Page 77 of Serenity Falls

She watches them go, relief washing over her. It strikes her that she should try to document this. Then she has something to show Dad. To prove it really happened. She runs back upstairs and grabs her phone off the bedside table. She hurries to her window and holds it up. She’s just about to take a photo when the phone vibrates in her hand, making her jump and drop it with a clatter.

‘Shit, shit, shit.’

She picks the phone up from the floor. Unknown number. ‘Hello?’

The same distorted voice as before: ‘Never let them know you’re awake. Never let them in.’

Ellen

I lay awake at night, thinking about the Freya problem. What to do about her? How to usurp this little cuckoo in the nest?

As it turns out, I needn’t have lost any sleep. It was Freya herself who gave me the solution (quite literally) the very next day.

A ring at my doorbell interrupted my weekly sink bleach. I answered to find her standing outside in one of her shapeless floral dresses, socks and sandals. She smiled nervously and blinked at me through a pair of thick, ugly glasses. I frowned. I didn’t know Freya wore glasses.

‘Oh, hello. I hope I’m not bothering you.’

The fact she was here at all was bothering me.

‘Well, I am a little busy,’ I said, and hoped she got the hint.

‘Oh, well, I just wanted to stop by to say thank you for letting me judge the Pumpkin Patch competition. I didn’t want to step on any toes. But I am so looking forward to it – and if you have any tips at all, that would be greatly appreciated.’

Plenty, I thought. But none I could repeat.

‘Well, I wouldn’t want to step on your toes,’ I said, with a light laugh. ‘And really, it’s a relief to get a break this year. I’ll be fresher next time around.’

‘Right.’ She blinked again, like some kind of overgrown female Harry Potter. ‘Well, okay. It’s good to have your blessing.’

Blessing. When did I give the stupid girl my blessing?

I nodded. ‘Is that all, Freya, as I am a little busy?’

‘Oh, yes. In fact, I must get going. I need to pick up some contact lens solution. I hate wearing these.’ She gestured at the glasses.

I paused. ‘I didn’t realize you wore contacts.’

‘Oh, yes. Blind as a bat without them. Can’t believe I ran out of solution.’ A quick, nervous smile. She half raised her hand. ‘Bye.’

I watched her go thoughtfully, and an idea formed in my head. I smiled.

The call came through the following evening. I’d been expecting it, but I tried to convey just the right amount of shock and sympathy.

‘She’s in hospital? What happened?’

Louise breathlessly informed me that it was Freya’s eyes. ‘They’ve been burnt, badly.’

‘Oh my. How awful.’

‘They think it must have been a contaminated batch of contact lens solution. She soaked the lenses overnight, and when she put them in the next day …’ She made a small choking noise.

‘Well, that is just shocking. You know, I’ve been saying for a while that you can’t trust brands like you used to. They’re all made in China. That’s why I’m an old-fashioned “make it myself”-type person.’ I paused. ‘Do they think her eyesight will recover?’

‘I don’t know. Hopefully. But not right away. They’re keeping her at the hospital overnight.’

‘Of course.’ I waited for a moment, and then, as if it had just occurred to me: ‘I suppose this means Freya won’t be able to judge the Pumpkin Patch carving competition.’

‘It’s doubtful.’