The Soft Whisper of Dreams (22 page)

As they neared the camp she saw children running about and women hanging washing up to dry in the sun. She scanned their faces, but the familiar one of Madame Romar was nowhere in sight. The gypsies stopped talking when Maddie and Nell walked towards the nearest Winnebago and the oldest one stepped forward cautiously.

‘Can I help you?’ The woman’s clothes were colourful, albeit not as garish as the ones Madame Romar had worn for her fortune-telling. They were also a lot more modern.

‘Well, I’m not sure, but I’m looking for a lady by the name of Madame Romar. She tells fortunes at fairs and I wondered if by any chance she was here?’

‘Yes, I’m here.’ Maddie spun round. Madame Romar was standing in the doorway of the next camper van, dressed almost entirely in black and Maddie had to look hard before she recognised the woman. ‘What do you want with me?’

It wasn’t an auspicious beginning and Maddie swallowed hard before stammering out her request. ‘I-I, er ... j-just wondered i-if I could have a word with you. I would appreciate your help.’ Nell had sidled up to her and clutched at her hand. There was no outright antagonism from any of the gypsies, but there were no welcoming smiles either. Everyone stood stock still waiting for Madame Romar’s next words. The old woman took her time before finally giving a curt nod.

‘Very well. Come in.’ She turned on her heel and disappeared into the van and Maddie followed reluctantly. Now that she’d found the woman it didn’t seem like such a good idea any longer.

‘Do we have to go in there?’ Nell whispered.

Maddie squeezed the little girl’s hand reassuringly. ‘Only for a few moments, I promise. It won’t take long. Or you can sit on the steps and wait for me? Just so long as I can see you.’

‘No, I want to stay with you.’

Inside it was surprisingly roomy and spotlessly clean. Madame Romar waved them onto a small built-in sofa and they sat down. The woman pulled up a chair and seated herself opposite them.

‘You have come to ask me questions, am I right?’

‘Um, yes. If you don’t mind? I will pay you, of course.’ Maddie blinked when the woman shook her head almost angrily.

‘No,’ Madame Romar barked. ‘You have already paid me and I’ve told you all I can. I cannot help you any further.’

‘But ... part of what you told me has come true and I wondered, that is, can’t you give me a few more details? It’s all so confusing.’ Maddie drew in a deep breath to stem the tide of disappointment washing over her.

‘Of course my prediction has come true. I told you the truth, not the nonsense I tell most people.’ Madame Romar shook her head. ‘Bah! They’re idiots, most of them. They hear only what they want to hear anyway, so that’s what I tell them. But you were different. I can’t be more specific, however, you have to figure it out for yourself. That’s part of the solution.’

Maddie frowned. ‘I’ve tried to understand your meaning, but your words don’t make sense.’

The woman gave a cackling laugh. ‘Maybe not now, but they will. You have to be patient, my dear. Some prophesies take years to happen and when they do you will know. Patience is difficult for young people, I know, but it has to be learned.’

‘I see.’ Maddie stood up. ‘Well, thank you for talking to me anyway. I’m sorry to have disturbed you in your home.’

‘Not at all. You’re welcome any time. You are almost like family, just as the little one is.’ Madame Romar smiled at Nell, who looked up in surprise.

‘Me? You mean because of Great-great-something grandpa Jago?’

‘Certainly I do. His mother was my great-great-something aunt, so you’re practically one of us. In fact, Jago was the one who made sure we had the right to camp here whenever we want.’ The old woman’s smile broadened and Nell’s shyness evaporated instantly.

‘I talk to him a lot, you know,’ she confided.

Madame Romar nodded. ‘Good for you. He can hear you, but I’m afraid he can’t answer.’

‘I know. He only talked to Kayla and ―’

‘Come on, chatterbox,’ Maddie interrupted. ‘I’m sure Madame Romar has things to do.’ She took Nell by the hand and led her out into the blinding sunshine once more. As she began to descend the steps the old woman put a hand on her shoulder.

‘There may be more danger to come, but believe in happiness and I think everything will work out.’

‘Thank you.’ Maddie turned away to hide the tears that appeared from nowhere. The words were small comfort, but comfort nonetheless. She stared at the ground as they left the camp and didn’t notice whether any of the other families watched their departure.

‘Was it today you were going to see Mr Ruthven?’ Kayla asked on the Friday morning.

