He didn’t reply straight away.
— Yes, ma’am.
My heart gave a sharp jolt in my chest.
— Am I in danger?
— No, ma’am.
— Then why am I in a police car?
He took a deep breath, as if trying to keep himself under control.
“Just a little further.”
Through the window, I saw a familiar place ahead.
We pulled into the car park of the community centre — the very one where, for years, I’d sat on hard benches cheering on the children at school events. This place held so many warm memories, but now even they couldn’t drown out my anxiety. Babysitting services
There were cars in the car park. Familiar cars.
Mark’s SUV.
Sarah’s saloon car.
Jason’s pick-up.
My mouth went dry.
‘What’s going on here?’
The policeman parked, got out and opened the door for me. He held out his hand, but I ignored it and got out myself. My legs were shaking. He silently escorted me to the entrance.
Through the glass doors, I saw movement.
I stopped.
‘If this is some sort of joke…’
My chest tightened so much it was hard to breathe. Hope and anger mingled inside me into a single tight knot.
He opened the door. The lights flashed on.
‘Happy birthday!’ Jason shouted… and immediately clammed up when he saw the look on my face.
Mark’s expression immediately turned guilty. Sarah went pale and sat up straight, looking frightened. Eliza covered her mouth with her hand. Caleb froze.
A banner hung on the wall:
‘HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY, MUM!’
There were balloons, ribbons and an expensive birthday cake everywhere — and my five children, who, by the looks of it, had been waiting for a lovely surprise moment. Babysitting services
I froze.
And then I said quietly, sharply:
‘So you were all here.’
Mark immediately stepped forward.
“Mum, wait…”
“I’ve been waiting for four hours,” I said. “Four.”
“We weren’t ignoring you!” Jason blurted out. “We wanted to surprise you. Grant was supposed to bring you here. He was busy this evening while we were getting everything ready.”
Tears welled up in Eliza’s eyes.
‘We thought…’ Sarah began, but stopped short when she noticed the policeman standing next to me. ‘Why is there a policeman with you? What’s happened?’
I slowly shifted my gaze from one face to another.
‘I was sitting alone at the festive table,’ I said. ‘Like a complete idiot.’
Mark’s face twisted with shame.
‘Mum, we just wanted to make it special for you. Grant said he’d drive you here himself.’
My heart began to pound wildly again.
I turned to the policeman:
‘Where’s Grant?’
Jason frowned.
— He said he’d be here by seven. He was supposed to pick you up.
Sarah turned sharply to Mark.
— He’s late.
Mark was already staring at his phone, his jaw clenched.
— He’s not answering.
I looked at the officer again. My voice grew louder:
‘He gave me a note from my son. He brought me here. Where is he?’
The policeman opened his mouth, but didn’t get a chance to reply.
At that moment, headlights flashed through the window. Another police car pulled into the car park. The room fell so silent that my ears rang.
The car stopped. The door opened. Footsteps could be heard.
And then Grant walked into the room.
In a police uniform.
With a badge on his chest.
‘Grant…’ Sarah whispered.
Eliza let out a quiet, ragged sound, and Caleb just stared at him.
Grant raised both hands, as if expecting a blow.
‘Right. Before anyone kills me… happy birthday, Mum.’
I looked at him, not believing my eyes.
‘What’s that you’re wearing?’
He swallowed.
‘A uniform.’
Mark choked.
‘You… a policeman?’
Sarah exploded:
‘Have you gone mad?! She thought you were dead!’
Grant looked straight at me.
‘Mum, I’m sorry. I really didn’t think. I wanted to surprise you — to turn up in uniform. I thought it would be impressive. Even fun.’
“You didn’t think,” I repeated. And my words sounded like a slap in the face.
He nodded slowly. Shame was written all over his face.
“I thought you’d be a bit scared, and then happy. I didn’t know you’d be waiting home alone for so long.”
‘Yes,’ I said quietly. ‘I sat alone at the festive table.’
The words hung in the air like a heavy burden. Mark looked away. Eliza began to cry quietly.
Grant took a deep breath.
‘I didn’t tell you about the academy. I didn’t want anyone to think I wouldn’t be up to it.’
I gave a bitter smile.
‘So that’s exactly what you thought?’
‘No,’ he said quickly. ‘Just not you.’ You always believed I could become anything if I stopped pretending I didn’t care.
My throat tightened.
‘I said that because I didn’t want you to end up like your father.’
Grant’s eyes filled with tears. He nodded as if he’d been carrying those words inside him for years.
‘I know.’ He took a step towards me. ‘That’s exactly why I wanted to show you that I’m not him.’
And then all his feigned bravado vanished, and he added quietly: