Helping Sarah

Chapter 39

Sarah

"Ready?" Liza squeezed my hand and did absolutely nothing to hide the expectant grin grazing her entire face.

My heart was hammering, but I drew in a deep breath and tugged my hair behind my ears. I wasn't quite sure if I should laugh or cry, or just storm into the office before me and fall to my knees.

Smoothing down my dress, I nodded. Then lifted my hand to the closed door, but two small arms encircled my leg before I could knock.

"Where you go?"

Crouching down, I moved Charlie's arms to my neck and hugged my son. Stroked my hand over his hair in the way that calmed us both. He hadn't left my side for the last four days and had slept with me in my bed in Helen and Benji's guestroom every night since his ordeal with Lenny.

I hadn't bothered trying to get him to sleep in his own bed. Neither of us were ready for that yet.

I was, however, more than ready to brave what was behind the closed door. I longed for it.

"It's all right, sweetie." I smiled at Charlie. "I'm just going into that office for a few minutes, then I'll come back out. You stay here with Aunt Lisa."

My son stared at me with wide eyes, chewing his lip, then glanced at his aunt.

"Come sit with me, sweet pea." Lisa sat in her chair by her desk and waved him over. "Let's draw something nice for Grandma and Grandpa's fridge while we wait for your mum."

Charlie finally nodded and went over to crawl into her lap. Lisa nodded to me when he was settled with a crayon.

Facing the door, I lifted my hand again, drew in a fresh breath of courage, and then knocked.

"Go away," came the muffled reply from inside.

I glanced at Lisa.

"Go in," she ordered, gesturing with her head.

The door opened with a slight click. The office was bright with sunlight pouring through tall windows, a few rays striking the figure slumped over his desk with his forehead resting on the surface and his eyes closed.

"Leave me alone," he mumbled into the desk.

"I was hoping we could talk?"

Michael sat up so quickly I heard the bump from his knee hitting the underside of the desk and then stood, sending his chair spinning backwards away from him. He stared at me with his mouth open. "Sarah."

I tugged at my hair. "Hi, Michael."

"Migal!" The shriek came from behind me and before either of us could react, my son came sprinting into the office and ran straight up to Michael who caught him and lifted him up, held Charlie close to his chest, much in the same way as he'd been doing when I had arrived outside Lenny's house.

But his expression was the complete opposite to what it had been then. Michael had been pale, tense, and with his lips in a grim line while he'd held my son until I could get to them. The knuckles on the hand cradling Charlie's head had been red and scraped.

Looking at Charlie now, it was with a massive grin and relief etched into his face. "Hi, Charlie. How are you doing?"

"The bad man gone and in prissen and no more here, and Gramma cry, and many, many pleecemen."

"Yes, the bad man is gone. He won't be coming back. He'll be in prison for many years."

Charlie nodded solemnly, his fingers tightening in Michael's shirt. "Mummy sad."