I could have sworn he did but maybe he was just passing.
He shrugs. ‘I don’t know who would leave a hamper.’ He frowns. ‘The man whose drive I cleared, he also had something but I think it was a note. He looked really pissed off by it and he asked me if I posted it. Who knows? Maybe it’s the ghost.’ He makes joke ghost noises which are as unconvincing as his Morgan Freeman impression, but given the noises I heard in the house, it unnerves me.
‘I’m sure whoever left it will soon tell us who they are.’ I chomp on the fudge and enjoy its sweet buttery flavour.
‘You know these woods are haunted.’
I stop chomping and swallow what I have in my mouth with a gulp. I think Harry is trying to scare me now but not in a serious way. ‘Is there anybody there?’ I shout before I burst into laughter. I won’t let anyone see I’m scared.
He leads me to a tree and I see several tatty pink ribbons tied around it. Some look like they’ve been here more years than I’ve been alive, others look newer. ‘Why are these here?’
‘A girl went missing and was last seen by the den but it was like a million years ago now.’
‘How?’
‘I don’t know but they say her soul haunts these woods.’
‘But she might still be alive. Could she be alive?’
‘Dunno, she might be. Maybe she ran away or something. All I know is she went missing and no one ever talks about it. It’s like some big taboo around here. Mum doesn’t like me coming into the woods, but that’s her problem. I like it here.’
Diggerty barks and makes me jump. I feel lost right now and would rather get back to Clover Lane.
‘Anyway, I don’t believe in ghosts. I best go home. Can you show me the way back?’ I go to walk in the direction we came in. Hearing that a girl went missing here has made me edgy. Maybe that’s why Mum didn’t want me to go into the woods. They’re creepy and horrible. I miss Bristol so much.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.’
‘I’m not scared.’ I am. I’m scared I won’t fit in. I’m scared I’m lost in this tree-filled hell and I’m scared that Mum and Dad might start fighting again and I don’t want them to get divorced. Mai’s parents are divorced and she has to spend every weekend at her dad’s with his new girlfriend and her five kids. The thought makes me shudder. Cora is hard work; I can’t imagine having to be around more kids or, even freakier, sharing a room with them. I’m suddenly grateful for my cupboard.
‘Do you want to hang out again later? You can come to mine. We have a games room. You play pool, don’t you?’
‘Yes.’ I’ve only played once but it was fun.
He’s caught up with me. It’s a good job because I don’t know where we’re going next. He leads me back to our road, safe and sound.
‘I live here. Come over about six or seven.’
A woman in a long white coat comes out of his house and waves Harry over. She stops and stares at me before looking at Harry. ‘Get inside, Harry.’
‘But, Mum.’ He blinks again, several times, and only then do I realise he has a tic.
‘In the house, please.’ She ushers him and Diggerty inside and slams the front door shut – mega rude.
I stand on the path and notice some of the neighbours staring at me. One of them is holding a piece of paper and they all huddle together and begin talking and glancing my way. Something’s happened and it’s big. From the look on their faces, I can tell they all hate us. So much for the one called Tessa giving us flowers and one of the others giving us a hamper. The man with the bulbous nose stares me out then turns back to the others. I can tell that whatever this is, it’s personal.
Seven
Gemma
I wonder if Ethan is right and I’m reading far too much into that note. After settling Cora, we agreed that I’d forget the note and give this place a chance.
I turn my attention to the hamper. Cora has left the settee and keeps tugging at my jumper so I call Ethan. ‘Can you take her for a minute?’
He picks her up and wipes her runny nose. ‘Maybe we can all dress in our warm clothes and go out for a walk before I start work. We should explore the area a little,’ he says.
‘There’s nothing around here.’
‘I’d like to go for a walk in the woods.’
