Sara's Child

by Susan Elle

  I am not running away - it's just a good opportunity to get some marking done while Neirin is on a sleepover with the twins. So there!

  An hour later Shenna settles down in the cottage with a large mug of strong tea and a pile of marking. It isn't late, but she is already in her pyjamas and feeling ready to relax over her work.

  She enjoys teaching, she doesn't need the money to enable her to live well, Cade had seen to her financial security before he'd died, but it gave her a lot of pleasure.

  Shenna thought of Tommy Edmunds, Gail and Terry's almost six year old son and one of Neirin's best friends. He had been struggling at school and Gail had sought her out after getting a good report from Jaden's mum about her home tutoring. That was how they'd met, and now she was one of Shenna's very small circle of friends.

  Tommy has benefitted greatly from their one to one sessions over the Skype connection she regularly uses. His self-confidence has gone from non-existent to moderately confident, and it pleases her greatly - especially now that Gail has enrolled him in the home tutoring scheme that knowing Shenna has introduced her to.

  A solid knock on her front door makes Shenna jump and slop her tea over one of the papers she is marking.

  "Bloody hell!" Getting up quickly she begins shaking the paper to get rid of the tea and walks distractedly across the lounge to open the door.

  Startled, Shenna looks up into the amused face of Ryan Tempest and feels her temper rise. "Look what you made me do," and thrusts the tea stained paper under his nose, "I was busy marking papers when you decided to try knocking my door down." Taking a breath and a moment to actually look at him properly, Shenna feels an uncomfortable knot tightening in her stomach. Damn it…you shouldn't be here…you shouldn't…

  "My apologies for disturbing you," his amusement has vanished along with his smile. "I'll leave you to your work."

  "What!" she half shouts the word at him. "The damage is done - what the hell do you want?" Shenna has never been so ungracious in her life and has no idea what possessed her.

  His own temper flaring, Ryan watches her push her long mane of red hair back over her narrow shoulders then realises she is actually wearing her pyjamas.

  "I really do apologies for disturbing you," he tells Shenna, his deep quiet voice rumbling up her spine. "I merely wanted some feedback - I looked for you, and your friends, after the talk but they told me you'd had to leave."

  Feeling an idiot, standing at her front door in her pyjamas, not to mention freezing half to death, Shenna moves back and waves an arm to invite Tempest in.

  "I'll just be a minute," she tells him and waves a hand towards an armchair to offer him a seat.

  "If you're going to change, you needn't do so on my account," Ryan tells her and feels his lips tilt up at the corner.

  Blushing, Shenna continues to her bedroom where she quickly pulls on a fleece lined tracksuit - one she would normally wear to go for a run in just this sort of weather.

  "Tea…?" she asks when Ryan looks up on her return to the sitting-room. "Or I do have coffee…I just don't drink it as much." And I'm rambling. Just slow down and hope he says no to the tea then get him out of here…fast!

  "I'd love one, thanks," and actually smiles so that his blue eyes twinkle at her.

  Damn!

  "How do you take it?"

  "Black no sugar, thanks." Ryan watches her turn to enter the kitchen and finds himself focusing on her neat bottom. She's taken care of herself. Trim and toned despite having a child…a son…Neirin, an unusual name for a boy. Perhaps he's named for his dead father? No, no…his name was Cade…

  "Here we go," Shenna breaks into his thoughts by handing him a mug of tea.

  Young to be a widow…I wonder what happened.

  Retaking her seat on the settee where her papers were now gathered up, Shenna tucks her legs up under her and watches him over her mug, only to find herself being studied in return.

  "What do you want to ask me?" she asks when the silence lengthens uncomfortably and he still hasn't stopped studying her. "Surely you got enough feedback from the people who were still there."

  Shaking his head, Ryan sits forward in his seat and a different expression, that she has a hard time defining, comes over his handsome features.

