The Mysteries of Brambly Hollow

snake had injected venom into her backside, sending her chair crashing to the floor. Her palms slapped on the table top, steadying her. “But why didn’t you say before?”
    “We didn’t want the hassle. Besides, Dean didn’t want me to. He didn’t want to be associated with Elsa or the farmhouse. I guess he was ashamed of her, and there were a lot of terrible memories, what with the way he was treated. And then there was Finn’s death.” Her eyes widened as she spoke, pleading with her mother for understanding.
    Behind Meli, Cal picked up her chair, and placing a hand on her shoulder, he gently pressed her onto it. Meli didn’t resist, in fact she was grateful, as her legs felt like they had turned to string and were about to crumple into a heap on the floor, taking her with them. “What happened?”
    Cass shrugged, and broke eye contact. “He never went into detail.” Her fingers fumbled on the table, and finding the two halves of cornflakes crushed them into powder. “Dean and his dad are down there now, you know, going through things.” Meli’s ears visibly pricked and her eyes flicked in the direction of the farmhouse as though they could see through the stone wall and across the distance. When she found that she couldn’t she turned back to her daughter. She’d have to do this the old fashioned way, and ask for details. “How are they taking it?” Again, a tiny shrug.
    Meli’s glance fell on the boys, who were sitting like two goldfish, gaping at everyone, absorbing every word. They were clearly fascinated by all this excitement. Catching her eye, David said. “What was it like, mum, seeing a dead body?”
    “Not very pleasant,” was all Meli trusted herself to say. Without a word, Cassie got up and put the kettle on and made a pot of tea.
    “Anyone hungry? I could get something from the pub and bring it back,” Cal offered when the silence was so taut you could have sliced an onion with it.
    “Yes, please,” the boys enthused. Meli and Cassie shook their heads.
    “Sorry boys, looks like you’ll have to make do with a snack here if you’re hungry.” Cal settled back into his chair, his own face glum. He obviously would have liked something more substantial himself.
    Working on automatic, Meli got up and began making a pile of sandwiches, oblivious to the glares of disapproval from the twins, although they said nothing, sensible enough to try to remain inconspicuous, in case they were sent packing to their room and missed out on this fascinating turn of events.
    Quassi, who had also been listening quietly, began to bark and dashed to the door, just as someone knocked on it. Cal went to answer it, and returned with Dean and his dad. They were both grim faced.
    “I’m Ken, Elsa’s ex-husband,” the older man introduced himself, holding out his hand to Meli. Taking it, Meli swept her gaze over him, mildly surprised by what she saw. He was nothing like she would have imagined; if she had ever tried to imagine what Mr. Elsa might look like, that was. He was impeccably dressed, in a very casual but costed way, in a crisp white tee shirt tucked into a pair of green and taupe Rupert Bear style trousers - that gave the impression that he might just have left the nineteenth hole -, both of which were ironed to enviable perfection; a skill she had never quite mastered. His hair was the consistency of a Shetland ponies, the thickening streaks of grey amidst the downy brown a masterpiece of uniformity. Meli guessed him to be in his early sixties, a fit looking man with a firm handshake.
    “I hope you don’t mind us popping in uninvited…”
    Meeting a pair of brown-grey eyes, Meli replied. “No, not all. Please, sit down,” Meli led them into the living area as she spoke. “And you boys, you stay put,” she told them over her shoulder.
    Finishing the introductions, Cal poured the adults much needed brandies, even allowing small ones for Cassie and Dean.
    “It’s so sad,” Meli commented, fingering the stem of her glass, not knowing what else to say.
    “I understand that you were the one who found her?” Ken asked. Meli nodded. “That must have been a nasty shock, but I am grateful. If you hadn’t gone looking for her, who knows how long she might have laid there.”
    Meli hadn’t thought of that, and it did give her a little solace, easing her growing sense of guilt and inadequacy over her handling of the situation. She had been a total prat, running away as she