‘Sure,’ Ezra said, as she had known he would. ‘Are you struggling with something in your History lessons?’

‘No, it’s nothing like that,’ Gilly said. ‘School’s going really well, actually. This is completely different. I want to fix the roof of Edie’s shed.’

Ezra’s face took on a blank look for a moment. ‘Her shed?’

‘It’s got a leak,’ Gilly explained. ‘I’ve been trying to find something nice that I can do for her, and I think this is it. I’ve had a look and it’s only at one end – I think there’s some torn roof felt. But I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t even know where to go to get the supplies I need. Can you help me?’

‘You’ll need new felt and felt tacks,’ Ezra said. ‘There’s a hardware store over in Great Dunbar that’ll have what you need. That’s a nice thought, Gilly, but Edie wouldn’t expect you to do that.’

‘I want to,’ Gilly said, and realized that she genuinely did. She glanced at the clock. ‘I wonder what time the hardware shop closes tonight? Maybe I can get over there on the bus after the bookshop shuts.’

‘I don’t think you’d make it,’ Ezra told her. ‘But not to worry. I’ve got to go over there this afternoon anyway. I’ll pick up what you need.’

‘Really?’ Gilly was surprised. ‘You’d do that? For Edie?’

Ezra gave her a look as he picked up his purchases and prepared to leave. ‘I’ll do it for you, Gilly.’

When Gilly got back that evening, Ezra was in his garden. The early evening light was pouring over the hill, gilding leaves and grasses. He called to her as she passed the gate, a conspiratorial whisper.

‘Hey,’ he said. ‘Is Medusa in? I didn’t want to leave this stuff in the shed in case she saw me and thought I was snooping.’

Edie was in the print room. Her back was to the window but she could turn around at any minute.

‘Can I leave it with you for now?’ Gilly asked. ‘She’s out most of the day tomorrow so I’m going to try to fix it then. I want it to be a surprise.’

‘Have you got tools?’

‘No,’ Gilly lied. In fact there was a toolbox stashed safely inside the shed, but she wasn’t one to waste an opportunity when she saw one.

‘Well then, how were you planning to actually do this?’ Ezra asked.

‘I don’t know…’

Ezra sighed. ‘She’s going to be out tomorrow?’

‘Yeah,’ Gilly said, consoling herself that she wasn’t really lying. Edie was going out tomorrow. Just… not for that long. ‘I figured I’d get it done before she got back. There’s some exhibition she’s meeting an artist friend at. She asked me if I wanted to go but I said that I had to study.’

‘All right. I’ll help you, then, okay? I’ll bring over my toolkit and we’ll do it together.’

‘Really?’

‘Just as long as that old monster doesn’t get wind of it. I don’t want her thinking I’m a soft touch for all manner of odd jobs she’s too lazy to get around to doing herself.’