Free The Edge of Sanity by Sheryl Browne Page B

This was too painful. Much too damn painful.
    Coming back down, Daniel felt suddenly claustrophobic in the close confines of the hall. He knew why, a legacy of his childhood and panic-induced, claustrophobia was something he had never quite been able to overcome. It was also something Jo wasn’t aware of, and which Daniel wasn’t about to give in to. Not here. Not now. The last thing he needed was her thinking he was using the sympathy card. He should be pitied, but for different reasons than this.
    He needed to breathe.
    Tugging open the front door, Daniel almost fell through it, so desperate was he to get air past the choking lump in his throat.
    ‘Dan …?’
    Jo was behind him as he took several slow breaths.
    ‘What’s wrong?’
    ‘Nothing,’ Daniel said quickly.
    Jo arched an eyebrow.
    He smiled, and lied. ‘Not enough sleep.’
    Jo nodded, though from the look in her eye, she wasn’t convinced.
    ‘I’m fine, honestly,’ he assured her. ‘You will ring me, won’t you? If there’s a problem, I mean, with Kayla.’
    ‘Problem how?’
    ‘She might be wiser than we give her credit for Jo, but she’s still only fifteen, and as confused as hell,’ Daniel pointed out. ‘If she … If you have any problems … You know where to find me.’
    ‘She’ll be okay, I promise.’ Jo hesitated, and then placed a hand on his arm. ‘But I will call, if I need to.’
    ‘Good.’ Daniel nodded, relieved. His gut instinct was telling him something wasn’t right, that this staying over at Hannah’s was a cover up. Judging by the make-up and the strappy number Kayla was wearing under her top, they were off to the nightclub, more than likely. The thought didn’t thrill him, but he could hardly lock up his daughter. He’d read her the riot act, of course. That is, he would, if he were here.
    Not that it would make much difference. She would go anyway and he would just have to accept that kids did, and hope she had common sense enough not to do anything but dance. Tonight was different to other nights though. Kayla had gone off angry and distraught. Who knew what a fifteen-year old girl might do to let off a little steam.
    ‘I’m at the New Inn,’ he reminded Jo. ‘I’ll keep my mobile switched on. Bye, Jo. I’ll call you tomorrow anyhow.’
    Daniel turned quickly away, wishing he could stay. Jo wasn’t likely to have wanted him to after he had announced he was going to France, but she had hesitated when he had suggested it. Maybe there was a way back, if he could be as strong as Jo and take a step towards her. Right now, despite not wanting to go, there was somewhere else he knew he needed to be.
    He walked a few steps, and then stopped. ‘The proceeds left over from the sale, they’re for you, by the way. You and Kayla,’ he said. He had to say it. If Jo thought it was blood money, so be it. She might well be right. ‘I just wanted you to know.’
    Jo didn’t say anything. Wasn’t much to say, Daniel supposed.
    ‘Do you know what fubar means?’ Jo called after him, as he headed for the gates.
    Daniel turned back. ‘Sorry?’
    ‘What Kayla said we were. Do you know what it means?’
    Daniel shook his head. ‘Not a clue.’
    ‘Well, assuming you can work the f.u . bit out, the last three words are beyond all repair .’
    He hesitated. ‘Are we, Jo?’
    ‘I hope not.’ Jo offered him a small smile. ‘Call me tomorrow.’
    ****
    ‘ Shhhh .’ Kayla nudged Hannah, who’d clambered up on the seat beside her to watch Daniel leave, got her heel caught in the upholstery, and splatted her face on the window.
    ‘It’s a shame,’ Hannah observed, rubbing her nose. ‘He’s well fit, your dad, y’know.’
    ‘Yeah, well, you can bloody well have him.’ Kayla rolled her eyes and stood up in the seating area of the boat. Thank God she had had the foresight to snatch the keys and open up earlier so she and Hannah could meet there. Her dad was bound to have caught up with her otherwise.
    He was pretty