Solstice - The Goddess Awakens

The weeks raced by for Lola, and the Vikki Jones story had almost become an obsession for her now that she realised that there could be a link between her death and Arthur’s. She’d been given a great lead from the Jones family explaining that their daughter was seen by one of Stein’s cleaners leaving the house at around 4am on the morning she disappeared. Their source, who Lola was guessing was a private detective, also told them that she was seen getting into a black car, which confirmed Sarah’s voicemail. There was so much about the case that was troubling.

This would be a great exclusive, if she could only find an opening, but there were no witnesses – save Sarah Byrne – who were willing to speak to her. It seemed that people were afraid to come forward, this wall of silence made Lola even more suspicious.

Then there was the added complication of Alex Stein. She’d been seeing quite a lot of him lately, and knew that she was in way over her head. Aibgrene never talked about him, and Lola could tell she didn’t approve. Why? She wasn’t exactly sure, but perhaps her friend felt that she should be giving all her time to finding Celeste. Lola knew Aibgrene was right, but it was too late now – she had fallen for Alex Stein. He offered her an escape from the pressures of the Order and that part of her life that she was still trying to run away from. Besides, she was reconciled with the fact that she couldn’t deprive herself of him, even if she wanted to.

Lola’s phone buzzed twice before she picked it up. She had just finished her front page lead and was checking over it before it went to the sub-editors desk.

‘Hello, Lola speaking.’

‘Lola, Bryce here, could you come and see me for a minute, please.’

It was almost five o clock, and as always Lola was very nervous when she got a call from her editor. Climbing the aged stairs to her editors office, Lola’s mind was working overtime trying to think what he might want, but nothing prepared her for what she was about to hear.

Knocking the door, she waited for Bryce Neal to call her in before she entered the room. Lola’s heart sank when she saw the stern look on his face, she could feel the tension in the room and she knew that this was serious. Bryce didn’t lift his head to look at her when he spoke, which only heightened her panic.

‘Take a seat, Lola.’

Doing as she was told Lola waited for him to speak.

‘Listen, Lola,’ he said, his tone firm but not too harsh. ‘To date I have been very happy with your work, and very glad to have you here, but I just had a very interesting phone call from Carl Stein’s solicitor, and they are very concerned about the inquiries you have been making with regard to the Victoria Jones story.’

Lola was struggling to comprehend what he meant, straining to find a connection between this Carl Stein and Vikki Jones. Then it finally dawned on her: Stein. He was Alex’s father, and the last person who the dead girl was seen with was his son. Lola waited for her boss to continue.

‘It has come to my attention that you’ve been harassing some of his staff and saying that you have reason to believe this girl did not take her own life. You need to be very careful, Lola – that is a very loaded statement, and could get this paper into a lot of trouble,’ he warned.

‘I was given information that one of the cleaners saw Vikki get into a black car the morning she disappeared,’ stammered Lola, trying to hide her nerves. ‘This information has since been backed up by one of Vikki’s friends, and it also appears in the police statement. That’s why I contacted the company, but the person that I needed to speak to no longer works there. So, I tried to get a contact number. That’s all. Why would Mr Stein be interested in that, and why would his solicitors want to warn us off? Seems a bit strange to me,’ added Lola defiantly.

‘The truth is that this girl killed herself. The police and coroner’s reports verify that. You are going on the word of a grief-stricken father and friend. That is not professional, Lola! When you’re a journalist you must always deal in facts – nothing more, nothing less. So that’s it! The story is closed.’

‘But I’m trying to find the FACTS, sir! I’m a reporter, is that not what reporters do?’ argued Lola. But this didn’t wash with her editor, who stared at her, stony faced.

‘I don’t think I’m making myself clear, Lola,’ hissed Bryce. ‘No more investigating or trying to find the facts. The story is closed. End of!’

‘But, sir....’ protested Lola.

‘Do I make myself clear? Do I?’ pressed Bryce aggressively.

Lola’s face had flushed scarlet and she feared that her emotions would betray her. She was tougher than that, but suddenly struck by a heady mixture of embarrassment and frustration she wanted to cry. Lola fought hard with herself to choke back the tears and the dry lump in her throat that housed all her anger. She couldn’t allow herself to speak in case it all poured out. Instead, she just nodded her head meekly, hoping that would be enough. But it wasn’t. Bryce Dixon had broken her and he knew it. Her editor wanted to make sure that he was understood and that he would not be challenged.

