Free Matilda Wren by When Ravens Fall Page B

her daughter’s flare-ups. At seventy-three she was a tough woman but looking after her granddaughter full time was taking it out of her and what with Maisy’s outbursts, Maureen called them her paranoid, rambling episodes, occurring more frequently, she wasn’t sure how much more energy she had with it all.
    What had she done in a past life to have borne two such complete loony-toons? She wondered. No surprise they had a bond between them; they were both as barmy as each other.
    Sean interrupted her thoughts. She heard him come through the side gate.
    “Bit nippy out here aint it mum?”
    He strolled across the patio, to where she was sitting, under the huge canvas canopy that he had arranged to be erected.
    “The baby needs fresh air Sean.” Maureen said bluntly, nodding over at her granddaughter. “She has her coat and boots on. She is wrapped up warm.”
    Sean turned to look at the small girl, who was playing away with the buckets and spades in the sand. “Where’s my favourite angel then?” He boomed, as he walked over to her Katie squealed with excitement, as her favourite uncle scooped her up into his arms. She was so delicate, such a tiny fragile perfect little being. Sean looked at her with so much love. Maureen saw it and was up like a flash, despite her heavy load.
    “Give us the baby, eh?” She reached to take Katie. “Go up and see y’ sister. She’s ‘aving a bad day today.”
    Sean held onto Katie for a second and looked over at the house. Then he gave her a gentle kiss on her cheek and let his mother take the child from him. He stroked her hair once she was settled with her granny.
    “Son, go up and see Maisy… yeah?”
    Sean looked at his mother like she was a stranger. It seemed like he was only just registering what she was saying.
    The boy had such peculiar ways about him. He got stranger every time Maureen saw him. Without saying anything, he walked past her and into the house.
    Maureen cursed under her breath and hugged Katie a little tighter towards her. What had she bought into the world and what would become of this little girl. Maureen herself knew she didn’t have forever and Maisy was in no fit state to take care of herself, let alone a small dependent child. Especially one she had taken no interest in since the day she was born.
    Alice wouldn’t want to take her. She was far too selfish for that. She had ambitions and dreams and would by no means be saddled with a child that wasn’t hers. Maureen was not expecting any grandchildren from Alice and Benjamin any time soon. Alice was career driven and determined to make sure her dreams happened.
    That left Sean and Maureen swore to herself then, it would be over her dead body that he got his hands on this girl.

    * * *
    Sean opened the door to Maisy’s bedroom. He didn’tknock, he walked right in. He closed it behind him and turned the key in the lock. She watched him warily, still standing by the window. Despite her appearance, she was a pretty girl, slim and petit.
    “Mum says you’re having a bad one today?”
    He folded his arms, as if he was bored of this already.
    Maisy looked down at the floor. She linked her fingers together. It was something she used to do as a child, when she had been caught with her hand in the biscuit tin. It was a disguised innocent gesture that annoyed Sean.
    “I don’t need mum calling me up fretting about you, do I? I am a busy person Maze; I don’t have time to run around after you. Do you want to be put in the loony bin? That’s where the old girl wants to put ya? She wants to pump you full of chemicals and let the doctors do experiments with your mind.”
    Maisy shook her head fervently. She didn’t want to be sent away.
    “Come away from the window.” Sean ordered. “Sit on the bed.”
    Maisy hesitated for a split second before complying and doing as he had asked. He knelt down on the floor in front of her and took her hands. He traced the scars than ran up her wrist. Maisy looked