‘Ooh can I have Janet’s room?’ asked Effie clapping her hands together.
‘See, some people aren’t scared of paintings,’ he said placing down the tray and unloading the teapot.
Liv pointed at the teapot. ‘Here I am. What are your two other wishes?’
‘Sorry?’ Fraser looked perplexed.
‘You’re like Aladdin,’ said Liv. Fraser frowned at her. ‘With the lamp.’ She pointed again at the silver teapot, but he was still frowning at her. ‘Never mind.’
‘Daphne’s remembered things,’ said Effie happily and all heads spun in her direction. ‘I gave her another bump on the head and it worked.’
‘Not exactly what happened,’ said Liv.
‘Who are you then?’ asked Dolly.
‘Please be someone famous, please be someone famous,’ whispered Effie standing next to her with her fingers crossed.
Liv decided that the best option was to tell the truth. ‘I’ve remembered that I’m called Liv.’
‘Liv’s not a proper name,’ said Effie, shaking her head. ‘Sorry, Daphne, try again.’
‘No, that really is my name. I’m Liv.’
‘Is Liv short for Livid?’ asked Fraser. ‘Because that’s what you are most of the time.’
‘No it’s short for—’
The front door slammed open, interrupting Liv, and in came Robbie wearing his police uniform bringing in an arctic flurry of snow. ‘There’s an emergency!’
‘Goodness me, shut the door!’ called Dolly as the icy gust hit them and they all shivered.
‘Sorry,’ said Robbie, looking a little deflated as he shut the door and joined them. ‘A weather warning has been issued. The road’s blocked in both directions and there’s a car in the ditch. I need all of you to help,’ he said. Everyone rushed out into the blizzard.
11
Once outside they’d had a moment of clarity that they needed some equipment so had all marched back inside to grab useful items, shovels mainly but Effie was carrying a bucket and Robbie had a hammer, which were interesting choices. Despite the awful weather it was quite exciting striding along with Effie, Fraser and Robbie. Dolly had had a last-minute realisation that her scooter wasn’t great in the deep snow and that it was probably best that she cover the phone, although Liv had never heard the thing ring once.
The drive climbed up to the road and that was when it became even more apparent how bad the weather was. The wind was hard to walk against and the snow was like someone was jet-propelling it into her face. Fraser looked like he was out for an afternoon stroll, the weather and hill not seeming to interrupt his stride.
‘Does this happen often?’ she asked, her voice almost swallowed by the wind.
‘Only when there are tourists involved.’ He gave a look.
‘I’m not a…’ As she’d now revealed that her memory had returned, if she wasn’t a tourist then what was she? ‘Not alone in wanting to see this beautiful country,’ she corrected with a sweep of her arm. They both glanced about the landscape, obscured by the blizzard. Fraser was giving her an odd look so she put her head down and ploughed on.
‘It’s this way!’ yelled Robbie, who was striding past a snow-covered mound. Liv wasn’t entirely sure what triggered the thought; it was probably a combination of things. Fraser and Effie started to jog and that was when it hit Liv. The snow-covered car they were running past was her sister’s.
‘I remember that that’s my car. I hit a pothole and got a puncture.’
‘English drivers,’ he mumbled.
‘What?’ Liv didn’t quite catch what he said but she had a good idea and it irked her.
‘Nothing. Carry on.’
‘When I realised the tyre had blown I pulled over and left it there to get help.’ They both surveyed the snowy mass. ‘Can you help me dig it out?’
Fraser called to Robbie. ‘Shout if you need me. Else I’ll clear the snow around this one first.’
