‘So, what, the rules don’t apply to her?’
‘As I said, sometimes, when people are in a difficult place themselves, they often blame others before looking internally.’
‘What’s wrong with her then?’ Erin snapped.
‘We don’t know yet but, sometimes, people, women, get to a certain stage in their life and, well, it can feel like everything’s turning upside down.’
Erin sipped her coffee. ‘If she needs to get some anti-depressants you can just say.’
‘I don’t know what she needs yet.’
‘To stop lying?’ Erin suggested.
‘Maybe a bit of compassion?’ Orla offered as an alternative.
‘Well, perhaps if she didn’t lock up her feelings tighter than the tin for the good biscuits, she wouldn’t be in this situation.’
And Orla had no answer for that. Because, as usual, Erin was astute in her analysis.
‘Burim doesn’t understand our family,’ Erin continued, swirling her finger in the foam on top of her coffee. ‘He says him and his family are always looking for a reason to get together. Like it’s not just Christmas or someone’s birthday if we can be bothered, it’s most weekends or around sports events; they just love being together and spending time together.’
‘Well, I expect Burim’s family live close together. We have Auntie Bren in Norfolk and then the rest of them in Ireland.’
‘And I’ve never seen the cousins in Ireland at all,’ Erin continued. ‘And you’re talking about it like it’s a country on the other side of the galaxy.’
‘I don’t know what to say,’ Orla admitted. ‘Lucky Burim?’
‘Now you’re taking the piss.’
‘I’m not, Erin. It’s just everyone’s family dynamic is different. And, perhaps, ours is struggling right now.’
‘No shit. It’s kinda embarrassing. Burim’s talking about all the Christmas plans his family are making and all I can say is if we can keep Auntie Bren awake long enough after the turkey dinner, we might have a game of Monopoly.’
‘OK,’ Orla said. ‘So, you tell me about Burim. What are his Christmas plans?’
‘You want to know about Burim?’
‘I’ve always wanted to know, Erin. Yes, perhaps, when Mum first mentioned you were talking to someone I was suspicious, in a big sister kind of way but now, well, if someone is making my sister smile then I want to know all about him.’
‘And you’re not going to judge?’
‘Of course not. I promise.’
She was holding her breath. Because she knew this was important to Erin and, perhaps, with everything up in the air back in the UK, maybe this situationship was something that could ground her sister while Orla helped work things out with her parents. Was she really thinking that? Because Henry might have been the one freshest in her memory but Craig, Joe and Salvatore had all done their best to convince her that men were an untrustworthy species whose priorities were as screwed as the Conservative party’s opinion on trans rights…
‘He says he loves me,’ Erin blurted out. ‘And I want to believe him.’
‘O-K.’
Whatever Erin said, she had to remain calm. Her sister was opening a portal into her feelings and that deserved respect before personal opinion. Exactly the same way she respected the traditions of all the people she interviewed and reported on.
‘And he wants to be a boxer. In the Olympics. And then to turn professional and be rich.’
‘O-K.’
‘Are you going to say anything other than “OK”?’
‘I think so,’ Orla said. ‘Keep going.’
