Page 25 of Clara's Secret Garden
‘You said Luke and me had to hide it from Mum and Lois.’
Flushing, I shake my head at Rory. ‘I didn’t mean it likethat.’
‘But that’s what you said, Clara,’ he insists.
‘Well, yes. But I didn’t mean... well, I didn’tmean youcouldn’ttell your mum and Lois about what we’re doing forGran. I just meant...’ I trail off awkwardly. It sounds sobad that I’m doing this behind their backs...
Then I feel Rory’s arm around me, giving me a littlesqueeze. ‘Clara meant that she’s making your gran’s garden wonderful again as asurprise for when she gets home. So she doesn’t want the secret getting out.’ Inod gratefully. ‘That’s exactly it. Bertie, I thought you and Luke could planta lovely colourful flower bed outside Gran’s bedroom window. But we need tokeep it a secret. We don’t want Gran finding out what you’re doing, or thatwould spoil the surprise.’
‘I won’t tell anybody, Clara.’ Bertie looks at me earnestly.‘I promise. And Luke won’t. I’ll tell him it’s Clara’s secret garden.’
‘Clara’s secret garden.’ I smile at him, liking the idea. ‘Right,well, we’d better go to the garden centre and choose some lovely flowers toplant out.’
Bertie nods with enthusiasm. ‘Can we get chocolate milkshakeas well?’
I laugh. ‘I’m sure we could do that as well. But we need tothink about Gran’s favourite flowers first.’ I smile at Elsie. ‘Which flowersdoyoulike best, Elsie?’
Elsie drops her gaze to the ground, licking her lips again,and Rory loops an encouraging arm around her. ‘Elsie likes wildflowers best.Don’t you, El?’
Elsie smiles shyly up at him. ‘I like buttercups,’ she saysin a whisper.
‘Ooh, yes.’ I nod. ‘I do, too. Gran used to hold a buttercupunder my chin to see if I liked butter. We’ve never done that, have we,Bertie?’
He shakes his head, looking puzzled.
‘Let’s see.’ I go over and pluck a stray buttercup from oneof the raised beds and hold it under my chin. ‘If you can see a yellowreflection, it means I like butter.’
Bertie’s eyes widen. ‘It’s yellow. You like butter.’
I smile. ‘There you go. And it’s absolutely right because Ido. What about you, Rory?’ I hold the buttercup under his chin, and Bertieshouts, ‘Yes! He does like butter.’
‘I do, indeed. Don’t I, El?’ Rory smiles down at his sister andI lose track for a moment, lost in admiring his lovely straight white teeth atclose quarters, the strong jawline... and then out ofnowhere, imagining what it would be like to touch my lips to his and kiss him...
CHAPTERTEN
‘Clara? Clara!’ Suddenly aware that Bertie’s trying toget my attention, I snap out of my blissful daydream... theone where I’m held tightly in Rory’s arms as he kisses me thoroughly...
I waft my face. ‘Gosh, it’s so hot. Yes, Bertie?’
‘Isaid, try the buttercup thing on Elsie.’
But Elsie shakes her head and takes a swift step back, half-hidingbehind her brother.
Rory chuckles softly. ‘Come on, El. Be brave. Have a go.’ Butshe won’t.
‘Actually, never mind the buttercups.’ I catch Rory’s eye. ‘Iwas actually hoping to sort out Gran’s bookshelves today. She’s got lots of mybooks here from when I was Elsie’s age. Things likeSwallows and Amazonsand theNarniabooks, and lots more. But they’re all jumbled up on theshelves and I need them tidied up for when she gets back.’ I keep my gaze fixedon Rory as I talk. ‘And Bertie can’t help me because he’s spending the day atLuke’s house.’
Rory’s eyes twinkle as he catches on. ‘I’m afraid I can’thelp, either, Clara. Too much to do in the garden.’
I nod. ‘Me, too. I just don’t have the time.’
‘I could help,’ says Elsie. ‘With the books.’
‘You could?’ I turn to her, and she licks her lips severaltimes. It must be a nervous habit. ‘Oh, that would be fabulous, Elsie.’
‘I’ll wait here with Bertie,’ offers Rory.
‘Great. Luke and his mum should be along any minute.’
