A Jarful of Moondreams: What Secrets Are Ready to Spill Out?

by Chrissie Bradshaw

  With Joe and Mary Collingwood being away and Teri unaware that there was a crisis, they agreed to keep this escapade to themselves. Surely the girls would be sufficiently shaken by this experience to learn from it.

  Cleo relaxed back in her seat and listened to Dan talking about his travels, his work in Australia and the possibility of getting a consultancy at Newcastle’s heart unit, he was here to look around and meet the team before deciding whether he wanted to apply for a post that was coming up in a month or two.

  He asked Cleo about her career and she found herself telling him of her work as a deputy head in the inner city of Newcastle and how she had just started her dream project of setting up a unit for teen mothers and pregnant students within the school.

  ‘It’s almost underway. We’ve had a donation to help with the setting up of the ‘TeMPs’ unit, that’s what we’re calling it for now, and I’m presenting the case for our school setting up and running the unit, to the governors next Thursday. I’m keeping it short and persuasive but can’t help changing it to add something new every time I look at it. It’s got to be right.’

  ‘Ever the perfectionist, Cleo,’ Dan smiled at her and it made her stupidly happy. The miles flew by and they were soon on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

  As they approached the Royal, Cleo attempted a quick hair repair and a touch of make up by the light of the passenger mirror.

  Dan stared at her. ‘You look absolutely fine… for this time in the morning.’

  Cleo wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not.

  In accident and emergency Cleo let Dan do the talking, hospitals were his thing and she never felt quite comfortable in them.

  They were directed to a ward and there, in a side room, they saw Eleanor lying back in bed and Alex and Isabella sitting either side of her. They all looked exhausted.

  Cleo couldn’t believe their outfits. Why didn’t she think to bring them jumpers? She might have guessed they’d have no coats with them.

  Eleanor’s face lit up when she saw her brother and the other two stood up to receive a big hug from Dan.

  ‘Sorry, sorry, don’t be mad,’ started Isabella.

  ‘Hold it, this can wait till later’ Dan calmed them down.

  Alex looked over at Cleo standing in the doorway; if she was surprised, she didn’t show it. ‘Hello there big sister,’ she said, but she stayed in Dan’s arms and didn’t approach Cleo.

  Cleo brushed the uncomfortable, away.

  The staff on duty explained that Eleanor had collapsed with hyperthermia, her body overheating. This could have been lack of water and the heat of the club but was likely due to taking the pills. Although ‘legal,’ they were lethal. Shady manufacturers kept changing the contents slightly, therefore the drugs were not yet on the banned substances list. After a chat with Dan, the registrar was willing to release Eleanor so they could all go home.

  Dan drove to Aunt Maggie’s to collect their things and to leave a note for when she woke up. It explained that one of them was ill, so he had come to take them all home. It was five o’clock and dawn was breaking by the time they were on the road home. The three girls dozed in the back of the car.

  ‘It’s all very quiet back there. Shall we put some music on?’ Dan gestured towards a compartment of CDs, his Dad’s car didn’t have iPod technology. ‘They’re an old selection from student days. You might remember some.’

  Cleo glanced back at the girls and picked a few CDs to browse through. ‘Those three have an e-type hangover, I’d say. The kids where I work call it ‘thizzed.’ With some, we have to try to teach them when they’re like that.’ Cleo knew they’d feel rough for a few hours.

  The CDs brought back happy times of being with Dan. Which one was safest to play? The Fugees? Too intimate; held too many special memories. She opted for the safety of The Kaiser Chiefs.

  Alex could hear the conversation, but kept her eyes shut; saying nothing. She hadn’t expected either of them to understand. She had to endure ancient music, but was so relieved that she didn’t have to listen to a lecture, right now. Party beans, never ever again!

  Alex was half awake and wanting to sleep as Cleo helped her upstairs at the twins’ house. It appeared that she was going to stay with the twins; maybe Mum wouldn’t find out she’d been an idiot. She was thankful to feel a pillow under her head. She was head to toe with Isabella and Eleanor had a bed to herself. They were so lucky that she was alright.

  Alex was just drifting back into sleep when she heard Cleo talking to Dan outside the bedroom.

