Chapter 48 Elin

48

Elin

Parque Nacional, Portugal, October 2021

Wisps of fog are drifting by the window as Elin and Isaac settle back in the van. Hazy pockets of it, like breath on a frosty morning.

‘Don't know about you, but after that, I need something sweet.' Isaac rummages inside the hamper. ‘Sure there was chocolate in here some—' He breaks off as his phone loudly beeps.

Unplugging it from the charger, he stares at the screen, brow furrowed.

‘What is it?'

‘Penn. He's managed to get a flight today. Should be with us by the evening.' Isaac gestures to the other Airstream. ‘He's taking that one for a few nights.' Bringing his hand up to his mouth, he bites down on his nail, eyes shifting past her, through the window.

Elin looks at his expression, discomforted. ‘Something wrong?'

‘I'm just worried that all this isn't going to be what he hoped. After what we saw at the falls, I can't help feeling he's not going to get his happy ending.' He shakes his head. ‘I keep thinking, if Ned was trying to shut Leah up, what if whatever it was Leah had stumbled on, Kier stumbled on too?'

‘It's possible.'

Another beep sounds out.

‘Penn's asked what we're planning on doing tonight. Shall I ask him if he wants to join us for something to eat? I'm guessing the barbecue isn't going to happen—' Isaac stops, peering closer at the screen. ‘Shit. The charger's not working, my battery's nearly dead.'

‘The cable again?'

‘Yeah, I think it's had it. Knew I should have got a new one before we came. Sure you haven't got yours?'

‘Certain. I looked again yesterday. Don't think I even packed it in the rush to get out. Maybe there's something in the drawers under the sink? I saw an adapter.'

Sifting through them, Isaac shakes his head. ‘Nothing. We're going to have to go into town and get one.' He glances at his watch. ‘Could be there and back in a few hours if we're quick.'

‘You want to go now?' Elin glances outside. ‘Fog looks like it's setting in.'

‘Well, we could leave it, assume Penn's going to definitely get here tonight with a charger, but I'm not convinced we want to be reliant on that. Going without one overnight, out here …' He hesitates, looking at her. ‘Don't you fancy coming?'

‘Not really.'

Isaac studies her closely this time, sensing something else is bothering her. ‘Is the rib playing up?'

Elin nods. Her rib is hurting, but that isn't the whole truth.

She's desperate for time on her own, to think, and to process everything. After what they've just witnessed at the falls, it feels like her brain is on fire – thoughts flitting so fast through her head she can't get a handle on them. She has an urgent need to get it all written down – the way she thinks best – before she loses sight of anything .

‘If you're sure.' Isaac looks back at his phone. ‘I've got about ten per cent charge. Should be enough to get me there and back.

You?'

‘A quarter. Should be fine.'

When the door closes behind him a few minutes later, Elin watches him stride across the decking towards the path. The fog has dispersed – only tiny wisps now, thin and fragile, like candy floss pulled to nothing between a child's fingers.

Despite the clarity it brought, Elin had an overwhelming sense of the landscape pressing in on her.

As the trees and the valley beyond are gradually revealed, she suddenly feels very small. A speck among the vast expanse of the park surrounding her.