Once Upon A Winter (30 page)

Snow was already falling lightly as Nell parked in front of her sister’s house. The car had barely rolled to a standstill before Freya clicked off her seatbelt and began clambering out, grabbing Rose’s birthday present.

‘Wait!’ called Nell. ‘The pavement might be
slippy -’

But Freya, in her unsuitable glittery sandals, was already skidding up the front path. She made it to the porch in one piece, though, and Emma opened the door before Freya could even ring the bell.

Once they were all inside, in the sauna-like warmth compared to outdoors, Nell unravelled her own scarf and then, with a sigh, did the same to Joshua’s. He was engrossed in a book he’d brought home from the school library about rockets and NASA, and was carrying it around everywhere. Unfortunately, it was making him forget to do the simplest tasks, such as undoing the Velcro on his trainers before trying to slip them off. He sank on to the bottom stair, still reading.

Nell shrugged to herself and tugged off her boots.

‘I’ve got the kettle on,’ called Emma from the kitchen.

The giggles and squeals of half-a-dozen young females floated down the stairs.

‘You’re very brave, Em,’ Nell said a minute later, as she pulled out one of the kitchen chairs and sat down.

‘A couple of mums cancelled because of the weather. Well, not completely cancelled - they’re just picking their girls up later today, after the party, rather than letting them sleep over. In case we’re all snowed in by morning.’

‘Do you want me to collect Freya later today, too?’

‘Don’t you think she’d hate you in perpetuity if you tried? Anyway, Freya’s no bother. She’s my niece, for goodness’ sake. As long as you don’t mind if she stays here an extra night or whatever. We’re probably all panicking over nothing, anyway. Weather forecasters always like to be over-pessimistic
after that hurricane business.’

‘
Mmm.’ Nell glanced idly around the kitchen. ‘At least you’ve got Gareth to help.’

‘Oh, he’s barricaded himself in his study,’ said Emma grittily. ‘He won’t be coming out any time soon.’

‘Do you need me to stay and help for a while?’

‘No, you’re all right
. You have to get back to Nana.’

‘She’s got a cold. Not a terrible one, but it’s making her crotchety. I’m just watching it doesn’t get to her chest.’

The sisters stared at each other across the table. Nell hummed quietly into her mug, surprising herself at how nonchalant she could behave after everything that had happened.

‘So Dan’s in Manchester?’ said Emma casually, fiddling with the sugar bowl.

‘Well, he’s been on some training course, and he decided to meet up with an old friend from university, and stay over with him for the weekend. He hired a car to get there, rather than take a train. Probably best he doesn’t try and drive home in these conditions anyway.’

‘But you miss him?’

‘Of course I do!’ Nell hoped she might miss him with more ardour if she acted as if she did.

His absence was terrible timing on the one hand, and yet perfect on the other. Because would she actually have dared to tell Daniel what had happened in the churchyard? She hadn’t confided in anyone. She had no idea how she could even begin a conversation like that. Not even with Nana Gwen, laid low with a common cold and more delicate than ever. How could Nell broach the subject of Silas and the yellow roses without allowing her own emotions to spill out and upset her grandmother? Now wasn’t the time, however much her soul was screaming to open up to someone.

‘Keith Frennison’s nice, isn’t he?’ said Emma matter-of-factly. ‘I noticed you were having a long chat with him yesterday. I’m glad his wife’s on the mend.’

Nell nodded. ‘He seems very nice. We chatted about Joshua mainly, and how he’s fitting in.’

‘Dan doesn’t mind being “demoted”, does he?’

Nell knew Dani
el was genuinely glad that the Headmaster’s wife was recovering. He hadn’t let on if he felt miffed at not being in sole charge of the school any more.

‘I’m sure he’s fine about it. He knew it was only temporary, anyway.’

‘Dad phoned,’ said Emma suddenly.

‘Oh? Where are they sunning themselves now?’

‘They’re in Australia, staying with Yvette’s cousin.’ Emma paused. ‘Nell . . .’ She looked up and met Nell’s gaze squarely. ‘He knows . . . Dad knows . . . That Silas is back.’