  ‘Mum’s asked me to take charge of Alex for a while. She needs a break and wants to explore Egypt and I’m glad she’s doing something for herself for a change. She didn’t exactly say she was struggling with Alex but, if this is the way things are going, she does need some help with her. Mum must hope that I can instil some sort of guidelines and work on Alex’s attitude. I’ve just agreed to do it tonight and now I know what a task it’s going to be.’

  ‘Don’t overreact, it won’t be that hard. This is a one off, they all said so. I think Alex is a great kid, Cleo, give her a chance.’ Dan’s voice faded as their footsteps carried on downstairs.

  What? Alex tried to clear her fuzzy head. Had she heard that right? Mum wouldn’t do that to her. Would she? Never! She must be having a nightmare.

  Dan drove Cleo back to High Rigg as the sky took on the silvery blue of morning and a slender crescent of moon, as well as a new sun, lit the sky. Mrs. Weddell was opening her shop to sort out the morning papers and did a startled double-take as they passed her in Dr Collingwood’s familiar Volvo.

  Dan smiled, ‘Did she catch who was inside, do you think?’

  ‘She’s either seen us and she’ll let everyone know that you were taking me home in the morning, local news with their morning paper. Or she hasn’t and she’s wondering who has called out the doctor on a Sunday.’

  ‘I must call in for a newspaper on the way back to make sure she has her story right.’

  ‘Dan, don’t you dare,’ Cleo laughed. There was never much privacy in Dunleith.

  They left the village and were approaching the drive to High Rigg when Dan stopped the car.

  ‘I’ll drop you here because there is just a slight chance that your mum hasn’t woken up yet; and you won’t want Betty next door hearing the engine and peering through the curtains to confirm Mrs. Weddell’s Dunleith bulletin.’ He had his arm over the back of her seat and had turned to look at her in a way that made her insides melt.

  ‘Thanks Dan. Thanks for sorting out the girls. Although it was a hell of a night, it’s... it’s been lovely to see you again.’ That was an understatement, she could hardly bring her eyes to meet his. Could she trust herself, if she was caught up in his gaze? No way.

  ‘I’ve missed you, Cleo. I was determined that I’d see you when I came back.’

  Cleo looked into the deep blue eyes that she knew so well and knew that this was what she wanted too. They both moved forward, their lips met and she was lost in his kiss. This was what she had been longing for all night.

  A bicycle bell broke the spell and they parted to see Alf Chapman touch his cap and grin as he rode by with the morning paper under his arm. They both grinned back.

  ‘Alf’s a man of few words, we’re OK.’ Dan gave a wry smile and then she caught his questioning look. ‘What are you doing next weekend, Cleo? Any chance that we can go out, meet up away from here, and catch up on one another without the world watching?’

  Shit! What could she say? She hadn’t mentioned Neil. Hadn’t thought of him until now. ‘Sorry, I’d love to Dan but... but I’m away. It’s half term and I’ve booked a trip to Italy.’

  ‘That sounds great. Maybe we can meet up after that? I’m owed some time off so I’m staying here for a couple of weeks.’ Dan was brushing her hair from her face, so that she couldn’t hide her discomfort behind it.

  ‘Is something wrong? You do want to see me don’t you Cleo?’ His eyes seemed to burn thro
ugh her, scorching her cheeks as she searched around for the words that she needed.

  ‘Yes, of course I do! More than anything.’

  ‘I’m hearing a ‘but’. What is it? Is it too late for us to give each other another chance? Is that it?’

  Damn, why hadn’t she mentioned Neil before now. She’d have to tell him the truth.

  ‘No, Dan. It would never be too late. It’s just that I am seeing someone else at the moment. I’m going to Italy with him. We’re not that serious.’

  ‘Not that serious but you’re going away with him for a week? That sounds bloody serious to me Cleo, or you’ve changed,’ Dan’s eyes blazed into hers.

  ‘You haven’t let me finish, Dan.’ Cleo grabbed his shoulders and held onto him.

  ‘I don’t need to. Here you are agreeing to meet up with me after your holiday, and all the time you know you’re off with your boyfriend. I think I’ve heard enough. It wasn’t a fling on the side I was thinking of.’

