Sewing the Shadows Together Read Online Free

‘Well, don’t be late tomorrow. Remember Rory’s making the speech and I’ve phoned the
Evening News
. I hope they’ll send a photographer down.’
    Sarah kissed her on the cheek and promised they’d be on time. Tom extricated himself from Patsy’s enthusiastic embrace and followed Sarah into the car park.
    After the embarrassingly short drive to the guesthouse, Tom hesitated. He didn’t want to get out of the car. Putting his hand on the door handle he said, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow – but I haven’t contributed anything to this presentation.’
    ‘Don’t worry. We put in plenty. Apparently the budget doesn’t cover things like a coffee machine and water-cooler – that’s what the students said they wanted. Of course, Rory’s intrigued by the water-cooler effect; hopes they’ll all stand round talking about him.’
    She laughed and turned towards Tom. Their eyes met. Sarah leant forward and her lips brushed his. ‘Goodnight, Tom. See you tomorrow.’
    The softness of her mouth and the touch of her hair made Tom feel almost paralysed. He didn’t want to go, to say goodbye. But he had to. He opened the car door and quickly stepped out. Standing at the edge of the pavement, he watched the lights of her car disappear round the corner into the High Street, his lips tingling with the memory of her kiss.

Part 2

    The blurred outline of the classroom comes into focus. Mr Kidd stands book in hand, a shaft of pale morning sunlight capturing him in its spotlight, dark hair curling to his shoulders, academic gown slung over his velvet jacket… the very image of a poet.
    He’s reading a poem about Florence, the Ponte Vecchio at twilight, with swallows catching insects in the gathering dusk. He describes their path with his slender fingers and I see, with him, the swallows weaving in the air, sewing the shadows together.
    A knock at the door. The burly figure of the headmaster enters, whispers to Kidd, their heads close together. They both turn in my direction. I touch the empty seat beside me and hear the name, Shona McIver. Through the doorway I see the dark shape of a policeman and everything swims in front of me.

Chapter 3

    Sarah sat bolt upright in bed. In the half-world between waking and sleeping she was back in her old classroom, every detail in heightened definition. She shivered; she hadn’t thought about that day for years. The school reunion, and seeing Captain Kidd and Tom had triggered the memory. She reached over to Rory’s side of the bed. It was empty. She rolled over, trying to blank the classroom from her mind. Shona had been gone for so long but the memories still came unexpectedly, sometimes like a video from the past, sometimes distorted dreams, but she was always there.
    The phone rang. Reaching for it, Sarah saw the morning sunshine through the cracks in the shutters.
    ‘Hiya!’ It was Patsy’s chirpy voice. ‘How are you? Wasn’t it great last night? Is Rory there?’
    ‘Hi, Patsy. He’s just popped out. Can I give him a message?’
    ‘I wanted to tell him the Head Girl is going to be at the school to accept the presentation, and the photographer from the
Evening News
is coming at 2.30.’
    ‘I’ll let him know – and we’ll be there. We’re meeting at the front door at two, aren’t we?’
    ‘That’s right. Don’t be late. See you soon. Take care.’
    Sarah rubbed her eyes and went through to the kitchen. Sultan strolled over, his tail erect, and rubbed his sleek black fur on her legs, hungry as always. She fed him, made a coffee and sat down at the long wooden kitchen table, holding the cup in two hands. No word from Rory, not that she was surprised. He would turn up for the presentation at the school because he loved any kind of publicity, but he’d probably arrive at the last minute as usual.
    She paced the kitchen, impatient to set off. She’d see Tom again at the school. She thought of his face, so like Shona’s, with light brown eyes and a wide full-lipped