“Oh, good. Well, I have some news…some good news.”
That makes me sit up straighter. “Good news?”
“Yes. I’ve been talking with my superior, and we’ve been looking at Jesse’s progress since your release. It’s all been positive. Especially since your visits began. He’s doing better in school, he’s actively seeking to partake in activities, and his overall attitude is better. He seems happy.”
That makes me glow, knowing that Jesse is happy because of me.
“And I talked with your probation officer, Toby, and he has nothing but positive things to say, as does your employer.”
“Kas?” I breathe his name.
“Yes, Kastor Matis. Lovely man. He had wonderful things to say about you. That you’re a hard worker. You’re always on time. He said it’s clear to him that your sole focus is on rebuilding your life and getting Jesse back living with you.”
Tears spring to my eyes. I bite my lip.
“When did you speak to Kas?” I fight to keep my voice normal. I need to know if she’s spoken to him since he went off the grid.
“Oh, it was the day before yesterday. Why?”
My hope sinks. “Oh, he never mentioned it, is all.” I try to brush off my curiosity, worrying that I might have tipped her off to the fact that Kas and I were once more than just employer and employee.
“Oh, right,” she says with a casualness that puts me at ease. “Anyway, we would normally wait a little longer before allowing this, but I don’t think that’s necessary in this case. I think, if anything, it will benefit Jesse more. And I’ve spoken to Jesse, and he was more than eager for it to begin.”
“For what to begin?”
“Overnight visits. We’re going to allow you to have weekend access with Jesse. He can come to you on Saturday mornings. Stay over Saturday nights, and then you return him back on Sundays by teatime. I will, of course, need to come and do a check of your home to make sure everything is up to a satisfactory condition for him, but I can’t see there being a problem from what I remember of your place the last time I was there.”
“Are you being serious?” My heart is beating faster. “I can really have Jesse for the weekends?”
I feel her smile down the line.
“Yes, Daisy, I’m serious. You’ve earned this. I’m proud of you. Keep up the good work, and you’ll have Jesse living back with you sooner than originally anticipated.”
Tears start to run down my face. “Thank you. So much. I…I can’t…God, thank you. I won’t let you or Jesse down, I swear.”
“Just keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll have your family back together before you know it.”
We say our good-byes after setting a date and time for Anne to do her home visit early next week so that I can begin Jesse’s overnight stays the next weekend.
I can’t believe it. I’m one step away from getting Jesse back.
The other part of my life might be going to shit, but the most important part of my life is heading in the right direction. And it only confirms that I made the right decision in walking away from Kas because I can’t let anything jeopardize getting Jesse back home with me.
Tears are still leaking from my eyes, and I don’t care that other passengers can see me because I’m so fucking happy about these weekend visits.
I fire off a text to Jesse, telling him that I just heard from Anne and how happy I am.
My phone beeps a second later.
It’s cool, right? I can’t wait to see your place. Can I decorate my room how I want it?
God, he can paint it black if he wants.
I type back.
Of course you can! We can go shopping for paint tomorrow if you want.
He responds.
Bring your credit card. :)
I laugh out loud, and it feels good.
You got it, kiddo. Love you. xx
Love you, too, Mayday.
And that sets me off crying even more.
I turn my face to the window and wipe away the tears.
I feel so conflicted with my happiness over Jesse and my hurt over Kas.
I never knew I could feel so happy yet so sad at the same time.
The train pulls into my station. I get off the train and start the walk home. I know Cece said she was getting wine for our girlie night, but I stop off at the supermarket and get a bottle of champagne to celebrate my news. It’s only the cheap stuff, but it’s still champagne, and we are going to celebrate big time. I cannot bloody wait to see her face when I tell her that I’m getting Jesse for the weekends.
I forgo the five-pence carrier bag, and with a champagne bottle in hand, I head home.
I let myself in my apartment building and jog up the steps. I put my key in the front door, letting myself in. The place is quiet.
“Ce, I’m home,” I call out, smiling. I kick my shoes off. Dropping my bag in the hallway, I head to the living room. “I’ve got amazing news—” My words cut off at the scene set out before me.
Oh God. No.
Thirty-Nine
The bottle of champagne falls from my hand, hitting the floor with a thud.
“Ce.” My voice trembles.
She’s sitting on the sofa. Her wrists are bound in front of her, and her ankles are tied, too. Over her mouth is a piece of duct tape. Her eyes are wide with fear, her cheeks stained with old and new tears.
And, standing behind her, with a gun casually resting on top of the sofa beside her, is Damien Doyle.
“Hi, Daisy.”
The bastard smiles. He fucking smiles.
Fear and rage unfurl in the pit of my stomach.
“Damien.” I try to keep my voice steady, but it trembles, and he hears it.