  Dan leaned over her and opened the door. He wanted her to leave and he wasn’t giving her a chance to explain.

  ‘Look, Dan. I didn’t know you were suddenly going to appear. I didn’t know that I’d still have feelings for you. Stop being so bloody judgemental.’ She was out of the car but wishing Dan would look her way. When he did, his

  eyes were blue ice.

  ‘Goodbye, Cleo. Enjoy Italy.’ He drove off leaving Cleo feeling angry and hurt and wanting to be back in his arms.

  4

  Late on Sunday morning, Teri took a mug of green tea outside; the sun was bright and trying hard to warm the flagstones and open the flower buds. She had slept soundly and hadn’t woken until Cleo brought her tea after nine. Cleo had looked tired. Maybe what she’d asked of her had given Cleo a restless night.

  She sat beside Pharos who had the sunniest spot on the bench. He purred and rubbed his head vigorously into her knee. Pharos had been a present, better than any diamond, for her birthday in the year that Alex was born.

  Mac, her husband, had found a breeder and had secretly been on a waiting list for one of the first Egyptian Maus to be bred in England because Teri loved all things Egyptian, especially cats, and he had loved her. Teri felt sure that Pharos had been the lucky talisman that had helped her to conceive after years of hoping for another baby. Mac had laughed at that but agreed that it had been a strange and wonderful coincidence.

  Cleo came to join her; she’d showered and seemed brighter. She hesitated before moving Pharos onto the ground and taking his warm space. Teri noticed his glare of indignation before he turned, nimbly jumped onto Cleo’s shoulder and then landed lightly onto the garden room roof.

  ‘A clicked jumper again! Cashmere ... Reiss...I do try with Pharos Mum, but look, I’m sure he dug his claws in on purpose.’

  Teri leaned over to examine the beginning of a hole and dangling threads. ‘I’ll fix it so it won’t show before you go,’ she soothed. ‘Now, we talked about me all last night, you must tell me how you’re coping with work and what’s new?’

  As she heard how the plans for the new unit for teenage mums and pregnant students were progressing and saw Cleo’s eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, Teri’s heart swelled with pride. This project was partly for her; Cleo knew what Teri had missed out on in her teens. If she had been able to stay on at school when she was pregnant with Cleo, she would have been able to take her place at Oxford studying Ancient History. She had never stopped studying and, although she had no degree, she was an expert on Ancient Egypt.

  Would she change her life even if she could? No way. She had moved to Manchester and used both her knowledge of Egypt and her creativity to make a living in designing and sewing quilts, tapestries and then she had got into creating stage clothes for glam metal bands. During that lucky run in the eighties, she had moved to London, made a name for Neferteri Designs in music and art circles and made her fortune without qualifications.

  She’d known Mac from the first week she arrived in Manchester and, when she moved South with Cleo and he moved North after his course finished, they had missed one another. It took less than a year for them to realise that Teri and Cleo should settle here with him and Teri should become Mrs. McAplin; well, the wife of Angus McAplin. She hadn’t changed her name and Mac hadn’t expected it. She’d been perfectly happy to give up being a rising star of design. Back then, Teri hadn’t wanted to attract too much attention with intrusive questions about her background anyway.

  A first in history didn’t matter to Teri, but she was keen on the idea of enabling young mothers to continue having a good education and the opportunities they would have. The more she heard about Cleo’s work in her school, the more she thought she had made the right decision to send Alex there for a few weeks. Alex could see just what her big sister was achieving and would, perhaps, look at her in a different, more positive light.

  Life was good on days like this. She would have both girls here for lunch and she just knew this summer with the girls together would be a big step forward for them all.

  Alex walked slowly towards High Rigg later that morning. Her mouth was dry, she felt like death and worse but she had been glad to get out of the Collingwood’s house and Dan’s unfathomable gaze. He seemed calm, but what had he been thinking? Would he keep his word or would he spill the beans, or the use of party beans, to their parents?

  She shuddered as she recalled facing him and the eggs and toast he had made them all. The three of them had gone downstairs when he called them an hour ago and had stuffed some breakfast down in a suffocating silence. Alex had chewed on her toast wondering how long before it would seem decent to crawl back to the girls’ bedroom or slip off home. It was Dan stating that they all needed a walk with the dogs down by the river to get some fresh air that had pushed Alex into making her excuses and heading for home, but for what?

