Page 149 of The Other Side

Osian smiled. “I think Fi’s about to make a speech.”

Conversation faded as people turned towards the makeshift stage and the music ended. Fi climbed onto one of the stacked pallets where the band had been playing.

“Thank you all for coming tonight,” she said. “This is our last event here at the stables, but don’t worry—there’ll be plenty more at our new home. We’ve already found some fantastic trails, and there’s an amazing stretch where we can really let the horses run.”

A murmur of approval rippled through the crowd. She held out a hand, and Noel climbed up beside her.

“There may be a few of you who haven’t met Noel yet, though I doubt there are many who haven’t heard me talk about him.” She grinned at Noel before looking back at everyone else. “We’re getting married next year, and everyone who’s here tonight will be getting an invitation.”

The announcement was met with cheers, whistles and enthusiastic applause.

“But tonight isn’t only about saying goodbye to this place or celebrating our engagement.” Fi paused, her smile widening. “It’s also someone’s birthday.”

Drum felt his stomach tighten. He shot Osian a suspicious look.

Osian lifted both hands. “Wasn’t me. I swear.”

“Come on up here, Will!” Fi called.

Will laughed as he made his way through the crowd and climbed onto the pallets beside his sister.

“My little brother,” Fi announced. “Thirty years old today.”

Oh God. Drum glanced at Osian who’d clearly had the same thought as him. A disabled child, the same birthday, the same part of the country…

Kit appeared carrying an enormous chocolate cake ablaze with candles. “Quick, blow them out before I catch fire!”

Will took a deep breath and blew out the candles in one determined gust. Smoke curled into the evening air as everyone burst into an enthusiastic chorus of Happy Birthday.

Drum stood motionless. The words lodged in his throat. For a heartbeat, the music, the laughter and the singing all seemed to recede, as if someone had turned the volume down on the world. Then, forcing himself to smile, he joined in for the final line of the song.

Just a coincidence. It had to be. But Drum’s heart was racing.

Osian released a shaky breath. “Coincidence?”

“Cerebral palsy isn’t obvious in a baby.”

“But in a fae baby, maybe it was. Oh gods,” Osian whispered.

Will looked over the crowd, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and pleasure. “Thank you, everyone.”

“I think,” Fi said, once the applause had died down, “that it’s my duty as his big sister to tell you a few stories about the birthday boy.”

A chorus of groans and laughter came from the crowd.

“Oh no,” Will muttered.

“Oh yes.” Fi folded her arms with exaggerated satisfaction. “Let’s start with the time he was eight and decided he could break in our neighbour’s pony without telling anyone. He didn’t actually get on the pony…”

“I fell off the mounting block,” Will interrupted.

“You screamed.”

“I did not scream.”

Fi looked at the crowd. “He screamed.”

Everyone laughed, including Will, who covered his face with one hand. Drum laughed too, but only because everyone else was. His eyes never left Stephen and May. He felt Osian slide his hand into his.