The Shiver Stone (16 page)

He put his arm around Jago. ‘I've realised it wasn't just the fear of Kemble that made me run away all those years ago. It was also the fear of being a dad. I used Kemble as an excuse. I was too young, too stupid. I can't believe this amazing young person here is my son. How lucky am I?' They both grinned and looked so weirdly alike that it should have been funny.

Only I wasn't laughing. A cold sick feeling was creeping into my stomach. If Tristan was moving to Bristol, so was Tia. I would never see her again. My chest tightened and I held her up, pressing her face to mine. She licked my nose.

‘There is one big problem though.' Tristan was smiling and looking from Linette to Dad and back again. I thought I saw him wink.

‘This apartment I'm moving to. I can't take Tia. And I was just wondering, if now that you're moving into a house, well, I was just wondering if…'

I held my breath.

‘…if Carys might like to have Tia?'

I heard a great sob and realised it was me. I turned tearful eyes to Dad, afraid, so afraid, he would say no.

He waited for at least ten seconds before he answered, and every second beat like a drum in my head. It felt like the whole world had stopped to listen to his answer.

Then: ‘Don't see why not.'

They all burst out laughing and I realised it had already been arranged. I didn't care. Happiness soared through me like a huge wave and I felt tears trickle down my face. I nuzzled her neck and whispered, ‘You're mine, you're mine, you're mine.'

There's just one more thing. I haven't told anyone because they'll think I'm nuts. But I'm not. It happened. I know it happened…

Up on that cliff, seconds before I dived off, when I touched the great stone to give me courage – it shivered.

Aut
hor's note:

Dear Saundersfoot,

As you've probably realised the town of Carreg is you. I changed a few things – made your tunnels longer, brought the caravan park nearer and gave you the Shiver Stone. This was purely for dramatic effect. In real life you are perfect the way you are. I wouldn't change a single grain of sand.

Sharon Tregenza (author)

Acknowledgements

I'd like to thank my publishers the lovely Janet Thomas and the lovely Penny Thomas at the lovely Firefly Press for their help and enthusiasm – they've been a real pleasure to work with. Also, thanks to my friend and fellow writer Judith Barrow for sorting out my comma-phobia. And always and ever I'd like to say a huge thank you to my extraordinary family – The Greigys and The Tregys.

First published in 2014

by Firefly Press

25 Gabalfa Road, Llandaff North, Cardiff, CF14 2JJ

www.fireflypress.co.uk

Text copyright © Sharon Tregenza

The author asserts her moral right to be identified as author in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act, 1988.

All rights reserved.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form, binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record of this book is available from
the British Library.

ISBN 9781910080085

ebook ISBN 9781910080092

This book has been published with the support of the
Welsh Books Council.

Original cover art by Lizzie Spikes www.driftwooddesigns.co.uk