Page 48 of Clara's Secret Garden
But this is exactly the wake-up call I needed.
Lovely Elsie could do with my help and I can’t think of abetter focus for my energy.
‘Coming back inside?’ murmurs Rory.
I smile at him. ‘Okay. Just don’t mention blow-up beds.’
‘Deal.’ He pushes the door open for me to go ahead and I stepinside.
‘Clara?’
‘Yes?’
‘Thanks.’
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
It’s the day of Elsie’s first dance class, and I cantell she’s nervous as soon as I open the door and see her standing there withRory.
I smile brightly. ‘Hi, there. Good to see you, Elsie. I likeyour sporty pink outfit.’ I’d noticed her habit of running her tongue aroundher lips and today the skin around her mouth looks really quite irritated andsore. ‘I’ll just get my things and we’ll be off.’ I run upstairs for my bag,calling down, ‘I hope you’re a fan of ice-cream because I always need astrawberry ripple cone after a dance class.’
‘Elsie hates ice-cream,’ says Rory when I come back down.‘Don’t you, El?’
Elsie giggles, shaking her head.
‘Okay, she actually loves it.’
‘Favourite flavour?’
‘Chocolate,’ says Elsie, smiling shyly at me.
‘Ooh, yes. I approve.’
‘What’s this about ice-cream?’ Lois appears in the hall, hereyes lighting up when she spots Rory. ‘Oh, hello, you. I thought the classdidn’t start till six. You’ve caught me in my old sweatpants.’ She flicks herhair back and pouts in a cute way.
Rory grins. ‘You could wear an old bin bag and you’d stilllook gorgeous.’
‘Ha! I bet you say that to all the girls.’ She turns to hissister. ‘Now, Elsie, I hope you’re going to have fun at this class. No standingat the back like a wallflower, okay? You need to have confidence in yourself.And even if you’re not feeling it, you have tolookas if you’re notscared. And put your shoulders back. You need to stand tall and straight ifyou’re going to be a dancer.’
‘All right, all right, Lois. You’re terrifying the poorgirl,’ Rory murmurs, smiling down at his sister, who’s shuffled closer to himduring Lois’s speech and is now looking as if she’d like to run for the hills.She licks her lips, three times in succession.
‘We’re just going to watch,’ I tell Lois. ‘Aren’t we, Elsie?We’re just checking to see what’s what.’
Poor Elsie still looks terrified.
‘Would you give us a lift along there, Rory? I know it’s aneasy walk but we could do with the company?’
He catches on immediately and nods. ‘Yup. Come on.’
‘Shall I come with you?’ asks Lois, and my heart sinks.
‘No need. I’ll be back in no time.’ Rory leans over andkisses her on the lips. ‘A nice cool lager would be perfect.’
She smiles. ‘Okay. And I can get changed into somethingnicer. Don’t be long!’
In the car, Elsie seems a little more relaxed, and when Rorydrops us off outside, she waves goodbye to him and gives me a little smile.
‘Can we really just watch? Because I don’t want to dance.’
