Once the Clouds Have Gone by KE Payne

Author:KE Payne [Payne, KE]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
ISBN: 9781626392595
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2014-08-24T04:00:00+00:00

*

“If you’re not down here in five I’m going without you.” Freddie stood at the bottom of the stairs, coat and bag in hand. “And four, and three, and—”

The staccato clatter of footsteps on the landing alerted her to Skye’s arrival. At last.

A muddle of blond curls bobbed over the bannister.

“You can’t go to school without me.” A pair of blue eyes peeked out from under the curls. “They wouldn’t let you in, anyway.”

“Just come down, Skye.” Freddie held up the coat and bag. “I don’t have time for this.”

“Okay.” Skye drew the word out. She bunny-hopped down the stairs.

“Coat.” Freddie handed it to her.

“Not the blue one.” Skye handed it back. “The red one today.”

Freddie sighed. “Skye, honey.” She placed a hand on Skye’s shoulder and swivelled her round. “You’re five years old. When you reach double figures you can dictate which coat to wear. Until then”—the coat was hustled onto Skye in one swift, expert movement—“you wear the blue one.”

“Can I wear the red one tomorrow?” A firm hand propelled Skye to the front door.

“If it’s that important to you.”

“What’s for tea tonight?” Skye waited by the door while Freddie grabbed her coat.

“I don’t know yet.”

“Pasta?”

“I don’t know.” Freddie reached past her and opened the door. “Shoes?” She motioned to Skye’s socked feet. “Where are your school shoes?”

“Outside.”

“You left them outside again?” Freddie wearily wiped her eyes. “Skye, how many more times do I have to tell you?”

“So can we have pasta?”

“What?”

“Tonight. For tea. Can we have pasta?” Skye plonked herself down on the doorstep and lifted a leg. She leaned back and waggled a shoe on. “With cheese?” Skye fumbled with her laces, frowning.

“I’ll get something in town later.” Freddie stepped over her. “Hurry up.”

“Laces.” Skye lifted her leg again. A shoe hung perilously from her toes. “I can’t do them.”

“Have you got in a jumble with them again?” Freddie crouched in front of her.

“I’ve got in a jumble with them again,” Skye mimicked.

“I’m going out this afternoon,” Freddie said, tying Skye’s laces, “but I’ll stop by the supermarket on my way home and get the little shell-shaped pasta that you like. Sound okay?”

“Mm.” Skye clamped her lips shut and nodded, too busy watching Freddie to answer properly.

“There.” Freddie stood. “All done.”

Skye jumped up. She bent over and pulled at her laces.

“Done to your satisfaction?” Freddie drew her into a hug.

“Yep. Where are you going?”

“This afternoon? Just having coffee with a friend.” Freddie closed the front door and hastened Skye down the path.

“With Pete?” Skye waited by the car.

“No, not with Pete.” Freddie opened the car. “Get in.”

Skye scrambled into her car seat and waited as Freddie buckled her in. “With Tim?”

“Not Tim either. And don’t be so nosy.” Freddie closed the car door. She opened her driver’s door and slotted herself into her seat.

“With Hazel, then?” Skye wound down her window a little.

“Who’s Hazel?”

“Melissa Gordon’s mummy.”

“Why would I be spending the afternoon with Melissa Gordon’s mummy?” Freddie looked at Skye in the rearview mirror. “I don’t even know Melissa Gordon’s mummy.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.