Home by Keeley Smith Page A

day.’ The docs looks at her, ‘From the hunger you mean?’
‘No,’ she replies... ‘from all the skipping!”
    “ Oh Jesus,”
Clay laughed.
    Cora giggled,
which sent the table into hysterics. “I really tried to hold it
in.”
    “ That was such
a bad joke! But it has to be the best, worst joke!” Ciaran
roared.
    “ Yeah, but you
were all engrossed.”
    “ No, we just
fell asleep with our eyes open,” Flynn laughed.
    A loud bang at
the door made the group jump. Cora looked quickly at
Jack.
    “ Who the hell
is that? If it was Alastair, he would walk straight in...” Clay
growled.
    Cora knew that
was right. “Ember?”
    Ember nodded,
her body sighed against her chair. Less than a minute later, Ember
opened her eyes. “It’s Tommy.”
    Jack stood up
and she followed. The rest of her coven remained behind them,
including the Irish coven. Jack opened the door. Tommy’s eyes were
a little dazed as he looked at the gathering of witches. He hadn’t
expected all of them.
    “ I’m sorry,
Cora,” Tommy spoke quickly.
    “ For what?” she
queried.
    “ For coming to
you with...”
    Ayden and Clay
pushed forward, stepping outside, looking for the
danger.
    “ Coming with
what?” Cora asked as they found nothing outside.
    “ I have a
message,” Tommy stuttered.
    What was
Alastair playing at now? Why would he use Tommy? To keep them on
their toes maybe? What was Alastair doing using Tommy? Did he know
that Tommy had given them a message before?
    “ From
Alastair?” Tabitha questioned.
    “ No... from
your mother and Clio.”

11
    THE MESSAGE
     
     
    They stood on
the doorstep, leaving Tommy out in the cold. She could feel the
ripples of shock circle around the group. He had a message from her
mum? Why would he come now? Was this part of Alastair’s plan? She
didn’t trust Alastair. Tommy had done nothing to gain their trust,
although he had told her about her brother...
    “ You’re lying!”
Ayden spat as he lurched towards Tommy.
    Ciaran and Eli
held Ayden back.
    “ Why would I
lie? I told you the truth last time,” Tommy said as he pleaded with
Cora.
    He had a
point. Yet, Tommy had told her this on a date that Alastair had
enforced.
    “ I think you
should come in, Tommy. There is no point discussing this out in the
open.” Tabitha nodded and everyone stepped aside.
    Tommy entered,
he seemed nervous with so many witches stood around him. Cian led
the way to the living room. They sat as Tommy stood. Ayden remained
at the door, feet planted. Eyes of pure ice looked straight at
Tommy, daring him to put one foot out of place.
    “ What message?”
Ember asked.
    “ Does Alastair
know you are here?” Jack demanded.
    So Jack’s
train of thought had run with hers.
    “ Answer Jack’s
question first,” Ember responded with a flippant wave of her
hand.
    “ He doesn’t
know I’m here. I didn’t even know if I was going to come myself. I
didn’t know how welcome I would be...but she is very
persistent.”
    “ Who?” Eli
interrogated.
    “ Clio. She
pushed me to come here. She keeps pushing at me until I can’t
sleep!”
    Cora saw the
shock run across Clay’s face.
    “ What is the
message?” Cora asked, finally finding her voice.
    Tommy took a
deep breath. “I have to say it like it was given to me.”
    “ Saying
something will be a great start!” Clay growled as he pushed back
his mop of blonde hair that now rested on his shoulders. Green eyes
glared at Tommy.
    “ You must be
weary of Alex.” Tommy nodded, like this statement meant something
to them. He waited for them to speak.
    “ Who is Alex?”
Iona asked them.
    Cora was
shaking her head. “I haven’t got a clue. Who said that?”
    “ Clio.”
    “ Is that all
she said?” Clay asked, his eyes now pleading for something more
from his best friend.
    Cora knew
exactly how Clay felt. She’d always longed for more when it came to
her real mum and adoptive mum.
    “ No. That was
the first thing she told me. She was adamant I told you this,