Stranger Child(11)

Emma was sure he would be thinking of Caroline, of how things used to be when it was him, Caroline and Tasha all together. She could imagine the scene if both parents had been here to witness the return of their lost daughter; how they would have rejoiced together. She realised that tears were running down her face too, and she brushed them away quickly. How cruel that David and Tasha had lost each other for so long.

There had never been an explanation for Caroline’s accident, and there hadn’t been a trace of Natasha from that day to this. David had told Emma how the whole town had come out to march up and down the fields surrounding the accident site. Helicopters had buzzed overhead. Urgent appeals had been issued in the press and on television. But there was no sign that anybody else had ever been in that car. Only Caroline.

And now Natasha was here. In their kitchen.

David had blamed himself for refusing to go to the family party. Even though he knew Caroline wasn’t a confident driver, especially in the dark, he had rejected her pleas and stayed at home, pretending that work was the issue. That wasn’t true. It was simply because he didn’t enjoy spending time with Caroline’s father. It had taken all of Emma’s love and patience to get him to begin to accept that he wasn’t responsible for what had happened.

Now he was talking non-stop to his daughter, and Emma’s eyes had moved to Natasha, who seemed completely unmoved by anything he said, her gaze blank, her eyes turned away from her father.

‘Tasha. Oh darling.’ David shook his head as if he had no idea what to say. ‘This is incredible. I’ve missed you – far more than you’ll ever know. You’re so beautiful – you’re so like your mother – do you know that?’

Trembling with emotion, he tried again to pull her into his arms, but as Emma watched she saw Natasha stiffen even more, her eyes narrowing. She could tell that the child’s jaw was clenched.

Belatedly, Emma saw the likeness to Caroline – the curve of Natasha’s cheek, her long dark eyelashes despite her blonde hair and the delicate pink of her lips. Caroline had been so dark, but it was a superficial difference. Under that sweep of chestnut hair in the portrait in the hall, her husband’s first wife gazed out with the same impenetrable gaze as the one Tasha wore now.

David was still muttering words of love, trying to get Natasha to respond to him.

‘David,’ Emma said softly. She walked over and gently put her hand on his back. ‘I know this must seem strange to you, but Tasha probably doesn’t remember you very well. I think she’s maybe a little frightened.’

David turned his head sharply to Emma. ‘Of course she’s not frightened. She knows I’m her dad. Why else would she be here?’ She could see the pain of Tasha’s rejection in David’s grey eyes and she barely recognised him as the same relaxed, confident man who had left the house that morning. Now his body was taut with tension, his skin flushed with anxiety.

His face relaxed into a smile as he turned back to Tasha and lifted a hand to gently push her hair from her face, but she shook her head so the hair fell forwards again and continued to stare blankly at the table.

‘Why don’t we all sit down,’ Emma said, ‘and we can talk to Tasha, discover how she’s found her way back to you and where she’s been for all these years.’

‘She’s back. That’s all that matters, where she’s been can wait.’

Emma stared at her husband. Of course it couldn’t wait. What if she had been held prisoner? What if she had been abused? Somebody out there was guilty of keeping this child, and they couldn’t pretend the last six years had never happened.

David guided Tasha across to the dining table at the far end of the room and pulled out a chair for her to sit down. ‘I wish your mum was here, Tasha. She never knew I’d lost you, of course, but she would be so happy for both of us today.’

Tasha still hadn’t spoken, but Emma was shocked at the look the girl flashed at her father. Was that anger she saw?

‘David, I’m sorry – but do you think we can have a word for a moment?’ She smiled at Tasha, but got a stony stare in response.

The kitchen suddenly felt oppressive and dark, even with all the lights on. It had always seemed like a haven of warmth on even the coldest, dullest days, but the dark skies had finally given way to heavy rain, which was pounding on the glass skylights that ran the length of the room.

David turned his head and gave Emma a slightly puzzled look, but he knew her well enough to know that she wouldn’t be asking to speak to him for no reason. He leaned across the table and stroked Natasha’s upper arm.