Poppy couldn’t stop shivering. Tory sat her down in front of the fire in the lounge and wrapped her in her duvet to warm her up, but her body refused to stop trembling. Charlie, who was bundled up in his Thomas the Tank Engine duvet next to her, was trying to sip a mug of hot chocolate through chattering teeth. Tory, watching them anxiously, said, “It’s probably the shock. You’ll both be as right as rain after a good night’s sleep.”
Henry Blossom stood by the window, keeping an eye out for the lights of the ambulance. Poppy could hear the quiet murmur of chat coming from the kitchen, where the two remaining members of the police search team were making cups of tea. She’d been surprised to see Henry when they’d finally arrived back at Riverdale, exhausted and chilled to the bone. “He was the first person I called when I realised you and Charlie had gone. I didn’t want to phone the police straight away in case you were both tucked up in one of the outbuildings, or had gone up to the farm together. Henry searched the grounds for me while I went over the house. That’s when I found Charlie’s note, realised what must have happened and called the police,” Tory had explained.
Her grey hair was mussed up as though she’d spent all day running her hands through it in worry. But her brown eyes were as kind as ever.
“I’m truly sorry for disappearing without telling you and causing everyone such trouble,” Poppy said for about the tenth time that afternoon.
“It’s alright, pet. I know you were worried about Charlie. At least you’re both safe. All’s well that ends well. That’s what my old mum used to say.”
“My mum had another saying,” smiled Henry from his post by the window. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Oh look, here’s the ambulance at last.”
Charlie was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open but rallied when he heard that it had finally arrived.
“Cool! My first ride in an ambulance! Though I’ve been to the hospital near our old house loads of times,” he informed Henry proudly. “Do you think they’ll use the lights and sirens?”
“They only use blues and twos for emergencies I’m afraid, Charlie,” Henry replied, glad to see the six-year-old smiling again. Both children had been subdued since they’d been home and looked lost without Caroline. He was glad they’d soon be reunited with her at the hospital in Tavistock.
Tory was allowed to ride with them in the back of the ambulance and Charlie spent the half hour journey in heaven being shown defibrillators, spine boards, inflatable splints and the burns kit. Poppy chatted quietly to Tory, describing how Cloud had found her in the fog and led her to Charlie.
“I probably could have caught Cloud but I was so worried about Charlie – I had to put him first,” said Poppy, her eyes downcast.
“You did the right thing, pet,” said Tory, patting her gently on the knee. “Cloud has run wild on the moor for years, he can look after himself. Look how clever he was today, leading you to Charlie. He’ll be fine, I know he will.” Poppy attempted a smile and tried to believe her.
Before long they drew up outside the hospital and the two paramedics helped them down the ambulance steps and into the minor injury unit where Caroline was waiting for them, her arms outstretched, a look of pure relief on her face. Charlie was usually quick to rush into his mother’s arms but this time Poppy beat him to it.
“Thank God,” Caroline murmured into Poppy’s hair as Charlie joined in the hug, Caroline gingerly holding her broken wrist above his head. “I’ve been so worried about you both. You two mean the world to me, you do know that, don’t you?”
Poppy looked into her stepmother’s blue eyes and nodded. “Yes, I do. And I’m sorry - for everything.”
“What do you mean? If you hadn’t gone after Charlie God knows what would have happened to him up on the moor on a day like today. You saved his life, Poppy.”
“I didn’t mean for today. I’m sorry for the last six years. For everything.”
“Shhh. It’s all forgotten. I think today is the perfect day to start all over again, don’t you?”
Poppy nodded gratefully and smiled at her stepmother, who hugged her again.
Charlie broke the silence. “Is Dad coming home?”
“He’s tried to get permission from his newsdesk to come home early and they’ve said they’ll do all they can but we don’t know when he’ll be back I’m afraid, sweetheart. I’ve managed to get a message to him that you’re both OK and he sends his love,” Caroline replied, and, realising a doctor was hovering in the background, let the children go.
Once they’d been checked over and declared fit to return home Tory called Henry Blossom, who had volunteered to drive the four of them back to Riverdale.
“I’ve got an idea,” Caroline said, with a twinkle in her eye. “Shall we stop off on the way and treat ourselves to a fish and chip supper?”
“Oh, yes please!” shouted Charlie. “This has been the best day ever! I get to meet loads of real live police, stroke two proper search dogs, ride in an ambulance and have fish and chips for tea. It’s been awesome!”
The three adults and Poppy exchanged looks before bursting out laughing. Charlie scratched his head and looked at them. “Did I say something funny?”