Nanny Bet wrings her hands and I have to dig hard to stay angry at her. I sit a few chairs away.
Aunt Sheila links Mum’s arm. ‘Come on, let’s do a tea run. Coffee, Bet? Michael?’
We both say no. I want to go with them, but I know it would look weird.
I take out my phone.
‘You shouldn’t have that on in here,’ says Nanny Bet, staring straight ahead.
I close my eyes and focus on my breaths, hoping she’ll leave me alone.
‘Michael.’
I lower my head.No.
She sighs, then her footsteps move towards me with a gentle tapping on the lino.
‘We need to talk.’ I open my eyes as she takes the seat opposite and pushes a loose strand of white hair behind her ears. There are cuts on her hands from the crows.
Was that really only yesterday?
I fold my arms. ‘How’s Fergal?’
‘Few stitches, but he’ll live.’ She bites her lip and takes a breath. ‘Son, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.’
My shoulders soften and I lean forward, into the part of me that wants to forgive her. ‘You lied to me.’
She nods. ‘And you lied to me.’
‘About having the photos on me? That’s because part of me knew not to trust you.’
‘The part that listened to that girl?’
I grip the edge of the plastic seat. ‘She was right about you. You stole my memories.’
She blinks. ‘I was protecting you.’
‘You had no right.’
‘I’m your grandmother. It’s my job to look after you.’
I stand up. ‘No, it’s my parents’ job to do that. Like it was yours to look after Dad.’
Nanny Bet flinches. ‘Michael, I—’
‘You stole his memories too, didn’t you? He had to hide his power from you. You told him to leave here and then—’ I take a step towards her – ‘then he came back to see you and you did it again. Didn’t you?’
She goes to say something then nods. ‘How did you know?’
‘There are pages missing from his notebook and I’d a vision outside your house of the car he’s been driving’.
She looks down at her hands. ‘I see.’
‘So you knew he was here all along?’
‘Yes.’
It’s like I’ve been punched in the stomach. ‘How could you not tell us? I’ve been so worried. I thought he was hurt.’