‘Is that a yes?’ pressed Bryce.

‘Yes, sir,’ croaked Lola.

‘Okay, it’s time you were leaving.’

Rising from the chair, Lola left the room with whatever dignity she had left. She was relieved that the office was empty when she returned to her desk. After shutting down her computer, she shuffled through the drawers, gathering all her material on Vikki Jones, and headed home feeling dejected.

Stomping up the driveway to the house, Lola’s temper was in full flight. She slammed the front door behind her, disturbing the large crystal chandelier in the hallway. Heading straight for the stairs she made her way to the book room, throwing herself onto Arthur’s rocking chair before finally allowing the tears to flow. Deep down she knew that it was her pride more than anything that had been bruised and that she would get over it. But to think that Carl Stein had gone to such lengths to stop her making enquiries, and the fact that Alex had not even mentioned it to her, didn’t seem right.

Then again Carl Stein’s son was the last person to be seen with the victim. Lola expelled the thought as quickly as it came into her head. That was way too messed up. Alex was arrogant, rich and spoilt, but a killer? That was too much.

Lola looked up to find Aibgrene standing in the doorway in a lovely lavender dress which flowed to the floor. As usual, she wasn’t wearing any shoes and her hair, although dishevelled, was tied up off her face. Aibgrene was enchanting. Her warmth and radiance affected all in her wake. Lola could often see a beautiful apple-green haze around her, especially when she came back in from working in the garden or from concocting one of her potions.

She had begun to notice this same strange egg-shaped force field around her parents and siblings too. Her mother’s was a mixture of light and dark yellows, which often changed quite a bit over time. Sometimes light grey spots appeared here and there, but only when she was anxious about something. Her father’s was a clear vibrant orange, like the sun, and it fascinated Lola to see how her parents’ auras engaged with each other, how both seemed to complement each other perfectly.

Out of her brothers, Liam’s haze was by far the most fascinating – it changed from indigo to light blue, with flecks of pink, swirling and altering all the time. But there were others that she could not detect, or that simply were not obvious to her. Alex was one such person, she couldn’t see his. Perhaps that was because she didn’t know him as well as her family, or maybe because deep down she didn’t want to see it. Well, not if it was a true manifestation of the soul, like some people said it was.

‘What’s wrong with you?’ asked Aibgrene.

‘Oh nothing, I’m just being a girl. I got my wrists slapped in work today.’

‘Why what happened? What did you do?’

Lola blew her nose before she began to answer, fearing that a fresh wave of tears would start. She noticed that Aibgrene didn’t seem that concerned, as she flopped down on the sofa.

‘I’ve been pulled off the Victoria Jones story,’ began Lola, but she was distracted by the slight smile at the corner of Aibgrene’s mouth.

‘What are you so happy about?’ muttered Lola sourly

‘Nothing, I’ve just got a bit of good news that’s all.’

‘It’s well for some. So, are you going to share this bit of good news, or are you keeping it to yourself?’

‘It’s nothing, I’ve been invited to a wedding and I’ve accepted, so we will be heading there tonight. I think you could do with a break, Lola.’

‘That’s great news, but I’m afraid you’ll have to go solo, I’ve work tomorrow.’

‘Call in sick, sure you only have a few more weeks to go,’ encouraged Aibgrene.

‘Oh right, call in sick after I get a telling off, that looks really professional, Aibgrene!’

‘This trip is important, Lola. We can kill two birds and all that. I need you to bring the parchment and the letter Arthur gave you. There will be someone at the wedding who might be able to help us, plus it’s Lughnasadh, which is a very important festival for me. It’s vital I’m there and I can’t go without you. So we’re going. Okay?’

‘Whatever,’ replied Lola with a wry smile.

‘So, grumpy girl, tell me why he pulled you off the story?’

‘That’s the frustrating part. One call from Carl Stein and that’s it. You want to have heard him, he was livid.’

Aibgrene stiffened, all traces of humour now extinguished from her face.

‘Hold up, hold up. Your editor received a call from Carl Stein’s solicitor? About what?’

‘Well, I’d been led to believe that Vikki was seen getting into a car by one of the Stein’s cleaners when she left their house earlier that morning.’

‘The dead girl was in the Stein house the night before she disappeared! How did you know that?’ asked Aibgrene shocked at this information.

‘Well… Well, I saw her!’

