32 quotes found
“Its as if hes trodden in my footsteps, seen what Ive seen, felt what Ive felt, as Ive criss-crossed the moors countless times.”
“They stole you from me. They took you away for seven years. Your entire lifetime. A life sentence. The waiting has been endless. The watching. The planning. Now, finally, Im almost ready. Ive got a...”
“Make no mistake, my darling. I am coming for you. I will take you back.”
“Where Im taking you, no one will ever find us. Well have all the time in the world for you to grow to love me as much as I love you.”
“Tesco at the best of times is soulless but its so much worse at 6 in the morning. Its not as empty as I thought it would be. Who the fuck shops at 6 a.m.? e florescent lights flicker. e shelf upon...”
“Mum, your heart is the same size as your fist, she told me once in delight, and we both made our hands into fists and held them against our chests and bumped them together: hands as hearts.”
“I dont believe he was deliberately taking indecent pictures, theyre too artistic; hes managed to capture that magical moment when a childs mind spins into a make-believe world. But actually, what J...”
“She said that the mummy and the daddy took their daughter up onto the moor. They had a picnic. Theyd brought all of her favourite food cheese sandwiches on white bread with the crusts cut off and ...”
“I cant believe I ever thought reading to her was a chore. Id sit here some nights, fidgeting, thinking of all the things I needed to do, my voice hoarse, reluctant to read, just one more chapter, w...”
“Here we are, squabbling over tuna fucking sandwiches and there she is almond-shaped green eyes, snub nose, lopsided grin, the hint of a dimple in her cheek. MISSING is stamped over her face in lar...”
“Evie is our beautiful, dark-haired, green-eyed child, I say. I can hear the tremor in my voice. Like many seven-year-old girls, shes obsessed with princesses. We think she looks more like a fairy. ...”
“She shivers. I cant understand why anyone would want to live out there. Youd be totally isolated. I do. I could imagine waking up each day and instead of looking out of the window and seeing the mo...”
“My husband hands me my glass, full to the brim with green-gold wine and I stifle my resentment and attempt to smile at him. I mustnt lose sight of what we have two beautiful children; an amazing h...”
“The moor has always been part of my life. Its like a muse: the colours of the heather and the sky; how you can see the savagery of the wind in the way the dwarf pine trees are bent double, the blea...”
“Hello my darling, Im your real father. Ive been searching for you ever since you were stolen from me. I love you so much. Daddy”
“Its quiet in the suburbs. Its too cold for people to be in their gardens; and its not a thoroughfare so few cars drive by. I look past decaying roses and through the first flush of Michelmas daisie...”
“The dark edge of the moor and the Cow and Calf rock are crisp against the blue-black sky. I cant see anyone outside, watching us. As I shut the door behind me, I hear a noise. It came from the hall...”
“I think about the story I always tell her of the kind lady who gave her to us. I suppose that must be how she imagines her father as a kind man who gave her away too, as if she were a gift. Only ...”
“He places the skull in the palm of my hand. There are four canines; the top two are so long and curved I can feel them pricking my skin. Theres a green tinge round the eye socket and in a fine line...”
“It’s as if he’s trodden in my footsteps, seen what I’ve seen, felt what I’ve felt, as I’ve criss-crossed the moors countless times.”
