That morning, Wade did not get up until the alarm rang.
The scent of frying bacon and toasted bread filled the house from the kitchen to the living room, but instead of humming as she set out the plates like usual, Fiona sat in a chair, lost in thought.
"Don't be like this, Fiona."
Ferdinand quietly persuaded her, "It's not Wade's first time going to school. If you're this reluctant to let him go, he'll worry when he sees it."
"I know."
Fiona blinked rapidly, forcing back the moisture welling in her eyes. Her voice tightened as she said:
"I just... can't bear to part with him. This holiday was far too short. It feels as though someone stole it from us..."
"But Easter will be here soon." Ferdinand held her hand and said, "Wade will come home for Easter too. You won't have to wait long."
"No, don't tell Wade—tell him he has to come back for Easter."
Fiona sniffed, then said:
"What if he wants to stay at school to study when the time comes? This is his O.W.L. year. He... he'll definitely want to make every second count studying. He might not have time to come home."
Ferdinand smiled helplessly. "All right. I won't mention it."
Wade stood silently by the stairs for a while. Only after the voices downstairs had faded did he walk down.
Fiona was already wearing a smile little different from usual. She took a large brown paper bag from the cupboard and busied herself stuffing it with steaming buttered rolls, sandwiches, and several boxes of cream cakes.
"Wade!"
The moment she saw her son, she raised her voice.
"Put all of this in that Extension Bag of yours later! The train ride takes a whole day, after all. Don't go back to