“That one. That was the one near the Midsummer when Lois was took.” She’d reverted to baby language she’d recently outgrown, a sign of stress. Last summer, Sadie had seen Lois, an older girl from the village whose parents were involved in the religious sect in Felley Manor, taken by two men up to Bleak Low, the most treacherous peak. She’d followed to try and help, partly because at the age of five she’d been read far too many adventure stories mainly by Rayah.
They’d found Sadie part way up, hiding when she got too tired to follow Lois anymore. She’d told them the story there and then, but after that she’d clammed up, seemingly fine but not thinking about it. This was the first time she’d brought it up.
“That car was there?”
Sadie nodded, trying to squirm and hide in the car. “It kept driving past and one of the misters got out of it. Can we go? Can we see Daddy?”
“We’re going to go and see Uncle Zack and Sorrell and you’re going to help Sorrell make the rooms pretty for the guests. Do you think you can do that? Then I’m going to take you bowling until Daddy’s finished at work.”
Sadie nodded but went quiet which worried Rayah.
“I’ll sit in the back with you, Sadie.” Charlie dug his brother in the arm. Harry shot out at the prospect of sitting in the front even though it was a four-minute drive. “We can play I-spy.”
She looked at Charlie and nearly smiled. “Can I go first?”
“No, you went first last time.”
It was the perfect distraction. Only it didn’t distract Rayah who now felt sick at Sadie’s recognition of the car.
Something didn’t sit right.
Chapter Eleven
The living room resembled a toy store that had exploded and multiplied by osmosis. At some point, Jonny was going to have a serious Lego induced injury, one that would no doubt be painful and involve his foot and a couple of curse words. Sadie danced into the room, wearing what could only be described as cross between Halloween and a ballroom dancing competition.
“Do you want to see my drawing of Horrid Harry?” She pushed the picture into the face of her grandmother. “He’s really ugly.”
Luckily, Harry was engrossed in setting up a game he’d been bought by his grandparents, who, by the looks of it, we’re planning on keeping the kids off school for a week so they could do everything they’d planned.
“It’s a very good picture, Sadie Grace,” Mandy Bellis picked up Sadie and put her on her knee. “But how about we call him something other than Horrid Harry?”
Sadie shook her head. She was in her element as she had a willing audience to entertain for the next few days and knew she would receive a lot of undivided attention. “His name is Horrid Harry. And he’s really mean to his sister.”
Harry looked up and shook his head. He had learned not to take the bait when Sadie Grace tried to provoke him and he knew that she would soon get bored if she didn’t get a response.
“Is World War Three likely to happen between these two?” Ian, Grace’s father asked. They didn’t visit as much as they had done shortly after Grace’s death. Had Grace been alive, Jonny knew that they would’ve been round a lot more, been more involved and while they were always there if he asked, they had never wanted to impose themselves or their advice on him. If Grace had been there, they would’ve been much more comfortable to lend their opinions.
“Unlikely as long as she doesn’t trash his game. Don’t feed her sugar or even give a hint that you have sugar in the house. It’s like wakening a savage beast.” He liked his father-in-law; he was a quiet man, much like how Grace had been, and took everything with a pinch of salt.
“Do you want to watch me dance, Grandma?” Sadie did a huge spin and nearly knocked a table over.
Jonny sat back, amused. She was such a little drama queen.
“She must get this from your side, Jonny. Grace was always quiet; never this little ball of energy.” Mandy watched as Sadie started her performance, looking completely enraptured with his little girl.
Jonny didn’t respond. His family weren’t dramatic or overly outgoing, although he knew he didn’t lack confidence. Sadie’s extrovert behaviour and willingness to be the centre of attention without nerves or stage fright reminded him of Rayah and given how much time Sadie had spent with Rayah, he suspected that they had a strong piece of evidence for nurture in the nature versus nurture debate.
“You’re happy with them staying with us for some of the summer holidays?” Ian looked concerned.
Jonny nodded. “More than. Child care wouldn’t have been a problem, but it’ll be good for them to spend more time with you and see their cousins.”
Grace’s parents had moved to live by the sea as soon as they retired, on the east coast of England. They’d bought a large Victorian house that overlooked the ocean and had spent a lot of time and money improving it. It was big enough to have most of their grandchildren stay, so for part of the summer holidays they’d asked if they could have Charlie, Harry and Sadie to stay. Jonny wasn’t bothered about the child care, he’d always managed, but it would be good for the bond between his kids and their maternal grandparents to strengthen, and a holiday by the sea would be something they’d love.
“Do you want to show me where everything is in the kitchen, Jonny, then I can start making dinner? What time’s Charlie due back?” Mandy stood up, hands on hips, and giving him a look that announced he was going to be interrogated about something.
Charlie had been out for the day with Milo to some indoor water park. They’d taken him out for dinner by himself the night before to spend some quality time with just him. Mandy had been reading something about ‘love bombing’ which was having one-to-one time with your children or grandchildren and she was planning on doing the same with the other two.
“He should be another hour.” Jonny got to his feet and followed Mandy into the kitchen. He was sure he heard Ian wish him luck as he left the room, although he could’ve been wishing it on himself given that Sulky Sadie and Hangry Harry were about to batter each other with cushions.
