Read Online Bringing the Summer by Julia Green - Free Book Online Page A

he’s implying something else, something more cynical, but I won’t take the bait.
    â€˜And I get the privilege instead. Poor old Gabes!’
    I get up. ‘I’m going to change.’ I take my clothes and walk down the path, to find a big enough tree to hide behind.
    By the time I return, he’s also got dressed into his black jeans, black T-shirt.
    â€˜Do you want to stay longer, and read, or draw, or whatever?’ He sounds less arrogant now.
    â€˜Gabes might be awake. Let’s go back.’
    â€˜As you will.’ That wry, laconic smile flits over his face. He leads the way along the path. He stops near a tree, peers down into the stream. ‘There’s an old pike lives in here somewhere. Do you know that Ted Hughes poem?
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜I’ll find it for you, when we get home.’
    It’s clouded over. Looks like rain again. At the stile, Theo climbs over first then holds out his hand to help me down, even though I don’t need help. He keeps hold of my hand the rest of the way, as far as the house track, and I let him. There’s something powerful about him: a dark kind of magic, winding me in.
    Just before we arrive at the house, he lets go of my hand, and looks directly into my eyes. ‘Lucky Gabes. I wish I’d found you first.’ He turns away, walks down to the courtyard and into the house, before I can challenge him.
    Found me? As if I’m some sort of object, lying around waiting to be discovered! But despite that, his words leave me feeling – what, exactly? Excited, I think. As if I’ve got some sort of power or magic of my own, now, to match his.
    Â 
    Maddie’s cooking in the kitchen. She looks up as we come in. ‘Nice swim?’
    â€˜Yes, thanks,’ I say. ‘Freezing cold but still delicious. How’s Gabes?’
    â€˜Awake, bored. Watching some film. Go and find him. He’ll be glad to see you.’
    Theo doesn’t speak. He goes straight out of the kitchen. I listen to his feet thumping upstairs.
    Gabes looks very fed up. He flicks the remote to turn off the film.
    I sit down at the end of the sofa. ‘Are you feeling better?’
    â€˜You were ages,’ he says.
    â€˜You were sleeping. I didn’t think you’d mind.’
    He flicks the film back on. I watch with him for a while. ‘I need to hang out my wet things,’ I say. He nods without looking at me.
    I rinse out my swimsuit at the kitchen sink. ‘Wring it out well, then put it to dry in the utility room,’ Maddie says. She smiles. ‘I’m assuming you’re staying for supper, Freya? And you’re welcome to stay over, tonight. Laura’s room’s free. Or I can take you home later, if you prefer?’
    Nick comes in with the twins, one on each arm. Phoebe stretches her arms out towards me and makes little crowing sounds. She can’t talk yet.
    I’m absurdly pleased. ‘Hey, Phoebe!’ I say, taking her from Nick. Her small body is so warm and light. She hardly weighs a thing. Her head, downy soft, nestles under my chin.
    â€˜I’d love to stay,’ I say to Maddie. ‘Thanks. I’ll call Mum.’ I pass Phoebe back to Nick, so I can use my phone. I take it into the hallway.
    Mum isn’t there, so I leave a message on the answerphone. I go back into the kitchen. ‘Where am I, exactly? This house, I mean? So I can tell my parents.’
    Nick laughs. ‘Home Farm. The village is Southfield. We’re a mile from the village, though.’ He opens a bottle of wine, pours a glass for himself and one for Maddie. ‘Freya?’
    I shake my head. ‘No thanks.’
    I help lay the table.
    â€˜Would you be a love and go and see if there are any courgettes in the kitchen garden?’ Maddie asks me. ‘And spinach. Enough for eight. Thanks, darling.’
    I go back to the sitting-room door. ‘Gabes? Want to come with me, to pick stuff? You can