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‘Molly?’ I say, shaking my head, confused.
‘For bloods,’ Gavin says.
‘Molly,’ I say again. ‘Why would they need Molly to have a blood test? She’s only four.’
‘They’re sisters,’ Heather says.
My brain seems stuck and I’m so confused. I have so many questions for Gavin, but I know now is not the time. I imagine in Gavin and Heather’s emotional state they’ve picked up something wrong. Molly is just a baby. They won’t need her.
I open the press above the sink on auto pilot and fetch some cups. I pop open the lid on the jar of instant coffee that I left on the shelf earlier and spoon some into each cup. I add boiling water and stir. And then, I come to a sudden standstill, and my arms flop uselessly by my side.
‘Does Kayla know yet?’ I ask, my back to Gavin and Heather as my heart aches waiting for their answer.
‘Not yet,’ Gavin says. ‘Actually, we wanted to talk to you about that.’
‘Me?’ I tap my chest, turning around.
‘I think it would be best if Heather and I tell Kayla together,’ Gavin says.
‘Of course. Yes,’ I nod, walking to the fridge to fetch milk. ‘That’s a good idea. A great idea.’
‘Tonight,’ Gavin says.
‘Well, yeah, sure. If she has to have all these tests tomorrow, then of course you need to talk to her tonight.’
‘I spoke to work earlier,’ Gavin says. ‘I told them I won’t be coming in for a while. They understand.’
I’m nodding. Listening.
‘No milk for Heather,’ Gavin says as I hover the carton of milk over the first cup.
‘I can’t have dairy,’ Heather says. ‘Sorry.’
‘Me neither,’ I say, surprised to discover Heather and I have something in common. Gavin never told me.
‘So what do you think, then?’ Gavin says, knocking against my shoulder as he takes one cup with milk and one without over to the table.
Heather and Gavin sit down and Gavin looks over his shoulder at me, waiting for me to join them. I pick up my coffee and take it to the table.
‘What do I think?’ I repeat, pulling out a chair. I don’t know what I think. I’m not sure I’m even thinking at all.
‘About me going to Cork tonight?’
I stare at Gavin blankly. There’s so much to take in. He’s losing me.
‘Kayla is going to her friend Aiden’s house after school today,’ Gavin says.
‘Okay,’ I say. I’ve never meet Aiden but his name is familiar to me. Kayla and Aiden have been friends for a long time and she talks about him often. At one stage I thought they were more than just friends, but Kayla quickly set me straight.
‘I thought I could drive down this evening with Heather,’ Gavin says.
‘Oh,’ I say, concentrating hard to understand what he’s saying. ‘I thought you meant tell her over the phone. What was I thinking? You’re right. God you’re so right. This is something you should do in person. Of course it is.’
I look at Heather. She’s sipping her coffee that I know is still too hot and keeping very quiet. I imagine she’s completely overwhelmed, but I wish she’d say something. Let me know what she thinks of this plan. I wonder if she wants Gavin there. Or if she needs the space to cope with this on her own terms. I wish there was some way of knowing what the right thing to do is.
‘Heather and I will pick Kayla up at Aiden’s and head straight to Heather’s place. We’ll tell Kayla together there,’ Gavin says his voice cracking.
‘I want her to be at home when she finds out,’ Heather says. ‘Maybe we’ll get a takeaway. She loves takeaway. I think it’s important to keep everything as normal as possible.’
