Page 73 of The Forsaken (Echoes from the Past #4)

Quinn changed her mind about the tea and settled at one of the tables with Gabe, a steaming Styrofoam cup in front of her.

She hoped Sylvia wouldn’t attempt to join them.

She’d had about enough of her drama for one afternoon.

In fact, she regretted inviting Sylvia back to their place, but it was too late to take back the invitation.

She only hoped that Sylvia might be astute enough to see that she wasn’t wanted.

Quinn smiled and waved as the children trooped into the restaurant, flushed from the exercise and ready for their lunch.

Emma was already wearing her party frock and her pretty pink flats.

Phoebe had brushed Emma’s hair and adjusted the headband.

She looked so cool, butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.

“She looks so happy.” Gabe’s eyes glowed with love as he watched Emma. “I’m so glad we were able to do this for her.”

“Me too. I never had parties like this when I was a girl. I’m kind of jealous.”

“So am I. For my fifth birthday, all of mum’s siblings descended on the house with their kids.

We played outside, then came in for orange squash and cake.

Mum had a row with her sister, and Dad, who was foolish enough to get between them, took refuge in the library after getting told off in front of the other husbands.

Mum and Dad didn’t speak to each other for days. ”

“Did you at least get good presents?”

“I got some toys and books.”

“Not a bad haul,” Quinn replied, smiling. She liked to imagine Gabe as a little boy, and could very well guess where Emma got her precociousness.

The children finished their pizza, sang a hilariously off-key version of “Happy Birthday,” and clapped as Emma blew out her birthday candles.

They wolfed down the cake in record time before running off to the arcade, armed with stacks of tokens, which they’d burn through within minutes.

Quinn nibbled on a piece of cake, pleased that the party had gone off without a hitch.

This was the first birthday party she’d planned, and it had been important to get it right.

Before long, all the children had been collected by their parents, and the pile of gifts was loaded in the boot of Gabe’s car.

Quinn tried to hide her annoyance when Sylvia sauntered over to her.

Sylvia’s smile was forced as she acknowledged Gabe, but her gaze grew hard and accusing when it slid back to Quinn.

“I think I’ll skip the cake at your place. I do hope you understand. I’ll drop Jude and Bridget at their flat. They have plans.”

Quinn wasn’t surprised that Sylvia begged off or that Jude and Bridget had decided not to come. It was a relief, actually.

“Thank you for coming, Sylvia. It meant a lot to Emma,” Gabe said, polite as ever.

“I hope she likes her gift. I put a lot of thought into it.”

“I’m sure she’ll love it,” Gabe replied when he realized Quinn wasn’t about to and it was up to him to fill the awkward silence.

“I’ll just say goodbye to Emma.” Sylvia looked around. “Where is she?”

“She had a few tokens left and wanted to use them up. She’ll be back soon.”

A few moments later, Emma came bouncing toward them, beaming. She held a tiny multi-colored bear that she must have won.

“Did you enjoy your party?” Quinn asked as she handed Emma an antibacterial wipe for her hands.

“Oh, yes. It was smashing. Can we do this again next year?”

“Let’s wait and see, shall we? Now, why don’t you say goodbye to Grandma Sylvia? She’s not coming back to the flat.”

“Bye, Grandma Sylvia,” Emma sang as she twirled around. She didn’t appear too disappointed .

“Are you ready to go? Grandma Phoebe’s already in the car.” Gabe held out his hand to Emma.

“Okay,” Emma replied. “Oh, look what I found, Daddy. It’s a pretty sticker.” Emma had extracted something from her pocket and held it out to Gabe.

“Give me that!” Gabe grabbed the sticker from Emma’s hand and shoved it in his pocket.

“But I want it,” Emma wailed.

“Where did you find it?” Gabe demanded. He took Emma by the shoulders, frightening her with his sudden change of mood.

“Over there.” Emma pointed to the table where Jude had sat with his friends while the children enjoyed pizza and birthday cake.

“Gabe, what’s wrong?” Quinn asked.

Gabe didn’t reply. His eyes blazed with fury as he scanned the premises until his gaze alighted on Jude, who’d just stepped out of the Gents’, his costume over his arm. “I’m going to kill him,” Gabe exclaimed and took off, heading straight for Jude.

