Page 21 of See the Stars

She had two weeks of sick leave before she had to return to work.

She wouldn’t go back to London once the telescope was fixed; instead, she’d stay here until her leave was up.

Perhaps that would be enough time for the comet to return, if it still existed.

She’d miss Hugo, she thought, feeling her hand tingling guiltily, but perhaps he could come up and visit one weekend.

The telescope parts would arrive on Monday, and as soon as she had made her repairs, she could start looking.

Of course, she could buy a new, more powerful telescope, but that might be counterproductive.

Using the one her grandfather had built would mean that she could calibrate it exactly as per his notes.

Any idiosyncrasies of the hand-made equipment would work in her favour.

And now, she had an assistant. She smiled. She’d invited Berti to come back tomorrow. The comet might have crashed into the sun, or broken up and evaporated. But for now, nothing would stop them looking.

‘Of course you can stay longer!’ said Sheila the next day, turning away from the vegetables she was chopping. ‘I never thought I’d get so much time with you again, not after you moved away to London.’ She put down the knife and Alice found herself in an unexpected hug. ‘This is a blessing.’

‘I’ll try to have a life-threatening medical condition more often, shall I?’ She shrugged herself out of the hug with a laugh.

‘Don’t even joke about it,’ said Sheila. ‘And you know what I mean. I wanted my kids to fly the nest and make the lives for themselves I didn’t manage. But it means I don’t get to see as much of you as I’d like.’

‘Thanks, Mum,’ said Alice, knowing she should have come home to visit more often. She felt uncomfortable guilt rising and changed the subject. ‘I thought that since I’m staying longer, I might let Basalt explore the garden a bit.’

‘That’s a great idea,’ said her mother, picking up the knife and getting back to work on the onions. ‘He’ll love it.’

Alice looked out of the window for potential hazards. Basalt sat on the kitchen window-ledge, searching the garden for his avian nemesis.

‘And it’s OK to have Berti round again?’ she asked

‘Of course,’ said her mum, moving on to the carrots. ‘Whoever you like. Now, is vegetable soup OK for dinner?’

‘Perfect, thanks.’

‘It’s so nice that you’re making local friends,’ said Sheila, her hands moving more deftly than Alice’s ever could. ‘But a teenage boy?’ She gave Alice a look. ‘It’s a bit odd, don’t you think? What on earth will you have to talk about?’

‘Grandpa’s comet.’ Alice put her hand on the back door. Basalt jumped down, ready to dart out as soon as she did.

‘Well, just remember you’re on sick leave. Not staying-up-all-night-obsessing leave. You need your sleep.’

‘I’ll be fine.’

‘As does that boy. He’s got school.’ Sheila paused her chopping. ‘It will be nice to have a young lad around again,’ she said. ‘Eddy says he’s very clever.’

‘He’s a nice kid,’ said Alice. ‘Fascinating, really.’

‘If you say so.’

‘I was fascinating when I was thirteen.’

Her mum laughed. ‘Of course you were,’ she said.

‘Wasn’t I?’ Alice pressed. ‘I thought I was.’

Sheila didn’t answer. ‘Are we letting this cat out or not?’

Alice took a deep breath. ‘Yes,’ she said. She opened the door and stepped outside. Basalt followed her, gave the grass a tentative sniff, then shot up a tree after the blackbird he’d had his eye on for days.

Alice watched him. It was where he was meant to be. Exploring the world, climbing trees. Terrorising the wildlife.

‘See?’ said her mum. ‘I told you he’d be fine. It’s the birds I’m worried for.’

Alice tried to position herself underneath Basalt, so that if he fell, she’d have a chance at catching him.

‘Come on,’ said Sheila. ‘You can help me get the dinner ready for Berti.’ She smiled. ‘I suppose you didn’t really have many friends your own age when you were thirteen. Perhaps you’re making up for it now.’

‘Perhaps.’

‘Is Jennie coming too?’ asked Sheila, her eyes twinkling. ‘Maybe she and I can have a glass of wine while you two play in the garden. Mums together.’

‘We won’t be playing in the garden,’ said Alice. ‘We’ll be working on the telescope. And yes, Jennie is coming,’ she added, somewhat shamefaced. ‘Is that OK?’

‘Of course,’ said her mum. ‘I wish I’d invited Eddy too.’

Alice watched Basalt. He’d descended from the tree and was sniffing around the shed now.

She thought for a moment about the task in front of her.

Searching for a tiny comet in the vast skies with incomplete data.

The missing logbook would be so useful. ‘Are you sure you haven’t seen that logbook of Grandpa’s? ’ she asked. ‘The one that got lost?’

‘Alice, it’s been years!’

‘Perhaps it’s fallen down somewhere? Behind the bookshelves?’

‘I do clean back there, you know,’ said her mum. ‘I would have noticed.’

‘I might have a look myself,’ said Alice, her eyes on Basalt again. Suddenly his ears pricked. He’d heard something.

‘They’re here,’ said Alice. She glanced at her watch. ‘Early.’ She smiled. ‘The early bird catches the worm,’ she said to herself. ‘And perhaps the comet, too.’