Page 205 - My Home on the Earth

Jake did nothing – who did? Who was guilty, Mrs Cooper?’ she asked sharply.
Undoubtedly, the girls had caught her off guard and Alice quickly turned to motion Helen to get out of the apartment. She refused and stared across the room to where Constance was sleeping down the hall. ‘Come and sit down, Helen. Elise, will you make Helen a cup of tea?’
Nervously, Melanie rubbed her knuckles and struggled to maintain her breathing. She half-smiled again and said: ‘Ha! You’re having me on.’
Expecting a sarcastic response, she glanced across at Alice whose stony silence unnerved her. For a brief moment she felt her confidence slipping away. What if they’re telling the truth? What if Alan has found Jake? He wouldn’t dare take him away from me!
Melanie bit her bottom lip. Then straightening her shoulders she sneered: ‘Jake will never leave me and he doesn’t have a clue where his dad is. I made sure of that. One of you lied and told my sister that my son was in hospital. Who was that?’
‘Me!’ shouted Elise from the kitchen. ‘It was on the local radio. Didn’t you hear about it, Mrs Cooper?’
‘Why should I?’ she snapped back.
‘Oh, that’s a shame. I don’t think you heard it either, Grandma,’ Elise called, winking at the kitchen doorway and holding up a mobile phone. ‘His voice came over as clear as a bell. He was asking for help because he wanted to find his mummy,’ smiled Elise, giving Helen her tea and
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