Page 44 of A Winter Wish

Theo’s face flashed into her mind. Was that what he was? It wasn’t exactly the term she’d use to describe him, though she wasn’t sure how, exactly, she would describe him. “Oh, I collect them daily. Look at me—I’m just the right build for someone to pick as an enemy.”

Rachel gave her a little look up and down. “You’re pretty much the same height as me.”

“Exactly. We’re little but not too little, so people don’t feel mean about picking on us.”

“I’m not sure I have any idea what you mean.”

“No. Well, you wouldn’t be the first.”

“So…We’ll be something less intense than friends, then?”

“Well, I suppose we can try, at least. I know you like coffee. That’s one good thing about you for starters.”

“I can’t drink too much of it,” Rachel said, almost an admission. “I get all jittery.”

“Me too!” She was, perhaps, a little too enthusiastic in the exclamation, given people getting jittery on caffeine wasn’t exactly a rarity. And surely that wasn’t the only thing she knew about Rachel? She tried now—really tried—to think if they’d had anything in common, the few weekends they’d been forced together. But all her mind could conjure up was a memory of Rachel when she was a toddler—Lexie couldn’t have been older than ten at the time. Lexie had been baffled by this tiny human—by the fact that this little girl had been all it took to tear her own family apart. She’d been cross and feeling resentful—but then Rachel had made her laugh. The thing was, she couldn’t remember what exactly had made her laugh. Something silly, like dropping a toy in a comical way—nothing that stood out. But she remembered laughing. Remembered Rachel laughing too. And she’d seen her dad, standing in the doorway.

Hey, Little Lex. So what do you think? You up for having a sister? He’d said it like it would be inclusive—like she could be part of the family too.

Lexie had looked at Rachel. Maybe. Rachel was picking up a toy now, handing it to Lexie, and Lexie took it almost reverently. Weirdly, she could remember exactly what toy it was—a stuffed tiger. Funny, the things that come back to you.

I don’t really know how to be a big sister, Lexie had admitted. After all, she’d gotten used to referring to herself as an only child.

Well, as I see it, there’s no right way to be a big sister, her dad had said.

And then Rachel’s mum, Jody, had slipped in. And Lexie could still remember her muttering in an undertone. I told you not to leave her alone with Rachel, Richard.

Her dad’s sigh. What do you think she’s going to do, Jody?

But Jody was already stepping in, picking up Rachel and chatting to her, telling Lexie she’d make them some lunch. And taking Rachel away from her.

In the present, Rachel was watching her, nerves plastered on her face—and Lexie realized she’d been quiet for too long. “I’m sorry I’ve been so crap,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry you felt like you had to literally force me to talk to you.”

“Don’t be,” Rachel said. “Everyone processes this stuff differently. I know that—and I didn’t want to intrude, but I…”

“Did it anyway?” Lexie grinned to show she was joking, and Rachel laughed.

“If you’d really sent me on my way, I would have dropped it. For a bit, anyway.”

Lexie nodded and stood up. “I really do have to get back.”

“OK. I’m going to stay here for a bit.”

Lexie wasn’t sure if Rachel was just saying that to offer her an out—but then again, maybe Rachel also needed some time to sit, to process. To be in the city her dad had lived in, without anyone watching how she dealt with that. She supposed the fact that her heart broke a little at the thought of that showed she wasn’t such a terrible person.

“Rachel?” She waited for her to make eye contact. “Thank you for coming.”

Rachel smiled, her eyes shining. “And thank you for coming after me.”

Chapter Eighteen

Lexie tapped her foot impatiently, waiting as the queue of locals and tourists edged forward, painfully slowly. It was warm and sunny in Madrid, and even though it was only May, Lexie could feel the heat of the sun on her shoulders, thanks to the strappy dress she’d worn. She craned her neck to see how far they still had to go—it felt like they’d been standing in the queue for literal hours. And for what? The small building—San Isidro’s “hermitage”—did not look all that impressive, and she couldn’t even see the fountain they were all trying to get to.

“I just don’t think this should be part of the schedule.” She’d already said it, but waiting around was making her cranky enough to repeat herself. “People will get bored waiting.”

Theo frowned. “It’s part of the tradition.”

“The big heads were better.” Earlier they’d seen the parade of weird giant-headed figures being marched through the main streets in the center of the city—which had been bizarre, but cool.