Watch Over Me by Daniela Sacerdoti Page A

her that made me do a double take. She had short black hair, cropped in the back and longer in the front, with bright blue highlights, a multicoloured jumper that looked hand knitted and a miniskirt over long, lean legs in bright pink tights. I had seen her somewhere before. Then I remembered. I had met her in the pub once.
    ‘Hello, Peggy, hello,’ she added, with a smile towards Maisie. Her voice had a foreign lilt.
    ‘Oh, hello there, how are you, Silke?’ said Peggy, standing up. ‘Haven’t seen you in a while.’
    ‘Very well, thank you. It’s been crazy, with the gallery opening and all that.’ Her English was perfect, with just a hint of German behind her Scottish intonations.
    ‘This is my niece Eilidh, I’m not sure you’ve met …’
    ‘Not formally, no,’ she said and extended her hand to me with a big, friendly smile. I took it. Her handshake was warm and firm.
    ‘Jamie said you’ll be looking after Maisie. Just as well, Eilidh, cause you must know, I’m going to put Jamie through his paces with the gallery project!’ She laughed.
    ‘How is it coming on?’ asked Peggy.
    ‘Great, thanks, it’s brilliant. The opening is next month. There will be music and catering, and lots of fancy people from Edinburgh and even London. Will you come?’
    ‘Ach, Silke, I’m too old for these things, but Eilidh …’
    ‘I’d love to. It sounds great,’ I said and I meant it.
    ‘And you’ll come for a bit, won’t you, sweetheart?’ Silke added, bending to stroke Maisie’s hair.
    ‘Yes. I’ll wear my fairy outfit,’ Maisie said, perfectly serious.
    ‘Cool! Do you have wings as well?’
    ‘Uh-huh,’ she nodded, ‘and a wand.’
    ‘Brilliant. Just what we need.’ Silke was equally serious.
    ‘Will you come as a fairy?’ Maisie asked.
    ‘No, I’m actually a witch. A good one though.’
    ‘A witch?’ Maisie’s eyes were two round saucers.
    ‘Yes. But don’t tell anyone. Can I leave these with you?’ she added, handing Peggy a wad of leaflets and a poster.
    ‘Sure. We’ll let everybody know,’ said Peggy, going over a leaflet. ‘“Glen Avich Art Gallery” – it has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?’
    ‘Thanks! Right, better run, I’m driving up to Kinnear to hand these in. Bye, nice meeting you,’ she said and, with a last wave to Maisie, she went out into the twilight. With her bright blue hair and pink tights, she was a little beacon as she crossed the road and disappeared.
    ‘Peggy? Is she really a witch?’ asked Maisie.
    Peggy laughed. ‘There’s no such thing as witches, pet. Except at Halloween!’
    ‘If she’s a witch, she’s a good one. She seems lovely,’ I said.
    ‘Oh, aye. A great lassie. Very … unique.’
    I smiled. Bet her blue hair caused quite a stir when she first moved to Glen Avich.
    ‘We’ll need to get a move on, my love, you still have to do your homework and your reading.’ Homework in Primary One. I had my own opinion about that but it had to be done.
    ‘Ooook …’ she said sadly, giving the cereal boxes one last pat. ‘Will you keep my apron safe?’ she asked Peggy.
    ‘I certainly will. Maybe you can come back tomorrow? There’s a lot to be done.’
    ‘Can I? Can I, can I, CAN I?’ she asked me, imploringly.
    ‘Of course. Come on, baby, jacket on, your dad will be home in just over an hour,’ I said, escorting her to the back room.
    A few minutes later, we were walking up St Colman’s Way. The air was purple, the sky slowly turning to black, the smell of late autumn in the air. Early November, the days of the dead.
    ‘Did you enjoy helping in the shop?’
    ‘Loads. My granny was smiling too.’
    ‘Your … your granny? You mean my aunt Peggy. I’m sure you can call her granny, if you like. She’ll love that.’
    ‘Nooo, not Peggy. My granny Elizabeth.’
    I felt a chill run down my spine.
    ‘Your granny Elizabeth … was there?’ I asked. My mouth was dry.
    She nodded, skipping happily. I didn’t ask anything more. I