‘OK, that’s enough,’ Suzie said, jumping between them.
Josie cried out in pain when Suzie grabbed her bruised arm, and tears flooded her eyes as she cradled it.
‘I’m sorry if I hurt you,’ Suzie apologized. ‘But I won’t let you force her to do something she doesn’t want to do.’
‘Need a hand?’ Rob appeared in the kitchen doorway, a halo of smoke around his head, his broad shoulders blocking out most of the light coming through the window behind him.
‘I’ve got this,’ Suzie said curtly, waving him away.
Holly shivered when she saw anger flash into Rob’s eyes. But he blinked it away as fast as it had appeared, and held up his hands before retreating into the kitchen.
‘Let’s go in here,’ Suzie said, ushering Josie and Holly into the living room. ‘I’ll make coffee, and then we can—’
‘I don’t want your coffee.’ Josie scowled. ‘And this has got nothing to do with you, so stay out of it.’
‘Don’t talk to her like that.’ Holly jumped to Suzie’s defence. ‘She’s done nothing wrong.’
‘She’s interfering,’ Josie argued. ‘And she already knows too much.’
‘She doesn’t know anything – and neither do I,’ said Holly.
‘I don’t know why you think you can talk to me like this all of a sudden,’ Josie said under her breath, her stare fierce. ‘But I’m your mother, and I won’t—’
‘I wish you weren’t my mother!’ Holly cried, cutting her off mid-sentence. ‘You’re embarrassing!’
Josie’s head jerked as if she’d been physically slapped. Then, whispering so Suzie couldn’t hear, she said, ‘I didn’t want to come over here, but you left me no choice when you ran out. These people are strangers, and this is none of their business, so do as you’re told and come home. We’ll talk about this in private.’
‘You won’t talk, though, will you? You’ll just tell me it’s none of my business, like you always do,’ Holly replied bluntly. ‘You treat me like a baby, and I’m sick of it.’
‘If I treat you like a baby it’s because you act like one,’ Josie hissed.
‘This is getting us nowhere,’ Suzie said, stepping between them again and peering at Josie. ‘You look terrible, so why don’t you go home and get some rest before you end up back in hospital? Holly can stay here for a bit, give you both a chance to calm down.’
‘I’m not leaving her with you,’ Josie spat. ‘You’re trying to turn her against me.’
‘I promise you I’m not,’ Suzie insisted. ‘But she’s told you she doesn’t want to go home with you, and I think she’s old enough to make that decision for herself.’
‘You only met her two fucking minutes ago, and now you think you know her better than I do?’ Josie sneered. ‘You’ve got no idea, you stupid cow!’
‘She knows me way better than you, ’cos she listens,’ Holly said, swiping tears off her cheeks. ‘All you care about is your stupid job and trying to stop me from having a normal life! I hate you!’
‘Get back here!’ Josie yelled when Holly fled from the room and ran up the stairs.
‘Leave her,’ Suzie said. ‘She’s upset, and shouting clearly isn’t helping.’
Josie gritted her teeth and balled her hands into fists, and Suzie braced herself for the punch she felt sure was coming. Instead, Josie’s body suddenly deflated, as if all the fight had been sucked out of her, and she sank down on the sofa with an expression of resignation on her blood-drained face.
‘Go on, then, get it over with. Call the police. I know you want to.’
‘What?’ Suzie frowned. ‘Why would I do that? I’m trying to help.’
‘If you wanted to help you wouldn’t have told Holly she could stay. She’d have come home if you hadn’t said that.’
‘I doubt that,’ said Suzie. ‘And you must see this isn’t going to get resolved by shouting over each other. Why don’t you let Holly stay here tonight? She’ll be safe with me, and you can talk to her again tomorrow when you’ve both had some rest.’
‘What’s the point?’ Josie muttered dejectedly. ‘She hates me.’
‘No, she doesn’t,’ Suzie insisted, beginning to feel sorry for the woman. ‘Look, I know you don’t know me – and probably don’t want to – but how about I make that coffee? I’m a good listener, and I promise I won’t judge you.’
Josie bit her lip, as if considering it. Then, shaking her head, she stood up, saying, ‘You wouldn’t understand.’
‘Try me,’ Suzie urged. ‘Holly knows you’re keeping something from her, and she’s not a child any more so you can’t blame her for wanting answers. Whatever happened in the past, I’m sure she won’t hold it against you. She’s a smart girl.’
‘Yeah, she is,’ Josie agreed, her chin quivering as a tear slithered down her cheek. Brushing it away, she looked Suzie in the eye, as if seeing her for the first time, and said, ‘I can see why she likes you, and I’m sorry for going off on you like that.’
‘It’s fine,’ Suzie said. ‘I understand.’
‘No, you don’t,’ Josie countered. ‘But . . . tell her I love her.’
‘She loves you, too,’ Suzie said, concerned by the way this was going.
‘No, she loves who she thought I was,’ Josie said sadly. ‘Look after her for me.’
‘Wait!’ Suzie cried, following Josie out into the hall. ‘You’re her mum; you can’t just leave her. It’ll break her heart.’
Josie left without answering and pulled the door firmly shut behind her. Determined to make her see sense before this went any further, Suzie reached for her coat to go after her.
‘Is it safe to come out now?’ Rob asked.
‘What?’ Suzie snapped, twisting her head round. Immediately feeling guilty when she saw his hurt expression, she said, ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to jump down your throat. I’m just worried about Holly and her mum.’
‘Look, I know you probably don’t want or need my advice, but I’d leave them to it if I was you,’ Rob said. ‘You