  "Not as informed," he tells her, causing Shenna to sit up straighter, "they meant well, most of them, but it was mostly superficial hand shaking and polite smiles - you were mingling, you know most of these people; what were they really thinking? Did they voice any actionable concerns - anything that we can do something to allay?"

  He actually sounds concerned - maybe I haven't given him enough credit.

  "There were a few hardliners, you won't change their minds no matter what - they just don't like the idea of being invaded on mass by a bunch of strangers."

  "Six," Ryan interrupts her, "that's how many of us there will be - no more than six."

  "Ok," she nods thoughtfully, "I suppose I could let that snippet of information circulate when I next go in to the library."

  He nods but stays silent.

  "Mostly it was parents who use the forest with their children who had the greatest concerns," she informs him, and again gives that thought some consideration. "You halfway won them over with your teaching session that you already know I approved of." Again he nods but to her annoyance continues to remain silent and a frown darkens her brow. "I suppose you could build on that by setting aside a visitors area - perhaps something structured so that you don't get people dropping by at all times of the day," she suggests, and this time she determines to stay quiet and sips her tea.

  Reading her perfectly, Ryan is pleased that his ploy of forcing her to speak has gleaned some useful information.

  "By structured, do you mean a time-table for visitors or an actual structure to house a display in?"

  "Both, if possible," she suggests and finds herself getting interested in the teaching possibilities. "If you could set something up one day a week I could organise a couple of teaching sessions grouping them by age - I already take groups into the forest, that would expand the children's interest nicely and tie in some local history into the bargain."

  Ryan is fascinated by the glow of enthusiasm he can see growing and watches her mind tick over with a dozen different thoughts. Not the stern widow woman now are you. It's like you've just come alive after a long sleep…or maybe I'm just being stupidly fanciful. Get a grip, Tempest!

  Getting to his feet Ryan looks down at Shenna, her feet drawn up under her on the settee. "If you wouldn't mind putting your idea down on paper - and anything else you might think of," he urges as he watches her uncurl herself like a contented cat, "I'd be very grateful and will give your idea of a visitors centre some serious thought."

  He watches her move barefoot towards him, no doubt to show him out but he doesn't move.

  You even walk like a cat, all grace and beauty with a mane of red hair any cat would enjoy having stroked…

  "Mr Tempest…?" Shenna tilts her head to look up at him with questioning eyes.

  Cats eyes…green and slightly tilted up at the corners…

  "Mr Tempest…are you alright?" she asks her growing concern in her voice as well as her eyes.

  Giving his head a shake, Ryan manages to break free of her spell. "Sorry…sorry…just getting carried away with the visitors centre idea." Moving to the door he allows Shenna to open it and steps out into the cold evening air. "Thank you again, Mrs Williams, you've been most helpful."

  Chapter Three

  Having slept fitfully again, Shenna moves around the kitchen, getting breakfast for herself and Neirin, in less than her usually efficient manner.

  "Is that daddy's shirt?" Neirin sits himself down at the breakfast table and watches his mother go from cupboard to fridge and back to the table.

  Looking down at herself, Shenna realises she has forgotten that she got out of bed in the middle of the night again and pulled on one of Cade's shirts she still kept.

&nb
sp; "Yes, I sometimes use them as a nightie," she explains, but gives herself a rap on the knuckles for not changing as she usually did before Neirin could see her in it.

  Watching his mother pour his favourite cereal into a bowl, Neirin appears untroubled and quite content with her answer.

  Am I feeling guilty because my carelessness could have upset my son, or because I felt the need to wear one of Cade's shirts in the first place? The latter - I think. But it worked…again…I didn't have any more inappropriate dreams about Ryan Tempest!

  And where are they coming from anyway - I don't even like the man! Why would I even dream about letting him put his hands all over me that way!

  "Mum?" Neirin had clearly been trying to get her attention for a while as his voice was full of annoyance.

  "Yes…yes…just thinking about jobs I need to do - sorry, Neirin."

  "Are we going to the library today - June is coming in to read the story and she's really funny?" His smile lights up his face and give his brown eyes, Cade's eyes, a warm glow.

