Page 125 of The Forever Gift


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‘Mr Rainbow is a nice name,’ I say, smiling at Molly, but my eyes are on Heather.

‘Erm. I think I’m going to go for a walk,’ Heather says, as she stands up slowly and shaky.

‘Okay,’ I say, worried that she’s exhausted and dizzy and might fall while she’s out. ‘Maybe Gavin might like to go too,’ I suggest. ‘I’ll go upstairs and ask him.’

‘Can I go for a walk?’ Molly asks. ‘I like walks. And I can bring Mr Rainbow.’

‘No, Molly, I don’t think?—’

‘Walk. Walk. Walk,’ Molly chants.

Heather moves into the hall. I rinse my hands quickly, washing away herbs and breadcrumbs and hope I’m not too late to catch her before she goes out the door still in her pyjamas.

‘Heather, wait,’ I say as she reaches for her coat hanging on the banister of the stairs. She’s not listening. Her body is here but her mind is somewhere else entirely.

The doorbell rings unexpectedly and Heather jumps. As if the sudden noise has jolted her back to the here and now.

‘Who could that be?’ I say, thrown a little; we’re not expecting visitors for Christmas.

‘I don’t know, Mammy,’ Molly says very seriously, as if she’s disappointed that she doesn’t have an answer for my question.

Heather lets go of her coat, leaving it on the banister as she turns and walks back into the kitchen with her head low.

I open the door. ‘Jack.’

‘Hi,’ Jack says, smiling.

A gush of icy December wind whips past and I shiver, blushing a little when I realise I’m facing my neighbour in fluffy slippers and an even fluffier dressing gown.

‘Is Heather here?’ Jack asks.

I turn my head over my shoulder to find Heather has stopped walking and has turned around to face the door.

‘Yeah. Yes. She is. Do you want to come in? It’s freezing.’

‘That would be good. Thanks,’ Jack says.

Jack steps inside and I catch the reflection of the small box he’s holding behind his back in the hall mirror. It’s wrapped in shiny silver paper and there’s a bright-red bow on top. It’s very pretty and I’ve no doubt it’s a gift for Heather, but she hasn’t touched the other presents in her stocking yet.

‘Did Santa come?’ Jack asks, as Molly shoves her new unicorn towards him.

‘Do you like him?’ Molly asks. ‘He’s Mr Rainbow.’

‘He’s very nice, Molly,’ Jack says. ‘You must have been such a good girl.’

‘It’s Christmas, Jack,’ Heather says, slowly walking towards us. ‘Shouldn’t you be with your family.’

Gavin appears at the top of the stairs. The noise of the doorbell obviously caught his attention. The hall feels unusually crowded.

‘My sister is spending the day with her husband’s family,’ Jack says. ‘They invited me, of course, but it didn’t feel right.’

‘You’re on your own?’ Gavin says, descending the stairs rubbing his eyes and I think he’s just had a nap. I’m glad. I can’t remember the last time he slept.

‘I don’t mind,’ Jack says. ‘I’ll stop by the hospital later. Check on some of the kids.’

‘Well you must stay and have dinner with us in the meantime,’ Gavin says.

‘No, really.’ Jack winces. ‘That’s very kind, but please don’t feel obliged.’

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