“Gabe!” Quinn didn’t know if she should go after him or see to Emma, who appeared to be on the verge of tears.

Emma clung to Quinn, her eyes huge with shock. “What did Jude do?” she whimpered.

“I don’t know, darling.”

Quinn looked on in shocked silence as Gabe grabbed Jude and slammed him against the wall, knocking the wind out of him. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but when Gabe punched Jude in the face and then belted him one in the stomach, Emma began to cry, burying her face in Quinn’s side.

“Let go of him!” Sylvia bellowed, but Gabe ignored her. He held Jude pinned against the wall, his face mere inches from the terrified young man as his fingers closed around Jude’s windpipe.

“Gabe, stop!” Quinn cried.

The sound of her voice seemed to bring Gabe to his senses, and he loosened the hold on Jude’s throat but remained uncomfortably close, blocking Jude’s escape.

“What’s your problem, man?” Jude’s hand went to his bruised throat. “You’re barking mad.”

“Am I?’ Gabe growled.

“I’m calling the police. This is assault!” Sylvia exclaimed as she fumbled in her handbag for her mobile.

“Go on. Call the police,” Gabe retorted. “And when they get here, I’ll just show them this.” He pulled the sticker he’d confiscated from Emma from his pocket and held it up in front of Sylvia’s face. “Do you know what this is, Sylvia?”

Sylvia clearly had no idea what Gabe was talking about, or why Jude suddenly looked scared out of his wits as he tried to inch further away from Gabe.

Gabe’s hand shot out and caught hold of Jude’s arm. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Gabe, what is that?” Quinn asked. She peered at the image on the paper, but whatever it was, she couldn’t see why Gabe was so upset.

“It’s a heroin fold,” Gabe replied, his voice very low so Emma wouldn’t hear.

“Please don’t call the coppers, Gabe. I’m sorry, man. I really am. Emma was never meant to find that. It must have fallen out of my pocket,” Jude sputtered. He looked around wildly, but his friends had legged it, having probably sensed that things might get ugly and the police would be called .

“I don’t want you anywhere near my child. Ever!” Gabe hissed as he shoved Jude against the wall for emphasis.

Jude didn’t fight back. He stood stock-still until Gabe finally stepped aside, giving him a chance to escape. Jude took off at a run, heading for the nearest exit. Sylvia opened her mouth to say something, but Gabe turned on her.

“Don’t! Just don’t!”

“Why is Daddy cross with Jude? It’s only a sticker. I didn’t mean to take it,” Emma whimpered.

“It’s all right, darling. Let’s get you in the car.

” Quinn grabbed Emma by the hand and pulled her toward the exit.

She needed some air. A lava-like heat was spreading upward from her chest and her heart hammered frantically as she fought for breath.

Her vision blurred, softening the edges of the walls and making the door difficult to make out.

Everything seemed to be reduced to one pulsating point of darkness, the black hole zooming in and out and making Quinn sway with dizziness.

The sunlight nearly blinded her when she finally managed to get outside and she squeezed her eyes shut, unable to bear the glare.

“Quinn! Quinn!”

Gabe’s voice sounded as if it were coming from underwater.

Quinn leaned against the building for support as blood roared in her ears and she was overcome by crippling vertigo.

She would have fallen had Gabe not caught her in time and settled her in the front seat of the car, which was parked near the exit.

“I’m taking you to A&E.”

“No, I want to go home,” Quinn muttered. “I need to lie down. Please, Gabe. I can’t bear to be poked and prodded just now. I just need to rest.”

“Her blood pressure is through the roof,” Phoebe said as she took Quinn’s pulse.

She found Quinn’s blood pressure medication in her bag and pushed a tablet between Quinn’s lips before holding a bottle of water to her mouth.

“There now. You’ll start to feel better in a few minutes. Gabe, let’s go. Do as Quinn asks.”

“Mum, I don’t think…”

“Gabe, there’s nothing they can do for her. She needs quiet.”

Gabe seemed paralyzed by indecision but complied with Phoebe’s command and strapped Emma into her seat. “You’re going to see the doctor first thing tomorrow,” he said, and Quinn nodded, too weak to reply.