Page 92 of Indie

“I’ve a better idea,” he said, then glanced over his shoulder at the kids. “Fancy a little holiday?”

*****

The log burner crackled, the little lounge filled with heat, and three of us squeezed in on the mismatched flowery sofa. Grace bent over the easel the other side of the fire.

“That’s it,” she said, her hand just covering Lily’s. “Just a bit more shading here, and then a swipe of white paint there. Perfect.”

Lily jumped up and down, squeaking with delight.

“Look! Look mammy! It looks just like Mr Morris!” She lifted the canvas block from the stand, tilting it for us to see in the dull orange glow. His head look like it was swollen, and he seemed to be missing a leg, the unicorn of rainbow colours not proportionate to the rest of his body.

“That’s cra….”

I nudged Luke hard.

“That’s incredible, baby. Well done.”

She smiled, elation all over her face in the form of pink paint.

“Think it’s time for bed now, you two,” Grace ushered them onto their feet and up the stairs in the corner of the room.

They were right at the very top of the house, in the attic bedroom nestled in the eaves. I’d envied them at first, jealous of the views from the little windows, looking out across to the craggy rock and the castle sitting on top of it.

“You know, they’ve never ever had a holiday before,” I murmured, snuggling in against Indie, the logs burning in front of us making me sleepy.

“They can have plenty more holidays, Spuggy. You know I’ve never been to Disneyland? I’ve always wanted to go. Got an excuse to go on those rollercoasters now.”

Indie kissed the top of my head.

*****

The gentle shaking woke me, my eyes struggling to open, and when they did, it was still dark. My heart jolted, beating frantically, and at first I didn’t know where I was.

“S’ok, Spuggy. It’s just me.”

I sat bolt upright, willing my eyes to adjust to the darkness, a very faint light filtering in through the windows.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” I couldn’t keep the panic from my voice.

“Nothing. I just want to show you something.”

“What time is it?”

“Just after 6.30am.”

“It seems so dark.”

“Not for long. Come on Emmie, I need you to see something.”

I dressed as quickly as my injured body would allow, shuffling down the stairs, my side aching with each tentative step. Indie helped me into my coat, before stuffing his arms into his leather jacket and carefully prising the door open.

Clasping my hand, he led me down the street and out towards the shoreline. The sea lapped gently against the beach, a slow rhythmical sound, hypnotisingly inviting. Behind the castle on the rock, the first streaks of dawn peeked through, stroking the night sky with gold. Slowly, those streaks morphed into a semi-circle, pushing up from the horizon, seeping reds and oranges across the sky. The shape grew outwards, exploding, filling the horizon with colour, the castle just a black shape in the foreground.

I could feel Indie at my back. Then he wrapped his arms around me, carefully at first, terrified he’d hurt me.

“This is beautiful,” I whispered, watching the sun grow larger in the sky in front of me.

“Just like you, Spuggy.”