Before he could ask anything further, Nurse Clara knocked firmly on the door and opened it.
‘Rudi, it’s me,’ she called.
A deep throaty laugh emerged from within. ‘I knew it wouldn’t be long before you’d be back for more. Can’t stay away from my husband now you know I’m about to pop my clogs, can you?’
‘Stop that,’ Nurse Clara quipped warmly. ‘We have company. I want you to behave yourself.’
‘Hey! I’m dying, surely that’s the only reasonable excuse to misbehave.’
Fin couldn’t help but laugh. He walked into the room and stood slightly behind Nurse Clara. The room looked nothing like his mother’s. Yes, it was the same shape, with the same hospital bed, dark wooden furniture, TV unit and greying curtains, but every available surface was decorated. Pictures and photographs of smiling, laughing, happy people stood huddled in groups. Childish drawings were hung all around the room, their bright colours a stark contrast tothe pale green wallpaper. Various bunches of flowers, at various stages of life, stood in vases around the bed. It was warm and, dare he say it, homely.
‘See, the young man agrees with me. Don’t you, lad?’
Fin’s eyes focused on the woman addressing him. She was old and frail, there was no doubt about that, but there was a brightness to her, a solidity and warmth that he wasn’t expecting. Her head was coated with a downy white fluff of hair, and her blue eyes were still piercing even through the milky film of cataracts that covered them.
‘You make a very strong case,’ he replied.
‘Exactly! Now, without sounding too rude, who, may I ask, are you?’
Fin took a step forward and held out his hand. ‘I’m Finley Taylor. My mum is actually a patient here.’
The old lady reached her arm out and shook his hand weakly. ‘Ah, dear Eileen. How is she?’
‘As OK as she can be, thanks.’
Rudi nodded knowingly. ‘Now, what’s this all about? Disturbing someone on death’s door like this is quite uncouth, I’ll have you know.’
Nurse Clara sighed exasperatedly but Fin noticed she hadn’t stopped smiling since they’d entered the room.
‘Well, Fin here is the photographer I was talking about.’
Realization slowly dawned upon the old woman’s face and her eyes sparkled with understanding.
‘How good are you, Fin?’ Her sparse eyebrows knitted into a frown. ‘Can you make this worn-out heap of a human being pass as visually acceptable?’
Fin smiled. ‘I’m not a miracle worker. But I’ll do my best.’
‘Well then, you’re hired! Everyone loves a trier.’ Rudi letout another deep chesty laugh, her entire body shaking with the effort. ‘I like this one, Clara. I like him a lot!’
‘I thought you might,’ Nurse Clara replied, placing her hand briefly on Fin’s back. ‘I’ll leave you two to it then, shall I? Fin, I’ll tell your mum you’ve arrived and will be along shortly.’
‘Thanks.’ Fin took a seat in the chair next to Rudi’s bed.
‘Right then, Fin, what do you need from me in order to create this masterpiece?’
Fin ran a hand through his hair and thought for a moment. ‘Is there anything in particular you have in mind for the photo? Anyone else you want to be in it with you? An image you want to recreate from the past maybe?’ He looked at the lady in front of him and felt a wave of deep sadness. In a matter of moments this person would be no more than a memory for people. It made his heart twist in angst. ‘What do you want this photograph tosay? If that makes any sense?’
Rudi closed her eyes and took a long, slow deep breath. Underneath the paper-thin lids her eyes moved rapidly in thought. After a while she smiled and opened them again.
‘Do you mind going into the top drawer of my bedside cabinet for me?’
‘Sure.’ Fin reached across and opened it, looking at Rudi for the next instruction.
‘There should be a pile of photographs in there – take them all out and pass them here, will you?’
Fin reached in and immediately his hands found the stack of pictures. He pulled them out and passed them to Rudi, who took them from him gently.
‘Where is it … where is it …’ the old lady mumbled, slowly sifting through the photos, her arthritic fingers barelyable to move. Fin sat back down and waited patiently in silence.
