Page 3 of Only You

Ana let herself back into the silent flat and headed for her room. She unlocked and relocked her door before throwing herself down on the bed, all thoughts of food overwritten by the churning in her mind. Lying back, she stared up at the discoloured Artex ceiling, finding solace in its cracks and stains. It reminded her of her life. A mess. Drawing in a shuddering breath, Ana reminded herself how far she had come.

Four months ago, she’d made a life-changing decision. She’d known it would be difficult when she left her previous life, but staying was no longer viable. She had survived so far. Losing her job would not break her. She’d find another one. Her vision blurred, and she swiped at her eye before the first tear could escape. Ana rationalised that this was a setback, nothing more. It was not the end.

Her throat thickened.

She would not cry. She didn’t cry.

Crying never helped. Ana had had that drummed into her from a young age.

Crying makes you weak, she was told.There was no place for weakness in this world. It was drilled into her.

Rolling over onto her pillow, Ana let out a silent scream. She closed her eyes. She’d allow herself that night to wallow, but the next day she would pick herself back up, as she had done before, and come out fighting.

Chapter Three

Andrew

Andrew’s heart was heavy as he entered the school gates. This was the third phone call he’d received from the school in two weeks. He was out of excuses. As a single dad, he could admit he was no further along in understanding why Olivia, his seven-year-old daughter, was acting out. Olivia had always been so easy. The perfect baby, no toddler tantrums or terrible twos. He had hardly known he’d had her. That was until a couple of months ago when suddenly everything had changed.

Mrs Peterson looked up and smiled as Andrew entered the reception.

“Good afternoon, Mr Dennison. Lovely to see you again. Mrs Grant will be with you shortly. Olivia is still in the after-school club. Would you like me to get her for you?”

Andrew grimaced, forcing a smile. “Hello, Mrs Peterson. Please leave Olivia where she is. I think I need to talk to Mrs Grant without her.”

Andrew’s voice sounded dejected even to himself, but Mrs Peterson smiled and nodded before returning her attention to whatever she had been doing. Andrew took a seat in the reception area and waited, his mind racing. Damn, he needed to get on top of this. Work at the hospital was full on.

Between his NHS, private clinics, and now TV appearances, his schedule was full, but that was no excuse. He needed to know what was happening with her.

“Mr Dennison.”

Andrew looked up as Olivia’s teacher approached, her hand outstretched. Standing up, Andrew took her hand in his and smiled apologetically. Mrs Grant’s smile was warm.

“Come with me,” she said, leading him through the school doors and towards her classroom.

Entering the classroom, Mrs Grant motioned for him to sit. He folded himself onto one of the tiny chairs, which he would have found funny if the situation hadn’t been so serious.

“Sorry, Andrew, take this seat,” Mrs Grant said, dropping the formality she’d previously held before grabbing a grown-up size chair from the edge of the room. “I forget when I’m around small people. I’m used to sitting in them.”

Andrew smiled before switching to the adult chair. Laura had a way of making everyone feel at ease. He knew all the parents of children in her class loved her. She was one of the most popular teachers in the school. She just understood the children.

“How is Catherine?” Andrew asked.

Catherine was Laura’s baby daughter.

Laura smiled, then let out a chuckle. “Growing up way too fast! She is the apple of her daddy’s eye. Toby ruins her, but I suppose that is to be expected.”

Tobias Grant was Laura’s husband and a first-class lawyer. Andrew had got to know the pair well since he arrived in the area.

“What happened today?” Andrew asked, needing to understand the incident.

Laura’s smile dropped, and her eyebrows drew together.

“I’m worried about Olivia,” she said, catching her bottom lip between her teeth. “She’s not herself. She had a fight with her best friend, Skylar, today. They wouldn’t tell me anything about it. Then Olivia destroyed another child’s artwork this afternoon by pouring paint all over it.”

Andrew rubbed his hand down his face but refrained from interrupting. If Olivia was arguing with Skylar, something must be wrong. The two girls had been inseparable since he and Olivia had moved there from Leeds.

Skylar and her mum, Star, had lived with Laura and Toby when he had first moved to the area. It was how they had all become friends. He, Star, and her husband, Damian, had all remained close.

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