That caused a ripple of laughter.
“Phelan helped me with so much. He covered for me when I tried to get out of doing jobs for our father, he was theonly one there to cheer me on at sports day and he bought me chocolate to celebrate when I did well in my exams. He helped me learn to read, to practise my times tables. He showed me how to trace with greaseproof paper, how to whistle through a blade of grass. He made me believe I could do whatever I set my heart on, be whoever I wanted to be. He loved music and made me love it too. He adored cars, but that was one thing I didn’t take up. He especially loved Aston Martins and he adored fish and chips. He taught me to drive, he gave me money when I needed it and looked after me when I was sick. He was brother, mother, father and friend. He loved me with all his heart. And I loved him.”
Newt took a shaky breath. “We had a…falling out a few years ago, but recently we made friends again. I took him for a ride in an Aston Martin, shared fish and chips with him as we sat and looked at the sea, listened to music he liked in the car. And that will be my lasting memory; sitting next to him looking out to sea. I finally had my brother back, but not for long enough. Bye, Phelan.”
He went to sit down again. Newt was hardly aware of the rest of the service. The coffin was moved to a place at the front. A curtain slid round it and his throat thickened. Cremation seemed preferable to burial but it was hard to think of his brother being turned to ash.
Everyone started to leave, walking out via a door at the side, rather than the one they came in through, and Newt hung back. But as he finally headed towards the exit, he felt a tap on the shoulder. His heart leapt.Oh God. Sean or my father?He turned, saw River pulling down his mask and burst into tears.
River wrapped his arms around him. For a long moment, Newt couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything but stand there crying with River holding him. It was only when someone coughed next to him that Newt pulled himself together. He brushed the tears from his face.
“I’m sorry, but we need the room cleared before the next service,” a woman told them.
River let him go, pulled his mask into place, and they walked outside. People were milling around, chatting and looking at the flowers. Among them was a display that readSonand another that readBrother. He could see his family talking to a group of people at the far end of the line of floral tributes.
“Ready to leave?” River asked quietly.
“Yes. Are you all right? How did you get here?”
“The Aston Martin.”
“You drove? On your own?”
“I only had four drivers toot at me. You can drive us back.”
“Oh God.” He took a deep breath. “I didn’t say anything to anyone about you being… I didn’t speak to the press. I would never do that. Max called and he was furious.”
“He’s an idiot.”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m alive…thanks to you, so yes, I’m all right.”
As they headed towards the exit, Sean and their father stepped in front of them. Everyone else had walked down to the car park.
“You think you’re so fucking clever,” his father said with a snarl.
River took hold of Newt’s hand and squeezed his fingers.
“Fucking faggots.” Sean took a step towards them.
“You’re not keeping his money,” his father said. “We’ll sue.”
Newt shrugged. “Go ahead.”
“Bloody taking him out in an Aston. You sly bastard.” Sean shoved him and Newt stumbled into River.
“Leave him alone,” River snapped.
“Hey!”
They all turned.
Rathnait came up at Sean’s side. “What are you doing? Mum’s waiting.”
“We’ll be there in a minute,” Sean said.
She turned to Newt. “Hi, Newt. It was nice what you said about Phelan. Hewasa good brother. Mum’s been in pieces. Want to come and say hello?”