‘Okay, Lola, back up there. What do you mean you saw her there?’

‘Look, it’s a long story. The girls and I went to a party there the Saturday before they left for America, which was the night Arthur died.’

Lola was momentarily distracted by her own words, but Aibgrene waited patiently for her to continue.

‘Anyway, someone spilt their drink over me and I went upstairs to try and find a bathroom, that’s when I had my first encounter with Alex. He was on the phone to someone and came out accusing me of listening. We had a very unpleasant exchange, and then I left, but before I left I saw him with her.’

Lola guessed where Aibgrene’s train of thought was leading. Lola watched her as she sat trying to put the pieces of this puzzle together, but before she could give her prognosis, Lola interjected.

‘Aibgrene, I know you dislike Alex because of his father. I know you think I shouldn’t be spending my time with him, and it’s clear you don’t trust him, but a killer? That’s ridiculous!’ scoffed Lola. She could hear the panic and pleading in her voice.

‘I didn’t say that, Lola. You did,’ replied Aibgrene, her words falling like a lead balloon between them.

‘Yes, because I know what you’re thinking!’

Aibgrene didn’t offer any further explanation. Lola was right; she didn’t trust Alex Stein. There were so many things that didn’t sit right with her. For example, the way Cuchulain had reacted to him or the way he always collected Lola at the end of the driveway and never accepted her invitations to come up to the house and the look on his face the night he saw her standing in the driveway.

Arthur’s death, two girls missing, Alex Stein coming into Lola’s life – it was all connected. Aibgrene was sure that this was no coincidence. But she would never utter a word of this to Lola until she was sure. She could see how happy Lola was with him, she was deeply in love and this was blinding her, maybe jeopardising everything, that’s why she’d made the decision to leave Lola and the sanctuary of Brook Mill Manor.

‘Calm down, Lola, I’m not suggesting that at all,’ she lied. ‘All I’m saying is that there is a bigger picture here. Everything is connected. You must understand nothing happens by chance.’

Aibgrene got off the sofa, kneeling in front of Lola, a look of pleading on her face.

‘This is your destiny as well as mine we’re talking about. I’ve tried to understand where you’re coming from, Lo, but we are going to get nowhere as long as you continue to bury your head in the sand and pretend your life is normal. You will have to face these truths sooner or later.’

Aibgrene’s eyes dropped before she began to speak again.

‘I can still feel her, you know, my mum. She’s still alive and getting some of her strength back, which means she doesn’t have long left. So I have a very small window of opportunity to find her!’

Lola didn’t know how to react, or what to say. She had let Aibgrene down, let Celeste down and Arthur too, but she didn’t know what it was she should be doing. They were all wrong, she had no special gifts, otherwise she would’ve put a stop to all of this.

‘I’m going to pack my things, Lola. You don’t have to come with me if you don’t want to. It’s your choice, but if you do come, you may see and hear things that will force you to make some very hard decisions.’

Aibgrene left the room, leaving Lola alone rocking in Arthur’s chair, mulling over how stubborn and selfish she had been. Jumping out of the seat, Lola called after her.

‘So what do you wear to a tree hugger’s wedding then?’ joked Lola.

This brought the warm familiar smile back to Aibgrene’s face.

‘Wear whatever you like, you won’t be wearing it for very long anyway.’

And with a wink Aibgrene disappeared down the stairs to gather the rest of her things, leaving Lola wondering if she was kidding or not.

Lola went back into the library and pulled out the illustrated collection of Blake’s work. She opened it at the middle page to make sure that the parchment was still there. Closing the book again she went into her room to pack a bag. Once she had collected some bathroom essentials, she ran to the library to lock the door. Arthur’s cardigan was still hanging over the chair, lifting it off she put it on and ran downstairs to meet Aibgrene, who had started packing her things into the car.

‘Lo, you may need to take some wellington boots with you. The weather has been good, but we are in Ireland, so that could change at any time.’

‘Okay, I’ll go and get them, anything else while I’m there?’

‘Do you have a sleeping bag and some blankets?’ enquired Aibgrene.

‘Why? Do I need one?’

‘Well, we’re going to be sleeping in a tent, and I know how much you hate the cold, so it might be a good idea.’

‘Now come on, Aibgrene,’ protested Lola. ‘You didn’t tell me we would be camping? Can’t we get a B&B or something?’

This only amused Aibgrene even more.

