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“Wow, that’s a lot of eating,” Rebel says, sounding impressed. “You said fish and chips twice.”
“It was so nice we had it twice! It was a really fun day.”
“It sounds it.” Rebel smiles. “What did you do with your grandma? Did she take you to any more gardens?”
“No. We just stayed in a lot. I played in my room and had to be quiet. Especially after I hurt my arm.”
“Did you want to tell me about that day Nix? What did you have for breakfast that day?”
“I had yoghurt and fruit that day so I knew it was going to be good. Grandma said we were going out so I had to have a bath in the morning.” She giggles like this is absurd. “But I couldn’t wash my hair on my own. Grandma helped but the water was so hot I screamed and splashed her on accident.”
She pauses and sobs.
“It’s okay, baby. Grandma would know it was an accident.”
“S-she got re-really mad. She held me u-under the water to get the shampoo out and I didn’t like that.”
Raven says nothing, just wraps her arm around Nix and holds her close. No one is eating now and Baxter isn’t the only one in the room that looks ready to kill.
“So where did you go? Did you wear a pretty dress?”
“Y-yeah.” Nix hiccups. “It was itchy and fidgety. Grandma put a yellow bow in my hair. I wanted the pink one but it didn’t go.”
“I’m sure you looked really pretty, baby. I love you in every colour.”
“Thank you Mummy. I love you in all the colours too.” She giggles. “Baxter looks funny in pink.”
“Now when did you see Baxter in pink?” Raven asks on a laugh.
“Yesterday. We went in the water and got wet and Baxter had to get a towel. It was massive and it went around and around and around me. They only had pink so he had to wrap up in a pink towel too and it was really funny! He took a picture, Mummy. Baxter! Show her the picture!”
Baxter grins easily at Nix, even though his eyes are still blazing with fierce intent to kill, and he hands Nix his phone.
“You do it. You know how to work it better than I do.”
Nix grins at him, slides the phone open and navigates her way straight to the camera roll, selecting the picture she wants and then flicking through. She gives a running commentary on her day with Baxter, all tears and upset forgotten, while the rest of us wait on tenterhooks to hear more.
“It was the best day Mummy!” Nix grins, obviously having finished her story and photos.
“Even better than your day out with grandma wearing the yellow ribbon?”
“Yeah. We were meant to see Mr Branson…” I raise my brows at Baxter. Did he know Cordelia had taken Nix to see his grandfather? Did Richard know she was hurt? How damn long ago was this? Why didn’t anyone tell us. “But we couldn’t go because we had to go to the hospital and I had to say I fell down the stairs because I was running.”
“Hmm, you know better than to run near stairs Phoenix,” Raven says with a frown.
“I know Mummy. I would never do that.”
“Then why did you tell the doctors that?”
“Because Grandma said if I told what really happened they would take me away and I wouldn’t see any of you again.” She bursts into tears again and Raven scoops Nix up into her lap, cradling her to her chest and rocking her back and forth.
“Shhh, it’s okay darling. Clearly that wasn’t true because we’re here right now.” She takes a deep breath and when Nix calms she speaks again. “I want you to tell me what really happened please, Phoenix Elizabeth. I promise you, nothing bad will happen and you won’t be in any trouble if you tell the truth.”
Nix nods, her bottom lip wobbling, but she takes a deep breath and starts to talk.
“After the bath, Grandma did my hair and got me dressed. I wanted to wear my necklace but Grandma wouldn’t let me and I wasn’t allowed to take any toys. When we were at the top of the stairs I tried to run and get it but she grabbed me and pulled me back. Then she shouted to go downstairs and when I didn’t she pushed me.”
There’s a stunned, horrified silence for what feels like a full minute before Raven asks very carefully, “What do you mean she pushed you?”
