Wake The Past by Sally Rigby

Author:Sally Rigby [Rigby, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Ten minutes later he was still trying to decide on a solution regarding where Keira was going to stay when the front door opened and Elsa reappeared. She gave him a friendly glance and then curled up in her bed by the radiator.

‘I think I’ve worn her out,’ Birdie announced, peering around the kitchen. ‘Where’s Keira? Don’t tell me something’s happened.’

‘She’s in the snug, calling one of her friends. I thought she might want some privacy,’ he explained, before filling Birdie in on the conversation with Keira’s grandparents and their request for her not to stay with him in the house.

‘Of course. I should have thought of that sooner,’ Birdie said in a brisk voice. ‘She can stay with me tonight and we’ll work something out for tomorrow. And – grandparents aside – it’s probably a good idea for you both to have some space to decompress. How are you feeling? Is it weird?’

It was a good question. If someone had asked him yesterday how, theoretically, he would take this kind of news, he’d have probably answered differently. But now…?

‘No. Despite how unexpected it is, it doesn’t feel odd. It feels almost right in a way. I’m looking forward to getting to know her.’

Birdie grinned. ‘Welcome to the mad world of non-traditional families. She’s like you in lots of ways, which is a little unnerving. Especially now that I will be around two people who won’t forget a single thing I say.’

‘We’ll try to use our power sparingly,’ Seb assured her as Keira reappeared in the room. Her eyes were bright, but her face was pale with fatigue. She looked tired.

‘Birdie and I have been talking,’ Seb said, ‘and she’s offered for you to stay with her and her family tonight. How do you feel about that?’

‘I suppose my grandparents were worried you might have wild bachelor parties here?’ Keira said, rolling her eyes. She gave Birdie an uncertain look. ‘Is that okay? I don’t want to be a pain.’

‘You’ll have to try a lot harder to be a pain,’ Birdie replied, giving her an easy smile. ‘Though I do warn you, I have two brothers who are animals when it comes to the bathroom.’

Keira’s expression brightened. ‘I’m an only child but my mum’s best friends, Eric and Fiona, have three boys and we all grew up together. It’s like having brothers – right down to the farting and burping. But thanks… if you’re sure?’

‘I am,’ Birdie assured her. ‘Do you want to give me and Seb ten minutes to discuss the case we’re working on, and then we’ll go back to mine? Why don’t you go back to the snug for a bit?’

‘Cool.’ Keira scampered away, closely followed by Elsa.

Once she was gone, Birdie turned back to Seb.

‘Okay. Tell me what happened with Pappas. Where are we up to?’

‘You’re not going to like it.’ Seb forced his mind into work mode.

It seemed like a lifetime ago that he’d been at the prison. Once he’d given Birdie an update and when he was finished, she swore softly.

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