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“Have you been shoplifting?”
“No!” Lily dried her hands and went into her bedroom.
“Well, if you didn’t steal these, where did you get them?” Her mother pointed at the laptop and phone on her bed.
Lily had dashed up the stairs when she came home. Her mother had been in the kitchen and she thought she’d got away with this discussion. But she’d come up when Lily went to the bathroom.
“Da—Drew.” She almost slipped up and by the look on her mother’s face she’d picked it up. She’d called him Dad several times shopping and each time it became more normal.
“Oh, so it’s Dad now, is it? Thinks he can buy you.”
“No, that’s not it at all. He wanted to get me—”
“And what was wrong with the phone I bought you?”
“It got broken.”
“How?”
“It was dropped.” She wasn’t going to tell her mother what had happened. It would open a whole new can of worms she just didn’t need to deal with right now.
“And the laptop?”
“He’s got it all set up, I can access the internet, it’ll help so much with studying. I won’t need to keep asking to borrow Matt’s phone.”
“And when we move? Or he loses interest in his shiny new toy? What then? Who will pay for the internet and phone then?”
“You don’t think he could love me for me?” Didn’t she have any worth in her mother’s eyes?
“He’s not capable of loving anyone.” Her mother walked out of her room. “I don’t think there’s much I can help you with for camping.”
She closed her eyes, she’d forgotten all about going through her clothes. “I was late, I’m sorry. I had to catch the bus as Matt couldn’t bring me home, and I couldn’t let anyone know as my phone was broken.”
“I’ll be leaving first thing in the morning. Remember to lock up well before you go camping with the boys. The tablets are on the side. Take them, or risk the boys seeing your true form.”
“My true form? You make me sound like I’ll turn into a dragon.” She tried to laugh as she followed her mother down the stairs.
“Evil takes many forms.”
“What?” She faltered and almost fell down the last step. “What did you say?”
“Saturday and Sunday’s meals are in the freezer, but you’ll need to cook yourself something when you come back. For the washing machine, remember: three for normal wash, four for a dirtier wash. You’ll need to get milk when you get back. If you need me at all, call me, or Gerry. I want an early night, so I’m off to bed now. I won’t disturb you in the morning, so take care, and I’ll see you when I get back.” She kissed Lily’s cheek, hugged her briefly and moved to the stairs.
“Mum.”
She didn’t answer just kept going up the stairs. Lily’s hand curled into fists at her side. “Mum! Don’t walk away from me.”
“I’m not. I’m going to bed.”
“You think I’m evil?” Lily followed her. “Why didn’t you put me up for adoption when Sarah died? Or let Dad bring me up?”
“I don’t think you’re evil. I think magic is evil.”
“I am magic.” Lily folded her arms as she faced her mother by her bedroom door. “If you think magic is evil, you think I’m evil. You’ve made that quite clear so many times now.”
Lynda slumped, rubbing her forehead tiredly. “I don’t know what you want from me. I’ve always done my best, always. I love you, but I don’t like your ability, and I never will. You have a warped view of magic, it’s not like fairy stories, there are no dragons to fight, frogs don’t change into princes. But there are evil witches, dark secrets, hidden societies—”
“Hidden societies? Like another world?”
“Not like you think. It’s not a hidden world that runs parallel to ours. There are no separate schools, or hidden alleyways. It’s in plain daylight, companies running under legitimate businesses but hiding their true forms. There’s little regulations and what laws they have don’t work.”
“The Council?”
“What?” Her mother leant her head against the door jam.
“Well, y’know, like a Council?” She held her breath.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She frowned at her. “I’ve never heard of that, I only remember what Sarah and our parents told us.”
“Are they still alive? Your mum and dad? My grandparents?”
An eternity passed before she replied, “They are. But we don’t speak.”
“Why not?”
“They refused to have anything to do with Sarah once she left the house. They wouldn’t take her in, and they wouldn’t take you in. They gave me an ultimatum, take you and I was no longer welcome there. It wasn’t even a choice, Lily. I didn’t even need to think about it. I never have.”
“Until now,” Lily whispered, her throat painfully tight.
“No. Not even now. You’ve got it into your head that I don’t love you. That I hate you because I’m scared for you, terrified of what you can do, of what could happen to you.”
“Nothing will happen, honestly.”
“And what happens when someone gets you angry? Or upset?”
“Nothing.”
“How do you know that? How can you know that?”
“Because I just do. I came home on the bus tonight and a few kids were being idiots. That’s how my phone broke. I was angry, but I didn’t do anything. I didn’t use magic to stop them, I didn’t even think of it. If there was evil in me, don’t you think I’d have done something? Given them boils, or pushed them down the steps?”
“Maybe you did, and you just don’t realise it.”
“I think I’d have known if I had.”
