Read Online Taking Flight by Sheena Wilkinson - Free Book Online

light from the open shed. Flight walks quietly with his head down. I suppose he’s knackered after all that jumping. I could walk him round all night but after ten minutes Vicky says, ‘He’ll do now.’ Then, as an afterthought, ‘Thanks.’
    Turning into their street half an hour later I realise that I haven’t thought about Mum for hours, without having to try not to.
    As soon as we get home, Vicky dashes up for a shower.
    â€˜Come and help me make a salad,’ Colette says. ‘We’re just having pasta.’
    She gets me to chop these weird pepper things. They have a sweet, wet smell and for the first time in ages I’m starving.
    Then she says, ‘Declan, there’s something I need to talk to you about.’ She sounds dead serious. ‘It’s your mum.’
    The knife freezes in my hand. My heart slams my ribs.
    â€˜I had a word with her doctor yesterday. Declan – I’m sure you must know your mum has a problem –’
    â€˜She’s a drunk.’
    â€˜Well, um, the doctors feel she’s not quite ready to go home yet.’
    â€˜So does she have to stay in the hospital?’ I push the peppers into a neat pile on the chopping board.
    â€˜Not exactly. They’re going to transfer her to a special unit.’
    â€˜The mental ?’
    â€˜It’s a psychiatric unit, yes. They specialise in addiction.’
    â€˜How long for?’ My voice comes out croaky.
    â€˜The programme is a month.’
    A month ! ‘Do I have to stay here?’
    â€˜Well, yes.’ She smiles. ‘I mean, your mum would like you to, and so would I, of course.’
    I don’t know if she means it. But I know one thing. ‘Vicky…?’
    â€˜I haven’t told her. Not before I’d told you.’
    â€˜She won’t like it.’ Might as well say what we’re both thinking.
    Colette looks at the lettuce she’s chopping. ‘She might be a wee bit jealous. She’s used to having me all to herself. But it isn’t for long.’
    How can she say a month isn’t long? Vicky isn’t just a wee bit jealous . She hates my guts. And I hate hers. I hand Colette the peppers. I’m trapped. A month of Vicky treating me like shit. A month of trying to be invisible. While Mum –
    â€˜Did Mum really say she wanted me to stay with you?’
    â€˜Yes. I phoned her this morning. She says you told her you liked it OK here.’
    I shrug.
    â€˜Declan, I know this is hard for you. You don’t know us very well. I’m not as close to your mum as I used to be. Maybe this will bring us closer again.’
    â€˜You used to come to our house a lot. Gran used to mind Vicky.’
    â€˜Yes, when I was doing my library training. And before that. We grew up together, really.’
    â€˜I know.’ I can hear Vicky scrabbling about upstairs,doors opening and shutting. I have to ask before she comes down. ‘Will she get better?’ I sound like a child.
    â€˜I don’t know, love.’ She’s never called me this before. ‘But she’ll get specialist help. Counselling and therapy. She wants to go, Declan. She’s admitted there’s a problem.’
    I hear the thumps of Vicky running down the stairs.
    â€˜Don’t tell her in front of me!’
    Colette smiles. ‘OK. Hi, love.’ She keeps the smile on as Vicky flings into the room. ‘I thought we’d have some bubbly to celebrate your success.’
    â€˜Champagne?’ Vicky looks impressed.
    â€˜Well, sparkling wine with cranberry juice. It’s in the fridge.’
    â€˜Cool.’
    It’s cold and fizzy and gushes out the tops of the glasses. They both laugh. I wonder if Vicky’ll be laughing so much when Colette tells her I’m going to be around for another month.

Chapter 10
    VICKY
    â€˜A month !’ I stared in despair at the wet, Sunday-quiet road outside the car. ‘No way