Lucy and Tom had been given compassionate leave from work and fortunately both Lucy’s school and Tom’s company had been extremely understanding, but they knew they couldn’t stay at home for ever. Sam had shut himself off, spending hours in his bedroom. Lucy had received permission to keep him off of school as she was concerned at how he was coping mentally. He still blamed himself and felt he should have looked after Rosie, but no matter how many times Lucy had tried to convince him it was not his fault, he still insisted it was. She had asked a counsellor to talk to him but it hadn’t really helped. He spent hours setting up Facebook pages to track Rosie down but nothing materialised. Friends and family had rallied around them for support, but Lucy and Tom knew this couldn’t go on forever, and they had to get back to some sort of normality.
Lucy didn’t know how much more of this desolation she could handle. She was a worrier anyway but this was off the scale. She couldn’t imagine how she would get through her life without Rosie in it, and it was the not knowing that was the worse. Was her little girl out there alone and scared somewhere, with no way of knowing how to get home? Had she been kidnapped? Had she been…..she couldn’t bring herself to think or say to herself the worst case scenario, but as the days ticked away, she knew the likelihood of a tragic outcome was more and more likely. She had to stay strong for Sam, and also Tom for that matter, as although he was a very strong and supportive husband, she knew he was vulnerable and at a loss of what to do. She knew she would have to be the crutch of the family, irrespective of how she was feeling, but what was scaring Lucy the most was that this was unchartered territory and she didn’t know if she could actually hold onto her own sanity for much longer.
‘Have you seen this Tom?’ Lucy said, shaking her head.
‘What’s that?’ Tom answered, leaning over to glance at the newspaper Lucy was showing him.
‘As if we don’t feel bad enough as it is, they always have to infer that we weren’t with Rosie when she went missing.’
‘But we were.’
‘Yes, but they are picking up on the fact that we let her play in the arcades on her own.’
‘Oh sweetheart, don’t let them get to you, they are always going to have a few digs to create a story.’
‘I can’t help it. We are the ones having to read it, when we are in the most vulnerable state we have ever felt in our lives.’
‘Come here.’ Tom beckoned, pulling her over for a hug. ‘There are lots of parents who let their children go off and play with the other children at these holiday camps, as you assume they are safe.’
‘Yes, I know you are right….but how wrong could we have been?’ Lucy declared in self-abhorrence.
*****
As the weeks slipped by, the investigation didn’t seem to be amounting to anything. The Met were doing a great job, extending their searches abroad and following up numerous possible sightings, but still nothing solid transpired. Lucy couldn’t understand how a young girl, or maybe two young girls if Katrina was with Rosie, could vanish into thin air. The cctv footage had been checked on the caravan site and although Rosie and Katrina had been picked up watching the puppet show and playing in the arcade, there was no one else around them looking suspicious. Lucy had studied the arcade footage with the police and the only glimmer of information, was that Katrina seemed to look up as if she had seen someone or something, but then she looked back at Rosie and started playing again. To their frustration not all areas of the park were covered by the cctv, so they could not be seen after the arcade.
Lucy and Tom were also baffled that no-one had come forward recognising Katrina. The police had issued her photo to all of the care homes in the UK, in case she lied about being with her parents, but none of them recognised her, and although the photo was not the best shot, the police thought it would have led to one of them coming forward to confirm that a young girl had gone missing from one of their homes. The problem the police faced, however, was that thousands of children went missing a year from children’s homes, so the majority of them could not always be accounted for.
With the lack of information from the care homes, Lucy and Tom started to have an awful feeling that Katrina may have had something to do with Rosie going missing, which the police indicated as well. This was Lucy and Tom’s only hope that if she was involved, then maybe she may have been kidnapped and was still alive. This is what kept them going with the search but it didn’t really help them to be able to move on with their lives, and Lucy in particular could not even imagine going back to work until she had found Rosie.
Tom however, really did need to start back at work, to not only make sure he didn’t lose his job, but to also provide some sort of security and stability for the family. Sam also went back to school, after being off for two months, and thankfully all of his friends were very supportive which gave Lucy some peace of mind.
*****
As the weeks turned into months, Lucy dreaded the fast approaching Christmas period. She didn’t want to celebrate Christmas without Rosie, but at the same time they had to make it the best it could be for Sam.
Lucy decided that they would go and stay at her mum and dad’s for Christmas to be away from the house, as to be there without Rosie would have been too unbearable. Lucy made sure she bought Rosie lots of presents to fill her stocking, so she could open them when she returned. It felt wrong not to, and the same would happen with her subsequent birthday’s and Christmases going forward, until she was found.
Tom could see that this brought Lucy pleasure, but he was growing increasingly concerned about her. In a way, him starting back at work had helped him to momentarily forget about the horrendous ordeal that they were going through. By joining in general work banter and surrounding himself with people that weren’t experiencing it, he could put it to the back of his mind. It was a relief to be around people chatting about normal things, to feel that there was still a life to be lived. Tom guiltily even found himself staying late at work on the odd occasion to avoid going home to the house, which seemed like it now had a big empty dark hole in it. Tom adored Lucy and really wanted to support her but her manic present buying for Rosie made him feel uneasy as she was always the stable grounded one. Tom was himself, desperately sad about Rosie, but he had to live in hope that she would be found.
