An adventure! Naomi loved adventures. Her blue boots pinched her feet as she tried to force them on. She couldn't wait to do something fun. 

"They're on the wrong feet Naomi."

Mummy had a funny look on her face as she stood over Naomi. With a giggle, little hands swapped the shoes over. The pinching instantly subsided. That felt much better. She had never been out so late before; mummy and daddy said little girls need their sleep. She wondered where they were going. Were they going to the park like mummy had promised earlier? Naomi hoped so. She was often the smallest child there and the easiest to push out of the way. It would be nice not to have to share the slide. 

Mummy packed Naomi's pyjamas and slippers into a bag alongside the sticks mummy always had in her mouth. Naomi hated the smell of the sticks, but they made mummy happier, so she didn't mind too much. Daddy never used the sticks. He smelt nice all the time. Mummy held out the purple coat with unicorns that Naomi loved the most. Pushing her arms into the holes, she bounced in anticipation. 

"Keep still. I need to do your zip up. I said hold still. Naomi!"

She stopped moving instantly. Uh oh. Mummy was getting angry again. She didn't want to ruin the adventure. Her hair caught in the zip causing her to cry out. She flinched, waiting for the rough hand to tug the strands free, leaving behind precious locks. The pain didn't come. Mummy broke her free, tucked the hair behind her ears and zipped the coat back up. Phew. Mummy was happy again. 

"Right. We don't tell anyone about this little adventure okay? It's our secret."

Wendy held her finger to her lips. Naomi copied, huge smile spread on her face, bringing her dimple to life. She wouldn't tell anyone. Except Scruffy Bunny. She told him everything. She watched as mummy put a key in her coat pocket. It was shiny, not like the ones on mummy's keychain. 

Hand in the hand, the pair braced the torrential rain, like razors against their skin. The kiss of warmth in mummy's car stung their frozen fingers. Mummy put the radio on, the music filling the car. They sang and danced, streetlights illuminating the inside every now and again so that Naomi could see mummy watching her through the mirror. She smiled, wriggling her head side to side as Beauty and the Beast began to play. She loved Disney car rides. 

"When we get to our surprise, mummy needs you to be very, very quiet. We don't want anyone to know we're there. Can you do that for me Honeybee?" mummy's eyes stared at her, waiting for an answer.

Naomi nodded. She could be quieter. She could be the quietest person ever. 

They'd been in the car for hours. Naomi's eyes felt heavy as she struggled to contain yawn after yawn. Mummy hadn't said anything to her for the longest time. Instead, she mumbled to herself under her breath. Naomi tried to listen but the words were lost beneath the hum of the car. Houses gave way to trees and fields. Craning her neck, Naomi tried to see if there were any animals. When they'd gone to the zoo with daddy there had been a whole field of sheep and cows. Naomi had pointed excitedly, mimicking the noises the animals would make. It was too dark to see anything past her own reflection. 

"We're nearly there. You're being such a good girl for mummy."

Naomi smiled. She liked it when mummy called her a good girl; her stomach would flutter at the words. The biggest house Naomi had ever seen rolled into view. The car purred to a stop. With a wrinkled nose, Naomi waited for mummy to get her out of her car seat. A house? How was someone's house a fun adventure? 

Puddles lined the pathway to the front door. Naomi hopped beside mummy taking care not to screech too loud. Maybe someone else's house could be fun after all. She watched mummy take the shiny key from her pocket, put it in the hole and turn it. The door opened with ease. 

"Quickly. Get in before someone sees us."

Naomi did as she was told, mouth open in awe. It was so big! She bent to undo her boots, mud and water stalking her as she moved. With dry socks on, she ran through the rooms, looking for toys to play with. She found cushions, candles, photos, but no toys. Not even a book she could read. She'd found some mummy books, their letters too small and too long for Naomi to enjoy. Where was the fun? Mummy followed behind her, saying nothing. 

"What are we gonna do mummy?" 

"This is one of daddy's houses. We're going to pretend its ours. Just for one night," mummy reached a hand into her bag, pulling out pasta, cheese and sauce. "Do you want to help mummy make dinner?"

Naomi nodded her head, jumping from the sofa before mummy could finish asking her question. This was going to be such a fun night!

"Yes please! Can I eat some of the cheese too?"

