Sleep Tight Read Online Free PDF Page A

stay?’ I ask, rather helplessly.
    She looks from me to DC Tippetts. I can see she’s puzzled and I get the sense that this should be a job for a lowly constable, but at this moment I feel as if Philippa is the closest thing I have to a friend. She gives a small, barely perceptible sigh.
    ‘Well, I was only going home to my cat and a few hours’ sleep. Go on Ryan. You get off.’ She turns to me. ‘Okay, Olivia. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay with you.’
    I look at her, and I know my eyes must look wild. I’m confused, lost, but so overwhelmingly relieved that they are safe.
    ‘Why don’t you go upstairs and give your face a quick rinse so the children don’t see you so upset,’ she suggests gently.
    God, I must look dreadful. My hair feels like knotted straw.
    My legs are still wobbly, and Philippa helps me to my feet and guides me to the bottom of the stairs.
    ‘Will you be okay?’ she asks. But I
have
to be okay. I need to get my strength back before the children come home.
    I drag myself upstairs and into the bathroom and catch a glimpse of my face in the mirror. Red eyes, black mascara smudged around them, and blotchy cheeks.
    The crying hasn’t finished. I sit down on the toilet seat and sob with relief.
Thank God
.
    What was he doing? What was he
thinking
?
    Gradually, the tears subside and I get up and try to repair the damage. I clean my teeth, brush my hair and slap on some rarely used foundation to cover the worst of the blotches. Nothing will cure the red eyes, but perhaps the children won’t notice.
    I spend the next hour sitting on the edge of the sofa, my knees tightly together and my hands clasped, twisted, rubbed. I can’t keep them still.
    Then we hear it. The sound of a car on the drive, the headlights sweeping a path of pale light across the wall as the car turns.
    I am out of my chair so fast, flinging the door open.
    Robert is running up the drive towards me with arms outstretched, and I vaguely hearhim shout to me. But I dodge around him. I have no time for him now.
    I just want to get to my babies.

6
    I don’t want to leave the children. I want them all in one room, with me lying on the floor across the door so nobody can get near to them.
    I take a final look at my two boys and drop a gentle kiss on each of their warm foreheads, in awe of their innocent beauty as they sleep. I make my way quietly to Jasmine’s room. She knows something is wrong, because as hard as I tried I couldn’t stop the tears as I raced to the car and hugged my children’s little bodies tightly to me. But thankfully I can see she is close to sleep, Lottie clutched to her cheek.
    I kneel down by the side of Jasmine’s bed and tenderly stroke her hair back from her face. ‘Sleep tight, my darling,’ I whisper.
    I don’t hear a sound, but I know I am being watched. I turn my head, and I can see Robert’s silhouette, backlit by the landing light. His face is in shadow, but I know he’s smiling. He turns and I hear him making his way back downstairs to where Philippa is still waiting. I don’t want to, but I know I have to follow.
    Kind as Philippa has been, she is still asking searching questions – and most of them seem to be directed at me.
    ‘Olivia, your husband says that you knew he was taking the children away for the weekend. Could you have forgotten?’
    Robert is wearing his anxious face, as if he is concerned for my wellbeing. He tries to sit next to me on the sofa, but I stand up and move away. I can’t bear to look at him.
    He gives Philippa what can only be described as an apologetic expression, as if he needs to excuse my appalling behaviour.
    ‘I didn’t forget. He said he was taking them for a pizza.’ I enunciate every syllable through gritted teeth.
    ‘Darling,’ Robert says, moving across to sit on the arm of my chair and stroking my hair with his hand. I want to slap it away, but I’m scared this will make me look even moredemented. ‘You packed their bags. Don’t you