They managed to get through their first Christmas and as Spring started to arrive with the popping up of hope filled tulips, Lucy started to contemplate going back to work. She had taken nine months off of work, but she felt she was now going stir crazy manically searching websites and news articles for information. The school said she could sit in on some lessons to gauge how she felt about being around the children. She was grateful they were being so understanding and although it was slightly unsettling at first, the innocence of the children brought a smile to her face again and, like Tom, it helped her to temporarily forget the pain she was going through. From slowly sitting in on the odd class, it built up to her working full time again and for the first time in ages, Lucy felt happy…even if it was only experienced in moments. At least she could focus her attention on improving the lives of the children in her class, and although there would always be that deep seated sadness in her soul that she knew she would never shift until she found what had happened to Rosie, she was finally doing something positive. Working at the school again also helped her relationship with Tom as she was more cheerful when he arrived home from work, and she was a lot more high spirited around Sam, which she was desperate to be, to help him cope with losing Rosie.
After surviving the following summer and their second Christmas without Rosie, Lucy knew they needed to step out of their safety cocoon, and venture on another family holiday. For Sam’s sake, if anything, as he still had to enjoy his childhood, but it would also do Tom and herself the world of good as they needed a break away.
‘Hey guys, I was thinking… it is coming up to the summer holiday, and I know we didn’t go anywhere last year as we didn’t feel up to it, but I thin
k we could all do with getting away this year.’ Lucy suggested, clapping her hands together to generate some enthusiasm.
‘Really…what a holiday, are you sure?… I didn’t know if you would feel right going away again just the three of us?’ Tom said.
‘I know, I wasn’t sure either, but I think we all need a break and I think it would be good to go somewhere new and be left with a good holiday memory rather than a bad one.’ Lucy replied.
‘Sounds good to me.’ Sam piped up chirpily. He seemed relieved that they had realised that life was for living and that he still had his childhood to be lived. He missed Rosie terribly, and continued to upload pictures on Facebook regularly, but he also needed to move on with her in his heart.
‘So where do you fancy?’ Tom asked, with increasing interest.
‘Well, I was thinking just in the UK…that way we can hire a cottage and take Brandy with us….so…how about Cornwall?
Tom smiled. ‘Sounds good to me.’
‘We’ve never been, and it is supposed to be beautiful…….and you know I’ve always wanted to go to The Eden Project?…they are doing special family discounts this summer…..and they have got a Fantasy Island theme park going on Sam.’ Lucy added.
‘Oh fab..that would be great mum!’
Lucy and Tom thought Sam needed a companion since losing Rosie, as he was spending more and more time upstairs alone in his room. Lucy’s mum suggested they got a puppy to give him something else to focus on, so when the cocker spaniel puppies came up for sale in the local paper, Lucy jumped at the chance and bought Brandy. He was gorgeous and just what the house needed. He seemed to bring that much needed warmth again. He was a glorious chestnut brown colour with a big cheeky panting smile that greeted you when you walked in the door. He also gave the family much needed together time as they now enjoyed long walks with him over the weekends.
‘So I was thinking of this cottage here in Denning….what do you think?’ Lucy asked, turning her laptop towards Tom.
‘Looks fantastic…look at those views!’ he exclaimed, admiring the pictures.
‘Right, I’ll book it for two weeks’ time!’ Lucy confirmed, finally satisfied that they were making steps in the right direction.
The two weeks flew by, and before they knew it they were pulling in to the village of Denning. They were struck by how quaint and idyllic it was. It overlooked a beautiful bay full of fishing boats. A peaceful and serene healing gauze wrapped itself around Lucy like she hadn’t felt in a long time. She still felt an inner sadness that Rosie wasn’t there, but she still had to live her life, and maintain the strength to keep searching for Rosie. It was also a joy seeing both Tom and Sam excitedly looking at the boats, and she knew this is what they all needed. They unpacked the car and made their way to their cottage which was a few hundred yards away up a narrow cobble path.
‘Look mum, we can see the boats from the living room!’ Sam gasped.
‘Oh yes, how beautiful is that Sam!…Tom come and have a look.’
Tom gazed out of the large front lounge window and the expanse of the bay could be seen while sitting in the armchairs. ‘This is amazing hun, you have certainly found us an idyllic cottage here, what more could you ask for?’
‘Mum, there is even a garden for Brandy to play in…look he loves it.’
They all watched him racing around the bushes, sniffing everywhere looking very content, and probably relieved to escape the confines of the car after their five hour journey down there.
‘Come on, let’s go and have a quick look around and try out one of their cream teas.’ Lucy urged, throwing the bags into the bedroom to unpack later.
‘I’ve just got to nip to the car… I’ve left one of the bags in there. I’ll follow you on in ten minutes.’ Tom replied.
‘Ok darling.’ Lucy said, walking out of the door.
