Lies Like Love

SEPTEMBER: LEO

The new kids from the Grange moved in a line across the horizon. Leo had watched them take the path out of the woods and followed at a distance. They hadn’t seen him, were unaware of anything else, just focused on walking their own line, treading it like tightrope walkers. It was the girl that caught his eye though, holding her little brother’s hand and tugging him along so he didn’t fall too far behind. She was different looking: all sharp angles. Her T-shirt stuck to her body, her long hair scorching out behind her, a pale flame. Every now and then it looked as though she might take off, as if the wind would pick her up and throw her into the sky. And then Leo caught the jut of her chin, something defiant in it, saw the strength of the arm and the hand that held on to her brother, and thought no, she was definitely earthbound.

He could have caught up with them then and introduced himself but Sue had plans for that later. There weren’t any other families at the Grange – no one local would live there, not with the stories that came out after the place shut down – and Sue thought they must be lonely, moving in and discovering the building deserted. His aunt was making them a casserole; he could smell it from out in the yard.

‘Leo, where’ve you been?’ Her face was rosy with the heat from the oven. Sue still had her wellies on and Mary was sniffing round the floor, looking for a treat. ‘I thought you’d got lost.’

‘No. Just out for a wander.’

‘Good. That’s what weekends are for. Doing nothing. Kids these days don’t do enough of it.’

Leo threw his coat off and narrowly avoided being thrashed by Mary’s tail as he sank into the sofa to pull off his boots.

‘Don’t get comfy. We’re going to the Grange. That new family I told you about? They’re in.’

‘I know. I just saw the kids.’

‘And?’

‘And what?’

‘Verdict?’

‘Looked nice, I guess. I mean, I don’t know. It was from a distance.’

‘So why the blush?’ His aunt was looking at him with a big grin on her face and Leo laughed.

‘Sue, you’re ridiculous. Quit it. I don’t need a girlfriend.’

‘Who said anything about girlfriend?’ she teased. ‘I just thought you might be lucky, find a kindred spirit. I didn’t even know there was a girl involved, how could I?’

‘Yeah, yeah. Come on, let’s go. And stop stirring.’

‘Never.’ She handed him the basket and they set off over the fields towards the Grange, which loomed darker than ever, Leo thought, only one small light in one small window promised a welcome.