The Mind's Eye (38 page)
Authors: K.C. Finn
Tags: #young adult, #historical, #wwii, #historical romance, #ww2, #ya, #europe, #telepathic, #clean teen publishing, #kc finn
“
I should think so, the amount of time it took us.” She was
grinning, but clearly agitated. “He’ll be in there, now won’t
he?”
to some of her worries and nodded. “Of course. It’s not like he
could get away, not at his speed. Even I could catch him.”
Blod laughed
out a few nervous breaths, clutching her bouquet that matched the
paper roses on Ness’s quickly-repaired dress. The little girl was
looking up at the sky, watching the clouds break with her familiar
look of concentration. Blod and I followed her gaze.
“
I wish Dad could’ve been yur to see this,” Blod mused
quietly, “but at least we’ll see Ieu tonight.” She let out a little
sigh. “I reckon every family only gets one miracle, and Dad
would’ve never wanted it to be the other way round, for him to be
yur and Ieu gone, so there you go.”
“
I think we’ve had a few more miracles than that, if you think
about it,” I added.
at me and squeezed my shoulder.
“
I’m going to try and remember that, and be less snappy with
you from now on,” she said with a laugh.
“
Good plan,” I replied, “Save all the snapping for your
husband.”
laughing when Idrys came out of the chapel and told us we were
ready to go. Ness was lined up to go first, a basket of paper
petals in her hands ready to scatter, then Blod would take her
Bampi’s arm to walk down the aisle. I couldn’t really carry the
dress’s train and use both my crutches, but Blod had asked me to,
so I was going to give it a damn good try. The first thing I caught
sight of as we entered the church was Bickerstaff waiting in his
bottle green suit. Unable to stop himself he was already watching
his bride approach with the biggest smile I had ever seen him wear.
If I hadn’t ever met him before, I’d have sworn he was the happiest
man alive.
***
A
photographer followed the wedding party home after the service,
which was relatively short after Blod had finished lecturing the
preacher on cutting out the boring bits a few days prior to the
event. Mam had insisted on having all the pictures taken on the
pasture outside Ty Gwyn, especially now that the fallen snow had
given us such a beautiful backdrop. While everything was being set
up I took my chance and set off to escape up to my room. A day full
of love and happiness had only made me think of one thing for hours
on end. I barely had one foot on the stairs when I heard Mum appear
behind me.
“
I’ve checked on everyone and they’re fine,” she chided, “so
no sneaking off. Come and have a sandwich.”
crutch and glared at her.
“
There’s no danger right now,” I protested, “why can’t I just
have a chat with him, just for five minutes?”
approached me slowly, something I couldn’t read behind those indigo
eyes the same shade as mine. She rested her hands on my shoulders
and broke into a smile that made me feel warm even though I was mad
at her.
“
Your father and I have had a talk,” she began, heaving the
words out almost reluctantly, “and he’s right. It’s time I let you
go. I’m not going to stop you using your powers ever again. You’ve
done so well with them, handled things so much better than I would
have imagined.” I felt her hands holding me tighter, like she
needed me to keep her steady. “I’ve been looking after you so much
for so long that I’d forgotten you would grow up sooner or later. I
just want you to remember the warnings I’ve given you, they always
apply, wartime or otherwise.”
starting to smile too. “Psychic or not, I’ll always have your voice
in my head,” I answered.
Mum chuckled
a little, her hold on me relaxing again.
“
But that freedom starts tomorrow,” she continued, “so please
don’t do anything yet, just for today.”
“
But why?” I asked.
“
You’ll see.” My mother started to walk away with a
grin.
into the hall in his little waistcoat and trousers, rubbing his
head. His hair was sticking up at a funny angle and Mum rushed to
adjust it for him, but he batted her away. That pensive look was
back on his face.
“
Leigh what’s up?” I said as I approached.
have time to answer as Idrys’s deep Welsh voice boomed through the
house to call us out for the photographs.
“
Tell me later?” I whispered to Leighton. He nodded gently,
still nursing his temple.
up on the snowy ground at the edge of the pasture waiting for our
turn to be called. There were several pictures of the bride and
groom as Blod took full advantage of her big day to look as good as
possible, then there were a few more of just the bride when
Bickerstaff got sick of posing and left her to it. Eventually it
was the turn of the bridesmaid, flower girl and page boy, which saw
Ness, Leigh and I trying to pose with my clonking crutches in the
way.
“
Oh sod these things,” I cried eventually, chucking them out
of the shot and standing behind Leighton.
his shoulders to keep myself steady, surprised at how strong my
knees were to keep me up. It was hard to miss Bickerstaff’s medical
mind assessing my stance from the side-lines, but he was smiling so
I thought I must have been doing all right. Ness was the next
problem, the wriggly little thing refused to stay still for the
photo. It was only after some careful persuasion from Bickerstaff
that she did as she was told, beaming up at the photographer like
an angel even after her massive fidgeting episode. I had the
feeling her would-be father had promised her a lot of lollipops for
that smile.
Mum was
smiling too at Leigh and I, I caught her eye over the top of the
camera after the shot had been taken. Leighton was pretty sure he
had blinked, so another take was in order. I rolled my eyes at Mum,
but then I noticed she wasn’t looking at me anymore. Her gaze was
cast way past where we stood at the edge of the field, her smile
widening every moment.
