The Faerie Tree by Jane Cable

Author:Jane Cable
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd

Chapter Thirty-Eight

The hiss of tyres stilled on the drive then the engine cut out. But there was a longer than normal pause before the car door slammed and a blast of icy air from the hall heralded Izzie’s arrival.

“The fairies have got a surprise for you!” I called.

There was no reply.

“Izzie?”

Her briefcase thudded onto the parquet. “What?”

I was about to repeat myself but one look at her face silenced me. I reached towards her and traced the lines under her eyes with my index finger. “What’s wrong?”

For a moment I thought she was going to cry but she blinked and shook her head. “Nothing… I mean, I think I might be going down with something.” Her eyes glanced past me and locked onto the coffee table. “Champagne, Robin? Have you won the lottery?”

“Some days I think I have.”

She cuffed me on the top of my arm. “Idiot. What’s it in aid of?”

“A half term safely navigated, a table booked at Regginas for eight… but I can cancel it if you don’t feel well.”

She looked down at our feet, hers neat in their black court shoes, dwarfed by my sprawling socks.

“Look, I’ll call them now – we can go another time – it doesn’t matter.”

“Robin, I’m sorry – it was a lovely thought too.” When she finally looked up her eyes were red rimmed.

“You do look full of cold.”

She sniffed. “Yes, that must be what it is. Two of my tutor group have a real stinker and I bet I’ve caught it.”

I moved to hug her but she turned and started up the stairs. “I think I’ll have a soak in the bath. I might feel more human after that. Glass of champagne might help too.”

“How about I bring you one then pop down to the village for some fish and chips?”

“Perfect.”

It wasn’t until Izzie was half way through the bottle that I discovered what was wrong. As I unwrapped our supper she asked, “What time’s Claire coming back?”

I frowned. “I’m not sure, exactly – I can’t recall her saying when the film finished. Didn’t she tell you when you dropped her at the station this morning?”

Izzie picked up a chip and nibbled at it. I poured myself a glass of champagne.

“We weren’t exactly speaking by then. We had a bit of a row, if you must know.”

“Can I ask what about?”

Izzie put her head in her hand. “Newquay – bloody Newquay.”

“Oh.”

“She won’t let it rest, Robin – she’s like a dog with a bone – it’s driving me mad.”

“So has she got the info she promised you?” I picked up the vinegar bottle and sprinkled it liberally over my chips.

“No. Well… some of it – but not nearly enough. Only the dates, and the name of the hostel and how much it’s going to cost. But I need to know who’s going Robin, how they’re getting there, what sort of supervision they’ll have… I know nothing that really matters.”

“And does she understand that’s what you need?”

“She says I’m being unreasonable.”

“Well you’re not.

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