Mum came back? That’s odd.
‘Can’t we just get the camera and go?’ whispers Meg.
I shake my head. ‘Let’s get this over with.’
Mum is sitting on the edge of the large red sofa that dominates the living room. She jumps to her feet as we come in. ‘Oh, hello. I was bringing some things to your nan. Was just leaving actually.’
I spot a small bag by her feet. One of Dad’s awards is poking out. I shift my gaze to Fergal, who glares back at me. Then he spots Meg. He runs over to her, mewing like a kitten as he rubs against her legs.
‘Hello, handsome,’ she says, scooping him up.
‘This is Meg. Meg, my mum.’
Meg extends her free hand. ‘Nice to meet you, Mrs Kenny. Welcome back to Belfast. Are you settling in OK?’
Damn, Meg speaks ‘adult’ well.
Mum blinks. ‘I am, thank you. Call me Aoife.’
‘I love your hair, Aoife.’
Mum blushes and pushes her curls back. ‘What? Oh, I’ve done nothing with it for ages. But thank you. Michael, you good?’
Where do I even start?
‘Yeah. Oh, did you want more tea?’ I ask.
‘No more for me, Bet,’ Mum calls out. ‘I’d best get on.’ She smiles at me, eyeing the door. ‘So, what have you been up to today?’
Discovered I can see through time.
I shrug. ‘Bit of shopping.’
‘We got some art supplies,’ says Meg. ‘We have a project we want to work on together. We were hoping we could—’
‘Oh? What’s that?’ says Nanny Bet, sweeping into the room with a tray of mugs. She glances at Fergal, who’s now cradled in Meg’s arms as she scratches his tummy. Nanny Bet sets down the tray on the coffee table. ‘I only had camomile.’
‘Perfect, thanks,’ says Meg.
‘Oh, Bet,’ says Mum. ‘I didn’t want another one.’
‘Well, it’s made now.’
Mum glances at the door then sits back on the sofa.
Nanny Bet hands me a mug. ‘Now come on, tell us about this art project. We’re a bit of a creative family, Meg.’
‘Yes, I know,’ says Meg. ‘I’ve read your work. I love your poetry books, especiallySongs of Me. So dark.’
Nanny Bet clears her throat. ‘Oh, that was a long time ago. But thank you, that’s kind. Now what are you working on, Michael?’
‘Um, well. It’s kind of…’ I lift the notebook Meg got me. ‘It’s like a writing and drawing thing but with…um, photography too. You know?’
Nanny Bet sips her coffee. ‘It’s great to hear you have a project to work on. Tell us more.’
‘Well,’ adds Meg, ‘we want to explore what it’s like to move here. See Belfast through the eyes of a newcomer. I paint mostly and I know Michael draws and writes, but he said he wanted to get back into photography. Right?’
Thank you.