After spending the afternoon getting acquainted with Denning, they settled back at the cottage to write an itinerary for the week. As with the Isle of Wight, Lucy liked to plan what they were doing for the holiday up front, so they didn’t miss out on anything, but since that fateful last holiday, she had been in a state of numbness and didn’t want to organise a thing. This was the first time she had started to get an inkling of her old self coming back.
‘So, we have to go to The Eden Project…..it’s not just for grown ups either Sam, remember they have that Fantasy Island going on there too.’
‘Ok yes I’m fine with that….I like the plants anyway.’ Sam replied, finally content at having something to look forward to.
‘Great, well let’s go the day after tomorrow. We can just go into town tomorrow and go to the beach.’
‘Sounds like a plan.’ Tom chipped in, leaning over to give Lucy a kiss on the cheek. Tom was starting to see Lucy’s spark coming back and maybe, just maybe, they were starting to get their family spirit back again. Tom hoped so…he really did.
Following a first day relaxing in Denning, they arrived at The Eden Project. Lucy was amazed at how busy it was, but she knew it was to be expected during the summer holidays, and especially with it being one of the most famous places to visit in Cornwall.
‘We must all stay together at all times….Sam..no wandering off if something catches your eye…ask Dad or me to come with you, do you understand?’ Lucy ordered, holding his hand and turning his face to look her in the eyes.
‘Yes mum will do’ he replied, but Lucy didn’t need to really ask. Sam clung to her or Tom anyway nowadays whenever they went out. She hoped they wouldn’t have to always feel like this, but she realised now it was better to be safe than sorry. Once they had their tickets they strolled in and made their way to the main garden area. As they walked slowly past the Bamboo trees, Cola trees and Starfruit trees, Lucy noticed how there were lots of young children having fun rushing up to the various different plants, but as Lucy gazed around the couldn’t see their parents. There were lots of them everywhere and Lucy started to feel a panic rising up inside of her as she frantically looked around for their mums and dads.
‘Luce are you ok?’ Tom asked, putting his hand on her arm. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Mum are you ok?’ Sam added, starting to worry.
‘I can’t find their parents!…..Where are their parents?!…All of these children are on their own!….Where are they?!… Where are they?!’ Lucy was now running up to the children asking where their mum and dad’s were in a more and more distressed state. ….her face getting redder and redder as she felt the danger closing in on her.
‘Stop it Luce you are scaring them!…look …there are their parents!’ Tom yelled, consoling the alarmed children, who were now desperately looking for their mums and dads to rescue them.
Lucy stood frozen as the parents of the children grabbed them away from whom they thought was a crazed woman.
‘I’m… I’m sorry.’ Lucy apologised to them one by one. ‘I thought they were ……’ but they all walked off quickly before she had time to explain. Lucy turned to see Sam who was near to tears in his dad’s arms.
‘Come on Luce, I think we ought to go, this was obviously a bit too much for us all.’
As Tom put his arm around Lucy and Sam, they slowly walked out of the park and headed back to the cottage.
‘I’m so sorry Sam, my darling, I didn’t mean to scare you. Mummy just got scared, and stupidly ended up scaring you. I’m fine really I am, it won’t happen again.’
‘That’s ok mum, we’ll be ok. Love you so much.’
‘Love you more.’ Lucy replied, giving him the biggest hug she had ever given him.
‘Why don’t you play ball with Brandy in the garden this afternoon?…it’s still a lovely day out there.’
After arriving safely back at the cottage, Lucy sat in the comfort of the armchair, looking out at the passing fishing boats, while Tom brought her over a much needed cup of tea. ‘I’ve put some sugar in it, it’s supposed to be good for shock.’
‘Thank you sweetheart, I’m sorry I d
on’t know what came over me.’
‘That’s ok darling, it is going to take time to get over what we have been through, and unfortunately that place brought up a lot of memories we weren’t anticipating. Tell you what, I’ll nip out and get us some cakes to cheer us up.’ Tom offered, picking up the keys and blowing her a kiss.
Lucy watched Tom head down the cobble path to the local shops. Her eyes then wandered back to the boats that were moored in the harbour. There were a variety of older fishing boats, smaller rowing boats, a couple of flashier speed boats and a canoe. She thought how carefree it must feel to be out on one of them.
She noticed two men chatting on the jetty. It looked like they were planning to take their boat out as they were carrying supplies onto it and one of the men was pulling up the anchor. Lucy could also see some young children playing on the decking. Some had parents helping them fish, but some looked like they were on their own. Suddenly Lucy started to have thoughts and visions running through her head of Rosie being carried on to one of the boats. She couldn’t escape them no matter how hard she tried. She knew the police had looked into this possibility, but she didn’t know how hard, and Lucy had believed that they had researched all avenues thoroughly…but had they?
She was now starting to question it, and she had this overwhelming sense that she needed to explore it further. She hadn’t felt strong enough before, after spending most the of the last two years in a state of numbness, but she felt ready now.
The Truth Healer: A Riveting Spiritual Psychic Thriller Page 9