Bound by Ivy by S. Quinn Read Free Book Online

‘They’ll be surrounding the perimeter of your dad’s cottage and stationed on the roads leading down here too. One good thing about these little country places – the roads are very easy to monitor. Not like London.’
    I step out of the car, my legs a little shaky.
    Keith shuts the car door behind me. ‘I’m sure there’s nothing to be concerned about. But better safe than sorry.’
    I nod, and walk up the gravel path towards the house. Everything’s dark, and I realise that Dad has no idea I’m coming down here tonight. In all the weirdness of today, and my phone being locked away by Leo, I totally forgot to call him.
    I knock softly on the wooden door and wait for an answer.
    Silence.
    ‘Everything okay?’ Keith asks.
    ‘It looks like no one’s home ,’ I say, confused.
    ‘Maybe they’re all asleep.’
    ‘Not Dad. He works shifts as a taxi driver. He’s a night owl. He stays awake until three or four in the morning, usually. I guess he could be at work, but he doesn’t usually work weekdays this late.’
    I knock again, wincing at the loud noise in the darkness.
    Inside the cottage, I hear a clunk and then Sammy starts crying.
    ‘Whoops ,’ I whisper
    The door creaks open and I see Dad, looking sleepy and bleary eyed.
    ‘Dad?’ I say. ‘Were you asleep?’
    ‘Oh. Hello love. I didn’t realise it was Christmas Eve already.’
    Now I know something’s wrong.
    ‘It’s not Christmas Eve,’ I say, glancing at Keith. ‘I’m a day early. Didn’t my bags arrive earlier?’
    Dad scratches his head. ‘ Oh, something did. I just thought it was your Christmas presents.’
    He blinks, and I notice that his eyes aren’t quite focusing.
    ‘Have you been drinking?’ I ask.
    Dad blinks again. ‘Only a few beers.’
    I turn to Keith. ‘Thanks so much for the lift. I’m fine now, honestly.’
    Keith glances at my dad. ‘Will you be okay here?’
    ‘Absolutely fine,’ I say . ‘Don’t worry about me. Get back to your family.’
    ‘If you’re sure ...’
    ‘Positive. Go on. Get on home.’
    Keith hesitates, then gives a little nod. ‘Well. If you’re su re. There’s plenty of security around here. Call if you want anything. Okay? I can be back here within half an hour.’
    ‘Okay.’
    Keith heads back to the car.
    I turn back to Dad. ‘Come on. Let’s go in and you can tell me what’s going on.’

15
    The cottage is dark inside, and silver moonlight turns the sofas into creepy, lumpy shadows. I smell stale beer and old socks, and feel something I haven’t felt in the cottage for a very long time – not since the few years after Mum died.
    Sadness.
    Sammy’s still wailing, but Dad doesn’t seem to notice.
    My stomach ties itself in one knot after another as I walk through the cottage and trip over beer bottles and clumps of clothing.
    ‘Dad,’ I say. ‘What’s going on?’
    S ammy’s wailing lessens a little and turns into a dull little whimper. Then he becomes quiet, and I guess he must have fallen back to sleep.
    I turn and see my dad’s pale, creased up face in the moonlight. His hair is standing up all over the place. His eyes a re bloodshot and now I see him trying to walk, I know he’s a little drunk. And he’s holding himself in that way, that same sad defeated way, that he did when Mum died.
    A sliver of s ickness runs through my stomach as I remember that awful time. Dad, drinking too much, not taking care of himself, depressed all the time. The house a complete state. Me struggling to cope with it and hold the family together, whilst nursing a big, empty hole where Mum had been.
    I still miss her, even now. There aren’t many days when I don’t think of her, one way or another.
    ‘Everything’s okay, love,’ Dad insists, his words soft and tired. ‘You just woke me up, that’s all.’ There’s a clink as he trips over a beer bottle, and he stumbles around until he finds his feet.
    ‘No it isn’t.’ I turn on the light and wish I hadn’t. I’m not sure