‘Come on, Lola, you can play football and get kicked about by boys ten times bigger than you are, but you don’t like sleeping outdoors? Stop being such a girl, you’ll be fine. It’ll do you the world of good to reconnect with mother nature, and no better place to do it than the spiritual epicentre of Ireland.’

Unconvinced, Lola stomped into the house. It took her almost twenty minutes to fish out a sleeping bag and some blankets from the various boxes that lay around the house still waiting to be unpacked. Her mum walked them to the door to see them off.

‘Okay, girls, you be careful now and have a great time.’

‘Okay, Mum,’ said Lola, as she hugged her mum goodbye. ‘I’ll see you when I see you.’

Lola was getting into the car, as Aibgrene embraced Eileen.

‘Eileen, I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything. I will never forget your generosity. Could you tell the boys and Joseph the same?’

Eileen was touched by Aibgrene’s show of emotion, although she was a very warm person Aibgrene was quite reserved when it came to demonstrating her affections.

‘Ach, Aibgrene pet. You are more than welcome. Are you not coming back?’ joked Eileen.

‘I won’t be back for a while, Eileen,’ explained Aibgrene awkwardly. ‘I’m going to be staying with family for a while. You and Joe have done more than enough for me here, and it’s time I moved on.’

‘Don’t be silly, darling,’ protested Eileen. ‘You’re always welcome here. You know that.’

‘I know, I know, but I would like to spend a bit of time with my family and friends. I haven’t seen them in a while.’

‘Well you know there is always a place for you here, pet!’

Eileen had begun to cry, she couldn’t describe how good it was having Aibgrene around. There was something about her that had such a soothing and calming effect on all those she came in contact with. Even the plants and trees around the estate seemed to respond to her. Eileen had noticed all these things, but said very little, and she would really miss her. She returned the embrace and finally released Aibgrene.

‘Bye, pet, and we will all really miss you. Don’t be a stranger!’

‘Bye, Eileen,’ replied Aibgrene struggling to fight back the tears.

It was not a decision she had made lightly, but she knew that she needed to be with her own people if she was to stand any chance of finding her mother.

‘Oh before I forget, this is for Joseph, for his arthritis.’ Aibgrene produced a small clear bottle with thick green oil inside, handing it to Eileen. ‘It’s very strong, so tell him to only use a little bit. He can put a few drops into the bath, it’ll work wonders!’

Lola stood stunned, glaring accusingly at Aibgrene as she climbed into the passenger seat.

‘Come on, Lo, we need to get a move on!’

Lola got in and turned on the engine. Without saying a word she headed down the driveway of Brook Mill Manor waiting for an explanation from her friend, but Aibgrene didn’t speak, instead she acted as if everything was normal. This only enraged Lola more until she couldn’t hold her tongue any longer.

‘So when were you going to tell me that this trip was a one way ticket for you?’

‘You wouldn’t have agreed to come if I had told you that,’ replied Aibgrene without looking at her. ‘Time is running out for my mum, Lola. She’s not going to be able to contact me again, so I need to find her. Travelling on the astral plane is a family gift, you might say, but I never got the chance to learn how to use this power properly. I need to be with people who can teach me how to use it. It’s our only hope.’

Lola turned to met Aibgrene’s gaze and was instantly disarmed by the agony in her eyes.

‘It was a very difficult decision, Lo, but that’s why I have to stay at Tara.’

‘That’s where we’re going? Tara?’

‘Yes. The spiritual epicentre of Ireland, and it’s Lughnasadh tomorrow, so expect one heck of a party.’

‘But you’re leaving me, what am I going to do now? You’ll be gone. Arthur’s gone, Celeste is gone. What am I supposed to do now?’ pleaded Lola, her voice beginning to crack as that familiar dry lump started to restrict her throat again.

‘You need to accept your own path, Lola. No one can make you do something you don’t want to. In all of this universal order, nothing can compete without the soul’s free will; this is the ultimate gift from the divine creator. Deep in your soul, you know this more than most, Lola.’ Lola didn’t want to hear anymore. She wanted her old life back. Turning on the radio, Lola let the music fill the silence between them, as they headed towards the mystical Boyne Valley.

