* * *
The next day, Mam and I stopped working in time for a quick change before going to Briar Stones Farm.
‘Are you ready?’ I asked, knocking on Maddie’s door.
‘For what?’
I pushed her door open and my heart sank at the sight of her lounging on her bed, still in her pyjamas, watchingHeartstopper.
‘For seeing your cousins.’
‘Is that today?’
‘Yes! So get yourself sorted pronto. We’re leaving in ten minutes.’
‘You’d better go without me. I don’t feel right.’
‘What’s wrong?’ Before she could stop me, I’d knelt on the bed and pressed the back of my hand to her forehead. ‘You don’t feel hot.’
‘It’s just a headache.’
‘Have you taken anything?’
‘Some paracetamol. It’ll probably go soon.’
I stood up. ‘Then you’ll be okay to come with us. Should be gone by the time we get there.’
‘I’m not coming.’
‘But they’re your family.’
‘Which means they’ll get it if I’m not feeling well and don’t go. Okay?’
‘No, it’s not okay, Maddie. It’s rude. You fell asleep and missed them all on Saturday, you barely spoke to Hope on Monday and Tuesday and now you’re refusing to see them when they’ve invited us –allof us – round for tea. Headaches are annoying but they’re hardly a reason to cancel so get yourself washed and dressed and be ready to go in ten minutes.’
‘You’re not the boss of me!’
‘While you’re living under my roof and contributing nothing, I think you’ll find I am. Get ready.’
‘No!’
I grabbed the remote control and switched the television off. ‘Get. Ready. Now.’
Maddie clambered across the bed and lunged for the control but I held it high out of reach.
‘Give it back!’ she cried.
‘Not until you drop the attitude and start behaving like a member of this family. Clock’s ticking.’
Gripping the remote control so hard that my hand hurt, I ran down the stairs. Mam was in the lounge with Nova and Skye.
‘I heard the raised voices.’
I shook my head. ‘I can’t even… She wasn’t dressed! Said she hadn’t realised it was today.’
‘That’s ridiculous. We talked about it over tea last night.’
‘I’ve taken this off her and ordered her to get ready but I know she’s going to defy me.’
