The Retreat(82)

They played MovieStarPlanet together for a little while, and then Megan said, ‘It’s 2015 tomorrow. You know what that means?’

‘What?’ Lily asked.

‘It means it’s thirty-five years since the Red Widow last took a child. Since Carys was sacrificed to her.’

Lily remembered that taxi driver, whatever his name was, telling them this.

Megan went on. ‘That day you saw her in the woods, she must have been scouting.’

‘Scouting?’

‘Yeah, you know. Looking for kids. Getting ready.’ There was a long pause. ‘Did she really say my name?’

Lily hesitated. Megan had asked her this, like, a hundred times since that day. Lily knew she should have confessed straight away that she’d made it up. But there was something thrilling about seeing the fear on Megan’s face, and the longer time went on, the harder it became to tell the truth. She didn’t want Megan to be mad with her and call her a liar.

‘Yeah,’ Lily said, and Megan nodded, sadly, as if she really believed her fate was sealed and there was nothing she could do to fight it.

The stupid Red Widow. Since that day in the woods, Lily had become increasingly convinced the witch didn’t exist, that she had imagined those eyes watching her, just as she’d once imagined seeing a fairy at the bottom of her garden. Seeing how easily Megan had swallowed the lie about the witch saying her name made Lily realise how she too had been – what was the word? – gullible. Childish. It had been a trick of the light, that was all.

‘Can we talk about something else?’ Lily said. ‘I’m so bored of talking about the Widow.’

‘Oh. Sorry to be so boring.’

‘I didn’t say you were boring . . .’

But Megan wasn’t listening. She scowled into the camera. ‘I bet you’d be glad if the Widow took me, wouldn’t you?’ Megan said.

‘What? Don’t be stupid. Come on, it’s only five minutes until midnight. Let’s not argue.’

But it was too late. Megan was in a strop and she refused to say Happy New Year when midnight struck. She muttered goodnight and ended the call.

A few seconds later, Mum came in. Lily quickly slid her iPad under the pillow.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Mum said. ‘I was going to call you down so we could see in the new year together but I lost track of time.’

‘That’s okay.’

Mum sat on the bed.

‘Well, Happy New Year, sweetheart.’

Mum gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek then said, ‘Are you all right?’

‘Yeah. Just tired.’

‘Me too.’ Mum took Lily’s hand. ‘I know things have been difficult lately, with me and your dad. But it’s going to get better from now on. I promise. We love you more than anything.’

The words warmed Lily’s insides and she gave Mum another cuddle, and then Dad came in and said, ‘Happy New Year!’ and they had a group hug. She forgot all about grumpy Megan.

Lily went to sleep feeling happier than she had in ages.



The next morning, Mum and Dad looked tired. Dad said he had a headache. But they smiled at each other and Mum didn’t flinch when Dad gave her a hug in the kitchen.

Over lunch – soup and crusty bread – Mum said, ‘Why don’t we go out for a walk? Get some fresh air.’

‘Great idea,’ said Dad.

Lily groaned. She hated fresh air. She wanted to go to her room to call Megan or watch something on her iPad. But her parents insisted that it would ‘do us the world of good’. They decided to go for a walk down by the river, where Lily knew it would be muddy and windy. But, she reminded herself, at least they were in a good mood and getting on well. Maybe things had turned the corner and Mum and Dad weren’t going to get divorced and she wouldn’t be forced to choose between them. (Not that it would be much of a choice. Mum would win every time.)

As they were about to leave, Mum said, ‘Don’t forget to put your coat on.’

‘But I’m not cold.’

Mum gave her a hug. ‘You’re like a radiator. How do you do it?’

Lily smiled. ‘I’ve got a warm heart, obviously. Can I bring Big Cat and Little Cat?’

Dad appeared. He’d been looking for his wellies. ‘Haven’t you outgrown those toys yet?’

Lily scowled and Mum said, ‘They’re not toys, are they, Lils? They’re real.’

That made Dad laugh and Lily said, ‘Family hug.’ It had been a long time since they’d done this, the three of them standing up and putting their arms around each other, a circle of love and togetherness, and in that moment Lily thought everything was good. This was going to be the best year ever.

Chesney followed them to the edge of the garden and Lily thought he might come with them all the way to the river, but then he got distracted by a bird or something and ran off. She would have to make do with her cuddly cats. She held on to Big Cat, while Little was stuffed into her pocket.

It was muddy and windy by the river, just as Lily had suspected. She walked along for a while, fantasising about having a dog. A pug, that’s what she really wanted. Then she remembered that last time she’d said she wanted a pug, Dad told her you have to squeeze their bum glands which made all this stuff ooze out that smelled of fish. This was the most disgusting thing Lily had ever heard. Suddenly, she’d gone right off the idea of getting a pug.