‘Yes, this afternoon.’ The endless three days had finally snailed past and Maddie was in a state of nervous exhaustion. Her fingernails had never been more abused and she’d even had to resort to putting plasters on some of them. Nailbiting was a stupid habit and one she really must stop, she reflected.

She looked up and caught Alex’s gaze on her again. He had developed an uncanny ability to come down to breakfast at the same time as Maddie every morning and today was no exception. Alex never sought her company deliberately, but more often than not he seemed to be around. He winked at her now and she scowled back, casting an uneasy glance towards Kayla to see if she had noticed the exchange, but Kayla was absorbed in feeding Edmund. The little boy was becoming very wilful and every second spoonful of apple porridge went somewhere other than into his mouth; either on the table, the floor or on himself and his mother.

‘I’ll come with you,’ Alex suddenly announced.

‘I’m sorry, what?’ Maddie had been miles away and had forgotten the previous topic of conversation.

‘To see Mr Ruthven,’ Alex explained. ‘I don’t think you should go alone. He might be another crazy old coot. There seem to be a lot of them about.’

‘Oh, yes, do take Alex with you,’ Kayla agreed before exclaiming, ‘Oh, Eddie, now look what you’ve done!’ The little boy chortled with laughter at the sight of his mother’s T-shirt covered in porridge and Maddie had to turn away to hide a smile. She soon grew serious again though.

‘I’d rather go by myself actually,’ she told Alex. ‘I’m sure Mr Ruthven isn’t dangerous and I’ll tell him that you all know where I am.’

Alex shook his head. ‘Not good enough. If he’s a nutter he won’t care if anyone knows. Look at the other guy. Everyone’s after him, but that doesn’t stop him.’

‘It’s been days now and no one has seen him. He’s probably left the area, maybe even fled abroad.’

‘I don’t think so. And Foster told me he thought he saw someone hanging around the gates yesterday, although when he tried to go after him, the man disappeared.’

Maddie gasped. ‘Blake-Jones?’ The name came out as a whisper as she couldn’t make her voice work suddenly.

Alex shook his head. ‘No, a guy in a knitted hat, but still …’

‘Alex is right, Maddie,’ Kayla said firmly. ‘You can’t go alone. If you won’t take him, then I’ll have to ask Wes to go with you.’

‘I’m not a baby,’ Maddie grumbled. ‘Oh, okay then, come with me if you want to, but you’ll probably be bored silly,’ she told Alex.

‘In your company? Never.’ He grinned at her and she gritted her teeth to keep from throwing something at him.

‘Do you know what I like most about being in your company?’ Alex asked as they drove along the now familiar route later that day.

‘I couldn’t guess in a million years,’ Maddie muttered and stared out the window on her side of the car.

‘It’s so restful. You don’t chatter constantly like Nell and the boys or whisper sweet nothings to each other like Kayla and Wes. Always silent and peaceful.’ He sighed. ‘Mind you, one can have too much of a good thing sometimes.’

‘Oh, shut up, Alex.’ She turned a fulminating look on him and he chuckled.

‘Well, at least I got you to look at me with those beautiful green eyes of yours. I do so love it when they shoot sparks.’ Maddie hit him on the shoulder.

‘Now, now, you don’t want me to drive off the road, do you? You’d better cool that red-head’s temper of yours before you see Mr Ruthven.’

‘Hmmph.’ Maddie crossed her arms over her chest. ‘If you weren’t here there wouldn’t be anyone to put me in a temper.’

Alex just chuckled again. He’d discovered how much he enjoyed teasing her and as it seemed the only way to communicate with her at the moment, it would have to do.

But not for much longer.

They parked in front of Wisteria Lodge this time and stopped to look up at the house.

‘Must be a lovely view of the sea from the top floor,’ Alex mused and shaded his eyes with one hand. ‘This house is quite high up on the hill.’

‘Yes, it’s beautiful, isn’t it,’ Maddie agreed. ‘A happy house,’ she added quietly to herself. Just like the one in her dream.

Alex went towards the gate, but Maddie stopped him. ‘No, we have to go round the back. Mr Ruthven said there was something wrong with the front door.’

‘Oh, okay.’ He followed her towards the fence and this time he helped her with a steadying hand before vaulting over himself.

Maddie strode off through the field towards the back, but stopped to wait for Alex before rounding the hedge. Her heart was hammering inside her chest and now the time had come she was afraid. Alex must have noticed that something was wrong, because he took her hand as he came up to her.

