Page 99 of The Moon Sister
Zed did say you’d be spending a lot of time travelling . . .
‘No, Tiggy,’ I told myself firmly, ‘whatever happens, however he tries to convince you, you have to say no. It’s just not . . .right. And that’s all there is to it.’
*
‘Are you ill again, Chilly? Should I call someone?’ I asked as I arrived in the cabin to find him once more lying on his bed.
‘No worse than I was yesterday, or will be tomorrow.’ Chilly’s eyes opened as I approached him. ‘You is goin’, not me.’
‘Honestly, Chilly,’ I said, ‘you do talk some rubbish sometimes.’
‘Tell Angelina it was me who guided you home like I promised.’
His eyes closed again, but I went to him and took his hand.
‘I’m not going anywhere, Chilly,’ I said softly.
‘You going home. And after that,’ he said with a small sigh, ‘so am I.’
Even though I spent the next few minutes begging him to tell me what he meant, he was either feigning sleep or he really was dozing, for he said no more. I kissed him on his forehead, and since it was obvious that he wouldn’t respond, I could do no more than leave his lunch by the gas ring for him to warm up later and say a gentle goodbye to him.
*
‘Hello, Beryl,’ I greeted her as I walked into the kitchen an hour later.
‘You’re a little early for lunch. Zed told me he was expecting you at one.’
‘He is, but I need to use the computer again first if it’s free.’
‘As a matter of fact, it is, our guest is on one of his endless foreign calls in the Great Room. Mornings it’s China and the East, afternoons and evenings it’s New York and the West. I really don’t know why he’s here – he hardly ever takes advantage of what’s beyond the windows . . . He only goes out to shoot at a target for an hour each day in the copse. To be frank, Tiggy, one way and another, just now I could scream.’
I watched her viciously attack the carrot in front of her with a knife.
‘I’m sorry, Beryl. Hopefully he’ll leave soon and you’ll get the Lodge back, and some fresh air into it,’ I added, trying to lighten the conversation.
‘And then who’ll arrive here the moment it’s free? She’s back again – I saw them together this morning on my way here, out riding. They were grinning at me, as bold as brass,’ she muttered, giving another carrot a brutal chop.
‘Who, Beryl?’
‘Oh, no one.’ Beryl reached into her apron pocket for a tissue and blew her nose. ‘Ignore me. It’s a depressing time of year, isn’t it?’
‘Yes. And, Beryl . . . honestly, any time you want to talk, I’m here, I really am.’
‘Thank you, dear.’
Shutting the study door behind me, I sat down at the desk and logged into Hotmail. Two emails appeared – one from Charlie and the other from Maia.
I read Charlie’s first.
Hi Tiggy, forgive typos as this is written (as usual) in haste. Firstly I realised that I have never apologised about the near miss you had in the snow. If ‘Beryl’ hadn’t been in such a poor state, it might have been avoided. And I’d never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to you. I also apologise for not saying a proper goodbye when I left the other day. You deserve huge thank yous for helping Zara – and also from me on how to handle her. Your advice worked: after getting home, she asked to go back to school. We haven’t heard anything untoward from her since, so fingers crossed she’s settled down again.
It was good to see you and have a chat – albeit brief – but I look forward to seeing you again soon, when I hope to have some more positive news about the future of the estate.
Take care
Charlie x
I gave myself a small hug of pleasure, at the kiss and the warmth and concern the email contained. Being the sad lonely creature I was, I even printed it off to read again later.