  "Are you sure, Neirin - I thought June was on holiday?"

  "That was last week, mum," her young son informs her patiently.

  "Really…?" Shenna frowns contemplating the disappearance of so much time. Has it really been two weeks since Ryan Tempest darkened my door? "No problem, we'll go for a walk first and then go to the library - we'll be a bit early for story-time but we can read together for a while." Her smile is warm and loving; Shenna likes nothing more than spending time with her son. Neirin is so grown up for his age; an unusually serious young man, he just loves to learn.

  "Ok," he readily agrees and concentrates on finishing his cereal and milk.

  When they step out of the cottage a short time later, Shenna is glad she told Neirin to put his woolly hat and scarf on.

  "It's not as warm as it looks," she turns to her son watching him pull on his gloves, "the sun is cold, yet."

  "Hmm," Neirin murmurs as he takes his mum's hand, "but it won't snow again."

  Frowning, Shenna contemplates her son's firm conviction. "What makes you say that - did Cyril whisper in your ear when you last gave him some peanuts."

  Giving a low giggle, Neirin looks up at his mum and gives a shake of his head. "Squirrels can't talk, you know that," he tells her and swings both their hands up and back in the air playfully.

  "So, how do you know it won't snow again this year?"

  Shenna finds herself holding her breath waiting for his answer.

  "Daddy told me," Neirin smiles up at his mum. "He said I would be able to play out more now that the snow has disappeared and wouldn't be back again."

  Oh, heck! I knew it. Just let it go, Shenna - just distract him and get his thoughts channelled elsewhere! If you can't do that you have no business calling yourself a teacher!

  "Well, let's make the most of this weather and head through here," and indicated a narrow trail that the inexperienced walker might miss.

  The ground was a mulch of thawed out soil and decaying leaves but there were visible fresh animal tracks ahead of them.

  "What do you think made those?" she asks Neirin, who promptly crouches down to get a better look.

  "I'm not sure," he tips his head up to look at her, "something bigger than Cyril but not as big as a deer."

  "That's very good," she beams a smile of approval and takes his hand when he stands up again. "Can you think of any of your other animal friends that might fit into that category?"

  Neirin shakes his head and frowns. "Only the badgers, but they don't live on this side of the river."

  "Actually, I think you might be right," she crouches down next to the next lot of clear paw prints. "I think there might be a new badger's set somewhere around here - new neighbour for the river bank badgers."

  Neirin looks up at his mum wide-eyed. "Can we look for them, mummy - can we see if we can find their home?"

  But Shenna shakes her head with a sad smile. "We'll definitely come back another day and see if we can follow the trail to their home - but if we don't make our way back soon we'll miss story time with June."

  His little face looks torn. On the one hand he loves to hear June read stories at the Library - she makes them all laugh and sometimes makes them jump at the scary bits - but this could be a whole new family of badgers that have moved in on their side of the river.

  "The badgers will still be here this afternoon," she tells him when he only stands looking in the direction the little footprints lead. "If you work hard on your sums and your drawing I'll bring you back for an hour then. Ok?"

  His huge smile is all the encouragement Shenna needs as Neirin retakes her hand and almost pulls her back along the track in a hurry now to get to the library.

  As they near the cottage they both turn at the sound of raised voices coming from the clearing.

  A woman is shouting the odds at a group of younger people carrying various packages from a modest four-by-four to a port-a-cabin. However, when she spies Shenna and Neirin watching, her manner abruptly changes.

  Shenna takes Neirin to the car and straps him in to his seat. When she turns the woman from the clearing has made her way over and is almost to the car.

  "I'm so sorry if we disturbed you," the woman holds out a hand to Shenna and gives a smile that doesn't reach her cold blue eyes, "I'm Felicity, I'm helping to head up this dig and we're just getting supplies and other essentials transported in." With a flick of her head towards the dig site, Felicity barely hides a snarl. "We seem to have been landed with a raw crew - they have no idea about archaeology and are probably hoping for an exciting adventure to talk about over a drink back home - but they've got another think coming."

