Part 43 (1/2)

Later, she was half-heartedly cleaning the hall floor when her mobile rang. It was Bob from the Red Lion. 'That little c.r.a.p-weasel came through,' he said without preamble. 'Have you seen it?'

'No. What?' Gwen was struggling to focus on Bob's voice. She stared at the yellow police tape that flapped in the entrance to her dining room, still trying to believe that Lily was truly gone. Amanda's husband was due that afternoon to quote for rebuilding the ceiling and redecorating the room.

'The local rag,' Bob said. 'Ryan put your announcement in. For the book burning.'

Gwen closed her eyes. She'd forgotten about that.

'They've got the time as five-thirty, so it'll be proper dark. We'll need plenty of torches and I'm going to do some snacks.'

'Don't call it a book burning; that sounds terrible-'

'Whatever you like,' Bob said patiently. 'It's on.'

'Thank you,' she managed. 'I'll come and help set up.'

'No need. You sound like you need a rest,' Bob said cheerfully. 'Just make sure you turn up. Don't leave me hanging, Gwennie.'

Gwen looked at the bags of Iris's books arranged in her hallway. Lily had done a pretty good job of collecting them together, but there were still more. Gwen lay on the carpet in the bedroom and hooked a couple out from under the bra.s.s bed. She fetched three from the under-the-sink cupboard in her workroom and flicked through to check that they were just recipes. She added those to her own pile, ready to read, test and transfer to her own book. She felt a burst of happiness at the thought.

The phone rang and she picked it up, expecting Cam.

'Are you all right?' Gwen had never heard her mother's voice sound so shaky.

'Katie's fine,' Gwen said with a rush of guilt. 'Sorry. I should've called.'

'Thank G.o.d.' Gloria let out a whoosh of breath. 'I read your cards. I'm sorry, I know you hate it when I do that, but I did and I wasn't sure-'

'It's fine. You helped,' she said, hating that it was still so hard to say that to Gloria.

'Katie's really okay?'

'She's fine. I mean, she's fourteen, so there are issues, but she's got Ruby and she's got me, so she's going to be okay.'

'That's good,' Gloria said. 'And I will send her something at Christmas.'

'Or you could visit,' Gwen said. She closed her mouth immediately afterwards, amazed and slightly horrified by the words.

There was a silence.

Gwen rushed to fill it. 'I know it's really expensive and you probably can't manage it, but I just wanted you to know that you're welcome. I've cleared your old bedroom and I'm going to paint it sky-blue. I've pulled up that horrible carpet. The floorboards are a bit of state, but once I've painted them white and got a rug, it'll be quite nice.'

'I don't know if we'll be able to leave the farm,' Gloria said, actually sounding a little wistful.

'I understand,' Gwen said.

'But I might be able to come on my own.'

Gwen sat down in shock. Ruby was going to kill her.

After saying goodbye, Gwen took several deep breaths. Her mother had taught her that you never look back, but Gwen had shown her that it was, at the very least, an option.

Cam arrived with a duffel bag filled with Maglites and packets of glow sticks. 'For the kids,' he said. 'I saw them in the shop and thought they might be a good idea.'

'It's not Bonfire Night,' Gwen said.

Cam shrugged. He was wearing a thick grey jumper and dark jeans and looked more relaxed than Gwen could remember.

Gwen wished she felt the same way. She frowned at the carrier bags filled with notebooks. 'I bet n.o.body even turns up.'

'It doesn't matter.' Cam put his arm around her shoulders. 'You'll still be getting rid of this lot.'

The cold snap was showing no signs of abating. The pavements were frosted and their footsteps crunched loudly in the quiet evening. As they hit the main road into town, the traffic streamed past. They pa.s.sed a floodlit church and navigated the cobbled streets down towards the river. The gudgeon was still poised on top of the round house, its mouth wide open as if serenading the sky. 'Good evening,' Gwen said to it.

Cam looked sideways at her. 'Are you sure you're okay?'

'Bit nervous,' Gwen said. 'I'm making a statement. What if n.o.body likes it?'

'Ah, but you come with the Laing seal of approval. They wouldn't dare to not like it.' Cam pointed to his chest. 'Master of the Universe, remember?'

'How could I forget?' Gwen smiled, some of the tension leaching away. As they reached the beginning of the bridge, Cam veered off course. He tugged Gwen's hand gently and guided her down the slope towards the river.

'What are you doing?'

'Old time's sake. Humour me?' In the dark of the bridge, Cam leaned against the stonework and pulled Gwen close. He kissed her thoroughly until her breath was gone and her remaining nerves had been chased out by l.u.s.t. She buried her head in his neck and breathed deeply. He smelled of Cam: soap and deodorant and warmly delicious man.

'I hope this fire thing isn't going to take long,' Cam said, his voice husky, and kissed her again.

'We could just go home?' Gwen managed, breathing heavily herself.

'Don't tempt me,' Cam said. 'Come on.' He helped her back up the hill to the street. 'Sooner we get there, sooner we can go home to bed.'

'That's the spirit,' Gwen said. Then she caught sight of the green. There were thirty or forty people already there. They were bundled up in coats and scarves, some holding cardboard coffee cups, some with torches. As they got closer, Gwen recognised faces and people waved and nodded to her.

Bob was in the middle, poking the glowing centre of a metal brazier with a stick. The firelight lit the underside of his chin, making him look demonic.

'All right, Gwennie.' Bob slung an arm around her shoulders. He nodded to Cam. 'Mate.'

'I didn't think anybody would come,' Gwen said, gazing at the green in wonder. She put down her carrier bags and rubbed her hands where the handles had cut into her palms.

Bob looked embarra.s.sed. 'I put a sign up in the pub. Free hot dogs.'

'That was very kind of you,' Gwen said, not at all sure it was.

The crowd had fallen silent. There was a shuffling of feet and then a small child said, 'When are the fireworks?'

Gwen turned to face the group. She tried not to think about the green, the site of the murder of Jane Morely. This wasn't a witch trial. This was an exorcism.

'What's in the books?' a voice from the back shouted.