At a quarter to six, I give up. With no internet to use for research, this history project has got me stumped. I can’t do it. I can’t do anything. To make the point I throw my exercise book across the kitchen and thump my head down on the table. I don’t know anything about anyone alive in 1918, let alone someone remotely interesting.
It’s dark outside. Next time the sun comes up will be the day the trees are cut down. There was no sign of Flo on the way home from school. All I can do is trust the fairies to work their magic, even though it still sounds a bit mad. At least we’ve got Ella’s plan as backup. Or perhaps that should be the other way round.
And then there’s Nell.
To be honest, I’m starting to feel shifty. All she wants to do is protect her house from tree roots, and I’m here, a guest in her home, plotting against her. Tomorrow there’ll be a protest about it too, never mind what the fairies might do. I think it’s probably fair to warn her.
At seven o’clock, I knock on the library door.
‘Supper’s ready!’
I’ve found enough in Nell’s cupboards to make us a pasta bake. When we’ve eaten, I’ll tell her about tomorrow.
Nell comes into the kitchen, Borage at her heels.
‘It’s sweltering in here!’ she says. Leaning over the sink, she opens a window. There’s no mention of the table laid with her best matching plates or the pasta bake sat bubbling in the middle.
‘I used the hot shelf of the Aga,’ I say, because I’m quite pleased with how my first ever attempt to cook in Nell’s stove has turned out.
‘You didn’t use the microwave?’
‘No, just the Aga.’
She looks shocked. Genuinely.
‘Try some.’ I put a spoonful on her plate. The bottom layer’s burnt and the carrots are still crunchy but the rest looks pretty good.
Nell sniffs at it. ‘What’s in it?’
‘Onions, leeks, carrots.’
She blows on it then takes the tiniest forkful, pulling faces because it’s still too hot. The way she wrinkles up her nose makes her look so like Theo. I can’t believe I’ve not noticed it before.
‘Is it all right?’ I ask.
‘It’s rather nice,’ she says.
‘I wanted to cook you something, you know, for a change.’
‘Oh,’ says Nell. ‘And there was I thinking you were trying to butter me up.’
I fiddle with the pepper pot. Nell moves it to one side, out of my reach. ‘What’s this really about, Alice?’ she says.
‘Umm …’ I clear my throat. ‘It’s about the woods tomorrow.’
Nell narrows her eyes, first at me, then at what’s behind me, hanging on the back of my chair.
‘Save Darkling Wood,’ she murmurs.
‘What?’ Then I guess what she’s spotted. On the back of the chair is my school blazer. The bright green badge is still attached.
I clear my throat. ‘Nell, I need to tell you …’
She’s not listening. Her attention’s been caught by Borage now, who’s sat bolt upright in his bed. There’s a noise outside, a car engine. Headlights sweep down the lane. The dog starts barking. Nell gets to her feet.
‘Who the devil can that be?’ she says, grabbing the torch off its hook.
Holding onto Borage, I follow her to the front door. It’s pitch black out there. The torch beam picks up a number plate, a silver-grey bumper, a person getting out of the driver’s door. With a jolt, I recognise the car.
It can’t be, I think. No one told me.
Nell’s hand covers her mouth.
‘Oh gracious!’ she says. For a second, I think she’s actually going to shut the front door.
‘I won’t come in,’ says Dad.
‘I’m not inviting you in,’ says Nell.
Borage is still growling; no one bothers telling him to shut up.
‘What brings you here, David?’ asks Nell.
I can’t believe she’s being so cool, not when my heart’s about to burst from my chest.
‘It’s Theo, isn’t it?’ I say, pushing past her. ‘What’s going on?’
Dad holds his hands up. ‘Whoa, Alice! Slow down! Theo’s okay.’
‘Is he? Are you sure? You’ve been to see him?’
‘I spoke to your mum a couple of hours ago. He’s okay, honestly. Not brilliant, but okay.’
‘Good!’ I gasp, clutching my chest in relief. Next to me, Nell sighs very quietly. It’s the sound a frightened person makes when they start to feel a bit less scared. Yet that can’t be right. My grandmother’s not scared of anything. Or anyone.
‘So why are you here?’ says Nell. ‘And please be brief. You’re letting out all the heat, keeping this door open.’
Actually, the kitchen’s the only warm room. But I don’t think this is about heating. It’s about getting rid of Dad as fast as possible.
He glances my way, then at Borage, who’s stood in front of me like a giant, furry wall. Dad takes a nervous step back.
‘Alice,’ he says, ‘your mother’s worried about you.’
‘I’m fine,’ I say a bit too quickly.
‘She’s fine,’ agrees Nell. I’m not sure why she’s sticking up for me, not after the conversation we’ve just had. I’m sure she just wants Dad to leave.
Dad shrugs. ‘Your mum doesn’t think so. She said you put the phone down on her yesterday.’
‘Oh.’
‘And if she thinks something’s up with you, then, you know, maybe she’s right.’
I frown at him. Since when did he start agreeing with Mum?
‘So,’ Dad continues, ‘she’s asked me to take you to Devon to stay with me. You’ll have to kip on the sofa, I’m afraid. What d’you think?’
A heavy feeling lands in the pit of my stomach.
‘I can’t.’
Dad looks uneasy. As he rubs his jaw, it makes a scratchy, bristly sound. ‘I know it’s not perfect but Lara wants to meet you properly, and you’ve still not seen Poppy, have you? She’s grown so much.’
Poppy. I wish they’d called her something awful.
‘Well, this is all very charming …’ says Nell, starting to close the front door. Dad sticks his foot in the way.
‘I’m not going,’ I say.
‘Come on, Alice. You’ve been enough of a burden on your grandmother.’
‘How very thoughtful of you,’ says Nell.
But I don’t want to sleep on his sofa. I don’t want to wake up in his house with his new family and see him loving other people more than he loves us. And then there’s Flo. And Ella. And tomorrow. I can’t leave now.
‘I’ve got a history project to hand in at school tomorrow and I’ve put loads of work into it,’ I say, though the lie makes me wince.
‘Don’t make this any harder for me, Alice,’ Dad says.
‘Hard for you?’ Nell snorts. ‘That’s so typical of you, David. Always putting your own feelings first.’
Dad rolls his eyes. ‘I didn’t come here to fight.’
There’s a silence.
Then Nell says, ‘Just go.’
I think she means both of us. Dad moves back from the door. He reaches into his pocket and jangles the car keys. ‘You’ve got ten minutes to get your things. I’ll wait for you in the car.’
‘I’m not coming.’
‘Ten minutes,’ says Dad, like he’s not heard me.
Nell turns away. Calling Borage to her side, she heads back to the kitchen.
‘Dad,’ I say into the darkness. ‘I mean it. I’m staying here.’
Turning up his coat collar, he doesn’t look round. And in that moment he seems further away than ever.