TOYL

whipping up the water into white tips.
    Emma stole a glance at Dan; his short, dark brown hair was messy from sleep in the way that she always found so endearing. He still didn’t look himself. He had been injured physically during his time in captivity, but nothing too serious – mainly bruising, which had now healed. But mentally – well, Emma wasn’t sure. He hadn’t opened up yet about what had happened during those days at the hands of Peter Myers, or about how it had affected him. And although she was desperate to understand, so she could help, Emma didn’t want to press him. He needed to be ready to talk.
    ‘I’m worried about you,’ she said, not really intending to vocalise those thoughts.
    Dan smiled sadly, as if he knew what she was talking about. ‘I’m okay, Em. It’s just going to take time to get over it all.’
    Emma nodded. They were all finding it difficult. ‘You know, if you want to talk about it, if you think it would help, I’m always here for you.’
    ‘I know.’ Dan took her hand. ‘Come here.’
    Emma snuggled into his side, as he placed a comforting arm around her. She closed her eyes, enjoying the brightness of the sun and the warmth of his body. ‘I was so scared. I thought I might never see you again.’
    Dan held her tighter. ‘It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.’
    They stayed like that for a few minutes, just enjoying being close to one another. There hadn’t been much physical contact in the past month, but it wasn’t surprising, after all everyone had gone through.
    ‘How did you sleep?’ Dan asked. ‘You were tossing and turning a little.’
    Emma raised her head off his chest. ‘Is that what woke you up?’
    ‘No. I was thinking about Peter Myers.’
    She sat upright. ‘Really? What about him?’
    ‘I was wondering how he is.’
    His admission came as a shock. They’d hardly spoken that man’s name since being reunited. ‘You’re concerned about him?’
    ‘Maybe,’ Dan replied. ‘I don’t know. I know what he did was a terrible act, but at the heart of it, he’s a victim too.’
    ‘Because of what happened to Stephen?’
    Dan nodded, taking a sip of coffee. ‘Who knows how you’d react if you found out that your son or daughter had been murdered? Maybe you’d want to take revenge too. Maybe the anger would twist your morals, lead you to doing something you wouldn’t normally contemplate.’
    ‘I can see that.’
    ‘I know it sounds crazy, feeling empathy for him – the man nearly killed Richard – but I can see how he might have got to where he is now.’
    ‘I don’t think it sounds crazy.’
    ‘He’ll probably go to prison for many years.’
    Peter Myers had been charged with a litany of offences, including kidnapping and grievous bodily harm. He’d pleaded guilty to all charges, and had been remanded in custody, pending sentencing. There was little doubt that he would spend a long time behind bars for what he’d done. The sentence would surely have been longer if Richard hadn’t survived – he was currently up in Edinburgh, staying with friends and continuing his recovery and recuperation.
    ‘You think he does deserve it, though?’ Emma said.
    ‘Oh, yes, of course I do. He deserves to go to jail for what he did.’
    Emma breathed an inward sigh of relief. Although she could certainly see where Dan was coming from, it was still uncomfortable hearing him say supportive things about Peter Myers. It reminded her of so-called Stockholm syndrome, where captives began to empathise with and even support their captors.
    ‘Anyway, you didn’t answer my original question,’ Dan added. ‘About how you slept. I’m worried about you, too, you know.’
    ‘I had another nightmare,’ Emma revealed.
    Dan looked concerned. ‘About Stephen Myers?’
    Emma nodded. ‘It was the same dream, the wedding.’
    ‘I’m sorry,’ Dan said.
    ‘Why are you apologising? It’s not your fault.’
    ‘Maybe it is.’
    ‘I don’t understand.’
    ‘Well, it was my idea to postpone the wedding for a few months. Maybe that’s why you keep dreaming about it.’
    ‘It was for the best,’ Emma replied. ‘We agreed.’
    ‘I know, but I wonder whether I pushed you into it. Maybe we should have just gone ahead and got married as soon as we could.’
    Emma shook her head. ‘No. It was the right thing to do. Yes, of course I want to be married to you, right now. That’s how it was supposed to be. But I want it to be right, Dan. I didn’t want