Lewis offered to go into the village and buy them some food, and he was pleased when Annie accepted his suggestion. Fear and anxiety always robbed her of appetite, so it was a good sign when she wanted to eat.
He also wanted to give Annie space to think, to consider what came next. And he fully expected that she’d face whatever that was with her shoulders back and chin up. He didn’t know anyone with the courage of his twin sister. All the stuff she’d dealt with in life, and she just got back on her feet, dusted herself down, and took one more step forward.
Lewis returned with a bag of food that could be easily thrown together in a pot. He cooked. They ate. Then Lewis cleared the table and did the dishes. 57
Watching, Annie said with a half-smile, ‘I should have a crisis more often.’
‘Please don’t,’ Lewis replied.
‘You know,’ Annie began. ‘When I leave the cottage bad stuff happens, and when I stay bad stuff happens.’ She shook her head slowly, her eyes heavy. ‘Wherever I am, wherever I go, the consequences of this curse kick me in the arse.’ She bit her lip for a moment. Crossed her arms. ‘Jesus.’ She sighed. ‘I can’t win. Whatever I do.’ She squared her jaw, and looked Lewis in the eyes. ‘So, I’ve decided … ’
‘Yeah?’
‘As much as I love this place, I can’t hide away here for the rest of my life. I’m going to come into contact with people wherever I go – there’s just no getting past that. And I’m not into avoidance. I faced up to Chris Jenkins, Pastor Mosely and this curse, didn’t I?’
‘You did.’
‘And the stone does work. A little.’
‘Good. So where does that leave us?’
‘I make myself useful.’
‘Meaning?’
Annie looked pointedly towards the front door. Lewis turned his head and noted a small bulging suitcase standing beside it.
‘Meaning I get away from here for a while and let the natives cool down. I kip on your sofa, and we look into Damien’s disappearance.’
Lewis rubbed his hands together with a grin. ‘When do we get started?’