“
Yur now!” Mam shouted with a pointing finger. “Who’s that
ruining our backdrop?”
still leaning one hand on Leighton to see two shapes under the
shadow of the nearest tree. The larger of the two emerged from it
and I was surprised to see my father carrying another man on his
back. When the other man looked up from Dad’s shoulder, his gingery
hair and sparkling eyes gave him away despite the unusual paleness
in his face. Mam screamed with delight.
“
Good God!” Bickerstaff shouted as he realised who it was.
“Are you entirely insane? This boy should be in hospital, not
travelling two hundred miles up the country!”
him and waved with every bit of strength he had in him. Dad was
fast approaching, flashing me a smile as he passed us to deliver
the boy to his family.
“
I’m sorry,” he said to Bickerstaff, “but he wouldn’t be told.
He insisted on coming up right away even if it killed
him.”
glanced at his new bride as she raced past him to join Mam and
Thomas in crushing Ieuan from all sides. The former doctor shook
his head, starting to grin.
“
That’s the Price family all over, I’m afraid,” he
concluded.
“
It’s Dad…” Leigh muttered, clearly stunned. He tapped my
hands where they were leaning on him. “Let’s go to him, Kit!” he
pleaded, more excited than I’d ever known him be.
us both as he came back towards us, but when he looked at me he
pointed again to the tree behind me. The other figure was still
there. I watched, open mouthed like a goldfish as the other person
stepped out from under the branches’ shadows, stretching his arms
wide open, his messy dark hair flying everywhere against the
wintery breeze.
“
Thirty paces!” Henri shouted.
go of Leighton’s shoulders.
“
No, no!” Henri shouted, half laughing, “Get your
aids!”
I knew that it was an all or nothing kind of motion. If I started
to run I wouldn’t be able to stop or I’d be face deep in the snow.
It was a soft landing, all things considered, so before anyone
could catch me I put every bit of power I had into my knees and ran
for it. The distance was much less than thirty steps when I was
running, jarring every bone in my body as I streaked desperately
towards Henri and his open arms. He watched in awe as I sped at
him, wrapping me up as I fell into his arms, my knees finally
spent.
He held me up
and kissed me deeply, sending warm tingles out all over my face
despite the cold air. I pulled him close, my arms around his neck
as I felt his warm body next to mine. It was a while before either
of us had breath again to speak, both grinning at each other like a
pair of Cheshire cats, trying to think of the perfect things to say
having spent so long apart. I had nothing, no words that could
express the relief and joy and completely all-consuming love that
was gripping me in that moment, but Henri looked me up and down and
grinned, creasing his lovely chocolate eyes.
“
You’re wearing the dress I made you.”
at myself; the navy fabric with the white polka dots was bright
against the white winter scene around me. I shrugged happily at
Henri.
“
I was the only bridesmaid, so I could pick whatever I wanted
to wear.”
me, his strong arms holding me steady again.
“
And you chose this?”
“
Always,” I replied.
“
All right Romeo, put the girl down.”
found us. I turned to find him being swiftly followed by my mother
and Leighton who were rushing up with my crutches. I took them
rather gratefully as my weak legs shook in the cold snow, grinning
when Henri kept a warm arm around my waist still. Dad rested his
hand on Mum’s shoulder and she took hold of it tightly. Leighton
stood in the middle of us all, smiling at everyone, until his
stomach gave a huge echoing growl.
“
I think that means lunchtime,” Henri observed as the rest of
us laughed.
a group at my slow pace back towards Ty Gwyn, where the newly
reformed Price family had bundled Ieuan into the wheelchair to take
him inside. Leighton steadied my walking on one side with Henri on
the other until we too were back at the kitchen door. The smell of
fresh cakes invited us in and Leigh broke free to attack them.
Henri turned to me and kissed my cheek softly.
“
I love you,” he whispered.
“
Love you too,” I mouthed, eyeing my Mum and Dad
carefully.
too had gone inside, Dad stopped Mum and I from following. He gave
me a sombre look; his dark eyes open wide with thought.
“
This war’s not over, you know,” he said quietly, “Henri will
have to go back into service soon.” I gulped; it was the last thing
I needed to hear on such a happy day. “But,” my father continued,
“I was thinking of pulling him into my department, given his
experience so far.”
“
Henri, a spy?” I asked in disbelief.
“
He’d make a fine one,” Mum added, “but he’d need an assistant
at home of course.”
standing there together, but not as my parents any longer. They
were an operational team, working side by side to rescue good men
from the war and help occupied populations fight back against the
oppression of the Hun. And now they were inviting me to be part of
the family business, to learn how to really help Henri like I’d
wanted to all along. I nodded furiously, unable to even say yes.
Mum swallowed all her reservations, looking to Dad for reassurance.
He grinned proudly at us both and gave a little nod, turning to
lead us indoors.
No expense
had been spared in collecting as much food as Mam could muster,
gathering all our rations together to produce a splendid feast.
When I found my place at the overcrowded table Leighton had a
mouthful of cream and jam. His skinny legs were swinging happily as
I sat down beside him, watching Mum and Dad trek off to the places
laid for them at the other end of the kitchen. My little brother
looked at me and his eyes widened suddenly. He dropped the food he
was eating and waved his hand for my attention as he tried to chew
and swallow faster than was humanly possible.
“
Don’t do that, you’ll choke,” I sat, slapping his back as he
coughed, “what is it?”
had finally got his mouthful down he cleared his throat, pulling my
ear nearer to speak in a hushed voice.
“
Kit,” he began carefully, “you know that psychic stuff that
Idrys told us about ages ago?”
“
Yes?” I replied, my breath hitching in my throat.
in a little gasp of his own, breaking into an excited grin.
“
I think I can do it.”
