Woodlington

Chapter 22 - Waiting

That night, Alex couldn't sleep a wink.

Countless times she was on the verge of throwing aside her covers and visiting the circle, but always she talked herself out of it. Truth was, she didn't want to feel peaceful, or clever, or fiery, or any of it.

She just wanted everything to be over.

Her one, solitary consolation, was that for the time being, Jessie was safe.

With her own eyes, she'd watched her pass through the door at the bottom of the well into Peddlers Hill.

Now, there was nothing to do but wait.

Easier said than done of course.

Unanswered questions circled around like vultures: 'Why would Harold want to make friends with her mother?' 'Why did he have pictures of them in his caravan?' 'Why had he waited seven years before coming after Jessie?' And why did Abby and Beth refuse to believe he was Whiskey?

Nothing made any sense.

What irked her most though, were the words of Elizabeth.

Twice they'd searched the caravan now, and twice she'd failed to find the promised 'everything ye need'.

Just what was supposed to be in there?

Though a part of her knew she was being selfish, Alex couldn't help feeling sorry for herself.

Why was all this happening now?

Why couldn't she have had a few months to enjoy the things she'd never had - her new house, her new friend, her new magical life? Why, the very minute she'd been given them, was someone trying to take it all away?

Realising there was no way she was getting any sleep, Alex kicked free of her covers and rolled out of bed.

Drastic times called for drastic measures.

She headed for the bookcase.

On the bottom shelf was a jigsaw puzzle, one of the things Mrs Cribb had returned. It showed an old wizard practising alchemy.

She pulled it out, tucked it under an arm, and headed downstairs.

Hours later, she fitted the final piece and sat back.

There, all done.

And just in time too.

Already there were footsteps from above. Her mother was awake.

When Mrs Dowling entered the living room and saw Alex sitting in front of the finished puzzle, she frowned.

"Have you been up all night?"

"Couldn't sleep," said Alex, stifling a yawn. "Time is it?"

"Nearly eight."

"Is that all?"

She groaned.

"What you doing up this early?"

Mrs Dowling cast a shifty look around her.

"Didn't get much sleep myself."

'Ha, bet you didn't' thought Alex bitterly.

Suddenly, she noticed her mother was holding the radio she kept next to her bed.

"What're you doing with that?" she asked, nodding at it.

"Thought we'd listen to the news downstairs this morning, see if there's been any developments. Plug it in for us will you? I'll make you a coffee."