Page 90 of Playing for Keeps

“Is Mum okay? And Louise?”

“Yes.” She took a shuddering breath. “I want to come home.”

“What’s happened?” he said, his tone soothing despite the panic that made his chest tight.

“I just want to come home. I miss you and I want to come home.” Again, she paused for breath. “Can you come and get me?”

“Sweetheart, I don’t understand what’s going on. Why are you crying? Where are you?”

“At Mum’s house.”

“Where’s Mum?”

“Downstairs with Louise. Can I come home?” Her voice didn’t even sound like her. “Please.”

“You’re coming home on Sunday. The flight’s all booked …”

“I know, but I want to come now. Right now.”

He switched his phone to speaker so he had his hands free for the computer keyboard. “I’ll have a look at flights, but you need to tell me why you’re upset. Did something happen?”

“I just want to come home,” she said desperately.

He focused on the screen. “I’m looking to see when I can get a flight.” Emmy stayed quiet while he navigated the website. “I can get a flight this evening,” he said, then checked his watch. “I’ll need to leave for the airport now but I could be with you in a few hours.” He had no idea if they could get a flight back that evening or if they’d have to wait until tomorrow, but he’d worry about that later. “Em?” he said when she didn’t respond.

“Yeah,” she said, sounding slightly calmer.

“Did you hear me? I can be there in a few hours. Are you okay?”

“Yes. Sorry.” Her voice went all brittle again and it felt as though someone was stabbing Hugh in the heart.

“What are you sorry for?”

“Calling you.”

He moved across the room to the filing cabinet to look for his passport. “Don’t be silly. Of course you should call me if you’re upset. Can you tell me what’s going on? You’re worrying me.”

“Sorry,” she said again, quietly.

Hugh paused in front of the filing cabinet. “Tell me what’s going on, Em. I don’t know what to do if I don’t know what the problem is.”

“I just wanted to come home, but I’m being silly.”

“You’re not being silly.” He knew his daughter and she didn’t get upset unless something was really bothering her. She was level-headed and easy-going. She never made a fuss without reason. “If you want to come home, you can.”

“Mum wouldn’t like it.”

“It doesn’t matter what Mum wants. If you don’t want to stay there you don’t have to.”

“She’s my mum. She’ll be upset if I leave early.”

“Did you two have an argument or something?”

“No. It’s fine. I shouldn’t have called you. I just wanted to talk to you and then … I don’t know, I just miss you, but I’ll be coming home soon anyway.”

“I miss you too,” he said, through the lump in his throat.

A flash of guilt hit him over all the time he’d been spending with Allie. Usually, the time when Emmy was away seemed to crawl by, but this time it had flown and it made him feel disloyal. Especially now he knew that Emmy had been upset while he’d been having a whale of a time with Allie.

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