Rory hesitantly took a step towards him, peering closely at him. There was real fear in his eyes, and he swallowed hard. ‘Danny?’
Danny nodded tearfully.
‘Itisyou! But – but you’redead!’
‘I know,’ Danny said quietly. ‘Believe me, I know. But round here it’s never that simple. Oh, Rory, please don’t look so scared. I’ve missed you so much. You’ve no idea how good it is to see my big brother after all this time.’
12
DANNY
It was hard to say who was the most shocked – Danny or Rory. Danny couldn’t believe his big brother was in Rowan Vale and, overcome with emotion, he tried to hug him.
Clearly it didn’t work, but his attempt terrified Rory even more as he let out a cry of alarm and stepped back again.
‘Oh, this isn’t good,’ Rory mumbled, running a hand through his hair. ‘I must be having a breakdown.’
He strode at breakneck pace along the road, heading for the bridge that crossed the River Faran.
Danny had no choice but to run after him, managing to stay alongside him as his brother sped over the bridge and turned left, heading towards the inn.
‘I need a drink,’ Rory muttered. ‘A bloody large one.’
‘Are you going to talk to me?’ Danny begged. ‘Rory, stop! Please say something!’
Rory shook his head frantically. ‘You’re not real. This is my guilty conscience. Or overwork. Or stress. Or something.’
‘Iamreal! Why are you running away from me? You’ve come all this way for me. Well, now you’ve found me! Talk to me!’
As they neared The Quicken Tree, Rory’s steps finally slowed. He turned to face his brother and Danny’s shoulders sagged as he saw the wary look in his eyes.
‘Is it really you?’
‘It’s really me,’ Danny said gently.
‘And you’ve been here all this time?’ There was a catch in Rory’s voice and tears that could never fall welled in Danny’s eyes.
‘I’ve been here all this time. I can’t leave. I’m bound to the Harling Estate.’
‘Eighteen years…’ Rory murmured. ‘I’m so sorry. I had no idea. If I’d known…’
‘You’re here now,’ Danny said. ‘I’m so happy to see you. We have so much to talk about. Are you here for the day or are you staying here?’
Rory weakly waved a hand towards the inn.
‘You’re staying at The Quicken Tree?’ Danny smiled. ‘Shall we go inside then and have a catch-up?’
Rory seemed to find new strength from somewhere. ‘No! I mean, not in there. Let’s go somewhere else. I really need the fresh air to be honest.’
Danny nodded. ‘The churchyard,’ he said. ‘There are benches in there. Is that okay?’
‘Among the gravestones?’ Rory shivered. ‘Why not?’
‘We can find somewhere else?—’
‘No, it’s fine. Lead the way.’
Danny felt pretty dazed himself as he led his brother towards All Souls’. Of all the things he’d expected to happen today this wasn’t even on the list of remote possibilities. He’d missed his brother so much, but now he was here, Danny wasn’t even sure where to begin. He felt overwhelmed with emotion. There was so much to say, so many questions, but he didn’t want to scare Rory off. He had a feeling his brother was teetering on the edge as it was.
