Bringing the Summer by Julia Green

or what she represented, perhaps. The other side of life. The shadow side. And when Theo started to meet up with Bridie by himself, after she moved again, to Devon, that’s when Mum got really worried.’
    The cat scratches at the bedroom door: Gabes stops talking while he lets her in. She jumps on to the bed and starts kneading the covers with her paws, turning round and round to make a sort of nest to curl into. The phone rings downstairs. We hear footsteps padding upstairs and along the landing.
    It’s Maddie. ‘Freya?’ she calls out. ‘I’m driving into town shortly to collect Kit. Do you want a lift home?’
    I hesitate, hoping Gabes is going to invite me to stay over. But he just sits there. He doesn’t say anything, and I can’t really ask, can I?
    So I call back to Maddie. ‘Yes, please.’
    â€˜Five minutes, then.’
    I glance at the time. It’s ten twenty-five. I’m desperate for Gabes to get to the end of Bridie’s story before I have to go. ‘Why was your mum worried?’ I ask. ‘About Theo?’
    â€˜Theo was having a hard time. Mum was worried he’d get sucked into Bridie’s world. Underworld , rather.’ Gabes stretches, and the cat looks up and yawns at us both, before turning over to let Gabes stroke the silky white fur under her chin. ‘She’s definitely pregnant.’
    For a second I think he means Bridie, before I realise he’s talking about the cat.
    There’s obviously more to say about Theo and Bridie, but Gabes has had enough, or is fed up with me asking, or something. In any case, my five minutes are up.
    I sigh. ‘I better go downstairs. Maddie will be waiting. Thanks for inviting me over. Sorry if I made you talk too much.’
    Gabes shrugs. ‘I’ll be back at college on Monday,’ he says. ‘Dad’s going to take me in. So I’ll see you then. We can have lunch together, or coffee, whatever.’
    I swing my legs back off the bed, lean over and kiss his cheek. ‘Yes. Bye, Gabes.’
    Â 
    I walk slowly down our road, thinking about what Gabes has just told me about Bridie. What could have happened to make her like that in the first place? I think about Gabes, too. I’m even more confused about him now. I guess he just want us to be friends, after all. Nothing more than that.
    Instead of an amazing weekend at Home Farm, I’ve now got two days on my own with nothing planned. Plus, I feel really stupid, taking my overnight things like that. I’d die if anyone knew. And it’s Theo’s last weekend. I won’t see him again.
    The lights are on, and I hear music as soon as I open the front door. Mum’s got the sewing machine out on the big kitchen table. I can’t remember the last time she did any sewing.
    â€˜What are you making?’ I kiss the top of her head and she puts one arm round my waist.
    â€˜Curtains.’ She holds out the thick blue cotton. ‘Like the colour?’
    â€˜Yes. Gorgeous. Sea colour.’
    â€˜For the spare room. I’m going to turn it into a study, for me.’
    I look at her, surprised. ‘Studying what?’
    â€˜Garden design. Landscape gardening. So I can move out of boring office work altogether, eventually. What do you reckon?’
    â€˜It’s a brilliant idea, Mum. What does Dad say?’
    â€˜He’s thrilled. He might even be able to put work in my direction, when I’ve qualified. People with new houses might want a newly designed garden, too.’
    I fill the kettle. ‘Tea, Mum?’
    â€˜Not for me. Just had one. So, how was your evening? Where’ve you been, exactly?’
    â€˜Gabes’ house.’
    Mum grins. ‘You’ve been seeing him a lot, recently. Am I going to be allowed to meet him?’
    I sigh. ‘Yes. I guess. There’s no big deal. He’s just a friend at college. I like his family. It’s nice, being there with