24
They were up, packed, had put a protesting Pharos into his crate and were intending to be on the road by seven the next morning when Sergeant Laidlaw called.
‘It is my sad duty to inform you that your burglar managed to remove himself from the infirmary and from the grasp of PC Johnson yesterday evening and we can’t find a trace of him. I’ve informed the city police and they said they’ll take over the search.’
‘How the hell did-?’
‘He’s a very devious man, Miss Moon.’ The Sergeant interrupted her query and seemed embarrassed when he admitted, ‘PC Johnson was hoodwinked into letting him go to relieve himself on his own and he scarpered out of a window.’
‘Oh never mind, he’s gone again and that’s it.’ Cleo felt exasperated. ‘I’d better have all the locks changed. Now, excuse me Sergeant, but we’re going to be really late for school.’
Once on the A1, it was a straight road through to Newcastle but, as they got nearer the city, it was congested with commuters who liked the Northumbrian countryside yet needed to work in the city.
‘You’ll have to drop me off before we reach school; I don’t want anyone to see us going in together.’ Alex reminded Cleo.
‘So you still don’t want anyone to know who your big sis is? Cleo was smiling, she might have felt the same if she was in Alex’s shoes.
‘I’ll have to choose my time that’s all. It’s not the easiest thing in the world when your sister is a bigwig in school.’
‘I’m a bigwig am I?’
‘You know what I mean. They do all like you though.’ Alex conceded.
Cleo felt like she’d won the lottery. ‘Great,’ she said ‘but remember you don’t go to school to like your teacher; you go to learn.’
They both burst into laughter; that was one of Mum’s stock phrases they’d heard so many times.
Cleo phoned Dan to tell him the latest. He had known that Neil wasn’t really hurt so wasn’t at all surprised that he’d given young PC Johnson the slip at the hospital. He was annoyed though and offered to sort out a locksmith for High Rigg and to bring the new keys over to her next day. Cleo was both grateful and glad to have another chance to see him. They talked about how he had to leave for Australia straight after this week’s meeting but promised each other that they would meet up when he came back, later in the summer.
Cleo knew that Alex was listening intently because the phone had been on speaker but she said nothing about this new friendship between Dan and Cleo.
Ten miles into the journey, after listening to the traffic update, Alex declared,
‘I’ve been waiting for you to ask but you haven’t.’
‘Asked what?’ Cleo was puzzled.
‘I’m not pregnant and that test you found wasn’t even for me.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ Cleo replied. Glad? That was an understatement, Cleo didn’t want Mum coming back to that news and it was a sweet relief that Alex wouldn’t be one of the first students in her new unit.
‘I’m keeping the test for a friend and I have to respect their privacy’ explained Alex.
‘Quite right. I’m sure that Gracie will appreciate that.’
‘I didn’t say...’
‘No, but come on Alex, I can guess... and you must tell Gracie, or whoever your friend is, that whatever the result, she can always come and chat to me.’
‘Gracie really likes you so she knows that. She has a hard time at home.’
‘Don’t you think I know that? She’s a great student but can’t always get to school. Life hasn’t been easy for Gracie Grieves.’
They drove on for a while and Cleo’s mind was starting to wander away from Gracie over to thoughts of Dan and how they were becoming good friends when Alex piped up.
‘I couldn’t be pregnant. I’ve never done it... you know.’
Bloody hell, thought Cleo, how was this kind of chat harder when it was a sister not a pupil? She’d better tread carefully.
‘That’s a good thing Alex, because it’s best to be in a loving relationship.’
‘Had you? Do you think at seventeen I should have had a serious boyfriend? Weren’t you with Dan at my age?’ Alex was in full flow.
Cleo thought hard; did she really want to discuss herself or Dan with her little sis? Yes, why not? It was about time her family were more open with one another.
‘When I got together with Dan, I was a little bit older than you. I’d liked him for ages, it was first love and I believed that we’d stay together forever. We both did. It didn’t work out that way but he was the right person for me at that time. You will know when you meet the right person for your first time, Alex.’
