Through the Standing Stones

Chapter 14

Izzy introduced Simon to the sports channel on TV and headed off to the bedroom to call her uncle. Sat on the bed with her phone in her hand, she suddenly remembered the emails she had scheduled to send out later that day. Quickly opening her email app, she deleted them all with a relieved sigh.

Now feeling very nervous, she dialled Uncle Jon's number and sat with her stomach churning, wondering exactly what she would say to him and how he was going to react. He picked up after a few rings.

"Hello love it's good to hear from you, how you doing?" he asked cheerfully

"Hi uncle Jon. I'm okay.... I'm in England" she started to say.

"That's fantastic news love, why didn't you let me know. I'd have picked you up from the airport. Anything to see my lovely niece" he said immediately.

"I wasn't sure if I should call you, but, I'm in the Peak District, Uncle Jon" she said quietly, anticipating his reaction.

He seemed to stay quiet for too long, before sighing "Love, what are you doing back there? After everything that happened, why would you wanna go back?" he asked sounding upset.

"I had to Uncle Jon.......I had to come back and......find him. The man that saved my life" she said, struggling to get the words out.

"What are you talking about love? What man? I thought you couldn't remember. Wait, who saved your life?" he asked in quick succession.

Izzy glanced at the bedroom door, thinking about Simon in the next room "I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you and I didn't think you'd believe me" she said softly, feeling tears forming.

Uncle Jon sighed, "Sweetheart, talk to me. There's nothing you can't say to me love, that I won't hear" he said softly.

"I thought you'd think I was crazy if I tried to explain. But, when I went missing, no-one took me and I couldn't get home because there were people who wanted to harm us" she said now crying.

"Who wanted to harm you love? And who was this man that saved your life sweetheart?" he prodded, feeling his heart break at her distress, mixed with anger at the thought of someone putting her in danger.

"It's so hard to explain" she said trying to contain her sobs.

"Izzy love, listen to me. Is this man with you now? Are you in danger?" Jon asked feeling his hackles rise.

"He's here with me. We're at a air bnb in Elton, but no, I'm not in danger now" she said quietly. "We're safe, really. But we do need your help with something" she added.

She could hear him muttering under his breath as she waited to hear what else he'd say. "Stay where you are. I'm coming up" he said suddenly before ending the call.

Izzy knew that there was no point in arguing with him, he would come up no matter what she said. Taking a deep breath, she tried to reason that it was better that she try and speak to him about Simon in person. Her concerns however, were about how he'd react to meeting Simon. With his unusual way of speaking and his lack of understanding of their modern times, she feared her uncle would get suspicious.

Izzy walked back through to the sitting room where Simon was obviously concentrating on trying to understand a football game. She smiled as she watched him fascinated by what he was seeing on the TV screen.

Simon sensed she was there and immediately turned to her "This thing is mesmerising. All of these moving images, like observing villagers playing a game on the green" he said in awe. He noticed she looked concerned "Is all well with your uncle my lady?" he asked, no longer interested in the football.