Page 96 of The Moon Sister
‘Well, I can pull in a few fellows and get some more manpower down there, but, Christ!’ Charlie ran a hand through his hair. ‘What a mess everything is at present.’
He looked so lost, all I wanted to do was to walk over and give him a big hug. And to sit him down with my arms around him and ask him what exactly had happened since I’d last seen him. But I knew I couldn’t – it really wasn’t my place. So instead I offered him the ultimate cure-all – a cup of tea.
‘Thanks but I can’t stay, Tiggy. I need to get back to the Lodge and try to coax Zara out of her bedroom. Any advice you could give me? We’re still not sure what it is that’s happened. She won’t say a word. Is it something to do with a boy?’
‘Er, well, it’s basically a case of hurt pride,’ I said carefully, knowing it wasn’t my secret to tell. ‘Perhaps if you offered her a few days off school to lick her wounds, it might help. I’m sure she’ll get bored hanging around at home with nothing to do. She’ll miss all her mates and want to know what’s going on.’
‘Yes, you’re probably right.’ Charlie looked at me in relief. ‘I’ll try that strategy. It’s just a shame that at such a difficult time in her life, Zara feels she can’t confide in her mother.’
‘Maybe as she grows up, she will,’ I said.
‘Sadly, I doubt it. Look, Tiggy,’ he said after a pause, ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been in contact recently. There’s been a lot going on. Could I ask you to bear with me for a while longer on the work front? I really don’t want to lose you.’
Although I’ve felt that Ihavelost you. . .
‘Of course you can. I just feel like a fraud, feeding a few cats twice a day and getting paid for it,’ I said with a shrug.
‘Well don’t. Filling in those grant application forms for me saved me so much time, I can’t tell you. And there may be more to come,’ he added lamely.
‘I have a meeting booked with the European elk man, but don’t worry about that for now, Charlie; you do what you have to and we’ll try to keep Pegasus safe up here.’
‘Thank you, Tiggy. You’re wonderful, you really are.’
I watched him take a step towards me, think better of it, then step back.
‘Okay, I’ll be in touch soon,’ he said. ‘Bye now.’
‘Bye, Charlie.’
An hour later, still dreamy from Charlie calling me ‘wonderful’, I saw his battered Range Rover fly past my window, followed closely by Ulrika’s far smarter jeep, both on their way out of the estate.
‘For God’s sake, get a grip!’ I told myself firmly. Still, I watched the Range Rover until it was a mere speck on the horizon.
*
I spent the next two days avoiding Zed yet again as I agonised over his job offer, a task helped by taking my turn in the rota of Pegasus-patrols.
‘Right, Tiggy,’ I said to myself, ‘before you make any decisions, it’s time to call your big sister for advice on Zed Eszu.’ Then, having stoked up the fire for Cal to return home to, I walked across to the Lodge.
Unfortunately, Zed was standing in the kitchen with Beryl, his arms crossed.
‘What’s all this I hear about a white stag being seen at Kinnaird?’ he asked me.
‘I know, crazy, isn’t it?’ I said.
‘Well, there’s never much news in January, is there?’ Beryl added.
‘Normally, there is no smoke without fire, but . . . more importantly I need an answer from you, Tiggy. Perhaps you would join me for lunch here tomorrow and we can discuss it?’
‘I . . . yes.’ I realised I could put him off no longer.
‘Good. Beryl, I have to make a call to New York in fifteen minutes, I will take it on the landline extension and I am not to be disturbed, okay?’
‘Of course, sir.’
When we heard the door to the Great Room shut behind Zed, Beryl let out a sigh. ‘When is that damned man going to leave?’ she muttered.
‘Very soon I hope,’ I whispered under my breath. ‘Beryl, before Zed commandeers the phone, would it be okay if I used the landline to make a quick call to my sister? I really need to speak to her, but she lives in Brazil, so obviously I’ll pay for the cost.’
