Pathway to Tomorrow by Sheila Claydon

“Let’s hope she’s right then, because you need to do well. University is going to be a tough call. You’ll have to learn to live on your own, and you’ll have to take a part-time job too unless you want to end up with a massive debt hanging around your neck. I wish there was another way but there isn’t because once you’re eighteen there won’t be an educational trust to fall back on anymore.  I’ll give you what I can, of course, but it won’t be enough.”
    Izzie hugged her.  “I don’t expect you to give me anything.  You’ve already done more for me than a lot of real parents would have done. I’m used to working part-time too, in the stables…so do me a favor and stop talking about university ‘cos it’s boring. Let’s talk about Marcus Lewis.  Are you and he an item?”
    “Maybe,” Jodie flushed pink as they walked towards her car. It was a big and battered Jeep that came with the job and it always looked out of place amongst the sleek cars that lined the school car park on open evenings. Not that Izzie appeared to care. It was Jodie who had the problem.  She wanted her sister to have all the advantages she’d had until her stepfather died, and that included not looking out of place at school.
    “Brilliant! Wait until I tell all my friends…wow Jodie! I didn’t know you had it in you. My sister is going out with Marcus Lewis!” Izzie climbed into the car and settled into her seat with a satisfied sigh. Then she saw the expression on Jodie’s face.
    “Not a good idea?”
    “Not a good idea,” said Jodie firmly.  “Tell them about our trip to London if you must, but leave me out of it…and that goes for everyone at the riding school too.
     
    * * *
     
    Marcus arrived early.  So early Jodie was still saying goodbye to Buckmaster.  Izzie was waiting though.  As soon as he drove into the yard she flew out of the house, a rucksack trailing from one hand and a small canvas bag in the other.  He raised his eyebrows.
    “Is that it?”
    She grinned at him.  “We believe in travelling light.”
    “Have you got your music?”
    “At the bottom of my rucksack but don’t tell Jodie.  She thinks this is all about her getting to know you.”
    “It is,” his voice was sharp.  “And it’s also about both of you getting to know Luke.  Listening to you sing is third on my list Izzie.”
    Looking suitably chastened she opened the rear door and slid into the car.  Then she gave a puzzled frown.  “Who is Luke?”
    He stared at her reflection in the driving mirror.  “Jodie hasn’t told you?”
    “If you haven’t learned how tight-lipped she is about almost everything by now, then you haven’t learned anything about her at all. No, she hasn’t told me anything about Luke.  She’s never even mentioned his name.”
    Marcus sighed.  Jodie had even more hang-ups than he did.  “Luke is my son.  He’s eleven years old and he’s autistic. His autism affects him in lots of ways; for example he hates meeting new people, so you and Jodie will be quite a challenge for him.”
    She shrugged. “Lots of the kids on the disabled riding program are like that. I take lead rein for one of them, Rosie.  We get on really well now but it was ages before she’d even look at me.”
    “Luke has some minor physical disabilities too. He’s not very coordinated.”
    “So do lots of the kids on the program.  Surely Jodie’s told you about it.”
    “Mmm. She wants Luke to try it out when we move up here, but I think she’ll find she’s met her match in him.  Luke on a horse surrounded by strangers…no I can’t see it.”
    Izzie laughed.  “If that’s what you think then you still have an awful lot to learn about my sister.”
    But Marcus had stopped listening.  Following the direction of his gaze she saw Jodie come out of Buckmaster’s stable and secure the bolt behind her. Carol, who was taking charge of the riding school for the weekend, was hovering at her shoulder and