Nell blinked. She shook her head. ‘But . . .
How
?’ Her voice dropped and grew accusing. ‘Did you tell him, Em, because -’

‘No,
no
! I promised you I wouldn’t and I didn’t. It was Joshua . . . Apparently he answered the phone at Bryn Heulog, when you were in the shower. It came out in conversation, as things do with him.’

‘
Oh, hell. I really didn’t want Dad worrying about all this . . .’

‘Well, I think I’ve convinced him to worry
less
,’ said Emma. ‘I told him about the divorce, and how you and Daniel were a bit of an item, taking it slowly, of course. And that Silas wasn’t making any trouble for you, in the sense that he wasn’t messing you around or anything. You both know where you stand.’ Emma hesitated. ‘I know Dad will want to talk to you himself at some point, just to be sure you’re OK. I reassured him that I was keeping an eye on you, and that you were taking it all really well, considering.’

‘Yes, because I am only five,’ said Nell acerbically. ‘A little child who can’t take care of herself.’

‘Don’t, Nell. You know what I mean. Dad was always bound to fret.’

‘Which is why I didn’t want him knowing.’

‘Well, it’s too late now.’ Emma glanced down the corridor leading to the hall, and murmured, ‘Don’t blame Josh, anyway. You know what he’s like. He couldn’t help himself.’

‘I don’t blame him!’ Nell smarted that Emma would even think she would. ‘I won’t mention it to him at all. There’d be no point.’ She scraped back her chair. ‘I’d better go. I don’t want to leave Nana Gwen alone for long.’

Emma followed her down the hallway. ‘Are you sure you’re OK? Even before I told you about Dad, you seemed a bit . . . I don’t know . . . off?’

‘Like a mouldy yoghurt? Anyway, I’m just going up to say goodbye to Freya and happy birthday to Rose. I’ve left Fre
ya’s backpack just here, with all her stuff in it.’ She gestured to the floral-print bag by the door.

‘You’re being evasive, Nell . . .’ Emma frowned.

Stepping around Joshua, still with his nose in his book, Nell began climbing the stairs. ‘No, I’m not. I’m just my usual sunny self.’ She smiled sweetly over her shoulder, fighting back the tempest swirling through her head and heart. ‘Come on, Em, you should know me by now . . .’

*

‘Are you sure you didn’t want to stay at Rose’s party?’ Nell quizzed Joshua, as they drove the short distance back to Bryn Heulog, windscreen wipers flapping furiously. The snow was falling thicker and faster now.

‘With a bunch of girls?’ He looked up from his book. ‘At a pyjama party?’

‘Well, they’re not in pyjamas yet. I could have picked you up later.’

Joshua lowered his gaze to the book again. ‘The weatherman said not to make any unnecessary journeys. And it’s not necessary for me to be at that party.’

‘OK. Just checking you were fine with it.’

‘Mum . . .’ Joshua looked up. ‘Can we ask Dad over?’

‘What?’

‘Well, Dan’s not here. Or Freya. I know how they feel about Dad being around. We could ask Dad to stay for dinner.’

‘I don’t think that’s a good idea . . . What with Nana Gwen not being well, and -’

‘That makes it a great idea
. Nana Gwen loves Dad. She’s so happy when he’s around. It might make her feel better.’

How to refute that?

Nell sighed. ‘I’ll send a text, Josh. Ask him if he’s OK, with the weather the way it is and everything . . . At least the Gingerbread House has heating and hot water.’

‘Ask him to come over.’

‘But that’s making an unnecessary journey,’ Nell pointed out.

‘He can walk up to the house. He doesn’t have to drive.’

‘We’ll see . . .’ After a while, Nell asked, ‘Is that book any good? I keep meaning to ask.’

‘No you don’t,’ said Joshua simply. ‘But, yes. It’s very good.’

