I tense. My skin tingles. I know we’re being watched. ‘No idea.’
‘I swear, there were so many. It was like that old film. Creepy bastards. Is this, like, normal crow behaviour?’
‘No.’
‘Then why the fuck are they being so extra?’
Because of me.
‘No idea. Can I do anything?’
‘Nah, all good. My da is being extra nice. All it took was a minor accident. He’s out getting me a special chow mein. Oh, wait, can you call Meg? She keeps messaging me about you. Are you two not talking?’
Go away, Meg!
I nod. ‘Leave it with me. Enjoy the chow mein. I’m heading to the hospital. There’s something I need to do.’
‘How do you ignore the Morrigan and stop the visions?’
Nanny Bet looks up from her seat. We’ve not spoken properly since our fight. She rubs at her wedding ring. ‘Are they getting worse?’
‘They’re everywhere. And the Morrigan attacked Cormac.’ I raise a hand as she goes to speak. ‘He’s fine, but I can’t do this any more.’
A frown. ‘I’m sorry. They don’t like being ignored. Come here.’
She opens her arms for a hug, but I hold back. I’m not ready. ‘Can you help me?’ I force a smile. ‘Please.’
She looks out of the window at the tree. There are crows on all the branches, their caws audible even through the thickdouble glazing. ‘I will. I won’t let them take you too.’ She turns her attention back to me. ‘Are you still recording the visions?’
‘No… Well, one. Of the girl – Brigid. I saw her on the street. Who was—’ Nanny Bet goes pale and shuts her eyes.
Ask her.
Stop. I promised myself I would let this go. No more questions, no searching for answers. It helps nothing.
‘I’ve been trying to ignore them, but it’s getting too much. Will you help me?’
‘Michael…’
She points to the empty seat beside her and I sit.
She places a cold hand on mine. I tense, but don’t pull away. ‘I’ll help you any way that I can. But it’s going to be hard.’
‘I know.’
‘Will you ever forgive me?’ Her voice is small and it gets into the cracks in my chest and twists my heart.
‘I want to.’
She lifts her hand. ‘Well, that’s a start.’ She looks in the direction of the waiting-room door. ‘It’d be better if you were to come and stay with me for a few days. Work together on this. I don’t want to upset your mummy or take you away from the family, but—’
‘Yes, OK.’ I think of the awkward dinners and sharing a room. I want my own space. Ineedmy own space. I don’t fully trust Nanny Bet, but at least with her it’s out there. We don’t walk on eggshells round each other. We just tell lies.
Nanny Bet smiles. ‘We’re going to get through this. I’ll protect you.’
Like you protected Dad?
‘Thank you.’