‘I haven’t yet but I do really fancy someone,’ Alex confided.
Oh, ring the bell’s of Dunleith tower, not Ty or his gang. Cleo mentally crossed her fingers. ‘Someone from Tyneview?’ she asked, hoping her light tone masked her anxiety.
‘You’re trying to sound not bothered, like Mum does, and you are.’ Alex was grinning at her. ‘No, he’s not a Tyneview student, and I’m saying no more for now. It’s a secret romance,’ she sighed, folding her arms and looking out of her passenger window.
Cleo racked her brains for who this crush could be and a minute or two passed before Alex turned back to her and she caught that familiar mischievous look.
‘I’m just thinking, if Dan seemed so right then, he might be right for you now. You both seemed very friendly to one another in that last call.’
‘It was just a phone call, Alex,’ but Cleo couldn’t help smiling.
They turned into the apartment car park, took Pharos upstairs, had a quick change into school wear and Cleo dropped Alex off at the end of the road before nipping into her parking space at dead on eight fifty. It was unheard of for her to arrive as the morning bell was ringing but luckily, she had no new staff absences to cover so perhaps her day was going to start smoothly.
25
Alex was walking down the road when the school bell rang and she heard a familiar voice calling her.
‘Alex, wait for me!’
It was Gracie and a fragrant cloud of vanilla and sugar. She was eating mini doughnuts fresh from Greggs’ bakery. Offering the bag to Alex, she asked, ‘What were you doing in Miss Moon’s car?’
‘Oh? I was late and so was she it seems. She offered me a lift’. There, that was wasn’t a lie.
‘She’s kind like that. Daft place to drop you off, though. She should’ve taken you to the door.’ Phew, that was lucky. Alex was relieved that Gracie didn’t question her further.
‘Have you brought my kit?’ Gracie asked.
Blast, she had been racing around and forgot it. ‘I’ve left it at home. Sorry, Gracie, like I said, I was late and in a rush.’
‘Right. Well I canna wait any longer so, you and me, we'll take off at lunchtime and go to yours to do the test. You don’t have any important classes straight after lunch do you?’
No, she didn’t but, she didn’t really want Gracie around at the apartment. Then again, Cleo didn’t do family photo displays so it wasn’t as if Gracie could play ‘Through the Keyhole’ and have any idea of who lived there.
‘Righto, Gracie. I’ll meet you at the gates at twelve fifteen.’
After morning classes, Alex hurried to meet Gracie. It was a sunny day but, as she approached she noticed Gracie looked shivery with hunched shoulders and a grey tinge to her olive complexion. Gracie Grieves seemed scared for once, so she linked arms with her but said nothing as they set off for the metro station. What could she say? It’ll be alright, don’t worry. This was a big deal and both of them knew it.
Gracie spoke up first.
‘I’m not speaking to Ty, yet again. He’s got his eye on that Stella Watkins and I’m just not in the mood to fight anyone off right now.’
‘Does he know you’re late?’
‘No and I don’t think I’m going to let on even if I am pregnant. I’ll have enough to worry about telling me mam withou
t having to worry over him. I’m not going to let on about the father to anybody so don’t you dare say a word.’
‘I wouldn’t.’
‘It’s funny, I’ve only known you for five minutes but I trust you, Alex. I feel like I’ve found a proper mate in you.’
‘You’ve been great to me too.’ Alex smiled and linked arms a little tighter.
Once they got on the metro, Alex found herself telling Gracie that her own Mum had been pregnant in her teens.
‘It wasn’t with me it was with C... with my older sister.’
‘The one you’re staying with now?’
‘Yes.’
‘Will she be in when we get to yours?’
‘No she’ll be at work.’ Please don’t ask what she does prayed Alex.
‘Good. I’m not in a mood for politeness today Alex,’ said Gracie.
The train, almost empty, whizzed through the stops and they got off near the apartment.
‘So, how did your Mam cope?’
‘She had no support from the dad and her parents were all for adoption so she went off on her own and made a life for herself, somehow. She was very brave. Still is.’
‘What do you mean, still is?’ Gracie was curious.