*

Darkness
draped itself like a cloak over the valley. Still the snow fell, the flakes puffy and bulbous. Nell couldn’t remember seeing a blizzard quite like it. Snow was stacking up rapidly in the driveway, and Nell was glad that for once she’d parked the Skoda in the large garage around the back with her father’s Land Rover. Not that she’d be attempting to drive anywhere this evening or tomorrow, but she’d be taking the Land Rover the next time she had to venture anywhere, even though it felt dauntingly as if she were driving a tank compared to her own small car.

Bryn
Heulog was prepared for siege conditions. The larder was full, there was a fresh pile of logs beside the fire in the den, and a couple of films recorded for Joshua to watch if he wanted, to keep him occupied if he finished his book.

Nell
had texted Silas, keeping it brief and basically asking if he was all right. As she’d told Joshua she would. The boy had watched over her, just to make sure. So far, Silas hadn’t replied; to Joshua’s obvious disappointment. Her son’s discontent overshadowed Nell’s own muddled thoughts.

‘Why don’t you ring him, Mum?’ Joshua asked, when they sat down to have dinner.

‘I’m not going to stalk him, Josh. He’ll have a good reason for not getting back to me.’

‘Maybe the snow stopped the text getting through.’

‘I doubt it. Aunt Em sent a text to me a little while ago, and that got through. Perhaps your dad’s busy. Maybe he’s not even at the Gingerbread House.’

The thought that Silas might be with Lauren Guthrie rammed its way into Nell’s head, and she made a futile attempt to cast it out again. But suddenly, depr
essingly, all she could visualise were the new lovers cosying up together on a sheepskin rug in front of a roaring log fire.

The sound of loud, persistent knocking made Nell jump in alarm, but it was also a welcome respite from the unwanted,
x-rated images streaming through her head.

‘That might be Dad!’ said Joshua, bouncing up.

‘Josh,’ Nell cautioned, ‘stay here
.
I’ll
go. I doubt very much it’s your dad.’

But Nell was wrong. As she peered around the door, a flurry of snow and ice thrust its way through the gap, and Silas’s apprehensive face glowed white against the dark night. Nell pulled the door back f
urther, allowing him to step inside, before locking it again securely, as if shutting out Jack Frost and all his minions.

As Nell stood aside, Silas
shook snow from his coat, boots and jeans on to the doormat. He wrenched off his deerstalker hat, shaking that down, too.

‘Dad!’ cried Joshua, running into the hall. ‘I said to Mum that it was you!’

‘Silas . . . why are you here?’ Nell looked up at him from under her fringe.

‘I got your message. I was me
aning to reply at some point, honestly. Before I could get around to it, though, my phone died. It’s out of charge, and the electricity has gone in the cottage.’

‘Oh! W
hat are you going to do . . . ?’

‘I used my torch t
o get up here. But I haven’t got candles or camping lamps. Do you have anything I could borrow?’

‘I’ve got candles, but -’

‘You can’t go back in this snowstorm to a dark, cold house,’ interjected Joshua.

‘The stove works without electricity,’ said Silas. ‘I won’t be cold.’

‘But your torch could run out of batteries,’ Joshua went on, ‘and you might get lost in the dark out there. You’ll die of hypothermia. That’s when you’re so cold you fall asleep and all your vital organs stop working.’

‘Silas,’ Nell said, ‘Joshua’s right . . . It wouldn’t be clever to go back now. You might easily get lost. Isn’t it best to wait until the blizzard dies down? Even with a torch, visibility must be really poor out there . . .’

‘We’re just about to have Irish stew,’ said Joshua, ‘and Mum always makes too many dumplings. You can have dinner with us.’

Silas stared down at Nell. The last time they had faced each other, she had
been terrified. Of course he had to be full of trepidation now. She must seem completely different from that surreal morning in the churchyard. She was probably glowing like a candle herself. Nell felt on the verge of cartwheeling round the hall; because all that seemed to be crucial right at this minute was the fact he wasn’t curled up on a sheepskin hearth rug with Lauren Guthrie.

‘There
is
plenty of food to go round,’ Nell agreed. ‘And Nana Gwen isn’t well. She’s got a cold. She’d probably like it if you popped up to see her.’

‘Er . . .’ Silas seemed to have frostbite on his tongue.