Read Online Magic at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant - Free Book Online

now…then they’re coming back here and I’ll find out the worst.”
    â€œOr you might find out the best. I’ll go and get you that tea, hon, and a fresh dressing for your hand, and let’s hope for the best, eh?”
    By three o’clock I was in such a state. I’d been trying to read my book, but I felt so tired all the time. The kind nurse encouraged me to lie down properly in the bed and have a sleep.
    â€œA general anaesthetic really takes it out of you, you know, hon, and –” her voice softened – “I think you’ve had a bit of a setback with the news you’ve had, too.”
    I did as I was told and lay there, tense and knotted. But exactly the same thing happened that had happened the day before. My tension must have somehow slipped into tiredness, and when I woke up I was shocked to realize I’d been asleep and even more shocked to see Mamma and Papà there.
    â€œHello, cara !”
    The knots came straight back into my stomach as I remembered the awfulness of the news I’d had earlier. I searched my parents’ faces for any sign of what they were about to say now.
    â€œHow are you?” asked Papà.
    â€œI’m okay. How…did the meeting go?”
    â€œEverything is sorted out,” said Mamma. “Ms. Carmichael and Mrs. Pridham were full of praise for you. They’re so sorry to be losing you, of course, but they completely understand why.”
    Now there was a big stone crushing the knots, squashing them so I couldn’t feel them any more, but weighing my spirits down with its heaviness.
    â€œMrs. Pridham talked about the Italian evening, Toni,” said Papà, and I saw a little gleam in his eye and felt the tiniest ray of hope. “She asked me if I would do some cooking.” Papà chuckled, but it seemed like the kind of chuckle you might do if you thought something was ridiculous, so then the stone pressed harder, flattening my spirits even more.
    â€œWe didn’t know about the Italian evening until Mrs. Pridham mentioned it,” said Mamma, “and we both thought what a lovely goodbye it would be for you. So Papà would be happy to cook and you’ll be pleased to hear we’ve changed the train booking to Sunday.”
    Everything lightened inside me. “Oh, that’s great!” I sat myself up a bit straighter, and out of the corner of my eye I saw the nurse who’d been so kind to me hovering nearby. Maybe she was wondering how I was getting on. I wasn’t really sure myself, as there was one important thing I still had to know, and I was dreading the answer.
    â€œDid…Mrs. Pridham…tell you what I’m supposed to be doing at the Italian evening?”
    â€œYes, she explained that you have quite an important role,” said Papà.
    â€œAnd that you have to practise your play,” Mamma added.
    I swallowed and waited. The nurse was waiting too. When I flicked my eyes to the right I could see her at the nurses’ station, standing quite still and looking directly at me.
    â€œMrs. Pridham seems to think you’ll be able to manage at school until the weekend,” said Papà. He shook his head slowly. “I can’t say we’re over the moon about it, because you’d be so much safer in the hotel with us.” Then he shrugged. “But apparently it’s not the first time someone at Forest Ash has broken a leg.”
    â€œSo…I’m allowed to go back to Silver Spires?”
    â€œWe’ve agreed to let you stay there till Sunday morning, yes. Our train is at three twenty. And, Antonia…” Papà’s eyes were boring into mine. I swallowed. “We’re not changing our minds. You do understand that, don’t you?”
    That last bit was awful. But at least I wasn’t going immediately. I had five more nights at Silver Spires in Emerald dorm with my friends. That was something.
    I subtly nodded