop herself falling. She wished she’d brought a walking stick – there was a