‘She had ovarian cancer and got over that, she had me and my sister to contend with as a single parent and we didn’t get along until recently and she’s travelling around Egypt on her own. I reckon that’s bloody brave for someone who’s nearly fifty.’
‘She sounds mega-mazing. My mum got pregnant with me and then the rest came along; that’s why she’ll hate it if I go down the same road. She thinks we’ve all stifled her. She’s always thinking “what if?” Well that won’t be me. I’ll be like your mum and make my life work.’
Alex watched Gracie’s steps slow down as they approached Mariner’s Wharf apartment block.
‘This is dead posh and leafy around here, Alex. You didn’t say. Your sister must have a bloody good job.’
Alex felt the heat in her cheeks as she fumbled to find her key, ‘Come on, let’s get inside and get this test done.’
Alex popped into her room to get the chemist’s bag and returned to the living area to find Gracie looking around with her mouth open.
‘It’s like in a film. You’re so bloody lucky! I didn’t think people really had all this.’ Gracie pointed to the pale rugs and wooden floors. ‘Even the bloody cat matches!’ The fur throw that was Pharos was draped along the top of the grey sofa observing them with his shrewd gooseberry gaze.
Alex glanced at her watch, ‘Come on, get into the loo and do your test - we need to get back for my two thirty class.’ She didn’t want Gracie looking round too closely even though there was nothing to give the game away.
It seemed an age before Gracie reappeared holding the result in her hand. She looked surprisingly calm when she said, ‘Congratulate me – it’s positive.’
Alex grabbed the stick to double check. ‘Oh, Gracie! I was sort of hoping that you’d got it wrong.’
‘No, I knew. I bet that I’m well on too. I’ll have to see the doctor soon. Do you mind if I sit down for a minute? I’m feeling a bit odd.’
‘Lie down on the sofa and I’ll make coffee and toast. You haven’t had anything since those doughnuts.’ Gracie kicked off her boots, sank into the sofa and Alex busied herself in the kitchen area.
‘What the hell?’ Alex heard Gracie cry and she rushed to the sofa.
‘Are you alright?’
‘Me? Yes, I’m alright but how the hell is this here? You’ve been nicking haven’t you?’
Alex saw Gracie was holding the Montblanc pen that Cleo used for work. C Moon was inscribed on the side, so it was no use denying it belonged to Cleo.
Bloody Pharos! He loved to play with a pen and then tuck it under a cushion. Gracie looked appalled. Did she want Gracie to think she was a thief or did she have to own up to who her big sister was?
‘Alex, this just isn’t on; I mean not to Miss Moon.’ Gracie was sitting up, glaring at Alex and the colour was back in her cheeks.
‘Hold on, it’s not what you think, Gracie. Honestly it’s not.’
‘Explain then, because this pen is going back to school with me, Alex McAplin’
‘I can’t explain.’ Alex couldn’t meet Gracie’s eyes. ‘Look, have your toast and then we’ll go and you take the bloody pen back to school.’
Gracie’s eyes filled with angry tears. ‘I don’t want your toast, not now. You know, I thought you were somebody, Alex. I liked you. You have all this,’ she waved her arms around the apartment, ‘and you nick a pen that Miss Moon got from her dad for her sixteenth birthday.
‘She told us one day in class when we were chucking pens about. She said that she had kept this pen since she was at school. No one else in Tyneview would do that, not to Miss Moon.’ Gracie swung back her ponytail, picked up her bag and headed for the door.
Alex couldn’t let Gracie think that about her, ‘Wait!’
She turned, and Alex saw that the Gracie Grieves’ glare was on full beam. ‘This had better be good, Alex.’
‘There’s no easy way to say this but, you see, this apartment… it’s hers, Gracie. That’s why the pen is here. Miss Moon, she’s my sister.’
‘No way? You’re having me on. Really? You lucky sod! Why haven’t you said?’ Gracie sank back down on the sofa.
‘I was a bit embarrassed.’
‘Embarrassed? She’s mint! Oh my god, this is Miss Moon’s; no wonder it’s so cool. She won’t mind me being here will she?’ Gracie looked anxious.