“Would you? You didn’t know you broke the mirror.”
“They didn’t fall down or get boils.”
“Have you done any magic in the last few weeks?” she asked. “And don’t bother to lie to me. I know you see him on the weekends.”
“I haven’t done any magic. Dad is”—she steeled herself against her mother’s wince—“helping me make my own plant healing journal. It’s just normal remedies with plants. Any magic needed so far he’s done, and—”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?”
“What? Oh, no, thanks, we’re going to the Jamaica Inn. I’ve always wanted to go there.” She sounded lame and she knew she did, but at every turn her mother was able to knock her for six.
“Yes, you have, haven’t you?” She cleared her throat. “I was going to take you when we settled in here, but it seems as if our feet never touch the ground. Things have changed so much, you’ve changed.”
“I’ve changed?”
“I’ve never been able to leave you for too long, certainly not an entire week in London. I’m glad you have Matt. You’re an adult now and sometimes it’s hard for me to remember that.
A knock on the door caught their attention.
“That’s probably Matt now, he’s been around once already. Leave me your new number, or text it to me.”
“You really don’t mind me staying with him?” The push and pull from her mother was almost too much to bear sometimes.
“I’m going to spend a week with Gerry, bit hypocritical if I turn around and say you can’t sleep with your boyfriend. Just, please, be careful, and don’t get pregnant.”
“You too, although a baby brother or sister would be nice.” Lily tried to joke, but it fell flat.
“He’s knocking again, you’d better go.”
“Say hi to Mr Pringle for me.” She wanted to hug her mother, to hear her say everything would be all right. To hear her say she’d be there for her no matter what. Instead she went into her room and shut the door behind her. Lily closed her eyes against the pain of rejection, willing herself not to cry.
The knock came again, louder, impatient, and she went down.
“Are you okay? We’ve been trying to get hold of you. You weren’t here, and your phone is dead,” Nate demanded the second she opened the door.
“We were worried,” Josh added.
“Sorry, I forgot the time. Are you okay? Why did you have to stay?” She changed the subject as she stepped back to let them in.
“Nothing much,” Jake answered. “How was the bus?”
“I am never using the bus again.” She pulled a face of pain as she let them in.
“Told you. Those buses came off the ark.” Matt said.
“And are just as comfortable. Want a drink?” She went into the kitchen. “Mum’s gone to bed. She’s making an early start tomorrow.” She wasn’t going to think about what had happened.
“Early start?” Josh asked as they followed her in.
“Yeah, she’s spending the week with Mr Pringle, the gallery owner. Wanted me to go along with her.” She put the kettle on to boil. “Even if I wasn’t going with you, there’s no way I’d be a spare wheel to them.”
“Third. Third wheel,” Jake said. “Is it done?” He was standing in front of the uncovered painting of Crowder Manor.
“Bloody hell, that’s good.” Josh joined him, slinging his arm around his neck.
“She finished it yesterday. It has to dry before she takes it to the framers.”
“She’s amazing,” Matt agreed. “It’s uncanny, almost like a photograph.”
“I need to change, and I need to give you my new number.” She tried to say it casually as she headed to the kitchen door. “Help yourself to drinks.”
“New number? Your landline is changing?” Josh asked.
“My phone broke, and I needed to replace it.” She stayed in the doorway, her eyes on her mother’s painting.
“Is that where you were?” Nate asked her, getting the mugs out. “Getting a new phone?”
“Yeah.”
Matt whistled loudly. “This it? Top of the line.”
“Yeah, but not the newest,” she said, keeping her head lowered. “That was too expensive.” She picked up her phone and showed them her number.
“What happened to your phone?” Matt asked as he tapped her number into his phone.
“It got dropped.”
“Careless of you—” Nate’s head snapped up from his own phone. “Is that why you won’t go on the bus again? Were you picked on? Are you hurt? Did they hurt you?” Nate got into her space, checking her face and arms.
“No. They were picking on Percy more than me.” She caught his hands to stop him patting at her. “But my phone got dropped and broke. Drew took me into town and bought me a new one.”
“He bought you this?” Josh’s eyebrows rose sharply as he looked at Jake.
“And a laptop. I said no, but he wouldn’t listen. He said he hadn’t been able to help me growing up, so he was doing it now.”
“He could have sent payments to Lynda,” Matt pointed out.
“He tried to, but she refused to take them. He said he put them into a bank account for me. He seems to be trying. Please, don’t have a go, I’ve had enough today.”
Nate looked at Matt and then back at her. “If something happens again and Matt can’t take you home, get Drew to take you.”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “He already told me that. I’ve never had a dad, it’s a nice feeling sometimes, and confusing at others.”
“That sounds the same as having one.” Matt snorted. “Except you forgot annoying as well.”
She gave him a sad smile, not knowing what to say.
