The Swallow and the Hummingbird by Santa Montefiore

Author:Santa Montefiore [Montefiore, Santa]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
ISBN: 9781471132063
Amazon: B00DF58G1W
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2014-09-01T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 19

The following morning Harry arrived at Hannah’s kitchen door in bright sunshine, holding a little cardboard box and a book. There was still a fierce wind but the clouds had been blown away leaving a cerulean sky against which sea gulls wheeled, crying their plaintive song into the icy air. Hannah was still in her dressing gown having just fed the birds and broken the ice in the birdbath. She waved at him through the window. Maddie fled the kitchen to change before he laid eyes on her old nightdress and cardigan, and Eddie ran to the back door to open it for him, thrilled by his unexpected visit. She didn’t suppose he had come for her; no one could talk of anything but Rita’s suicide attempt. But Eddie didn’t complain. She had convinced her mother that she should stay at home to comfort her, so Hannah had made two telephone calls, one to the library where Rita worked and one to the village school. Both the headmistress and the head librarian were most understanding.

‘Good morning, Harry,’ chirped Eddie happily. Then she mouthed secretively that Rita was very pale and quiet. Harry nodded and mouthed back that he had brought her a book to distract her. ‘What’s in the box?’ Eddie asked, standing on tiptoe because the lid was punctured with air holes.

‘A surprise for you,’ he said. Eddie’s face lit up.

‘For me!’ she gasped. ‘Mummy, Mummy, Harry’s brought me a present!’ And she skipped into the kitchen to tell her mother. Harry strode in behind her, slightly bent, almost apologetic.

‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ Hannah asked.

‘That would be nice, thank you.’ Then he asked after Rita.

‘She’s still in bed. The first day of the rest of her life, I suppose,’ she replied gloomily. Then she forced a smile. ‘What’s this you’ve brought for Eddie?’

‘I’ve brought a book for Rita. It’s an old favourite of mine. Fables of La Fontaine.’

‘How good of you. She loves books and I’m sure that will take her mind off things for a while. Thank you.’

Then he bent down and handed Eddie the box. She took it with great care for she knew it contained something living. With shining eyes she gently lifted the lid. Her mouth dropped in wonder as she looked down at the little creature blinking nervously up at her.

‘A rat!’ she exclaimed in delight.

‘An African gerbil,’ Harry corrected. ‘I’ve got a nice big cage filled with wood shavings and a bag of food in the car.’

‘Oh, Harry! You’re so generous. I love him already!’ She took the opportunity to wrap her free arm around his hips and bury her face appreciatively in his stomach. He patted her back and chuckled.

‘I’m glad you like him. What are you going to call him?’

Eddie didn’t need to think about it. ‘I’ll call him Ezra Gunch,’ she said proudly.

Hannah laughed and her heavy spirits lifted quite unexpectedly. ‘Where did you find a name like that?’ she asked in amusement.

‘I made it up,’ she replied.

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