The stretch of brand new motorway sprawled out before her cutting through fields and countryside, which were still visible on the periphery. This new road from Belfast to Dublin was evidence of the ‘New’ Ireland, an improved Ireland, and although Tara had been untouched by time for centuries, it too could not escape this so-called progression. The modern Ireland had caught up with it, leaving its dark scar in the form of another controversial motorway running through its ancient lands. Aibgrene had been looking out at her wing mirror for some time now. Lola was just about to take over the car in front of her when Aibgrene put her hand on the steering wheel, her eyes still fixed on the wing mirror.

‘Lo, stay in this lane, and slow down, will you please.’

‘You want to get there tonight, don’t you?’

‘Please, I think we are being followed!’

Instinctively, Lola looked in her rear-view mirror; she had noticed the car behind but hadn’t paid much attention. Taking a closer look she could see it was a black Mercedes, its windows tinted. A feeling of dread began to invade her already tense body once she realised that she had seen this car before.

‘I know that car, Aibgrene, I’ve seen it before. That’s the car your mum got into when I dropped her off after the cremation.’

Lola was panicking now, there was no way Ruby’s Figaro could outdrive that car and they had still miles to go.

‘Are you sure, Lola?’ asked Aibgrene calmly.

‘Are you sure it’s following us?’

‘It’s been on our tail since we passed Newry. Whoever is driving that car has had plenty of opportunities to bypass us.’

‘We’re like sitting ducks, Aibgrene!’

‘Do you have the ring on?’ asked Aibgrene.

Lola groped at her chest, searching for the ring, her hands trembling, until she finally located it under her t-shirt.

‘Yes, I have it, but how is that going to help us, if they decide to ram us off the road?’

‘Pull in at the next filling station just to make sure,’ ordered Aibgrene.

Lola continued to drive at a steady pace, gradually slowing down, but their pursuer still trailed behind. After driving about five hundred yards they saw a petrol station up ahead. Indicating left, Lola checked her mirror again, praying that the black car would continue on and that it was all a mistake. For a fraction of a second she thought it was going to pass by, but as she pulled off the motorway to the station, the car followed.

‘Okay, you need to calm down, Lola, and act normal, alright? Can you do that?’

Lola nodded her head in agreement, but every part of her body was on edge. Bringing the car to a halt, she sat rigid in her seat, her knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel so hard.

‘We need a distraction. Just fill the car or something and leave the rest to me.’

Aibgrene leaned into the back seat searching for something in her travel bag. Finally locating it, she lifted her hand bag, left the car and walked towards the shop. Lola got out of the car in as carefree a manner as she could, removed the petrol cap, and put some fuel in, taking a sideway glance at the car behind, the driver hadn’t emerged yet.

She could feel the ring beginning to pulse next to her skin as her anxiety grew. Replacing the fuel cap, she walked around to the bonnet of the car, lifted it and pretended to search for an imaginary fault. Suddenly feeling bold, she strode to the car behind and knocked on the dark window. She could tell that the driver had not been expecting it and was unsure how to react, but another car had pulled in behind him and he had nowhere to go without looking suspicious.

After a few seconds the electric window came down, revealing a hulk of a man dressed in a black suit with a white shirt that looked like it was restricting the blood flow to his thick neck. He had a scar along the side of his face and his head was completely shaven, adding to his menacing look. If he was surprised by Lola’s approach he didn’t show it.

‘Alright there, love? How canna help ye?’

He had a very thick Belfast accent and for a moment Lola thought she’d heard it somewhere before, but couldn’t quite remember where. Focusing on the task at hand, she put on her best damsel in distress act, and even resorted to twirling her hair aimlessly.

‘I’m really sorry to bother you, sir, but I think I’m having a bit of trouble with my car. I think it needs water, but I don’t know where it goes,’ said Lola smiling helplessly, and praying it would work. ‘I’m such a girl when it comes to these things, would you be able to give me a hand?’

‘It’s not every day you get approached by a beautiful woman at a petrol station, so I’m sure I can,’ grinned the huge man, revealing a row of nicotine stained teeth.

Lola moved away from the car door as the man got out. She couldn’t disguise the shock on her face when she actually saw him upright. He was well over six feet tall and nearly as wide – he was pure muscle. He was clearly used to women looking at him, and mistakenly took Lola’s reaction as a compliment.

Aibgrene emerged from the shop, and now she was looking nervous – the confusion written all over her face – wondering what on earth Lola was doing. As the man continued to look for the water opening, Lola watched as Aibgrene made her way around the back of the Mercedes, her hands full.

