Page 118 of Broken Silence
I looked back, frantic as I saw them get into David’s car. “I want to go, too.”
David held his palms, unlocking the doors. “Let us take care of him. If you’re there, he’ll worry more about you. We’ll bring him home.”
“I can help,” I said, blinking another tear down my cheek.
How was everyone so calm?
“You just helped by answering questions, Oakley. If we go in there making demands and panicking, we won’t help him. I’ll bring him back to you.”
“David’s right, sweetheart. Let’s get inside and wait.”
“O-Okay,” I said. “Will you let me know what’s going on?”
“Of course,” David replied, and got into the car with his wife.
I’d caused them so much trouble and they were still worried about me.
Mum ushered me inside where I sat on the sofa with Mia. Lizzie and Ali decided to take Nan and Grandad home and they’d wait for news at Ali’s.
I rested my elbows on my knees and put my head in my hands. This was my fault. We should’ve lied and covered up our relationship better.
But this was so wrong since we’d not broken any laws whatsoever.
“Oakley? Hey, don’t do that… he’s going to be home soon, you’ll see. Can you talk to me?” Mia said.
“He was arrested because of me.”
“He was taken to be questioned because of your dad. I don’t know how did it, but he’s obviously behind it.”
It was sickening to think that he still had friends—ones willing to lie and cause trouble on behalf of a paedophile.
“I hate him so much,” I breathed. “How is he my dad?”
“He stopped being your dad a long time ago, babe.”
“Yeah, well, that’s true. Do you think Cole’s mad at me? He didn’t look angry.”
She smiled softly. “He’s only ever been angry with you for one thing.”
“Leaving.”
“Yeah. You can’t do that again. You know that, right? Whatever happens now, you have to do it together. I can’t watch him fall apart again, Oakley. I wasn’t sure if he was going to make it out.”
Her words were like claws to my heart, scratching until it bled.
I wiped away a tear from under my eye, swallowing acid. “I can’t do it again, either.”
“Good,” she replied, bumping her side against mine. “You know that this questioning thing is dumb, so stop panicking.”
“I’ll stop when he walks back through that door. I’ve literally brought nothing but trouble for him.”
“Well, I think you’ve brought a bit more than that. Stop being a stress head. Now is the time to live and have fun. I mean, not this second, but once he’s back.”
I cracked a smile. “Right.
Underneath the panic, I knew that it would be okay. You couldn’t make and change laws on a whim. We hadn’t broken any, so he would be home soon, but my heart still slammed against my rip cage as if they could.
“Jenna’s on the phone,” Mum said, stopping by the door. “They’ve now taken him in for questioning and will wait there.”
