“What do you mean? What do you do?”
There were times when he knew Zack was on the dense side. This was one. “Do I move to London with her and leave you lot and the town?”
Zack’s jaw dropped.
Alex stood up, left his pint on the table. “We all chose here. We all came back after college because of this place but because of each other too. I would’ve happily swapped places with Sorrell when she was trapped in that cave and died there because I knew you would’ve done the same and I’d have saved you every time. I’d have put myself in the fire in Keren’s house for Scott. Just think about it.”
He heard Zack shout his name as he walked away and left the bar, but he didn’t look back.
Ten
Abby wondered what it was like watching the pyramids being built and whether the same sort of excitement was had by those observers as to what she was feeling now, watching Jake and his crew effectively build another stage. She hadn’t realised until now how expansive the Maynard farm was, how many fields it covered. Three fields had been turned into stadiums. Around the sides of them were tents and stalls that had been half erected, people busying about, worker bees - other than the group of long haired and long bearded gentlemen who were performing yoga-like moves while wearing what could only be described as loin cloths. Abby had tried desperately to not look, but it was a bit like passing a car crash.
“Where do you want this table?” she said as Jake strode passed. “Is it for the tarot tent?”
“The joss stick tent next to it. Thanks, Abs.” He started to run, his name being yelled loudly, which suggested that someone needed him and his daredevil skills to climb up and sort out a carabiner.
Abby sighed and felt her feet and hands itch. She knew Alex had told Zack who she was a couple of days ago. She had also figured that the two of them had fallen out, although Alex hadn’t told her about that and she didn’t have the confidence yet to confront him about it. She needed that back. Quick.
The table was easy to move by herself, just bulky with next to no weight. Three minutes of carrying it across a field and she was at an awning with a woman – looking remarkably like one of the coven with a wig on – presiding over it.
“Marian?” Abby squinted. The make-up was different too.
“You address me by my earthly name. For the next ten days I am known as Fannyella and you shall address me as such.”
Abby tried to close her mouth.
“Of course. Where would you like the table?” She looked under the awning into the tent behind. What looked like a four-poster bed was to one side amongst a range of wares including joss sticks and some suspicious looking plants. “Are those…”
“Herbs. Good for helping you to relax,” Fannyella said.
“I bet they are.” Abby wasn’t entirely sure what to do. “Is Jake aware that you have these?”
There was an audible sigh. “Of course Jake knows. So does Alex.” Marian, also known as Fannyella wagged her finger. “Goddess forbid you ever ask Gran about the secret ingredient in her gin…”
“I thought it was rosemary.”
“That’s what she tells everyone. To keep the secret.”
A loud call across the field. Abby turned around and saw an alpaca dash past, practically grinning.
She looked at Fannyella – it seemed only right to call her by the name she had chosen – and grinned. Any moment now, Jake would come charging by trying to round up the escapee, cursing and promising alpaca steaks.
“I’m not related to him.” The voice was low and melodious, unless you were a child who hadn’t handed in your homework. “He was born to a pair of wolves.”
Rayah Maynard looked glorious. She wore a dress that billowed out in the breeze, her hair loose and slightly curly; there was a glow there too.
“You’re pregnant.” The words were off Abby’s tongue before she thought about it.
Rayah didn’t even have the courtesy to blush. “My brother and cousins don’t know and they don’t need to until this fiasco is over.”
Fannyella came a little too close to Abby. “I sensed a new beginning. This is why my eggs didn’t sit well this morning. Twenty minutes I lost to…”
“Have you told Jonny?” Abby really didn’t need to hear about Marian’s bowel movements.
“I did. The kids don’t know yet.” She beamed. Hard. “But it’s early.” Her gaze fell on Marian. “This means you do not share. Not even Gran needs to know this.”
“Who says Pussy Willow doesn’t already know. The power of The Sight is with us in these times, Rayah Maynard. We have the all-seeing eye…” Marian or Fannyella picked up what looked like a crystal ball but could quite easily have been a paperweight.
