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Magenta opened herher black bob bounce Kirsty held up a hand

“Don’t answer that,” she said She wrapped a pink woollen scarf around her neck As usual, the beginning of Novehlands “Hold down the fort Try not to kill Morag I’ to see my mum”

Magenta placed her slender hand on Kirsty’s arm

“While you’re there,” she said, “have a nice cup of cal breaths and try to remember that you’re an adult”

“Ha!” was all Kirsty said before she headed out of the back door and into the alleyway that ran behind the long row of shops

She turned into the wind and headed down the hill towards the loch Heron the corner of the high street and the road that ran along the waterfront As she walked towards it she could feel some of the tension seep from her This was home

She’d grown up in her mum’s wool and craft shop Played on the floor while her mother dealt with customers Did her homework at the old table at the back of the shop The table that was in constant use now as the unofficial roup and they were just the women she wanted to see

“Darling!”

Her mum jumped up from the round table near the open fire at the rear of the shop The usual group of ed women smiled up at her while they continued to knit

“Hey, Mu her chin on the top of her greying hair She took one of the deep, soothing breaths that Magenta had ordered her to take and actually did feel better

“Coirls,” her mum said when she pulled away

Kirsty hung up her coat and scarf on the pegs beside the back door and plopped into an old wooden chair close to the open fire Around her the floor-to-ceiling shelves were cra the shop the same smell a cosy blanket would have She’d always loved this place It here she’d had her first kiss when herho at work and it here she’d hidden when cancer had taken her dad Naturally, after her accident it was the only place she wanted to be She took the h of satisfaction If only she could stay cocooned in her mum’s shop forever

“What’s up?” her mum said as she cli

Kirsty looked around the group as she sipped her tea When she was little the women only met once a week, but now that s, their tiaret Caht of their husbands, elcomed a little peace

“It’s okay, dear,” Jean said “We can keep a secret”