“I’m sorry… I’ve heard so much about you.” She paused, looking down. “I just wish…” Her mother put her hand on Annie’s shoulder.
“Here.” May placed a steaming mug in front of me, I tipped sugar in and stirred whilst being watched closely by both of them. “Adam…” She smiled. “It’s lovely to see you, but, I do have some bad news for you.” My heart sunk, May quickly took my hand. “Oh no, not like that… She’s okay, it’s just complicated.”
I listened to both of them telling me what had happened. I must have sat there with my mouth open at times as my sister’s life seemed to be more like a soap opera and now she was on the run. It took me a few moments to take it all in. “So where is she now?”
“Adam, I’m sorry, I don’t know. She said it was for the best that we didn’t. I have a way to contact her through a newsagent in London. We can see if we can get in touch.”
“Okay… If you would.” I sighed, I’d been so close but missed her by such a short time.
“Would you like to stay here overnight?” May smiled. “Or longer if you wish, it’s very late for you to travel home. We can send a message, I have to be honest I don’t know how long it would take for a response…” She paused. “Do you have somewhere to go?”
I smiled. She’d seen I had arrived with a large holdall packed with my clothes as well as my riding boots and a schooling whip sticking from the top. I had left the farm and my foster parents. It was clear I was always welcome to stay, however, it was also clear that I was now an adult and it was time to spread my wings, therefore my sister’s letter had come at an opportune time, I thought I may have been able to find some work down South, and perhaps stay with her until things were settled.
“Look… You’re welcome here.” May smiled. “You’re family to us so why don’t you stay. Amanda told me you were a horseman so if you are willing to help us out around the yard you can have food and board and then you can decide what you want to do. We’ll try to contact Amanda and get you in touch with her if we can.”
“That would be amazing!” I smiled. I didn’t know these people yet they had made me feel welcome. Annie walked with me to the flat above the stables, explaining that Amanda had lived here before. She invited me for dinner later that evening and said that her mother would try to make contact with the newsagent.
***
“I called him.” May smiled waving me towards a chair at the dining table. I hadn’t eaten all day and the smell of fresh bread and whatever was in the lidded dish on the table was intoxicating. “A gentleman called Raj, he owns a newsagent near where your sister used to work. He has said that she calls every so often to see if there are any messages for her, and he will pass on our message. So, I am afraid it’s a bit of a waiting game.”
I thanked her smiling, waiting politely as May revealed a full roast chicken, roast potatoes and vegetables. Annie leapt forward grabbing a spoonful of potatoes before getting a stern glare from her mother. She dropped the spoon, mumbling an apology. “No please, ladies first” I smiled and handed the spoon back to her. She blushed deeply but still ensured that she had nabbed a large selection of the steaming potatoes before going on to fill her plate with the rest.
The food was amazing, the chicken melted in my mouth and I was soon satisfied, sitting back in my chair just as May placed a deep pie in the centre of the table. “I hope you left room for pie.”
After dinner we sat in the soft sofa’s of the front room, I glanced around at the photos, a selection mostly made up of horses and riders, a framed picture caught my eye and I gasped. I stood up slowly and picked up the picture. There she was, she was older but I would recognise my big sister anywhere, sat on a huge piebald horse, leaning down towards the camera a natural smile on her face.
“She’s beautiful…” Annie stood beside me. “I can see the family resemblance.” I glanced across to her and she looked down, blushing and averting her eyes. “Sorry…”
“No, please don’t be, it’s a compliment. My sister is very beautiful.”
***
I was soon yawning so May suggested that Annie walk me back to the stables flat. We strolled through the cool night air. “Thank you, Annie. I’ll see you in the morning.” I walked up the stairs, pausing to find the key she had given me earlier. I watched as Annie paused at the foot of the stairs. “Would you like to come up for a brew?”
She blushed. “I had better get back. Mum will wonder where I am.” She waved and quickly went in through the back door. I smiled to myself and closed the door, looking forward to a night’s sleep.
***
The sound of my alarm woke me with a start and I had to think where I was, I recognised the surroundings and started to get myself going. Annie and I soon fed and mucked out the horses, she said how this was like how it had been with my sister. We naturally fitted into a routine and the day passed with us developing our friendship.
The days passed, I enjoyed the hard work and the good horses, however, I missed my show ponies and showjumper I had left behind to start my new life. Annie would often join me for dinner and we could sit together in the flat enjoying simple pizza’s