‘No she won’t mind but, look Gracie, I’d rather not everybody knew.’
‘You keep my secret and I’ll keep yours, but you’re mad. Why be hiding the fact that your sister is Miss Moon? You could have done a hell of a lot worse.’
On the way back to school, Gracie never stopped talking about the wonderful Miss Moon.
‘To think she was that unplanned bairn of years ago that you were telling me about and now she’s starting up the TeMPS unit. I’m going to tell Miss Moon about my bairn the minute I see her and make sure I get a place in the unit when it’s ready.
Imagine, Alex... Miss Moon had that start in life and got to where she is so there’s nothing that this kid of mine can’t do.’ Gracie had a big grin and seemed happier than she had been for a while.
Alex was glad to get back to her class for a rest from hearing about Miss Moon. She sat by Lee for Art and decided she’d really had enough of secrets.
She tried Lee first. ‘Lee, I’ve been meaning to mention, you know Miss Moon the deputy? She’s my sister. That’s how I got a temporary place here.’
‘Cool,’ answered Lee as she carried on sorting through scraps of material for her collage. ‘I wish I had an older sister instead of younger brothers. Alex, I was wondering, do you want to call into Cob and Cookies for a snack then look in the library for ideas for this new project after school tomorrow?’
‘Yes, that’ll be great,’ Alex answered.
So that was it? No big deal. The big reveal had been all in her head.
26
Cleo closed her laptop and shredded the papers that she had dealt with after school. She had finally got to the bottom of her in-tray and was ready for home. It had been a hell of a day. The early start, Neil’s escape, the late arrival at school, Teflon commandeering her lunch hour because he wanted a TeMPS update and then no time to call the banks and credit companies to sort out her financial mess. Thank goodness that Dan was sorting out the locksmith at High Rigg.
Now, she had to make her way home where Heather would be dropping off Josh. What a great friend she’d been this weekend, just taking over and not making a fuss.
Cleo popped into the ladies and saw dark mascara smudges under her eyes. What a mess! She tried wiping them off and realised they weren’t runaway make up, those dark shadows belonged to her. She really needed a good night’s rest. She picked up her bags to head for home and had just reached the
foyer when she heard,
‘Miss, have you got a minute?’
For a moment her heart sank, but she could never say no to a student. Turning, she saw Gracie Grieves with eyes as tired and dark as her own.
‘Gracie, what’s troubling you?’
Gracie’s face crumpled. My God, Gracie Grieves was crying! She dropped her bags and stepped towards her,
‘Hey, come on now, it can’t be so bad.’
‘It is Miss, it is!’
‘Let’s go into my office and see what can be done.’ Cleo’s tiredness had gone, she picked up her bags, unlocked her office door and took Gracie inside. Cleo Moon never shirked anyone else’s problems; she just wished she could be as good at sorting out her own.
An hour later, Cleo dropped Gracie off at her own house then headed for home. It was almost six o’clock and she’d have to apologise to Heather, sort out Josh’s stuff and get him to bed then order yet another takeout before thinking about sleep.
She stopped in the car park of her apartment and took a pack of jelly snakes from the glove compartment. She chewed through three, she really didn’t want to go in; it was all so draining.
Mum was going to skype tonight too. Heather had forewarned Cleo that Mum knew about some of the things Neil had got up to but she’d have to explain about the break in and the weekend they’d had. They weren’t going to mention reading the diaries in the moondream jar. All of that could wait until she came home.
Bloody hell, her life was an absolute car crash. Immediately she checked that thought; how could she say that? She hadn’t died like Mac, she was here and she could do this. She fiercely wiped the tears from her cheeks, no time for self- pity, she had lots to do.
Cleo opened the door expecting chaos and was met with the delicious smell of Italian cooking. Garlic and cheese wafted her way. Josh was already back here in his pjs on the sofa cuddling Pharos and reading a book. The TV was off and George Ezra filled the room with his melodic voice.
A Jarful of Moondreams: What Secrets Are Ready to Spill Out? Page 16