Turning in my seat, I gasped as my eyes fell on what he was looking at. Oh, wow. Outside were most of our neighbours, some of the press I recognised, and others I didn’t. It was hard to hear what they were shouting, but a few people had ‘Free Cole’ banners. They really listened. My heart leaped into my throat, and I ran for the door.
There was a round of applause when I stepped outside, and the all-too-familiar flashing of cameras. I didn’t mind the cameras this time. They were there because I’d asked them to be, as well as just wanting a story.
“Thank you all so much,” I said. My eyes filled with tears. It was so overwhelming to see all these people here for Cole.
“Oakley, what’s happening now?” someone from the crowd shouted.
I couldn’t see who it was, so I replied in their general direction, “Cole’s being questioned, so at the minute we’re just waiting.”
Jasper pulled my arm. “We appreciate you all coming, but we need to get back inside. Thank you,” he said and dragged me back into the building. “Just stay in here, okay? You’ve done your bit now, but you can’t get too involved.”
“Yeah. Okay,” I agreed, nodding. He was right. If I stayed around out there, I could mess something up, say too much. Jenna paced the reception area. “What’s going on now?”
She shrugged and rubbed her hands over her face. In the short few hours that Cole had been here, Jenna had developed dark circles under her eyes. Did she hate me for what had happened? I gazed at her, anxiously.
“Come and sit, sweetheart,” she said as she finally sat down. “How are you holding up?”
“I don’t know,” I replied, sitting next to her. I was just about holding it together. I wanted to scram and cry. “Why are they doing this to him? I’m so sorry, Jenna. I should have never said—”
“Oakley.” She grabbed both of my hands. “Please don’t blame yourself. Everything will be fine.”
“How do you know?” I whispered.
“Because I won’t let anything happen to my son.”
I smiled and prayed she had the ability to do that. Of course she would want to protect her child, but was there anything she could realistically do? “You should go home, Oakley. Especially now there’s so much media attention. There’s no use in you waiting around here too.”
I started to panic. My stomach turned. “I don’t want to leave him.”
“I know, and I understand that. I do think that while he’s being questioned, and we’re not sure if they’ll charge him, you shouldn’t be here though. Please don’t think it’s because I don’t want you here. I just need to make sure everything is done properly to give him the best chance, and I don’t know if the press following you and getting wind of what’s happened is the best thing here.” Her eyes filled with tears. I couldn’t even imagine how she was feeling.
“Okay. I’ll go,” I agreed. If that’s all I could do now then I would. “When you see him tell him…” Tell him what? “Tell him I love him.”
“I will. You know he loves you too, don’t you?” Jenna rubbed my arm, and I nodded.
“I’ll take you back,” Jasper said, and turned to Jenna and David, “Call when you know anything?”
Jenna nodded. “Of course we will.”
“Come on,” Jasper whispered, wrapping his arm around me. “Walk quickly to the car and don’t stop to talk. Let me handle the questions, okay?” I nodded. David smiled as we passed him, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile back.
As soon as the door opened the deafening noise returned. It was only a few minutes ago we had told people we were going back inside to wait, and now we were leaving. I was all over the place.
“Just walk, Oakley,” Jasper instructed. He held his hand up as he ushered me to the car. “There hasn’t been any news, but we will let you know as soon as there is. Now, I’d appreciate if you let me get my sister home. Thanks.” He spoke so confidently and calmly, so unlike Jasper.
He practically pushed me into the car, and ran to the driver’s side.
“You should be Prime Minister,” I smiled at him.
He grinned and shut his door, already starting the car. “I should.”
We drove in silence until we were almost back at Ali’s house. “He’ll be okay, won’t he?” I asked, desperately needing reassurance.
“He will.”
Jasper’s sudden cry of complaint pulled me out of my thoughts. The crowd outside our house had easily doubled since we’d left. The drive was barely visible.
“Let’s just run for it,” I said.
“Good plan,” Jasper agreed as he carefully drove the car through the parting crowd. He got out first and ran to my side. My hands were shaking as I got out. It was all so surreal. Jasper bundled me under his arm and propelled me through the door.
“Any news?” Mia questioned, stumbling over her words.
No news. Unable to hold it in, I started crying. It was like I’d opened the floodgate again and everything came pouring out. Jasper picked me up like I was a little child, but I didn’t even care. I curled up in his arms and cried until my throat was sore.
Later, I laid on the sofa staring at a pin hole in the ceiling left from the Christmas decorations. I had returned to my zombie state of numbness.