Page 35

Anita knocks on the door, and I hold my breath.

The second it opens, I’m hit with a million memories, all of her.

My mother. Esmae Torez. She gasps, her hands covering her mouth as tears stream down her face.

She reaches for me, and Wynter releases my hand so I can wrap my mother in my arms. She’s a small woman, so I have to crouch slightly, but the second we touch, I close my eyes and relax. I’m home.

She eventually takes us inside, keeping a tight hold on my hand.

I have to duck down to go through the doors in her bungalow, but as I move into the living room, I’m met with photographs of a little boy with blue eyes.

I go to them, studying each one, trying to remember them.

Esmae joins me, pointing to one. “Blackpool Beach,” she tells me, smiling fondly.

“Our first house in London,” she says, pointing to another of me in a garden.

“You were so happy we had a garden,” she adds.

“This was an outdoor swimming pool just up the road. It’s closed now, but you loved going there. ”

Wynter wipes her eyes, sniffling quietly as she takes in the pictures of my lost childhood. “This is Wynter,” I almost whisper. The urge to clamp my mouth closed again is overwhelming, but I refuse to give in to it.

Esmae hugs her. “You saved him,” she whispers, kissing her cheek. “I don’t know what to say.”

“We saved each other,” Wynter replies.

Anita lingers in the doorway. “Would you like me to leave you for an hour or two?” she asks, but honestly, Anita has been on this journey as much as we have. She’s helped us every step of the way, and having her here feels right, so I shake my head. “Stay.”

She smiles with relief and takes a seat. “I’m Anita, Ares and Wynter’s social worker.”

Esmae sits too, and I sit with Wynter on the couch.

“I never thought this day would come,” she admits.

“I never stopped thinking about you.” She takes a box from the side of her chair and places it on the table.

“I kept everything. The police reports, the failed sightings that gave me false hope . . .”

I pull it closer and peer inside, taking out the first thing on top, which is a newspaper article.

I scan it, my eyes settling on a picture of my mother holding up a photograph of me.

“It was a circus,” she mutters. “They had people calling the helpline who said they’d seen you walking off with a group of kids, others saying you were in different countries.

And the nutters,” she shakes her head, “they came out in full force. Some even said they’d spoken to your spirit and you were at peace.

” She pats a tear away on her cheek. “They were the hardest to deal with.”

“I’m so sorry you went through that,” says Wynter.

“I saw it all on the news,” she adds, nodding at the television in the corner. “They’re saying it was a cult.” I shudder, not wanting to taint my mother’s house with talk of them .

“Did your family liaison officer explain things?” asks Anita.

Esmae nods. “She left out the details, but said you’d both been held in a village.”

“What matters is now,” says Wynter, knowing I’ve been worried about revealing any details to my mother. I don’t want to break her heart further, and if she knew the things I’d done . . .

“Whatever happened there,” Esmae says carefully, “it wasn’t your fault. I’ll never judge you.” I give a stiff nod. “Anita says you’re staying across town in a hotel?”

“It’s really nice,” Wynter says.

“But you can’t stay there forever,” she replies.

“The local council are working on flats or houses for everyone, but some people will have to move out of area,” Anita cuts in.

“I have a house,” Esmae says. “It’s just up the road. It’s yours.”

I frown, glancing at Wynter. “We can’t take your house,” she says.

“My brother left it to me in his will. Your uncle,” she adds, smiling at me. “I have no use for it as I love my bungalow. I was thinking of selling it, but I can’t bear to part with it. He’d want you to have it.”

Anita stares at me with hopeful eyes, and I give a slight nod. “That would be amazing,” she says. “And it would get Ares off the waiting list for a property.” She looks to Wynter. “It’s not too far for you to visit him.” Wynter nods in agreement, but I narrow my eyes and take her hand.

“Where I go, she goes.”

Wynter glances nervously at Esmae, who smiles wider. “Of course. It has four bedrooms.”

“Summer too,” I say firmly.

“And the other guys?” Wynter asks hopefully.

I sigh, nodding, even though the thought of being around the warriors twenty-four-seven stresses me out.

“That would be amazing,” says Anita eagerly.

“And it would ease the pressure on us to find more places. It would just be temporary, until we find the guys something more suitable.” She looks back to Esmae. “If you’re sure?”

“Yes, I’m one hundred percent. I don’t want to lose him again. If he’s just up the road, I can visit?” she asks hopefully.

I smile. “Every day.”

She relaxes back in her chair. “I’ve gone from having no one to a family again.”

“And a grandchild,” adds Wynter, and Esmae’s eyes widen. “We just found out.”