The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2123 by Angharad Copyright © 2013 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

“What’s the matter, Mummy?” I started, I hadn’t heard anyone approach so rapt was I in my thoughts.

“Hello, darling.”

“You’ve been crying.”

“Have I?” I knew damn well I had.

“Is it about me?”

“No, sweetheart.”

“I’ve seen Stephanie, she says I’m normal–ha–imagine that, me normal.”

“Yeah, you are normal.”

“I’m not am I?”

“Trish, you are the most normal genius I know.”

She beamed at me, “Thank you, Mummy.” She gave me a hug and for a moment I forgot about my loss. Then she reminded me, “Now, tell me why you were crying.”

“It wasn’t about you.”

“We’ve done that bit, remember?”

Sometimes I wondered which one of us was the eight year old. “I’m just tired, took too much of my energy to help Paul’s mum.”

“Oh yes, he’s here with Daddy, I told him that his mum was going to be okay.” One of these days ‘Foghorn Fanny’ is going to drop me so far into the mire I won’t be able to talk my way out of it.

“Was that wise?”

“I thought so, he was worried that she was going to be worse and not be able to recognise him.”

“I see.” I didn’t but who cares?

“So I said we’d both worked on her and she was looking much better before we left, Daddy then took him to one side, so I expect they’ll be along any time to burn you as a witch.”

“Probably,” I said but wasn’t really listening.

“Where shall I tell them to build the bonfire?”

“Oh anywhere.”

“Won’t it catch the castle alight?”

“What?” I had no idea what she was talking about.

“The bonfire.”

“What bonfire?” I don’t remember anyone talking about a bonfire.

“The one they’re going to build.”

“They? Who are they?”

“The ones who’re going to burn you as a witch.”

“Trish, what are you on about?”

“See, I knew you weren’t listening.”

Damn, she had me there, normally she only talks about shaving the cat or getting a tattoo. “Sorry, darling, I’m a little preoccupied.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“My mind is on other things.”

“I’d never have guessed.”

“You cheeky little madam.”

She chuckled and I chuckled with her. “That’s better, now are you going to speak to Paul, ’cos he’s waiting.”

“Oh goodness, look at me, go and tell him I’ll be along in a few minutes.”

“Alright, but you’d better hurry.”

It was about ten minutes later when I went down to the sitting room where Paul was seated talking to Simon, presumably about estate business. Their ages were about the same, early thirties and they’d known each other for years.

“Hi, Babes,” Simon always called me that even though I’d told him I prefer my own name. He gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek. I’d repaired my makeup, the little I’d been wearing and hoped the red eye wouldn’t show–I’d actually used pink eye shadow to try and disguise it.

“I was telling Paul that you sometimes have this ability to talk people out of illnesses.”

I smiled at Paul, “Hello,” I said quietly to them.

“Cathy,” he smiled back. “I hear Mum is doing quite well since you went to see her with Trish.”

“Ah, little miss ego,” I smiled.

He looked wryly at me for a moment before saying, “She does have a certain sort of je ne sais quoi.”

“Some things are better not known.”

He laughed.

“I did tell Paul to keep this under his hat,” Simon added.

I nodded.

“Don’t worry my lips are sealed and I’ll talk to Mum.”

“It’s usually the hospital we have to worry about, but we have quite a bit of influence there, so hopefully we can hush them up.” Simon was planning further ahead than I was. I was still consumed with dealing with my son/daughter.

“Simon was asking about bringing the children up to the farm tomorrow, I’ve spoken to the farm manager and he’s fine about it.”

I nodded, I didn’t feel much like conversation.

“Right, I have to get off, I’ll speak to them about those trees, oh and the eagles were around a couple of days ago, perhaps Cathy would like to see them?”

I nodded again, “Thank you, that would be good.”

“I’ll get one of the gillies to take you.”

He left with Simon seeing him off. I sat and waited for the salvo, it wasn’t long in coming. “What is the matter with you?”

I shrugged, “Tired, I suppose.”

“From doing his mother?”

“Yeah, it was worse than I thought.”

“Trish said she had to help you back.”

“Without her, I’d have died as well.”

He was about to take a bite of biscuit. “Died?”

“Yes, sometimes when I have to dig really deep to find them, it’s at some risk. I realised that was going to happen and asked Trish to watch out for me and to pull me back if necessary.”

“That’s it, you’re not doing any more of this stuff–I can’t afford to lose you.”

“It doesn’t work like that, and you know it.”

“Well it ought to, it’s ridiculous that a fit and healthy young woman should die trying to save someone whose sell by date has expired.”

“How d’you know mine hasn’t expired as well?”

He put the biscuit down. “Cathy, are you serious–because if you are–I’ll never let you out of my sight again. I couldn’t bear to lose you–you know that.”

“I don’t know, I mean, it nearly expired the day I first met Stella.”

“Oh the terminator–yeah, but we can’t get her to drive a car with a big cushion on the front.” He paused, “What else is bothering you?”

“Who said anything else was?”

“A certain psychiatrist who shall remain nameless.”

“She’ll be headless as well as nameless if she breaks a confidence again.”

“Ah, so I was right?”

“What d’you mean?”

“I haven’t seen Stephanie, but I know you were worried about the kids, especially Danni and Pia.”

I was going to have to watch him, he was cleverer than I thought. “So, I’m worried about Danni.”

“And Pia?”

“Pia isn’t our responsibility, Danni is.”

I told him what Stephanie had said about our son, he looked concerned then he looked at me. “This has thrown you, hasn’t it–his flitting back and fore.”

“I don’t know how to handle it, so what that says about me I hate to think.”

“I must admit I’m surprised. I’d have put money upon you being one of the few people who could deal with it.”

“You’re not concerned about having a child who swaps gender role when he or she feels like it?”

“No, but I’m not there as often as you. Isn’t it what happens in those Gaby stories you read to the kids?”

“That’s fiction, this is real.”

“Does that matter, you seem to cope with it there and have taught the children to do so as well, what’s the difference in applying that acceptance to your own child?”

He was definitely getting cleverer. “I understand what you mean and I don’t disagree. This difficulty is something I wasn’t expecting and it’s caught me on the raw for some reason.”

Simon walked over and hugged me. “I know you love our children with all your heart and I know you’ll deal with this.”

“I’m trying,” I said sniffing back the tears.

The door was knocked and in ran Mr Dunstan, “Sorry tae disturb ye, Sir, Madam, but ye’d better come quickly...”