Fiona by Meredith Moore Read Free Book Online Page A

you in just a few moments,” she assures me. “Let me know if you need anything at all.”
    She closes the door, and I’m alone. I sink into one of the chairs and bury my head in my hands. Albert isn’t too worriedabout Poppy, so I shouldn’t be either. She just wanted to ditch school. She’ll probably be home for dinner.
    I try to take a deep breath, but I keep hearing the echo of that strange voice in my head. The air feels stuffy, so I spring up out of my chair and move to the window, where I can at least see some open space. It looks out on the back of the school below, old brick dorms and the huge new science center, its metallic sides and modern lines standing out like a goth among cheerleaders.
    The door clicks behind me, and I turn to see the headmistress, who is much younger than I was expecting. She must be in her late thirties or early forties, and her dark brown hair is pulled back in a sleek ponytail.
    â€œYou must be Poppy’s caretaker,” she says, shaking my hand. Her voice is high-pitched and nasally, discordant with her chic appearance.
    â€œI’m Fee,” I say and release her hand quickly. “Do you know where she might have gone?”
    The headmistress gestures me back to my seat, and I sit down reluctantly as she settles behind her desk. “Poppy is a very bright young girl who is going through a rough transition right now,” she says.
    A rough transition?
One of the worst euphemisms for losing your parents that I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard plenty. I resistthe urge to clench my teeth. “I’m still getting to know Poppy,” I say, my words clipped, “so I can’t yet guess where she might have gone. But I would really, really like to find her.”
    The headmistress gives me this smile that drips with sympathy and condescension, and I understand immediately why Poppy would be eager to run away from this place. “I don’t know where she might have gone, but I do know that Poppy is a very special girl who needs a lot of attention right now. And we’re all worried about her here at Bardwill.”
    I stand up. “I’m worried about her, too. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go try to find her.”
    She finally seems to catch on to the fact that I can’t stand her, because there’s the slightest purse in her lips as she rises from her desk. “Of course,” she says. “But once this situation has been resolved, I’d like to talk to you about how we can best help Poppy going forward.”
    I nod quickly before hurrying out the door.
    Students have filled the halls, scurrying off to their last class of the day. I push my way through the clusters and out into the yard, more anxious than ever about finding Poppy.
    Where would I go if I were her? Nowhere within that claustrophobic building with teachers and other students looking at me like I’m suddenly different, like tragedy has stamped a tattoo across my forehead. Where would I go to be free?
    I realize exactly where I would go just as I spot Albert waiting by the car. “No luck,” he calls. “You?”
    I shake my head. “We should go back to the house. I think I know where she is.”
    We drive for what feels like hours until we’re finally heading back through the cathedral of trees and up the road to the familiar gray stone castle. As soon as Albert stops the car, I hop out and head straight for the stables.
    Gareth is shoveling hay into one of the stalls. It’s quiet, save for the soft nickering of horses. I peer around the stable, but there’s no sign of Poppy. Or Copperfield.
    â€œCan I help you?” Gareth asks, leaning on his shovel. I can’t help but notice the corded muscles of his forearms before I look away.
    â€œSorry,” I say. “I thought Poppy might be here.”
    â€œNot for hours. She and Copperfield are out for a bit of a wander