Grace

Chapter 23

I was down stairs for breakfast before anyone else the next morning. Normally the kitchen staff didn't let anyone in early, but I think they must have taken pity on me because they gave me tea and toast to tide me over until everything else was set out. I tucked in as my stomach rumbled loud enough to be mistaken for an earthquake. I wasn't even in uniform yet. Pyjamas weren't allowed to be worn downstairs, but it had been hurry down here or keel over.

Ben walked in a couple of minutes later looking tired and as though he'd been up for a little while already. He heavily sat down opposite me.

"May I?" he asked pointing to my toast.

"I guess," I said around a mouthful. "Chores?"

He nodded. "I had to help wash the windows this morning. After rowing tonight I get to scrub toilets."

"Awwww."

He scowled. "Did it for you."

I reached over and squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

He squeezed back and smiled a little.

"Don't suppose you can help me figure out how to get out of the Spanish Inquisition later?"

"Master MacLachlan called yesterday whilst you were sleeping. We were supposed to go and see him," he said.

"Ooh, that's great! I'll go straight after rowing."

"Alternatively you could just tell them you don't really want to talk about it which, coincidentally, is also the truth."

"Is that really going to cut it with Chi?" I asked.

"Probably not, but it's worth a try."

"I like the first idea better. I'll do that whilst you are scrubbing toilets."

"I didn't even mean to say it," he groaned. "I just... I was really worried about you. Everyone was."

"Worth it for the rest of us though. You know what, I might just get Tony to record it to preserve the moment forever."

"I said it by mistake, Grace."

"A mistake we're all going to profit from," I smiled.

"Here you two go," one of the kitchen staff said and put plates that were piled high with fried breakfast goodness in front of us.

"Thank you," we both said and tucked in.

A little while later I was tackled from behind with a hug round the neck from Tarq.

"You ok?" he asked.

I nodded. "If you let me swallow my bacon."

He let me go and then went to get his own breakfast.

I was excused from chapel so that I could go to the doctors for a hand check up – I was fine thank god because I hated taking pills – and then it was a normal day at school though I felt oddly empty inside.

"It's because you let it all out," Master MacLachlan told me wisely.

I was hiding at his house after putting the new glass in his green house. We were sat by the fire drinking tea and eating biscuits. Ben was sat next to me quietly doing some revision for a politics exam.

"I was like that for a while after the war once I'd cried it all out."

"Really?" I asked.

"Oh yes," he said. "It's natural. Part of the healing process."