The Faerie Tree Read Online Free PDF Page A

shower-room.
    â€œTake off your wet things and put them out on the landing then have a shower to warm up. I’ll get these two into a bath then put your clothes in the tumble drier and find something for you to wear while they dry. There’s plenty of clean towels on the airer.”
    Never, in all my daydreams in the pub garden, had I imagined we’d end up in a strange bathroom with orders to strip off.
    â€œYou’re wetter than I am,” I told Izzie, “so you go first.” I handed her a large towel. “I’ll look away until you’re decent again.” Turning around I found myself looking straight into a mirror and I could see her peeling off her dress. “Izzie – stop,” I panicked. “I’ll have to look at the back of the door or something.”
    Her touch was gentle on my shoulders but then she hugged me so hard the damp from her dress seeped through my jeans. “Robin – you’re one in a million, do you know that?”
    I grunted. “It’s just good manners.”
    She grinned. “I’ll be tempted to look when it’s your turn to shower.”
    â€œThen I hope you won’t be disappointed.” I twisted around and kissed the tip of her nose. “Now please get on with it, Izzie – you’re beginning to shiver again.” And I was beginning to get a hard on it would take all my reserves of willpower to deal with before it was my turn to wrap myself in nothing but a towel.

Chapter Seven
    It was only my shirt that was really wet so once I had showered I was able to go downstairs looking reasonably like myself in my own jeans and a sweatshirt we had found neatly folded on the floor outside the bathroom door. Izzie had fared rather worse in a floral blouse and a navy skirt so long she had to hold it up as we made our way downstairs.
    Gran must have heard us and was waiting in the hall. She led us into a bright kitchen at the back of the house, completely dominated by a scrubbed pine table. Our clothes hung limply on a rail over a cream Aga. “They’re almost dry,” she reassured us, “I’m just airing them off.” Next to the hob was a huge jug of roses, their scent filling the air.
    Introductions being well overdue I put out my hand. “I’m Robin Vail,” I told her, to be greeted by a firm, dry handshake.
    â€œJennifer Dodd. I’m the boys’ grandmother and I can’t begin to thank you for hauling the little buggers out of the river.”
    I looked around. “Where are they?”
    â€œTucked up in bed with instructions to stay there, out of trouble, until their clothes dry. Not that they don’t have other clothes,” she twinkled, “I just like the punishment to fit the crime.”
    I smiled at her. “Stephen hoped he wouldn’t get his tongue lashing until after we’d gone.”
    â€œThen Stephen hoped wrong. They had at least ten minutes while they were in the bath. They scared me so much – but that will be the end of it as far as I’m concerned. And in truth I am blaming myself for letting them go into the woods on their own. I never dreamt they’d go near the river, let alone cross it. The tongue lashing I’ve given them will be nothing compared to the one I’m going to get from my daughter when she comes back.”
    â€œYou were only trying to give them a bit of freedom,” Izzie chipped in. “It’s too easy to molly-coddle children in this day and age.”
    Jennifer’s sharp eyes looked from one of us to the other. “You two look a bit young to have a family.”
    â€œWe haven’t known each other that long,” Izzie blushed.
    â€œOh dear, so your quiet romantic walk in the woods was interrupted by my young hoodlums. I’m so sorry – but on the other hand I am really very glad you were there.”
    â€œI brought Izzie to show her the Faerie Tree.”
    â€œAnd did you