The Girl Who Came Home to Cornwall by Emma Burstall

Author:Emma Burstall [Burstall, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786698865
Publisher: Head of Zeus

Chapter Thirteen

It was one of those lazy summer Saturdays that seemed to go on for ever. The combination of warmth, sunshine, food, music, plenty of bonhomie and even more alcohol meant that no one was in any hurry to leave, and indeed, there was no need.

Most people didn’t have work the next day and there was no school for the children. When Danny suggested fetching the portable outdoor speaker from his pub, he received numerous offers of help, and soon there was a bit of a disco going on beyond the oak tree.

At any other time, busybody officials or, indeed, the police, would no doubt have been summoned to quash the noise and close the party down. However, as most of the officials and even some of the local cops were here enjoying the fun, it was unlikely that the celebrations would be interrupted.

There wasn’t anybody to complain anyway. Practically all the residents from round about who might have been disturbed by the noise were in the field, too. The only possible objectors were the squirrels, hiding in trees, or the rabbits in their burrows, and they were sensibly keeping well out of it.

By about four o’clock, Liz felt that she’d done her bit, shown her face for long enough and could quite justifiably slip away with Lowenna without causing any raised eyebrows.

The little girl, however, had other ideas.

‘Me, me!’ she shouted, tugging at her mother’s dress and pointing in the direction of the blaring music.

Liz could see Rosie standing at the edge of the makeshift disco floor, chatting to a school friend, while Rafael was showing off nearby, doing a worm dance.

‘It’s time to go home now,’ Liz said, but Lowenna shook her head and tugged even harder.

‘I’ll come over with you,’ Tabitha suggested, taking her own son, Oscar, by the hand. ‘We can gawp at the teenagers. That’ll annoy them!’

It would have been difficult to say no, and as they got closer to the action, Liz could tell that something was up with Rosie. She was smiling at her friend, but she looked strained and her eyes were sad. Liz knew her so well.

She hadn’t clocked Chabela from where she’d been sitting, but she saw her now, standing to one side with Rick, Alex and Jesse. They were an unlikely foursome and Liz felt slightly uneasy, though she wasn’t sure why. Loveday was nowhere to be seen.

The men were watching Rafael and laughing. Suddenly Jesse broke away and started doing his version of the Milly Rock hip-hop dance, complete with hand swoops and circles.

Chabela, who’d been quite still, resting one leg in front of the other, uncrossed her arms, clapped her hands, tossed back her long black hair and laughed unrestrainedly. She had a big, wide mouth, strong white teeth and the smile, so spontaneous and free, seemed to fill her entire face. It was very infectious.

‘Muy bien! Magnífico!’ she cried delightedly, which seemed to spur Jesse on, because his movements became more and more exaggerated. Meanwhile, Rafael switched to walking on his hands, which looked quite dangerous on the uneven grass.

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