The Dinosaur Feather

rattle and a dark gap appeared behind her neighbour Maggie’s door. Maggie peered out, and when Anna said ‘hi’, her face lit up, she closed the door, removed the chain and joined Anna on the landing.
    ‘Look at the state of you,’ she exclaimed. ‘You have Olympicsized bags under your eyes. Have you had gentlemen callers?’ Maggie wore a floor-length dressing gown and her hair stood out on all sides.
    ‘Not exactly,’ Anna said, but couldn’t help smiling.
    Maggie pulled the dressing gown tighter and suddenly glanced anxiously down the stairwell.
    ‘So who is he then? It did seem a little odd.’
    Anna froze.
    ‘What do you mean?’
    The old lady scrutinised Anna.
    ‘I’m referring to the man who came back last night. It all seemed very strange to me. The other day I asked him if he wanted a drink. I didn’t want him sitting out here getting cold, did I? But he declined and, after last night, I’m very glad that he did.’
    ‘What do you mean, the other day?’ Anna asked, massaging a spot on her upper chest through her jacket.
    ‘The other day. Yesterday? Or was it two days ago? What are you doing?’ Maggie asked, indicating Anna’s hand. Anna sighed.
    ‘It’s nothing. It’s my heart. It’s racing. What did he look like?’
    ‘He had lovely eyes . . . and he was tall. He looked nice. Nice and a tad nervous. He wore a cap and a long black coat. His hair was auburn.’ Maggie touched her ear to show where his hair had stuck out.
    ‘It must have been Johannes. What did he say?’
    ‘I was coming back with my shopping and you know how I leave the bags on the landing and carry them upstairs, one at a time. When I came up with the first bag, there he was. Very polite, asked if he could help me, and then he carried my shopping upstairs. He said he was one of your friends, so I invited him in, but as I said, he declined. He glanced at his watch as though he was in a hurry,’ Maggie explained. ‘And yesterday, when I saw him sitting there again, I thought it odd and I nearly called the police. And then, suddenly, he was gone. Like the last time. As though he had changed hismind. Strange, don’t you think? Either you need to see someone or you don’t. I rushed to my balcony to check if the light was on in your flat, but it was dark as the grave,’ she said dramatically and narrowed her eyes.
    ‘It must have been Johannes,’ Anna repeated, to herself mainly. ‘Think back. When was the first time he came here?’
    ‘Three days ago,’ Maggie declared.
    Lily came outside with Bloppen tucked under her arm.
    ‘Can I have a Gummi Bear, please?’ she asked. Maggie shuffled back inside her flat, closely followed by Lily. Anna remained outside. It was going to be a long day.
    Anna received a text just as they entered the nursery. She reached into her pocket for her mobile, but the mayhem of children and parents in the cloakroom distracted her. Lily ran ahead into the classroom and tugged the skirt of one of her teachers.
    ‘Look!’ she called out. ‘Look! It’s my mum. Look, she’s right there!’ Lily pointed and a teacher came out to share Lily’s excitement.
    ‘Look, my one is the lion,’ Lily said, sticking out her lower lip. Since when had her speech developed so quickly? Anna thought. ‘I’ve got the lion, Anton has the rhinoceros, and Fatima has a fried egg,’ Lily explained and pointed to some small wooden shapes stuck to the wall above the peg rail.
    ‘Do you have long to go before you finish your dissertation?’ the teacher asked.
    ‘No,’ Anna said, looking up in surprise.
    ‘She misses you,’ the teacher said softly.
    ‘She has her granny,’ Anna defended herself.
    ‘Sure,’ the teacher said. ‘But you’re her mother and she talks about you all the time.’ Then she turned on her heel and left.
    ‘I’m four years old,’ Lily said.
    ‘No, darling. In five weeks you’ll be three years old.’ Anna held up five fingers. ‘And I’ll pick you up at four o’clock,’ she went on and removed one finger.
    Outside the nursery, she fished out her mobile and smiled when she saw the text from Johannes.
    Apology accepted
J.
We’re still friends. I just need to be alone for a while. Hugs. P.S. I was at home all of last night and didn’t visit you. Must have been one of your other admirers
J
    Anna breathed a sigh of relief. Johannes wasn’t upset. But then, who could the visitor have been?
    She was on her way into Building 12 when her mobile rang. It was