The Sister Surprise by Abigail Mann (book series for 10 year olds .txt) 📕

I nod like the Churchill dog, but my stomach twinges with nerves.

‘What time are you meeting?’ says Kian.

‘Four o’clock at the tearoom,’ says Moira, glancing up at the sun. ‘We’ve got a little while yet.’

‘I’ll finish these lot,’ says Kian, the tub of coconut oil pinched between his knees. ‘I’ll see how long the university lot stick around for, but I’ll come find you guys afterwards.’

‘Wear your posh overalls!’ calls Moira over her shoulder.

‘They’re the same as my regular overalls,’ replies Kian, as half a dozen pigs trot towards him.

‘They’re less mucky!’

We head back up the track as sharp squeals erupt from the pig enclosure. Moira hooks her arm through mine and sighs.

‘That was … an interesting technique,’ I say.

‘Why can’t I flirt like a normal person?’

I laugh and squeeze her arm. ‘Well … offering to eat him isn’t what I’d call subtle, but I think he needs a more direct approach. Just specify which part you want to eat next time.’

Moira gasps and smacks my arm, making me laugh. As we near the farmhouse, a pick-up truck loaded with a small forklift bumps into the yard and pulls into a circle. John climbs out of the driving seat.

‘All right? Ava, Moira,’ he says, nodding to each of us. ‘I didn’t know your old man was back. I passed him in the harbour just now.’

‘Yeah, he is, but he’s heading off again tonight,’ says Moira.

‘Must be why Jacqui’s had her hair done. It’s always a giveaway. I’ll have to catch him before he goes,’ says John. He folds his arms, a wry smile hidden beneath a wiry beard. ‘He still owes me for a blackjack game last spring, but he says he can’t get his head around PayPal. That’s likely, eh?’ says John, giving us a nod as he heads down the lane on foot. ‘Tell Andrew to look me up before he heads off, will you?’

Moira pins a smile to her face until he disappears.

‘Are you going to do that? I ask.

‘No. It causes more hassle than it’s worth. I like John, but he has these weird “alpha male” moments. It’s all the guys I grew up with. They cringed at their dads for doing the same thing. Not Kian, though.’

We scrape the mud from our boots on a metal plate by the kitchen door. As I bend down to pull off my boots, my back pocket buzzes, as does Moira’s hoodie pouch. We both scramble for our phones, dependent on the ever-changing wind direction for updates from The Beyond.

‘Eurgh. My course mate is freaking out about our group project,’ says Moira, scrolling through her phone. ‘Even though I’ve already submitted it. What have you got?’ she asks.

‘OH MY GOD,’ I screech, causing a trio of softly scratching chickens to jump in the air, stubby wings flapping rogue feathers loose.

‘What? What is it?’ says Moira.

‘My mum,’ I say, verging on a whisper. ‘She’s in Scotland.’

‘Why’s she up here?’

I read her message again.

Good morning, darling! Guess who got the sleeper train up! Me! My cabin mate (Ricardo) helped me recover your number because I pressed something and it disappeared. Anyway, Grace got in touch. Earth Mamas Grace—Grace who made pitta breads on a camp fire? That Grace. She’s living near Leith so I thought that I’d come up seeing as the two of you are in the same place. I’m just getting off the train! Tell me where you are and I’ll buy us some lunch. XOXO MUM XOXO

Another text comes through, sent last night but only now reaching my phone:

RED ALERT! LORRIE’S ON THE WAY TO SCOTLAND. Mum just got back from yours – completely twatted – and told me. I know this might be Bad News but I CANNOT COPE WITH THE DRAMA OF IT ALL. LOVE IT. As your oldest friend I hope that everything is fine and dandy but this is also the most exciting thing to happen in my sad single life since I found a bluebottle in my panko crumbs at the Whitechapel Wagamamas. UPDATE ME ASAP. Love you!

‘What am I going to do?! Mum thinks I’m in Edinburgh working in an office.’

‘Weird-looking office,’ says Moira, looking around. ‘Maybe you should go there? Head her off?’

‘I can’t! This is the only chance I’ve got to talk to Andrew before I have to leave again for I-don’t-know-how-long. I need to be here.’

‘Well, the only other option is to get her up to Kilroch.’

I bite my lip so hard I almost give myself an edgy piercing.

‘I’ll go check the sheep; you call her back whilst you’ve got reception. Stay calm.’

‘I’m feeling the opposite of calm.’

‘This could be a good thing. Phone her!’

I shiver on the doorstep and hold my phone to my ear, hardly moving for fear of losing reception when I step inside. Mum picks up on the third ring.

‘I thought that would get your attention!’ she says. ‘Surprise!’

‘Mum. There’s 501 things I need to explain to you, but before I do, you need to get on another train. One to Inverness.’

Chapter 36

‘I’d have packed a balaclava if I’d known I was heading this far north,’ says Mum, stepping out of the car. Ross walks round to the boot and flips it open, taking out a small suitcase with a big purple ribbon tied around the handle. I step off the kerb and scoop her into a hug. She’s wearing one of her favourite jumpers rolled up to the elbow, paired with a woolly hat that has slipped over her eyebrows. She tightens her arms around my shoulders, even though I’m a few inches taller than her and it should really be the other way round.

‘I’ve missed you,’ I say into her hair. It smells of the cottage, beeswax conditioner, and the stale air that lingers in community halls, but it’s delicate enough to cut through the farm smells I’ve been enveloped in for weeks now, the ammonia and straw, damp turf, pine trees,