Page 216 of The Moon Sister
‘They find me, Ma. It works both ways. Besides, I like Zara. Now, I want a bit of fresh air before it gets dark,’ I said as Zara reappeared. ‘Want to come with me?’
‘I’d love to.’ Zara nodded and we left before Ma could lodge a complaint.
‘It’s so peaceful here,’ Zara said as we walked across the lawns. The tips of the grass were already covered with tiny droplets of water that would soon harden to a sharp night frost.
‘It wasn’t like this when I was growing up, not with five sisters,’ I cautioned. ‘Someone was always shouting at someone. Now, this is Pa’s special garden. It’s a pity it’s March and we only have snowdrops and winter pansies, but in the summer, all the roses around this arbour come into full bloom.’ I sat down on the bench as Zara wandered around, ending up at the armillary sphere which lay in the centre of the garden. She beckoned me over to explain it and the inscriptions.
‘So there’s a missing sister? Wow, Tiggy, don’t you want to find her?’
‘I don’t even know if she exists. If she did, I’m sure Pa would have done so.’
‘Unless she didn’t want to be found,’ she said as she joined me on the bench. ‘I’d have loved a brother or a sister,’ she added wistfully.
As it was growing dark and cold, we soon went back inside to find Ma in the hall, holding the telephone out to Zara. ‘Your father is on the line,chérie,’ she said. Whilst Zara spoke to her dad, I pushed open the door to the drawing room, a place I’d always particularly associated with Christmas. Three comfortable sofas were arranged in a U-shape around the log fire, which was always set to be lit. I put a match to the logs and they caught immediately, the wood tinder-dry after weeks inside the house.
‘What a beautiful view this room has,’ Zara said as she came in and sat down in front of the growing fire with me.
‘What did your dad say?’
‘He says I’ve got to go home. He’s booking me a flight for tomorrow and then picking me up from the airport at Inverness so I don’t run away again.’
‘Well, that’s probably the best thing. But I think you should speak to him about what’s been going on at home, with your mum away and him at the hospital all the time.’
‘Please come with me,’ Zara begged, her blue eyes imploring me. ‘I’m so worried about Dad. He looks terrible, Tiggy – like he hasn’t slept in months. And he refuses to go up to Kinnaird. He trusts you. He needs you—’
‘Zara, I—’
‘Please, Tiggy, come with me. I need you too, you’re the only person I can really talk to.’
I stood up to poke the fire, so I could avoid Zara’s pleading eyes. My contrary inner voice was telling me that itwouldbe a good idea to return to Kinnaird; at least to pick up all of my things, say goodbye to Cal and Thistle and Beryl. And besides, I did have to be in the UK next week anyway for that interview . . .
‘Okay,’ I surrendered, ‘I’ll come.’
As Zara squealed in delight and gave me a hug, I hated myself for the flutter of excitement that ran through me at the thought of seeing Charlie again.
37
‘What a surprise,’ Zara commented as we walked out of Arrivals at Inverness airport. She looked up at me from her mobile. ‘Dad’s sent me a text, he’s not here after all – he’s had to go up to Kinnaird, and we’re to get a taxi.’
‘Okay,’ I said and duly followed Zara outside to the taxi rank.
As we drove the hour and a half up to Kinnaird, I saw that the first signs of spring were emerging. The burns we passed were heavy with melting snow from the mountains as the temperature rose. The loch appeared blue under the clear sunny sky, and the first daffodils were beginning to sprout along its edges in an unruly fashion. As the taxi climbed the steep drive to the Lodge, the first patches of green lawn were revealed by the melting snow.
Zara insisted on carrying my rucksack to the cottage, where Cal was already standing in the doorway waiting for me.
‘Hello, stranger,’ he said, enveloping me in his great big arms. He was interrupted moments later by a blur of grey fur launching itself towards us. Thistle stood up on his hind legs, effortlessly placing his front paws on my shoulders, then soaking my face with ecstatic licks.
‘He’s pleased tae see you back, and no mistake,’ Cal chuckled. ‘But I’m thinkin’ that we should be tagging you an’ Zara so we know where you are when you stray. How are yae, Tig?’ he asked as Thistle, having satisfied himself that I was real, bounded off to greet Zara.
‘Much better, thanks. Sorry for causing you so much bother, Cal.’
‘Aye, you did, and I’ll no’ be denying it. The Laird was beside himself when you did your disappearin’ act, but all’s well that ends well. And that’s not what I can say about the things going down here since you’ve been gone. Stuff has really been kickin’ off, Tig.’ He lowered his voice so that Zara, who was now playing with Thistle in the courtyard, couldn’t hear. ‘Has Charlie mentioned anything tae you?’
‘He did in Spain, yes. Something about a legal challenge.’
‘And that’s just fer starters,’ he whispered as Zara walked towards the cottage door.
‘Right, let’s go and see the wildcats before it gets dark,’ I smiled at her. ‘How are they, Cal?’