Suddenly Aibgrene dropped the contents of her bag and bending down to pick them up again, she withdrew her boline knife from its sheath and ran it across both back tyres. The blade was so sharp that all it required was a gentle slash. The air started to escape from the wheels with a slow hiss.

‘What’s up, Lola?’ chirped Aibgrene, feigning surprise.

‘Oh nothing, I thought I might need some water in the car, and this gentleman has been kind enough to help me, but everything looks fine.’

‘Yeah, it seems okay to me,’ said the huge man, looking a little bewildered, as his eyes darted furtively from Aibgrene to Lola. The girls knew that he may have realised he’d been discovered.

‘Well everything seems okay; I’d better be getting on. I have an important meeting to get to.’

‘Like I said, I have no idea about these things. I’m sorry to have wasted your time. Thanks a million for your help.’

Closing the bonnet Lola watched as the monster of a man made his way back to his car before she climbed back in behind the wheel. Turning the ignition, she made her way onto the motorway, with the Mercedes in pursuit.

‘What was that all about?’ demanded Aibgrene.

‘You said create a diversion, so I did. Plus, now we know who’s following us. Mind you, I think I’d rather not know. Did you see the size of him? He’s built like a brick shit-house.’

‘He was big, wasn’t he!’ laughed Aibgrene. ‘Let’s just hope our little ruse works.’

Just as she spoke, there was a loud screeching of brakes confirming that it had. As they both looked behind them the black car was forced onto the hard shoulder.

‘And it looks like it did!’ grinned Aibgrene.

‘What did you do?’ asked Lola.

Lifting the boline knife out of its leather cover, Aibgrene slashed at the air.

‘Remind me to consecrate this again when we get to Tara.’

‘You slashed his tyres? Genius! Give me a high five for that little piece of ingenuity.’

Lola was buzzing now, the adrenaline of the chase made her feel that she could handle anything.

‘I think that we should come off the motorway,’ said Lola.

‘You’re right, Lo,’ agreed Aibgrene. ‘Take the next turn off for Slane, and we’ll take the back roads. It’s safer.’

‘Did you get the number plate?’ asked Lola hopefully, she’d been so busy trying to distract the man that she had forgotten to.

‘Yes,’ said Aibgrene, lifting a pen out from the glove box, and then scribbling down the registration onto the back of an old receipt.

‘W10 RNU1,’ said Aibgrene proudly. ‘We’ve got it now!’

‘What are you going to go with it?’

‘I have a friend, you’ll meet him later, and he’s very adept at finding stuff online. If you know what I mean,’ said Aibgrene with a wink of her eye. ‘He might be able to trace who the car is registered to. Another thing, Lola, there are only two people who know that Celeste is missing. I think that the Order has been compromised. We don’t know who we can trust. Daithi and my mother’s friend, Darragh, are the only people I’ve told.’

‘So tell me a bit about this Daithi!’ teased Lola. She wasn’t fooled for a second. Every time Aibgrene had mentioned his name a thin smile crept across her face. Lola knew that he was more than just a friend.

‘He’s very special to me,’ mumbled Aibgrene, a light pink flush blushing on her freckled cheeks. ‘He’s a very gifted druid. He could have easily been part of the Order, but Daithi is a free spirit. He prefers to travel his own path.’

‘A very powerful druid?’ grinned Lola impishly. ‘Is he indeed! And does he have a very impressive magick wand as well?’

‘Lola Paige! You saucy mare,’ said Aibgrene laughing and giggling like a little school girl. ‘Maybe he has,’ she suggested slyly, ‘but that’s for me to know.’

‘I’ll ask you tomorrow night then?’

‘Well you might get to see for yourself,’ said Aibgrene now serious. ‘You know how us tree huggers are? Everyone gets to join in.’

The smile immediately slid from Lola’s face.

‘That’s the second time you’ve said that! What goes on at these gatherings? No, don’t tell me, I can only imagine. Well, I can tell you I’ll be keeping myself to myself, and that goes for my clothes as well.’

Aibgrene couldn’t hold her laughter for long; she could hardly get the words out for laughing. The frivolity did Lola good. She hadn’t had much to laugh about in the past few months.

‘You want to see the look on you face! It’s priceless. What do you take us for, Lo?’

Smiling in amusement, Lola watched the road ahead, taking the turn-off for the town of Slane. From there, Tara was only a few miles away and the sun, which was beginning to dip, guided them towards their final destination.