‘Yeah, me too, Rob.’
Fin was just about to haul his unwashed self up from the sofa when he felt his phone vibrate.
From: Unknown Number.
Intrigued, Fin clicked on the text and very nearly had to sit back down again.
Hi Fin, it’s Eleanor. I hope you don’t mind me messaging. I got your number from my mum. My friend is hosting a dinner party on Thursday night and I was wondering if you fancied coming along? No pressure at all, I’m sure you have other plans. Let me know either way.
Fin stared at the message unblinking. He had to read it at least three times to make sure the words truly registered. Eleanor was asking him to hang out?
Well, technically you and a dinner party full of other people, but still …
He began searching his mental calendar and then stopped suddenly. Of course he was free, what else would he be doing? A tiny bubble of excitement formed in his stomach as he quickly fired off his reply, rereading the text one last time.
‘I’m sure you have other plans.’ He snorted, laughing to himself. ‘If only you knew, Elles …’
*
‘Ah, I was worried you weren’t going to show today, Fin. You’re usually here much earlier.’ Nurse Clara looked relieved as he stepped through the door later that day.
Since his arrival in the UK, the small owlish Nurse Clara had become the closest thing to a friend Fin had. Some days, the dread of seeing his mother fading away before his very eyes felt too overwhelming, and it was only her presence at the front desk welcoming him in and waving him off that helped him to keep showing up. In fact, he’d become such a regular that if things were especially quiet in the home, Nurse Clara would insist that Fin stayed for a cup of tea. Normally this involved him sitting silently listening to her stories whilst deftly avoiding any questions she threw his way, but he didn’t mind. As long as there were biscuits, Fin didn’t mind at all.
‘Sorry, I should have warned you, I am terrible with timekeeping.’ He shook the rain from his hair and felt his feet squelch in his sodden trainers.
‘You’re just like my Neil.’ She tutted affectionately. ‘He’sa boy that time constantly seems to escape. Come on, I’ll walk you down to your mum’s. I need to head that way anyway.’
‘How’s she doing today?’ Fin asked, as he followed the short, determined strides of the nurse down the hallway. It was the same question every time he visited, and usually an identical answer. Today, however, Nurse Clara gave the briefest of hesitations, which sent Fin’s stomach free-falling.
‘Today is not a good one, I’m afraid. She’s very disorientated.’
‘Oh,’ Fin replied. ‘Do you think it’s still a good idea for me to pop in?’
His visits with his mum were awkward enough when she was lucid; he didn’t dare think about how difficult this encounter would be.
‘Definitely. It helps having people around who she knows. It will be fine,’ Nurse Clara reassured him. ‘And remember, I’m just here if you need me.’ She nodded to a door on her left. ‘I’ll be waiting for you in the normal spot when you’re done. It was one of the residents’ birthdays at the weekend so we still have some of the good biscuits left over,’ Nurse Clara noted. ‘And remind me … I need to ask you something!’
‘Oh, really?’ Fin’s interest was piqued.
‘Later.’ She waved him away. ‘Now go, or you’ll be even later for your mother,’ she warned before disappearing behind the door to his left.
Fin steeled himself and continued down the corridor, counting the doors until he reached his mum’s room. He’d barely opened the door a crack before he heard her faint voice calling out.
‘Hello?’
He took a deep breath and forced himself to smile. ‘Hi. Sorry I’m late.’
‘Hello? Who’s there?’ she repeated, her distress growing rapidly.
‘Mum … it’s me.’ He stepped further into the room but she remained confused, her eyes searching his face for answers. ‘It’s Fin, Mum. Do you remember me?’
Suddenly her eyes widened and her face broke into a beaming smile.
‘Goodness me, look at your hair.’ She beckoned him over, her withered fingers clawing at the air between them. ‘It’s such a beautiful colour. My son has hair just like that, you know.’
Fin’s heart tripped over itself, but he forced a smile on to his face and came to sit next to his mum. ‘Does he? He must be a lucky man then.’
Jesus, this is weird.
