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She stepped back, sending a mug tumbling to the floor with a smash.

“We were called to a disturbance?” The officer came to the kitchen door. “Do you all live here?”

“I do.” Charlie stepped forward, her legs shaking. “This is my friend Kim. She had to leave her home tonight. This is her boyfriend, Darren. He’s threatening her and the children with violence.”

“Right. Let’s take some details.” The officer shook her head and reached into her pocket. “Sir, can I ask you to accompany my colleague into another room while we get to the bottom of what’s happening?”

“You sneaky bitch.” Beads of sweat gathered at his brow.

Charlie gestured to the living room, and Darren was escorted through by another strapping female officer. She allowed herself to breathe and a sharp pain seared through her shoulder.

“You look like you need to sit down. Has he hurt you too?” The officer pulled a chair out from the kitchen table. “Let’s put the kettle on and get some sugar into both of you. You’re likely in a bit of shock.”

“I’m fine. He hurt Kim.” Charlie could barely speak through the spasms in her shoulder. “The kids are upstairs.”

“We’ll see they’re all right. Might you need to see a doctor? You’ve gone very pale.”

“Elda…”

“Charlie, are you okay, love?”

Kim’s voice sounded small and far away. There was a rumble on the staircase as all three children burst into the room. Charlie opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. She slumped and found the cold tile at her cheek. The heaviness of her eyelids overwhelmed her, and the noise drifted into the distance.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Elda dragged her heavy feet to the door when it knocked, ready to fall into Charlie’s arms. Jack stepped in, and she collapsed into his hard chest, sobbing.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, holding her tight.

After the long, comforting hug, he came into the house and took off his shoes. Elda leaned into him.

“I know.” He pulled her in, and her cheek brushed against his cold zip.

She ached. “I feel ill. I don’t know if I’m ill.”

“You might be. You’ve probably been holding it all in for a while. You can rest now.”

He headed into the kitchen, and she heard the rumble of the kettle. It had been re-boiled four or five times this morning, and she still hadn’t made tea.

Jack returned with two scalding mugs and put them on coasters on the mantelpiece. “Where’s Linda?”

“She’s upstairs in bed,” said Elda. “She gets up for the loo but that’s about it.”

“Jesus. What should we do?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t know how to manage her.” Elda’s head was foggy, but she couldn’t rest. The pain of losing her grandmother was like a bad cold. Her muscles ached, and the space behind her forehead throbbed.

“Charlie is following me down. She’ll be here soon.” Jack touched Elda’s hand.

“I know. She called from the police station. It sounds like she had her hands full last night.”

“She phoned me after the X-ray. Nothing broken. What a piece of shit.”

“Uh-huh.” The distance between her and Charlie had stretched further than ever. She couldn’t shake the sound of her phone ringing with no answer at the other end. “She might not make it today. She’s got enough on with the police wanting witness statements and all that.”

“Nothing is more important than being here, with you.”

“I get that. She’s just got to sort stuff back home after last night’s heroics.”