Free Where the Heart Belongs by Sheila Spencer-Smith

phone Tamsin’s father?’ ‘I’m not getting involved in any of this, Shona. All I know is that her father has gone off somewhere, but no one knows where.’
    â€˜But I was with him yesterday evening and . . .’ She paused, horrified, wishing she could have bitten her tongue off before she came out with something so stupid. Now what had she done?
    â€˜You shouldn’t be mixed up in this, Shona. It’s not your problem. Just leave well alone.’
    â€˜I’ll telephone Liz and find out the details.’
    â€˜Do that if you must,’ Jack said. ‘And join me in the office when you’ve done it.’
    She did nothing for a moment but stared down at her mobile, her thoughts whirling. She had condemned herself out of her own mouth. Jack would be waiting to hear exactly why she had deserted her post when he had left her in charge and she must face the consequences. But first there was Tamsin to consider.
    She dialled the number Felix had given her. He answered at once. ‘Felix Langholme.’
    At the sound of his deep reassuring voice tears sprang to her eyes. ‘It’s Shona. Felix, where are you? There’s a problem.’
    â€˜There is? Wait a minute, I’ll turn off the TV.’
    She had a moment to think of what to say so she didn’t sound accusing. ‘Have you heard from Liz at Bessie’s Kitchen? It seems that Tamsin has shown up there and you couldn’t be contacted.’
    He gave an easy laugh. ‘So that’s where she is? I was supposed to meet her at the station but she wanted to be independent and get herself home to Crag Cottage on her own.’
    â€˜You were expecting her?’
    â€˜Measles at the school. They’ve been sent home. I’ll go and collect her now. And thanks.’
    He clicked off his phone.
    Shona went downstairs where Jack met her in the doorway of the office.
    â€˜Everything sorted?’ he said. ‘So what happened?’
    â€˜Nothing happened,’ she said. ‘Her father was expecting Tamsin. He’s gone to pick her up now. He was at home.’
    â€˜A false alarm then?’
    â€˜So it seems.’
    He smiled. ‘As I said, don’t get involved, Shona. Obviously there was a mix-up somewhere along the line.’
    She said nothing. Mix-up hardly described a deliberate ploy on Ingrid’s part to stir up trouble. It was incredible that Jack hadn’t worked out something of the sort himself.
    Incredible, too, that he hadn’t picked up on her admission that she had been with Felix when she should have been here at Ferniehope Castle.

JACK COMES TO RELY ON SHONA
    â€˜Here you are, lass,’ said Liz, placing a glass of her favourite Coke and lemonade on the blue and white-checked tablecloth in front of Tamsin. ‘He won’t be long.’
    Tamsin leaned forward to pick up her glass, her loose hair falling over her face. ‘Thanks, Liz.’
    The older woman relaxed a little. ‘It really is true that there’s this epidemic at your school, Tamsin. It’s not just one of your tall stories?’
    â€˜Lies you mean?’
    â€˜No one could blame me for wondering after last time.’
    â€˜Oh that.’ Tamsin grinned. ‘Don’t worry, all parents and guardians were informed and asked to make suitable arrangements, but I didn’t need that from Felix. I knew I could get home. On my own.’
    Liz made no comment to this proud boast, but the expression on her face was of deep concern as if she thought that Tamsin was making all this up. But that was her problem, Tamsin thought as she watched the older woman return to her place behind the counter. And how was anyone supposed to know that Felix wasn’t at home and couldn’t be reached for a while? Where was he anyway when he was needed?
    She picked up her glass and sipped thoughtfully. She had got this far on her own anyway. Liz whom she had to admit had always been there