Page 78 of Seal of Approval

“I need to keep your mom safe. The only way I can do that is if you and Bailey are not here.”

Tears ran down her face.

We were running out of time.

“Go out the back. Run into the bush,” I said.

Bailey nodded. “Make our way to the shop.”

“Like all those games we played,” Rose said, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

“Exactly like that.”

Ethan put her down.

She hugged him. “I love you, Ethan.”

He hugged her back. “I love you too.”

Didn’t he understand the urgency? He looked at me over the top of her head. He knew. And then it registered—he was going slow for them, being as calm as possible for them. But also playing with time. Time for the cops to arrive.

He cupped the back of Bailey’s head. “You can do this. No matter what you hear, do not look back. Do not come back. Got it?”

Bailey swallowed. He nodded and took Rose’s hand. I hugged them both with all the strength I had.

“When I open the front blinds, sneak out the back,” I said.

I wiped my sweaty palms on my shorts and walked out into the living room. Ethan led the children to the laundry. With all of Max’s yelling, he wouldn’t have heard the back door unlock. I snuck one last look at them and then pulled on the cord.

Max’s attention came to me in an instant. The back door opened and closed. Ethan locked it. Max didn’t approach the house. Good. More time for the children. More time before he realised they weren’t here.

“Give me my fucking children,” Max bellowed. “Rose! Bailey!”

Max was so tense he looked bigger than his size. His t-shirt was wrinkled and hanging askew. His attention was on me, but his eyes were unfocused. I wasn’t sure if he was taking drugs the last time I saw him, but I didn’t doubt it at all now.

In essence, only panes of glass and a door separated us. It was nothing. Even if the children’s sandcastle were real, all of its defences would be nothing. I looked around for Ethan.

“If he sees me he might lose it,” Ethan said from the other end of the living area. I nodded. He always knew the right things to do and say.

“I want my fucking family, you stupid lying slut.” His eyes were usually cunning, thinking of his next step, but now they were almost bulging from his face. His face twisted as he bared his teeth. I gasped as he stormed towards the house.

“Two minutes,” Ethan said.

Two minutes had passed since the kids escaped. The kids would be safe in the bush now, heading to Lily and Jack’s.

“You fucking whore. I want my children.”

Do I just stand here? Do I say something? Would anything calm him down?

All my plans shrivelled to nothing as I watched a demented Max. He threw the furniture on the deck aside and smashed his fist against the window. The glass rattled.

“Jasmine, come here,” Ethan said.

I moved backwards. Max caught sight of Ethan.

“You fucking homewrecker. You stole my family.” Max stormed towards the door and then disappeared. But his voice rose high and angry. “Rose! Bailey!”

“Shit.” Ethan’s voice was full of urgency. “Jasmine, get out of?—”

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