‘What’s the matter, Maddie?’ He scanned her eyes with a serious expression on his face.

‘I … well, it’s really silly, but I’m scared. I’m afraid of what I will find out, but I’m also afraid I won’t find anything out. Does that make sense?’

He gathered her close and wrapped his strong arms around her in a comforting hug. She didn’t resist, she needed his strength right now. ‘Don’t worry. Whatever it is, it’s always better to know. You’ll be fine.’

‘I guess so.’ She leaned into him for a moment, breathing in the clean, masculine scent of him in deep, calming breaths. Finally she pushed him slowly away. ‘Okay, let’s go slay my dragons.’

They rounded the hedge and Maddie was faced once more with her dream vision – the back of the house, the profusion of climbing plants and roses and the swing. She swallowed and clenched her fists by her side before approaching the gate. Alex opened it for her and she entered slowly, taking it all in.

‘It’s a lovely garden,’ Alex commented. ‘I can see why you would want to dream about it.’

She gave him a small, tight smile. He was trying to put her at ease and she appreciated his efforts, but right now she was too apprehensive to be calmed by small-talk. She walked over to the swing and reached out to touch the rough hemp ropes and the wooden seat, grey with age. Every fibre of her being cried out that it belonged to her and she wanted to shout it out loud. This is my swing! But of course she didn’t. She simply stared at it, lost in her dream.

‘Ah, Ms Browne, there you are.’ Maddie swung around in time to see a man emerge from the back door of the house and walk towards them with a smile on his face. A red-haired man with a beard.

All of a sudden Maddie had trouble breathing. It was as if something was attempting to squeeze the air out of her lungs. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t pull in a breath. Her eyes blurred and a sliver of darkness obscured her vision, growing ever larger until she couldn’t see anything at all. She heard herself moan, then there was nothing ...

Chapter Twenty-Two

‘Maddie, please wake up, love.’ Alex’s voice, calling to her from afar, came closer and Maddie fought her way through the enveloping darkness to the bright surface. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she squinted into the sun, then flung up a hand to shield her eyes.

‘Alex?’ she croaked. She found that she was lying down on a hard bench and tried to sit up, but a hand pushed her firmly down again.

‘Don’t try to sit up yet, you’ll probably feel nauseous. Mr Ruthven has gone to fetch you a glass of water.’

‘Mr Ruthven?’ She frowned, and then it all came flooding back to her. The red-haired man. The man from her dream. She sat bolt upright and discovered that Alex had been right. Her head swam abominably, but she ignored it and looked around wildly. There was no one there. Had she been dreaming again? ‘Where is he?’

As if in a trance, she saw the man come out of the house once more, through the door she knew so well, carrying a tray of cold drinks. He was a giant of a man with red hair, shot with silver, curling wildly around his head. His neatly trimmed beard was of a slightly darker hue and also had strands of grey, but was still very red. He smiled as he came closer and put the tray down on a table near the bench on which she had been lying. Then he brought her a glass and knelt in front of her.

‘So, you’ve decided to come back at last, Sorcha,’ he said as he handed her the drink. Maddie took it automatically and continued to stare at him, mesmerised.

‘Come back?’ she repeated, parrot-fashion. Her mind appeared to be full of cotton wool and refused to function properly.

‘Yes. You’ve been here before. You said you remembered, didn’t you?’

‘Yes, I remembered the house, but I thought I’d only dreamed of being here.’ He was still kneeling in front of her and without thinking she put out a hand to touch his cheek and the rough beard which felt scratchy against her fingers.

He smiled again. ‘Oh, aye?’

‘You called me Sorcha, so you must have known me when I was a baby. Did my mother and I used to visit you here, Mr Ruthven?’

This time he grinned broadly. ‘You could say that, but I would rather you didn’t call me “Mr Ruthven”.’

She frowned. ‘Why?’

‘I’d much prefer it if you called me “Dad”, but if not, Brian will do.’

Both Maddie and Alex gasped and looked at each other and Maddie wondered if she was about to faint again. The dizziness had returned with a vengeance, but somehow the man’s words were not really a surprise and she managed to control her spinning head. A part of her had known the truth of it as soon as she saw him come through that door.

‘No, don’t pass out on me again, my girl, you’re much too big to be carried around these days.’