Sean’s gift arrives loudly—one he’d hidden out of sight a few streets over.
“A motorbike?” I ask in awe as it roars into sight. It pulls up before the cottage, Sean astride it, wearing a leather jacket and helmet.
“It’s just like Hagrid’s!” Ellenor exclaims, rushing forward and pulling on the leather jacket Sean tosses her. “Youhaveto bring this on the road trip!”
“That’s the plan,” he says. “We can sightsee in style. Want to take her for a spin?”
“Yes!”
He revs the engine, loud and showy. “We’ll just check out the coast and come back,” he calls, and then they tear off, Ellenor shrieking with delight.
Rupert makes a pining sound after them.
“No,” Barbara says softly.
“ButBarb—”
“No.”
Mum’s smiling. “Sean asked for my permission before buying the motorbike—not that he needed it,” she reveals to me with a note of pride.
“And you saidyes?” I ask, surprised she’d approve of anything so risky.
She nods. “I’d rather worry about a motorbike than see her spend her life making herself ill in an office.” She smiles sadly as the motorbike disappears from view, then she gives me a sidelong look. “There’ssafe, and then there’s living. It’s time she had a little adventure.”
When we return to the garden, Mum nudges me lightly, her gaze drifting to where Brandon is setting up a small amp and his electric guitar.
“Looks like you’ve got your own adventure,” she murmurs.
“I’m not sure we’re the adventurous type,” I reply.
“You both flew across the world for each other. Adventure’s already happening.”
She has a point.
Brandon settles into a chair, electric guitar on his thigh. A loose, warm melody spills out—light, almost Spanish. Conversation meanders around him, and he tosses in the occasional comment without missing a beat.
Sean and Ellenor slip back in, windswept and elated.
As they sit on the grass together, her back against his, I see a new version of my sister. Not less herself, just…eased. The sharp humour is still there, but the chaos that usually fuels it has calmed. And when Sean leans over to murmur something to her—something that makes her snort and bump her shoulder into his—she looks genuinely content.
Sean pushes to his feet, clapping his hands together.
“Right. Tonight, you’re all coming to the pub.”
Ellenor blinks. “To do what, exactly?”
“Support the pub,” he says, as if it’s obvious. “I’ve booked a young band—kids just out of school. They’ve worked their arses off and deserve a proper audience.”
He looks hopeful and earnest, and of course, we all agree.
“I’ll expect lots of cheering,” he adds.
“That we can do.” Rupert laughs.
Sean nods, pleased. “Excellent. And Brandon, you’ll be on stage. Their rhythm guitarist is sick—so you’ll be filling in.”
The melody falters for half a heartbeat. Brandon stares at Sean coolly like he’s betrayed him. “No.”