“It’s fine. I’m fine as long as we’re all together like this and no one is arguing.” Matt made an exaggerated nod towards Nate.
“Get stuffed, I haven’t argued with you for at least an hour.” Nate grinned at him.
“Have you eaten yet?” Jake asked suddenly.
“No.” She looked at the clock and was surprised to see it was nearly seven.
“Well, it’s time for second tea anyway, let’s go grab something at home. Dad’s taken Mum out for a film and a meal, it’s their date night.”
“Second tea?” Lily frowned at him.
“I swear they were Hobbits in a previous life,” Matt said.
“We might as well have a drink there too.” Nate put the mugs back into the cupboard. “We can play games after or watch a film.”
“We vote for strip poker,” Josh suggested.
“Can you play poker, Lil?” Nate asked, smirking at her.
“We are not stripping in front of each other.” She lifted an eyebrow at them, shaking her head.
“It could get ugly,” Matt agreed. “The twins are crap at poker, we beat them every time. Not sure I could stomach seeing them naked, especially if we’re having second tea first.”
“We can change the rules. If we win, Lily takes something off. If she wins, she takes something off.”
“Oh, right, so I’ll be naked, but you’ll be clothed.”
“Works for me.” Matt fist bumped Nate.
“I think reversing that would be fairer, you all naked and me clothed, but alas, we may never know, as I can’t play poker.” She stuck her tongue out at them.
Being with them lifted her mood. She’d had enough of morose thoughts and heavy situations. She wanted to forget everything else and have some fun for a while.
“C’mon, there must be a film we can watch,” she suggested.
“We’re sure there’s a Lily we can watch,” Josh said and laughed, throwing her jacket at her.
“You can sit around your mum’s pond if you want. She has some pretty lilies you can watch.” She picked up her door key.
“Savage!” Jake mimed a shot to the heart.
“You did say you wanted to watch a lily. All in favour of the twins staying in the garden while we watch a film?” Nate asked.
“Aye!” Lily’s voice blended with Nate and Matt’s and the twins narrowed their eyes at her. She blew them a kiss and went out of the front door feeling much happier.
They followed her out. Matt came out last and shut the door behind him.
“Matt?” She called him, and when he looked over, she threw the key to him. “Lock up, please?”
“Yes, ma’am!” He mock saluted her, rolling his eyes. “What did your last slave die of?”
“Answering back,” she said, and Nate hooted with laughter.
Matt locked the door and came towards her, pocketing the key. “What reward do I receive for faithful service?”
A spark of devilish excitement raced through her. “If you can catch me, I may reconsider playing your game.”
“Fucking deal,” Jake exclaimed.
“Rules!” She lifted a hand as Matt stepped towards her. “No zipping—”
“Zipping?” Josh looked at Jake in confusion. “Zipping what?”
“You know.” She made a whooshing noise and walked her fingers in the air. She was greeted with a roar of laughter and she stuck her hands on her hips. “Do you want to play?”
“With you?” Nate grinned at her. “Fuck, yeah.”
“So, nothing remotely zipping or unzipping like, at all.”
“What the fuck?” Jake spluttered. “What language do you speak?”
“Lilithanian,” Nate drawled. “I’ve had a taste of it already, it seems to be closely related to gibberish.”
“Okay, so Nate doesn’t want to play, and neither does Jake, so that—”
“Hang on. Hang on.” Nate lifted his hand. “Come here and give us the rules in English.”
She moved closer to them until they were huddled around her. “So,” she whispered. “No running super speed, no magic at all. I get a thirty second head start from the gate closing behind me. No shortcuts. Use the gate, no vaulting the wall, and make sure the gate is latched properly.”
“Why do I think we’re being played?” Matt drawled.
“We’re giving it a level playing field, that’s all. You all have longer legs and are most probably faster. You already have the advantage.”
“And what if someone catches you before we reach our place?” Josh rested his arm on her shoulder. “Do we get to play with you?”
“Cards, Joshua, cards!”
“And if you get there before we can catch you?” Matt asked.
“A back and foot rub. I’ll wash my feet first.”
“We call dibs on her feet,” Josh blurted.
“I think we can manage your back between us,” Nate said, pushing his glasses up his nose and smirking at Matt.
“Do we have a deal?” she asked.
“Run, little girl, ’cause we’re going to catch you.” Jake’s voice was low and husky, and anticipation zinged through her.
She went out the gate, latched it, and heard them start to count. With a gasp of excitement, she took off down the road, putting everything into it. The thought of a foot rub from the twins was enough to push her harder.
She rounded the corner, and she knew she wasn’t going to make it. She raced towards the house, but she wasn’t a natural runner and she was already slowing. She really needed to think about going to a gym since she didn’t do P.E. at college anymore.
