Free A Place in the Country by Elizabeth Adler Page B

she knew that, how could she have forgotten! “So, let’s settle for the pub tonight then. I’ll buy you a Sam Adams,” she added, with a warm smile that she really meant, she was so grateful he’d cared enough to ask her out.
    â€œWatneys,” Georgki replied, and slammed back his visor, switched on his blaster and got back to work.
    He did not show up at the pub that night, though, and Caroline worried she had hurt his feelings. But he was back at work the next afternoon, and nothing more was said.
    *   *   *
    The following day, Caroline drove into Oxford to get her hair cut. When she got back Maggie sat her down at the table, gave her a cup of coffee and said she had three things to tell her.
    â€œThree? I’ve only been gone a few hours.” Caroline fluffed out her hair. “What do y’think?”
    â€œExpensive,” Maggie said. “But worth it.”
    â€œThank God.” Caroline slumped into the chair nearest the fireplace and swung her jeaned legs over the arm. “What do you mean, three things? What’s happened?”
    â€œNothing bad. First, Issy’s been invited to a party Saturday night. By a boy. A seventeen-year-old. Name of Lysander Tsornin.”
    â€œSeventeen! That’s too old! And anyway, how can anybody be called Lysander Tsornin ? Who is he? And how does she know him?”
    â€œSchool, parties, other girls, they all know each other, you know how it is.”
    Caroline thought how much she apparently did not know. Of course she drove Issy and Sam to the movies in Oxford, and she knew after they went to a café for spaghetti or whatever was cheapest, but they were still too young to go clubbing. They hung out at their friends’ houses, but she always knew exactly where they were.
    Maggie said, “Issy was afraid to ask you, so she asked me to. It’s an overnight party, she’s been invited to stay at the house.”
    â€œ Lysander asked her to stay at his house!”
    â€œIt was the mother who called, not the boyfriend. Mrs. Tsornin. Arabella Tsornin to be correct. She left her number if you want to call.”
    â€œMom?” Issy was standing in the doorway, radiating anxiety. “You won’t mess it up, will you? I can go, can’t I?”
    â€œYou can go if Sam goes too.” Caroline quickly decided two was definitely better than one.
    â€œBut Sam’s not invited.”
    â€œOh? And why not?”
    â€œWell, Lysander is kind of my date.”
    She twisted her hands together, her face scrunched. “Mom, I’ve got to do some things on my own. I’m going to be sixteen in a couple of weeks.”
    So she was, Caroline had almost forgotten. Or at least she had put it out of her mind. This would be her second birthday without James being there to celebrate.
    â€œYou’re asking to go to a party with a seventeen-year-old boy I don’t even know, and stay overnight at the house of people I don’t even know?”
    â€œBut you can know them, Mom. Just call them.”
    Maggie handed her the piece of paper with the Tsornin number. Caroline saw the area code. “London? You mean the party’s in London ?”
    â€œI can get the train to Paddington,” Issy said quickly. “All you have to do is drive me to Oxford station.”
    Caroline suddenly gave in. This was Issy’s world and she had a right to it. She would call the mother, it would be okay. “So, what are you going to wear?” she asked, smiling.
    She called Arabella Tsornin, who was cool and polite and said she was glad she had called and please not to worry, she would take good care of her daughter. “There’ll be fifty of them,” she explained. “Lysander said he needed a celebration, he’s at a tutorial in Oxford and it’s hard work. Anyhow, tell Isabel to arrive at teatime. We’ll be expecting her.”
    Caroline sat back in the chair and