I bounced out of bed on Saturday morning, ignoring the ache of protestation from my broken arm. I didn’t see anyone else about as I headed for the front door, though the door to Dad’s study was shut as always. He might have been up and working already. I had other things on my mind than talking to Dad as I made my way to Mrs Cranford’s house. I had everything Helen had shown me, as well as Haze’s real name. Surely there was something in all of that I could use to defeat him. If only I understood my strange gift and how to use it properly. But maybe Mrs Cranford would be able to tell me more now we had something to go on.
I rapped on the pale blue door of Mrs Cranford’s cottage and waited. My palms felt slick and my stomach fluttered in an almost pleasant way. Of course I wasn’t really there to sneak in more time with Ciarán but if he happened to be in…
No one answered the door. Okay so they didn’t hear you the first time. I knocked again, louder than before. And then again. No answer. They couldn’t be out, not when I had things I needed to tell Mrs Cranford. She was waiting on me, wasn’t she? And where was Ciarán? Tension stiffened my neck and shoulders. An odd, helpless frustration. I raised my hand to knock again and found myself trying the door instead. I gave it a good shake. Locked.
“Emily?” I cringed. I knew that strident voice. “Emily what are you doing?”
I turned slowly, shoulders hunched and face hot with embarrassment. Mrs Holden was stood outside the garden gate gawping at me.
“Were you hoping to see Mrs Cranford?” Mrs Holden sounded suspicious but then she had just caught me trying to force someone’s front door.
I nodded, dry-mouthed and annoyed that she was interfering again. Why couldn’t she just go away?
“Well she’s gone out, dear. Her and that good-looking godson of hers.” Her expression melted from suspicion to amusement.
I swallowed my humiliation and forced out the question. “Wuh when will th-they b-b-b-be buh-“
“Back? This evening I expect.” I may have been imagining it but Mrs Holden sounded smug. “Didn’t they tell you?” Definitely smug.
“Nuh-no. Never muh mind. Th-thanks.” I turned away, walking in completely the wrong direction for the vicarage.
“How’s your arm, dear?” Mrs Holden called after me. I pretended not to hear, desperate to get away from the horrible woman.
Ciarán hadn’t said anything about going out today. Why hadn’t he told me? He knew I needed to speak to Mrs Cranford… except he didn’t, did he? I’d kept what I’d learned from him, worried I’d end up drawing him further into the Pattern. So it wasn’t reasonable to be annoyed if he acted as though there was nothing important going on. It wasn’t fair to feel that Mrs Cranford had abandoned me. But I did.
I’d reached the bus stop at the end of the village. I sat down and rested my head in my good hand. My good mood had evaporated. I was being ridiculous and I knew it. Ciarán didn’t belong to me - of course he had other plans as well. And why shouldn’t Mrs Cranford go out for the day. I hadn’t told her I was coming. I should have phoned her last night. I was just such a coward about speaking on the phone with my stammer. So really it was my fault. I needed some perspective. And anyway I’d see Ciarán for dinner later. We could see Mrs Cranford after that. Everything I’d learned could wait a few hours, couldn’t it? I went back to the vicarage and tried not to sulk.
Amy assured me that there had been no phone calls, when I got home. I hadn’t really expected any but it still annoyed me. Maybe it was time to dig out my mobile phone and charge it up. I winced at the thought of the choked voice-mail box and hundreds of unanswered texts from Beth, which were bound to be on there. I really had been a crap friend since Mum died. When this was all over I'd have to try and make it up to her, if she still wanted to be friends.
I Belong to the Earth (Unveiled Book 1) Page 44