Page 64 of The Inn on Bluebell Lane
“I can’t wait to see you both in the concert,” she said, and Jess mumbled something in reply before grabbing her coat and slinging the duffel bag over her shoulder.
Ellie held onto her thankful heart and optimistic mood all day; Gwen was alert and cheerful when she and Matthew arrived at the hospital, and the consultant said she was responding well to the course of antibiotics. When she went to pick up Josh and Ava from school, Josh had another playdate set up with Zach, this time at their house, and Emma invited her over for a coffee later in the week, to which Ellie agreed enthusiastically.
“Remember what I said about maybe doing some PR for Bluebell Inn?” Ellie asked her, and Emma nodded, her eyes alight with interest. “Well, we’ve got some new ideas about how we’re going to renovate and advertise… I’d love your thoughts on it all.”
“I’d love to give them,” Emma told her warmly. “You can tell me all about it when you come over.”
“I will,” Ellie promised, laughing a little as Ava tugged on her hand. She was in raptures because she’d been invited to a birthday party.
“A princess and unicorn party, Mummy!”
Ellie pulled her daughter in for a quick hug, almost as thrilled as she was by the invitation. “That sounds wonderful, darling. Just your sort of party.”
As they headed back to Bluebell Lane, Ellie decided to wait by the bus stop for Ben and Jess. She should have done that more often, she thought, checking in with them a bit more actively. Well, she’d start today. She’d ask Jess how she got on with the outfits, maybe suggest she try a few on and show the family. They could make a fashion show of it, get Ava involved…
She really needed to make more of an effort with her oldest, spend more time listening and less lecturing. She was looking forward to a fresh start for everyone.
But when the school bus pulled up to the stop, only Ben got out with a bunch of other kids Ellie didn’t recognize. She frowned as he sloped toward her, clearly alone.
“Ben, where’s your sister?”
Ben shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. “She didn’t get on the bus.”
“What?” Ellie stared at him in shock. “What do you mean, she didn’t get on the bus? She had to have—”
Ben shrugged again. “Dunno. I didn’t see her at school all day, either, but then I wasn’t really looking out for her.”
“What…” Ellie’s stomach hollowed out and she reached for her phone, swiping it quickly to call Jess, but it went right to voicemail. “Does she have a rehearsal this afternoon?” she asked anxiously. “Or maybe she went to Sophie’s house…” She hadn’t made any mention of going anywhere but school, and Ellie didn’t even know where Sophie lived or what her last name was. How could she not have made sure she knew those things? “Ben, did she tell you anything?” Ellie demanded. “This morning, maybe?”
Ben shook his head. “Nope.”
Ellie ground her teeth as she tried Jess’s phone again. It went to voicemail once more, and Ellie left a harried message. “Jess, it’s Mom. Just want to know where you are, as you didn’t get off the bus.” Which Jess knew, obviously. “Please ring or text me as soon as you can and let me know how you are. Love you.”
“Mom, is Jess going to be okay?” Josh asked, sounding anxious, and Ellie tried to give him a reassuring smile.
Ava tugged on her sleeve. “I need to have a wee.”
“All right, let’s go home. Hopefully Jess will be in touch soon.” Perhaps she was overreacting. There had to be an innocent, obvious explanation to Jess’s absence. Of course there was. She was with Sophie; maybe they’d stayed in town. She’d text any minute…
Yet as Ellie headed back to Bluebell Lane with her tribe in tow, she couldn’t keep worry from throbbing her temples. Where was her daughter?
Anxiety knotted Ellie’s stomach as they arrived back at the house. Ben threw his backpack into the corner and started rummaging in the cupboards for a snack, seemingly unconcerned by his sister’s no-show.
“Did Jess say anything to you?” Ellie asked again as she started picking up the clutter of coats, backpacks, and lunch boxes that always ended up in a heap in the hall. “Anything at all about her plans?”
“I told you she didn’t.” Ben spoke through a spoonful of Nutella straight from the jar. Ellie held onto her patience.
“Are you sure, Ben? And what do you mean, you didn’t see her at school today? Do you normally see her at school? At lunch or in the halls or somewhere?” Ben was year seven while Jess was year nine; Ellie couldn’t imagine their paths crossed all too frequently, or willingly, for that matter, but they must occasionally.
Ben shrugged. “I dunno. I didn’t see her today, anyway.”
“But where do you think she would have gone?” Ellie persisted. “She would normally text me, if she was off somewhere. She wouldn’t just go somewhere on her own.” Although Jess hadn’t been “off somewhere” since they’d moved to Llandrigg. Ellie supposed she should be happy that her daughter might finally have somewhere to go, and someone to go there with, but she still wanted—needed—answers.
Ben dipped a spoon into the Nutella jar again, and Ellie snatched it out of his hands.
“That’s enough of that. You can have it on toast, but not straight from the jar. It’s disgusting.” She screwed the lid on and put it back in the cupboard. “Are you sure you don’t know anything?”
“Well…” He screwed up his face in what looked to Ellie like a parody of concentration. “I know she was upset.”