My Little Girl

Chapter 5: Waiting

"Rosie should be going to nursery today, what will the parents tell Rosie's friends why she's not there?" I ask Claire who is sat on the sofa.

"I don't know most of the children will be too young to fully comprend what's going on," Claire tells me.

I just carry on looking out the window, at the end of our small cul-de-sac some media has set up. On all the local stations the many story is the disappearance of my daughter. We've been advised to release more pictures of Rosie to help keep her beautiful small face in peoples eyes.

The first is of Rosie at a fair on a trip out a few weeks back. We went to this beach and they had a fair there. Rosie is riding on white horse with pink and blue decorations on. She has a wide smile and is waving at the camera. The second one is her nursery picture. She only has a smile smile but her beautiful green eyes are sparkling threw. Finally the third one is of Rosie sat at the patio table blowing out four pink and white candles on a choclate birthday cake.

My thoughts are disturbed when I hear Claire's phone ringing. "I'll just be one minute," Claire excuses herself heading into the dining room.

I look out the window again and I see a silver Renault Scenic pulling into our driveway. "Hey I'm back," Michael calls to me as he walks through the door. "Who's Claire talking to?" he asks me noticing Claire on her phone.

"I don't know," I shrug. We both just stand their watching Claire through the glass doors.

"Is there any news?" Micheal keenly asks as soon as she steps through the doors.

"We will tell you soon as we get any updates," Micheal and I are not fully convinced by the statement. I cannot put my finger on it buts somethings not right. "I think it might be best if we leave the TV off DI Edwards suggested it," Claire tells us as she walks over to the TV in the corner which still has Peppa Pig on from when Freya was watching it earlier on.

"I'm going for some fresh air," I whisper heading to the back garden. It is so tranquil out here, wind dancing in next doors tree, the birds their chatting away. I see a lone play house in the corner of our garden, a birthday present for Rosie's second birthday.

Sitting on the patio chairs I think back to a few weeks ago. It was so hot we got the small paddling pool out for Rosie and Freya. Despite how long it took us to get it set up and full with water the girls where in it five minutes before deciding the playing with the hose was much more fun. I remember the pair of the running round chasing each other with the hose pipe. Both were wearing matching blue swimming costumes. Closing my eyes I can hear Rosie laughing and screeches of joy. A sound I wonder if I will ever hear again. I'm startled by a hand on my shoulder.

"Maria's just arrived they want  you to confirm somethings," Micheal tells me.

"How long have I been out her?"

"A few hours I thought you were asleep I didn't want to wake you."

"I think I was," I whisper standing up to head inside.

"Jen, I don't think somethings right I haven't since Claire got off the phone."

"I know, me neither."