Page 102 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘Oh, thank heavens. Is she all right?’

‘Yes, a bit wet and shivery, but yes, she’s all right.’

The relief felt like a wave engulfing her, Rachel felt weak. ‘Thank God. Where?’

‘Down at the stream. You know, where you’d had the picnic a few weeks ago.’

That seemed odd.

‘She was saying something about the fairy glen. I don’t know, didn’t make much sense to me. I’ve wrapped her in a blanket and I’m bringing her home right now.’

‘Oh, thank you. Meet you at the farmhouse then. Thank you, Tom.’

She pulled up in the yard and dashed for the door. ‘Mum, Mum, Tom’s found her. He’s found her!’

Rachel and Jill met at the porch in a rush.

‘She’s all right?’

‘Yes.’

‘Ah, sweet Jesus.’

They clasped each other in a relieved hug. With that, the sound of a quad came buzzing up the drive. There was Maisy wrapped in a blanket, huddled in Tom’s lap, his dog Mabel standing guard protectively on the rear of the vehicle.

‘Oh, thank goodness,’ Jill gasped, as Rachel stepped forward to pick her little girl up.

‘She’s okay. Just very wet and a bit overwhelmed, I think,’ said Tom.

‘And she was down by the stream, you say?’

‘Yes.’

‘Maisy, what on earth made you go there?’ The frustration of the past half hour spilled out, but Rachel could see her daughter was overwrought, damp and shivery in her arms. ‘Okay, okay, it’s all right petal, you’re home now. Let’s get you inside.’ They weren’t going to get any answers just now, and Maisy needed warming up. ‘Mum, would you mind going up to run a nice warm bath? We’ll get these wet clothes off you down by the Aga, shall we, petal?’ They made their way into the kitchen, shutting out the wind and rain.

‘Of course,’ Jill replied. ‘Thank you so much, Tom,’ she smiled thankfully, and patted his arm, as she turned to go on up to the bathroom.

Maisy nodded gently. She seemed a little in shock. The storm and chilling damp, no doubt, affecting her.

‘Thank you, Tom, so very much.’ Rachel looked at him stood there covered in mud and soaked to the skin himself.

‘No worries. Just glad I was able to help and that we found her. Now, you go and get warm and dry, Maisy. I’ll see you soon …’

‘Okay.’ It was the first word Maisy had uttered since getting back.

‘Rachel,’ Tom looked serious, his words heartfelt. ‘Look, I know this isn’t the time, but later, another day, can we talk?’

She nodded. ‘Yeah, of course.’

They both knew she needed to get Maisy settled, and that that talk would have so many implications – it needed time and space.

‘Bye then,’ Tom added, as he turned to set off.

‘Bye.’

Rachel took Maisy near the warmth of the Aga, unwrapped the damp blanket from her and peeled off her soaking wet clothes. She dried her daughter’s hair with a towel, then carried her up to Grandma Jill and the bathroom. Maisy was soon soaking in a warm bubbly bath and looking much happier.

They both sat and watched her for a while, then Jill gave her granddaughter a kiss on the forehead and said she was going to get Maisy’s pyjamas ready.