Their Tree

Estherwas about to climbdown fromthe tree when she realised that she was going to be not alone. A crackling of leaves warnedher– nothing she could see. It was 4am on a balmy autumn night and deeply dark for miles around.The only light came from the distantcity – an orange blotchon the horizon. There would have been stars and maybe a moon, but clouds had conquered them for now.

Of course she knew who was coming – there was only one possibility. Her granddaughter Katelived in the big house at t...