‘What do you mean?’
‘They were one-way tickets.’
Faye could tell by the bemused look on Jake’s face that he didn’t get it.
‘He was leaving for Oman, and he wasn’t coming back.’
‘But he was taking your daughter.’
‘Exactly.’
It took a moment for Jake to take this in, Faye could tell. She watched his expression.
‘Are you saying he was going to kidnap her?’
‘I supposekidnapis a strong word. After all she was … is his daughter. But he’d planned it all along, to leave and take Natty with him. He must have made a decision that he was returning to Oman and never coming back. He already knew I wouldn’t go with him, so he’d decided he was taking her without me. He knew I’d never, ever let that happen, so that’s why he’d planned the trip, supposedly just a visit to take Natty to meet his relatives.’
Jake looked dumbfounded. ‘So, why did he tell you? He could have just collected her from nursery one day and left.’
‘My father was a police officer. He’s retired now, but he still has connections on the force. Yousaf obviously realised he risked the possibility that if I discovered she was missing, someone might catch up with him and Natty before he could board a flight.’
Faye swallowed. ‘He’d obviously thought it through and planned to leave when I was at work, just in case I got cold feet and didn’t want Natty to go with him. To be honest, I don’t know why I let him talk me into it.’
They fell silent until Jake said, ‘How long ago was that?’
‘Five years ago.’ Faye shuddered. ‘Even now, it turns my stomach – the thought that if I hadn’t left work early that day because of a burst pipe, I might never have seen my daughter again.’
Jake said in a small voice, ‘What about if he comes back?’
‘We moved house. I changed schools. I took Natty out of her nursery and put her with a childminder instead until she started school.’
Jake nodded.
‘I’m always looking over my shoulder, afraid he’ll return.’
‘That’s terrible.’
‘I know. The worst part was that he was such a lovely, gentle man. I think he was pressured by his family. I realised they’d always come first. Natty asks after her father from time to time. She was too young when he left to remember him. But he can’t be a part of her life. You understand that – don’t you?’
‘Of course I do.’ Jake reached for her hand. ‘So, what happened – did you confront him?’
Faye remembered to breathe. ‘No, I did not. I remembered standing in the doorway, watching him cradling Natty affectionately, thinking that I must have it all wrong. But then when he saw me in the doorway, I knew. He didn’t smile, or ask me what had happened, why I’d returned from work early. All he did was just sit there, looking guilty.’ Faye sighed. ‘I just handed him his ticket, and took Natty in my arms. I didn’t have to say anything. He knew I knew. The taxi turned up. I said goodbye. He promised he’d be back, said it was just a visit. But I saw his eyes flicker to his daughter when he said he’d be coming back. Of course he would. To fetch what was his. As soon as he got in the taxi, I was already planning to leave the house, my job, Natty’s nursery and move on somewhere that he and his family wouldn’t find us.’
‘Why didn’t you tell your father all this?’
‘I did. He just said I was being paranoid and that there was no way Yousaf would do that.’
‘He said that?’
‘Yes. I even told him about the phone conversation I’doverheard between Yousaf and his father. In hindsight, I realised what they were talking about. Of course, I could only hear one side of the conversation – but I heard him say:Yes, of course I’m bringing her with me. Do you think I’d leave her behind?’ Faye stared at Jake. ‘I thought, after several years together, he was staying in England for good.’ Faye rubbed her tired eyes. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have told you all this.’
‘Actually, I think you most definitely should have.’
Faye looked at him questioningly.
Jake continued, ‘What if some guy turns up at your house, god forbid, claiming to be Natty’s father, while I’m babysitting?’
Faye saw his point. She said softly, ‘I think you remind Natty of him.’
