Page 111 of Take My Hand

“I-I should go,” Ana said. “I need to finish this. Mum is waiting for it.”

“How are your mum and dad?” I didn’t know her parents well, but enough that we called each other about sleepovers and pick-ups from parties.

She tucked her hair behind her ears and gave me a tight smile. “They’re fine.”

“And the Martial Arts school, how’s that doing? Busy?”

She nodded slowly. “Yeah, yep. It’s busy.”

It was obvious she didn’t want to talk to me, and seeing as I was always tuned in to teenagers, I decided to call it quits, and patted her shoulder. “Well, good to see you. Say hello to your mum and dad for me.”

She swallowed hard and, with another nod, she walked away and headed straight for the checkout. As I watched her, I wondered what was troubling her, because something definitely was. Following her, I watched her load her shopping onto the conveyor belt and noted the stoop of her shoulders. She barely acknowledged the till assistant, who was clearly chatting to her, which was unlike her. Ana was Maddy’s most exuberant friend, the most confident one who had never been shy in front of me, so I knew that I needed to talk to Maddy when she got home.

I’d just put enchilada’s into the oven when I heard the front door bang, a bag being flung to the floor, and then a pair of shoes skidding along the hallway as Maddy kicked them off.

“Cupboard,” I yelled. A grumble was followed by the understairs cupboard being opened and then slammed shut after a few more seconds. “Thank you.”

“I’m starving,” said the voice at the kitchen doorway. “What’s for tea?”

Turning to Maddy, I raised an eyebrow. “Hello to you, too.”

“Hi, Dad.” She grabbed her hair, took a scrunchie off her wrist, and then created what looked like a bird’s nest on top of her head. “So? What is it?”

“Enchilada’s and salad. Can you lay the table.”

“Two or three?” she asked, opening up the cutlery drawer.

“Two. Maya is out with her friends tonight and has to work in the office the rest of the week.”

“You know you can stay over there, don’t you. I wouldn’t mind.”

With a half turn of my head, I watched how her lips twitched for a second before she schooled her face and narrowed her eyes on me.

“I’m old enough to look after myself.”

“I know. And you also have a boyfriend.”

She just about resisted an eye roll. “Dad, I am seventeen. Did you forget that?”

“Nope.” I grabbed the salad tongues and stuck them in the bowl. “I also remember being seventeen, which means I know it’s an opportunity for unofficial sleepovers and what happens at those sleepovers.”

“I wouldn’t if you said no,” she snapped.

I wasn’t so sure, but then I never stuck to the rules at that age either. “I’m not saying you can’t have friends to stay with you but it’s just a bit weird for me to think that friend might be male.” I swallowed, preparing for the words I was about to say. “So, if you did ever find yourself home alone and had him stay just be sensible and safe.”

Maddy flashed a grin, it was quick, but I saw it, before she protested, “Dad, how stupid do you think I am?”

I shrugged. “Not at all, but sometimes sensibility goes out of the window when you’re in a moment.”

She fake gagged. “I don’t want you to ever say that again. I’ve just been sick in my mouth.”

“Can’t promise that, sorry, Madeline.”

My daughter’s emotions often showed on her face, and the by the look of her pinched lips and raised eyebrows, I’d say she was feeling nauseous. Probably time to change the subject.

“I saw Ana today,” I said, placing the salad on the table. “Is she okay?”

Maddy’s eyes went wide. Her expression changed from anger to worry. Something was going on; this wasn’t the first time she’d heard about her friend not being okay.

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