‘How was school today?’ Nell asks at supper.
I’m relieved that’s all she’s asking. It would’ve been worse – much worse – if she’d caught Flo and me hiding in the woods.
‘Did you make any friends?’
‘Not really.’
‘Why was that, dear?’
I hesitate. But she’s in a good mood so I tell her.
‘People in my class seem to know about the woods.’
‘And?’
I fiddle with my fork. ‘It’s like they’re judging me because of it.’
‘The eco-warrior bunch, eh?’
Her cheerfulness is down to that man in the fluorescent jacket, who apparently is a tree surgeon she hopes will do the job. I think of what Flo said about home, and how peaceful it felt out there under the trees this afternoon. Maybe there is magic in Darkling Wood – not fairies, but something. Perhaps it isn’t right to destroy the whole wood. There might be some other way.
‘What’s the matter?’ says Nell. ‘You’re scowling.’
‘Just thinking,’ I say and turn away to get plates down off the dresser.
The microwave pings. As Nell opens the door to take out a plastic container of bubbling white gloop, my stomach heaves. I can’t face much more of her cooking.
After forcing down supper, my next challenge is tonight’s homework, which is maths and some verbs to learn for French. Nell’s shut herself in the library so I spread my books out over the kitchen table. Tucked in my old school planner I find the card I made for Theo. It’s looking tatty; the edges are curling and there’s a sweet wrapper stuck to the back. A decent sister would’ve sent it by now. It’s no good to anyone stuffed inside my bag.
I can’t concentrate on homework tonight, so, putting it to one side, I get my borrowed school uniform out to wash. Except the washing machine’s so old I can’t make it work, so I fill the sink with hot water and do everything by hand. Borage watches from his bed. Just as I’m draping things around the stove to dry, the phone rings.
‘Don’t touch,’ I warn him as I run to answer it.
Nell gets there first like she’s expecting a call.
‘It’s your mother,’ she says, handing me the phone.
‘Hi sweetie, how was today?’
Mum sounds cheerful. I’m so glad to hear her that my eyes go misty.
‘It was all right,’ I say. ‘What about Theo?’
‘Have you got to wear the uniform? What colour is it? Don’t tell me it’s dark green – we had to wear that at my old school and it was …’
‘MUM!’
She stops.
‘How is he? Is the infection clearing up? When can I see him? When can I come home?’
There’s a pause.
‘I’ve done him a card,’ I say.
Mum sighs. ‘You are sweet. I’m sure you can visit him soon.’
‘And Dad? Does he know how Theo is?’
‘I’ve spoken to him now, yes.’
‘Is he coming to the hospital?’
‘I don’t know. Apparently the baby’s teething so …’ She trails off.
‘So,’ says Mum, still trying to sound cheerful. ‘Tell me about your grandma. What’s the house like?’
‘You must have been here – before you had us, I mean.’
‘No, never, though I met Nell a couple of times when you were very young.’
‘And was she … I don’t know … so spiky back then?’
Mum laughs. ‘She’s quite formidable, if that’s what you mean. But underneath it all she’s got a good heart. I’m sorry we lost touch with her when you were growing up.’
‘Why did we?’
‘Your father,’ says Mum, serious now. ‘He didn’t ever want to see her, and he never wanted to go back to the house – don’t ask me why. I tried asking but he wouldn’t talk about it. It was always like shutters coming down.’
I glance at the library door. It’s closed but I still drop my voice.
‘It is a bit odd here, Mum. There’s these woods around the house and Nell wants them cut down …’
I stop. Something grey lopes past me carrying a yellow-and-black tie.
‘Stupid dog’s got my school tie! I can’t believe it!’ I cry.
‘It’s not even funny,’ I say. ‘I’ve got to wear that tie tomorrow.’
‘Oh Alice, he probably only wants to play.’
Which makes my chest ache for Theo because it’s just the sort of stupid trick he’d pull, and a dog is no substitute for a brother.
‘Go and get your tie back,’ says Mum. ‘I’ll call you tomorrow.’
‘Okay. Kiss Theo for me.’
Putting the phone down, I sprint after Borage. He won’t have gone up to the attic because he hates the narrow staircase, but I can’t see him on the first floor either.
At the top of the stairs is the bathroom. Turn left and a long passage runs past all the bedrooms. I’ve never been down it, I don’t know why but it gives me the creeps – something about those closed doors and how dark the passage is. It makes the walls and ceiling feel too close.
Once the lights are on, I count seven closed doors. It’s a lot of bedrooms; I suppose once upon a time one of them was Dad’s. There’s no sign of Borage anywhere. The first room on my left is Nell’s. I don’t want to go in, not without asking, so I peep quickly round the door.
The next room is empty but for a bed and a box of books. I suppose it could’ve been a boy’s room once, but now it smells of damp, like no one’s been in here for years.
Opposite this room, the wall curves and there are two steps down to a doorway that’s hidden behind a red curtain. I’m about to look there next when my phone beeps. My phone actually beeps! I can’t believe it. I whip it out of my pocket and see a text from Lexie.
Got your message. How’s the new school? Soooo boring without you. Miss you heaps xxx
If I go back up the steps, there’s a bar of signal right here in the passageway. I dial Lexie’s number. She picks up after three rings.
‘Hey!’ I say. ‘You’re not doing homework, are you?’
‘Done it,’ she says. ‘How’s Theo? What’s the latest?’
‘Quite poorly still,’ I say, though with Mum being so cagey I’m not totally sure. ‘What about you? Got a brother or sister yet?’
‘Nope. I’m starting to think it’s just a cushion up Mum’s jumper.’
‘You wait,’ I say. ‘Once you change a nappy, you’ll see it’s no cushion.’
Lexie giggles. It makes me giggle too. Then she says, ‘Bethany Cox has asked me to a sleepover at her house.’
I stop laughing.
‘Why would I want to go? All they do is talk about make-up.’
‘Have you said no, then?’
Lexie pauses. ‘Not yet. Can’t see me going though, can you?’
I start to feel nasty inside. Actually, I can see Lexie at Bethany’s house. Not the toenail-painting bit or trying on clothes. But there’ll be pizza and films and other people from school; she’ll have a great time.
‘You’ve gone quiet, Al,’ Lexie says.
I sigh. ‘I missed you today, that’s all. The new school’s a bit rubbish and now the dog’s run off with my tie and I can’t find him – or it.’
‘Want to talk about the rubbish stuff?’
‘Not really.’
‘So let’s find this tie-eating dog,’ says Lexie. ‘Where’ve you already looked?’
‘Down the corridor. In a couple of the rooms.’
‘Try another room.’
The curtained-off door is right here. I go back down the steps. It’s dark enough to make my phone light up. The curtain’s stiff with dust as I lift it. The door handle underneath won’t move. Tucking the phone under my chin, I lean in to the door with my shoulder but it doesn’t budge.
‘It’s locked.’
‘I bet the dog’s locked himself in there,’ laughs Lexie.
I giggle. Then stop.
‘Shhh!’ I say. ‘Someone’s coming.’
I hear footsteps, then a creak in the floorboards. Nell appears round the corner. She looks furious.
‘I’d better go,’ I say to Lexie and put my phone back in my jeans pocket.
Nell stands in front of me, blocking my escape.
‘I was just looking for …’
‘This?’ Nell holds up my damp-with-dog-slobber school tie.
‘Thanks.’ I take it with my fingertips. ‘Where did you find it?’
‘Not behind a locked door.’
Which straight away makes me wonder what I would find there.