  Poor kids! Maybe they are looking for a bit of excitement along the way but where's the harm in that!

  "They sound young, full of beans," Shenna gives a placatory smile, "but youngsters willing to work for no pay are usually eager to learn, or why would they do it?"

  Felicity doesn't answer, just giving a dismissive grunt instead. "I'll tell them to keep the noise down," she snaps and strides away

  They get to the Library in plenty of time and read quietly together while they wait for the story corner to set up.

  "Hey, good to see you," Gail grins enthusiastically. Tommy sits by Neirin and they look at books together.

  "How's the home tutoring going," Shenna asks looking at Tommy then back to Gail. "He certainly looks happier."

  "Oh, he is," Gail smiles dotingly at her son, "it seems to suit him much better. We still have lots of contact with other children and the schedule we've worked out lets us do lots of other activities - like this," and she waves a hand over to the story corner and the growing number of children gathering there with their parents. "And he loves the rambles in the forest you do with them - I don't think he even thinks of it as learning, he just has fun and doesn't realise how much knowledge he's taking in at the same time."

  "Then I'm doing my job right," Shenna smiles, pleased to hear that her teaching in the forest is going over well, "children learn far more if they're having fun while doing it."

  I really do have a great life…thanks to your thoughtfulness, Cade.

  "Hi." Juliette ushers her sons over to the other children sitting cross-legged on the floor then comes back to sit with Gail and Shenna. "How's the dig going," she asks Shenna and raises her eyebrows when Shenna frowns.

  "Mostly I hardly know they're there," she tells them.

  "But…," Juliette persists.

  "Well, Neirin and I were out in the woods when we heard a lot of shouting and couldn't help but watch to see what all the ruckus was about." Her frown deepens with remembering. "I got Neirin strapped into his car-seat and had just closed the door when I realised a woman from the dig had come over. She's a piece of work," Shenna recalls the lovely looking woman's face twisting into an ugly sneer. "She made out like she was apologising for the youngsters being so noisy - youngsters she can't stand…by the way - yet she was the one we had heard doi
ng the yelling." Shenna looks at the other two women, "I really don't think I'm going to like having her for a neighbour - let's hope this dig doesn't take long."

  "Is her name Felicity Mayfield?" Gail asks her eyes narrowing with curiosity.

  "She just introduced herself as Felicity, so I think there's a good chance it is - why?"

  "Well, she's almost as big as Ryan Tempest in archaeology circles," Gail informs them, "which begs the question, why is she even here?"

  "You seem remarkably well informed," Juliette laughs at Gail's gossipy inflection, "why do you think she's here?"

  "Ah, well, rumour has it that she has the hots for Mr Tempest - they have done other digs together but more-so in the last couple of years." Gail sits back with a self-congratulatory smile.

  "Hmm, well that could be a good thing," Shenna muses then continues when she sees both her friends confused faces. "It'll keep him out of my hair." If not my dreams…but you don't need to know about that!

  The dig site is virtually set to start actual digging. Ryan Tempest has had a smaller port-a-cabin delivered at his own expense to act as a visitors centre. The more he'd thought about the idea the more he thought it was a good one and deserved to be done properly.

  "Sadie, Roz," he calls out to a couple of the students, "have you got the box with the display artefacts in?" When they confirm that they have he asks them to take it into the allotted visitors centre. "Just set them out however you think best - label each piece so that visitors will know what they're looking at then tell me when you've finished."

  The two girls give a smiling nod and a wave then go off to do his bidding.

  There are two larger port-a-cabins, both set into the trees at odd angles to fit in without damaging the surroundings. One is used for female sleeping quarters and as a basic lab for cleaning and cataloguing any finds. The second acts as male sleeping quarters and as the main office. Both have basic wash facilities and lighting powered by a generator. They even have separate port-a-loos for males and females next to them.