She couldn’t hear them behind her, but the pounding of her heart in her ears was probably drowning them out. Stitches cut into her side, but she was almost there, she just had to keep going a little longer. Finally, after what felt like hours of running, she reached their gate. She staggered up the path and collapsed onto the steps. She’d won, but she was too out of breath to cheer.
She heard them talking and laughing as they came up the road at a jog, not even bothering to run. They reached the gate and she grunted, still fighting for breath.
“Oh, damn, Jacob. She won,” Josh said, with mock disappointment. “Now we’ve got to endure rubbing her sweet little feet and legs.”
“Legs? Legs aren’t feet.” She panted, still trying to get her breath back.
“Sweetheart, your legs are going to feel that tomorrow if we don’t tend to them. We love you, you’re perfect, but you’re very unfit,” Jake said.
“We’ll need to make sure your back doesn’t seize up.” Matt nodded wisely.
“Why did you let me win?”
Jake snorted and pulled her to her feet. “We know if we’d won, the only game we’d play tonight was snap.”
The sound of a car caught their attention.
“Ah, no, that’s not them back, is it?” Nate groaned.
The car idled at the end of the road. The headlights went out and the car drove to the entrance of the car park. The engine switched off, and the car rolled into the darkness and out of sight.
“Weird,” Josh said. “Not dad though, headlights were wrong.”
A strange sensation flitted across the back of her neck, as if someone had walked over her grave. Something wasn’t right. She took out her phone and called Drew.
He answered straight away. “Hello, sweetie, what can I do for you?”
“Some car just pulled into the car park behind you, it switched off its headlights and engine before it rolled in.”
“When?”
“Just now.”
“Thanks for letting me know. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He rang off, and Lily knew that she’d been right to tell him.
“What did he say?” Nate asked.
“Nothing really. Just thanks, and he’d see me tomorrow.”
“The Wisemans at the end are always having people over.” Jake dismissed it with a wave of his hand. “Probably didn’t want to disturb anyone else.”
“Yeah, let’s forget it,” Josh agreed as he unlocked and opened the front door.
“Let’s get inside, it’s getting colder.” Nate shivered on cue, and they went inside.
Nate helped her with her jacket, hanging it up with the rest of them, and the twins went into the kitchen.
“Back rub first, or food?” Matt asked.
“That’s not even a question,” Josh shouted from the kitchen. “Mum’s an angel.”
Jake came into the living room, carrying covered plates. Josh carried more in behind him. “She’s got a quiche, rice, and other finger foods laid out. She must have figured we’d all come back here.”
“Or it’s for your midnight feast. Must be time they took out a third mortgage to fund your appetites, isn’t it?” Nate teased him.
She crossed to the window and peered out. It was too dark to see anything, and she closed the curtains.
“Don’t worry about it.” Matt lifted her braid and kissed the back of her neck.
She leant against him as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled her neck gently, as she stroked her hands over his forearms.
“You’d better eat,” he said. “If you don’t start now, they’ll eat it all.” He let her go and they went over to the food on the coffee table.
“It’s warmer in here than the conservatory,” Josh said as he handed her a plate.
“What are we going to watch?” she asked as she sat on the sheepskin rug in front of the fire.
“Horror, sci-fi, thrillers. Take your pick.” Josh indicated the rack of DVDs beside the TV.
“No comedies, romance, romcoms?” she asked.
“Not a chick flick, please.” He went onto bended knees, clasping his hands.
“I reckon you could carry off the priest thing,” she said.
“Priest? Celibate? Give you up? No.” He winked at her. “Eat, Lily Pad.”
“I’ve never eaten so much junk food since I met you lot.”
“Junk food?” Matt sounded offended. “Pizza is not junk food. It’s one of your five a day, and if you get a veg feast it’s all five.”
“I don’t think they mean that kind of five a day,” she said sadly.
“Well, that’s what happens when you’re all rabid animal eaters,” Josh said.
She tapped his leg and when he looked at her she popped a cocktail sausage into her mouth, making noises of bliss as she chewed. He pulled a face at her and started piling his plate with quiche.
“Are your parents vegetarians?” she asked, picking up a vegetable roll.
“No, just us,” Jake answered her.
“What about when they cook bacon?”
“What about it?” Josh asked.
“Bacon smells amazing,” she said.
“So does the smell of petrol, but it doesn’t make us want to drink it.” Josh sat down beside her.
“Fair point,” she conceded.
“Have you seen this one?” Nate showed her a film case.
“No. I don’t think so.”
“Settle in then, Lily Pad, and pay attention, there will be a test after,” Jake said and slumped onto the sofa next to Josh.
She waved a cocktail sausage at him in reply, and he arched an eyebrow, a smirk on his lips that promised she’d get it later. She certainly hoped so.