  Tears welled up and her nose started running, why did she never have a tissue? She sniffed and wiped her eyes with her scarf, not exactly hers, the doorman’s scarf from last night. Her proof that their nightmare had been real. She was taking the long route from the Collingwood’s but it was still only ten minutes door to door.

  Her walk slowed down even further, she was going from hell to purgatory, or was it from purgatory to hell? Whichever was worse, Cleo was it! The best scenario would be that her oh-so–busy-and-important sister had shot off back to Newcastle and her oh-so-busy-and- important life. Turning into the lane she could see the snazzy little sports car still on the drive. No such luck.

  What about that conversation she’d heard last night? Cleo and her, it couldn’t work. Please God, if there is a God and you are there, then please let me have the rest of today off from my crummy life. She couldn’t resist kicking Cleo’s tyres as she passed. She glanced into the interior; so tidy! Nothing like Mum’s Range Rover that she was learning to drive. Seats with books and shoes and wrappers and CDs that showed ... showed what? Their lives she supposed.

  Walking around to the back of the house she could see her ladyship reading the paper in the garden room. Oh yes, why don’t you chillax all morning and let Mum cook dinner, eh? Sure enough Mum was in the kitchen by the stove and... Whoa there it was, the smell of roasting beef. Of course, it had to be, Cleo’s favourite. She wanted to scream. Why did her mum bend over backwards to please her?

  Mum glanced up and Alex rushed over to hug her, breathing in the fresh smell of lime and clean hair and baking.

  ‘Mum, I so love you! She buried her face into her neck and kissed her.

  ‘Hi poppet. You missed me? Good night at the concert?’ Teri, smiling, looked into her eyes and Alex saw the cloud of concern wash over her. ‘Are you OK? You look peaky sweetheart? Was it a late night?’

  Alex looked away and fiddled with a tatty extension that she’d forgotten to remove from her hair. Mum didn’t know a thing after all.

  ‘I am a bit tired Mum. I think I’ll just go and lie down.’

  ‘You’ll do no such thing. Mum has been cooking f
or half the morning and we have waited for your return.’

  Her sister was in the doorway looking like she was in charge, as always. Alex threw Cleo her coldest, most sullen look and ignored her remark.

  ‘I’m going upstairs for an hour Mum, OK?’ she said, still meeting Cleo’s glare.

  Cleo stepped into the kitchen, hands on her hips and her eyes darkening even more in anger, ‘Mum, that’s ridiculous, she has it too easy. Alex can help us with lunch. You shouldn’t be so soft with her.’

  Alex stomped upstairs. She couldn’t stand to see her mum hanging onto every word that Cleo uttered. She flopped on her bed, popped her earplugs in and selected shuffle on her iPhone. Music then sleep, just an hour of oblivion.

  What the hell? Her earplugs were yanked out and she was pulled into a sitting position. She looked into fearsome brown eyes as a finger pointed too closely at her face.

  ‘Listen here, you selfish little madam. You aren’t the only one who got very little sleep, remember,’ Cleo hissed in her ear. ‘Now you have two minutes to get off your backside and downstairs, and then you’ll smile and make decent conversation at the dining table. Got it? If you don’t, I might be tempted to tell mum exactly what her ‘poppet’ was doing last night.’

  Cleo stood up grabbing Alex’s iPhone from the bed, ‘As for this, you’ll get it if you behave, just before I leave. Now get moving.’ She turned on her heel and swept out of the room.

  Bloody hell, she had no energy to argue with that, thank God the dragon hardly ever came home. Alex headed for the bathroom; maybe a quick shower would warm her and wake her up. Her sister wasn’t one to mess with.

  After her shower, Alex made her way downstairs. Sunday lunch was served late and, although it felt a bit strained, she thought it went off OK. Cleo was polite in front of Mum and the subject of Mum taking a break wasn’t mentioned.

  Alex was grateful that she had time to prepare to do battle. She didn’t want to upset her Mum but she had to persuade her to drop the idea of that high-and-mighty doylem being in charge of her. She even managed to clear up and stack the dishwasher with Cleo afterwards.