Timekeeper (Timekeeper #1)(63)

But that Leila had long ago disappeared.

Danny watched as she spoke with a friend at the curb. Her lips turned up in a smile, deepening the lines around her mouth. Danny had forced enough of his own smiles to recognize one when he saw it. The other woman put a hand on Leila’s arm before turning away.

Leila stood there a moment longer, her hat crookedly perched on her head. The sight of it pained him. His hand twitched, longing to jog across the street and straighten it for her.

She heaved a sigh and slouched forward, pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbing her eyes as her shoulders jerked in a quiet sob.

Go to her, Danny told himself. But he couldn’t move.

Sniffing, his mother turned to trudge the rest of the way home. She slowed when she noticed the confectionery shop, disappearing inside and emerging a few minutes later with a small wrapped parcel.

Danny waited a moment before following at a slower pace. At home, a lamp in the kitchen had been lit, but a creak upstairs told him she was already in her bedroom.

In the kitchen, a square of gingerbread wrapped in cloth sat waiting on the table.

“You can’t eat all of it,” his mother scolded from the past, even as he had grabbed for it with the small greedy hands of a child. “Save some for after supper.”

But then she would turn from cooking and find his face sticky with crumbs and the gingerbread completely gone, and she’d laugh helplessly.

The echo of laughter faded until the kitchen was silent and cold. He touched the edges of the cloth.

Nothing was ever simple.

Danny climbed the stairs with the gingerbread, unable to eat it yet. At his mother’s door, he hesitated, then lifted a hand and quietly knocked.

Leila opened the door, looking as surprised as he felt. “Danny. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Uh …” He cleared his throat. “How was your day, Mum?”

“Oh. The usual sort of nonsense.” She paused. “Lottie is still dull as a pickle. Mr. Howard had a shouting match with the secretary.” Leila shrugged. It was his own shrug, sharp and quick.

Danny knew she wouldn’t say more. Wouldn’t talk about the long periods of drowning silence, or the weight she had lost. He nodded absently. “Good. Um, thank you. For …” He lifted the gingerbread.

She smiled, a small thing, but this time it wasn’t forced. It was softer. More like the old Leila.

“You’re welcome.” She lifted her hand, perhaps unthinkingly, and paused again. When she reached out and swept the hair off his forehead, it was almost as if a ghost was carrying out the action. “Get to bed. You look exhausted.”

He would never have his mother back the way she used to be. But the old Leila was still somewhere in this house, held in the cracks and the foundation.



The Lead had reprimanded Danny for visiting the ruined Maldon tower a few days before. He’d issued no punishment this time, on account of Danny’s “personal interest” in the tower. His reprimand, however, was followed by uncomfortable questions about Danny’s health, a punishment in and of itself. Danny had said whatever was necessary to get out of the Lead’s office as quickly as possible.

Then there was Cassie, who used every meeting as an opportunity to demand more information about Colton. She said an explanation was the least Danny could offer, after the constable had stopped by and her mother had given her the tongue-lashing of a lifetime.

Desperate for a reprieve, Danny sighed in relief when he found another Enfield job in Daphne’s folder. The gear chain needed to be checked and the clock face needed cleaning. Danny all but flew to the town.

When he arrived at the tower, Colton was standing at the window. Spotting Danny, he raised the sash and leaned out.

There was no one on the street or on the village green behind him. Overcome by sudden giddiness, Danny struck a gallant pose. “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your fair hair!”

Colton grinned and shook his bright blond locks. “Too short for that, I’m afraid. You’ll have to use the door.”

“That’s not very romantic.”

Danny hurried inside and bounded up the stairs, eager to be with Colton before Brandon arrived. He had brought a book of Norse mythology and wanted to take his mind off of everything that had happened, if only for an hour.

Unfortunately, Brandon was waiting in the pendulum room. Danny stopped short.

“’Lo,” said Brandon. “We’ll wind it first, yeah?”

“Uh, sure.”

They got right down to business, and Danny’s heart weighed heavy again with disappointment. Brandon was abnormally chatty as they worked. He had been kinder to Danny since Lucas’s death, or perhaps he had simply become used to Danny’s oddness.

Cleaning the clock face was the longest and hardest process, something the maintenance crew hated doing. Danny couldn’t blame them; the height never got any easier. Thankfully, he had something to distract him: every time he looked up, he caught sight of golden hair as Colton waved.

Tired but satisfied, Danny and Brandon pulled themselves back inside the tower. Brandon stretched his arms with a satisfied groan. “What’re you doing after this?”

Danny looked up from rolling down his shirtsleeves. “I thought I’d—”

“Stay up here like a hermit? Come to the pub with me. You owe me five drinks, remember?”