————-

Naomi chewed loudly, food spilling off the fork and onto the table. Mummy made a lot of fuss, wiping away each speck with a damp cloth as soon as it landed with a plunk. Mummy didn't each much of her dinner, so Naomi had two. She never got two helpings before, mummy always said it would make her too fat. They even had chocolate cake for pudding with custard. Licking the bowl, Naomi looked at her mum through her lashes. She gave a brown teethed smile.

"This is the best ever mummy."

"Oh my little honeybee, this is just the beginning. You wait until you see what else mummy has planned."

Naomi couldn't wait. She squealed, pushing the chair out from underneath. She threw her arms around mummy's neck, planting a custard covered kiss on her cheek. Mummy grimaced, wiping the dirt of with a napkin. 

"All right, that's enough of that. Let's get you bathed. We can watch a movie in bed together afterwards. I brought your favourite snacks."

Naomi ran ahead while mummy fumbled for the towel, soap and shampoo at the bottom of her bag. She hoped mummy remembered her rubber duck, bath time wasn't the same without it. The bathtub was bigger than anything Naomi had ever seen. She watched closely as mummy poured pink bubble bath in as the water ran. Bubbles grew and grew. Grabbing a handful she smeared it on her face.

"Look mummy, a beard like daddy."

"Yes, I can see that. Let's get you in then,"

The water was warm, just as Naomi liked. She let out a sigh, peed a little and giggled. She wouldn't tell mummy. Mummy said peeing in the bath was disgusting. They were having too much fun to make mummy feel sick again. 

"Lay your head back in the bath, mummy will wash your hair."

Naomi hated this part. The water always got on her face and in her eyes. She had much more fun sitting and playing with her toys. Still, she did as she was told. With her eyes closed, she slowly lowered herself into the water, bubbles circling her head. Something strong sat on her chest, pushing her further in. The water hurt her nose. She tried to call out to mummy but water gurgled and spat, halting the words in their path. Legs and arms flailed, fingers scratching. Mummy help. Mummy I'm scared. She choked, lungs burning as water invaded parts of her it had no right to. Mummy. Please.

Wendy pulled her arms out of the water. Naomi lay still, mouth and eyes open, barely visible beneath the bubbles. Drying herself on the hand towel she'd brought with her, she pulled a cigarette out of the box, sat on the toilet sit and lit up. It had been easier than she thought it would be. Naomi put up a fight, but she was no match for her mother. Taking a deep inhale of the cigarette, Wendy rubbed the stinging scratch marks on her forearm. She'd take just a moment. There was no need to rush. She just had to stick to the plan and she'd be fine. Robert need never know what happened there that night. 

She pottered about the home, making sure everything looked untouched. Naomi lay dressed in her pyjamas in the now empty bathtub. It was far too late to drive home without raising suspicion, so Wendy pulled the covers back on the king-sized bed in the master bedroom, booted up her portable DVD player and began to relax. She laughed as Shawn and Marlon Wayans donned blonde wigs and prosthetic boobs, fistful of popcorn entering her mouth. With no child to worry about, she could spend as much time on herself as she wanted. Life is going to be much better now. 

————-

Sunlight shone through the bare windows. With a final check of the house, ensuring everything was as it ought to be, Wendy stepped into the bathroom. She had decided to leave Naomi in the bathtub until things died down. No-one knew Wendy had taken Robert's key to the house, had it cut. No-one would think to look there when she made the phone call to her husband. She'd practised crying hysterically on cue for months. He would never suspect a thing. They'd go to the police of course, and the papers no doubt, but no-one would ever believe her tears were anything but genuine. It was all so perfect. She'd have her husband back. They'd have to reconnect now. He'd need her, need the support only she could give him. Need someone who could understand his pain. Only she, as Naomi's mother, could be that person for him. 

The drive back felt shorter than it had the night before. There was little traffic as she took the back routes. She was thankful she made it home unseen by anyone in her street. Halleluiah for Sunday lay ins. All she had to do now was make herself look distraught, panicked. Run down the street screaming for her neighbours to come and help. 

Sleep filled eyes peered from behind curtains, heads poked around slightly open jaws, all taking in the barefooted woman who had roused them from their slumber. 

"They've taken her! My baby! They've taken her!" 

Panic lit the street like a fire. Neighbours ran to comfort her, others racing back inside to call the police. No-one noticed the smile on Wendy's face as she watched the people she lived near scatter in search of a child they would never find. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she flipped it open and hit call. It rang and rang with no answer. She tried again. Robert finally answered, annoyed at being interrupted at work. 

"This better be important, I was in a meeting."

"Someone's taken Naomi."