Page 84 of Under Your Spell

‘Because she’s the best at telling stories,’ Theo says. ‘And because she does magic spells.’

‘You do?’ Hannah’s eyes widen.

I nod. ‘With my sisters. Ever since we were little.’

Hannah’s eyes grow rounder as she considers the possibility that the decrepit old hag in front of her was ever a child. ‘Okay,’ she nods. ‘I will go with her, then.’ Her tone is regal and she holds out her hands to me, flinging her upper body forward with serene confidence that someone will always catch her. Theo is forced to bundle her quickly into my arms.

I grab onto her, and she clings to me like a koala, pressing a hot cheek to mine and whispering loudly in my ear, ‘Will you teach me to do a spell?’

‘What kind of spell do you want to do?’ I ask.

Hannah’s answer is immediate. ‘One that turns Oliver into a bunny. I think a bunny would be more fun than a brother.’

‘Hannah, are you—Aaaaaaah! Theo! You’re here!’ A small, brunette woman, who must be Lisa, with a baby – presumably the much-maligned Oliver – strapped to her chest, appears in the door screeching over her shoulder, ‘Mum! Mum! Theo’s here!’

‘Teddy!’ A shriek comes from inside and then another woman – silver-haired and elegant – barrels outside. Theo’s dad and Lisa’s future husband follow.

And suddenly Theo is surrounded by people hugging and kissing him.

Oliver lets out a wail of protest.

‘See,’ Hannah mutters, casting a darkling glance at the baby. ‘They told me a baby brother would be fun, but he doesn’t do anything.’

‘Mmm,’ I hum in agreement. ‘Babies aren’t terribly useful, but they do grow up, you know.’

‘I s’pose,’ Hannah sighs gustily.

‘Mum, Mum, stop!’ Theo is laughing as she smothers his face in kisses.

‘My Teddy bear!’ she coos. ‘So tall, so handsome.’

I snort, and Theo’s eyes slide in my direction.

‘Muuuuum!’ he whines, embarrassed.

‘What?’ Her eyes widen as she takes in his face. ‘Theodore! You need a shave! This is how you turn up to your sister’s wedding? Looking like a scruffy reprobate?’

I snort louder.

His mum looks over at me and smiles, though the smile is smaller, more polite. ‘You must be Clementine,’ she says, stepping forward. ‘I’m Alice, and this is my husband, Hugh.’ She tugs Theo’s dad forward and when he smiles I notice he has the same heartbreaker dimple in his cheek as his son.

‘It’s nice to meet you.’ I can’t shake their hands because I’m still holding Hannah but I sort of bob my whole body which I realize instantly is a totally weird thing to do.

Theo slips his arm around my waist, tickles Hannah’s feet. ‘Did you just curtsey?’ he whispers gleefully in my ear.

‘Shut it, Teddy bear,’ I hiss between clenched teeth.

‘Right, right.’ Lisa claps her hands. ‘Theo, you can sort out getting all the stuff up to your room and then I’m sure Dad can find something useful for you to do. Mum and I are taking Clemmie with us to the spa.’

‘What about me, Mummy?’ Hannah asks.

‘You’re going with Uncle Theo,’ Lisa says tranquilly, already bundling Oliver into her fiancé Rob’s arms.

‘I can show you my bridesmaid dress,’ Hannah says happily as I lower her to the ground, her hand slipping into Theo’s and tugging at him impatiently. ‘Did you know bridesmaids are the most important bit of the wedding?’

He shrugs at me, a rueful grin on his face, and I feel a moment of panic at having my Theo-shaped security blanket ripped away already, while I try to remind myself that I am a functioning adult, capable of talking to other people in lots of different situations.

As I watch him disappear inside, Lisa’s arm comes around my shoulder and she squeezes gently. ‘The best thing about it being my wedding weekend is that people keep trailing after me with alcohol. Let’s go and have a drink, shall we?’