Saved by The Bird

Chapter six

Miss Peregrines P.O.V

The boat pulls into Cairnholm's small harbour and we leave it, walking towards my loop. I allow Mackenzie to run ahead as long as she stays within eyesight. Aoife and I walk slowly along the beach together, when we get to the small cave like tunnel that marks as the entrance to my loop, both Mackenzie and Aoife falter. Mackenzie looks at me before grabbing Aoife's hand.

"I thought we didn't have to go back. This looks like going back."

"What do you mean Mackenzie?"

"Daddy always had us in a dark place he..."

She stops speaking as Aoife puts a hand gently over her mouth.

"Miss Peregrine... Alma, doesn't need to know all the details Mack."

I almost smile at her calling me by my given name but frowned instead, taking in what she had said.

"You can tell me anything, but for the moment in time being, no. This is just the entrance to my loop, it's a tunnel. I'm not locking you up anywhere."

Mackenzie nods her head and grins at me her mood changing quickly, pulling Aoife forward through the loop entrance. We emerge from the other side into the sun and I guide the girls towards the house. 

"I'll let you meet all of the children when we get up to the house. It's almost lunch time so you will be able to meet them over a meal before you get settled into your own rooms."

We arrive at the house and I say goodbye to a fellow ymbryne that has been taking care of my wards and resetting the loop before leading the girls into the parlour where my children are waiting for us. 

When the three of us entered the room, all eyes were on the newcomers.

"Children, this is Aoife and Mackenzie, they are going to come live with us. Mackenzie is eight, and her big sister Aoife is twenty two. Aoife will be helping me out around here and Mackenzie will be joining us as another one of my wards. Please remember your manners and be kind. I am going to make lunch. In the mean time, why don't you show Mackenzie and Aoife around."

I turn to Aoife.

"Unless of course, you would like to help with lunch."

Aoife looks down at Mackenzie, a silent communication passing through them before Aoife nods her head at me and lets go of her sisters hand in favour of following me to the kitchen. Behind us I hear Claire excitedly introducing herself and Bronwyn to Mackenzie as I had a feeling she would. 

Aoife's P.O.V

I watch Alma as she moves gracefully about her kitchen collecting things from different areas.

"I thought I would make the children a pasta salad today. Does that sound good to you?"

I nod my head even though I have no idea what she's talking about, I've never eaten what she's talking about, but I do know what the two items of food are separately so I assume she's combining them. She fills a pan with pasta before pouring water on it and lighting the stove.

"Why don't you help me chop the vegetables?"

She places two boards and two knifes on the counter infront of her. I purse my lips, not sure if I'm allowed to tell her that I've never used a knife to chop things before. I wasn't allowed to when I was younger in case I hurt myself, and when I got older I wasn't allowed to use them for other reasons. Alma places a few carrots beside the board I assume is mine as she starts cutting a few others on her board. I pick up the knife and watch Alma as she chops her carrots. I try to copy her as she quickly slices them into small pieces. I wince as I miss the carrot and the knife cuts me instead. The woman next to me quickly notices it and frowns, grabbing a clean dishtowel. She smiles at as she leads me to the sink, letting water pour gently over the small cut.

"I probably should have told you to be careful but I thought you were old enough to know that."

She teases me as she dries my hand.

"It's like you haven't used a knife before."

I blush, a little embarrassed.

"I haven't."

"Sorry?"

"I haven't used a knife before."

Surprise flits across across her face for a second before it's replaced with a calm smile again.

"Well your hand is fine, it wasn't a bad cut so I expect you to keep helping me."

She pulls me gently back over to the counter.

"Let's teach you how to use a knife first though. I do not want any more accidents."

She starts chopping her carrot slowly, showing me how to cut it in half and then do the same with the halves before slicing them vertically into smaller pieces. I manage to finish the first one on my own but when I start on the second the knife slips again and I cut the carrot at a strange angle. Alma slowly moves to stand behind me and takes my hands into her own. She presses herself gently against me as she looks over my shoulder to see. She guides my hands and we get through the carrots together before moving onto tomatoes and a bunch of other vegetables. When we finish and she moves away from me to check the pasta I find myself missing her warmth. I can't remember the last time someone had held me so carefully.

AN

Ok so this was not the best chapter but I didn't know exactly what to write so...

Anyway, hope you like it.

Also I just realised I posted the wrong thing a little while ago so I apologise for that. I was meant to publish this chapter but published my psychology answer that I had kept in with this story's chapters so I wouldn't lose it when it wasn't saving. Sorry🤣