‘I actually promised the McCoys I’d go ahead with it; we shook on it.’
‘You shook on it?’
‘Well, yeah, they want me to do an L-plate-tearing-up ceremony right after the test. Hopefully Ronan will be home by then. We’ll do a birthday thing too, maybe. I don’t know, I’m finding it hard to think about all that but I’m just going along with it because it seems to give the McCoys something different to focus on. Just need to pass now!’
‘You will.’
‘Still feels like such a shock with Ronan, though,’ I said.
‘I know, but maybe the focus on the test will be a bit of a distraction for you.’
I nodded, looking down at my knees.
‘Or maybe distraction’s the wrong word,’ she said.
‘Starting back at Feeney’s on Monday might help, I always zone out there, but I’ll still be visiting Ronan every evening and Dad’s taking me out in the car every afternoon right up until the test. So it’s not too different to how it’s been all year with another busy schedule.’
‘But after your birthday you can relax.’
‘Hope so. It would be brilliant if Ronan has come round by then. It’s weird us all being in the room with him and him not conscious.’
‘I’m sure when it comes to your birthday Ronan will do all he can to celebrate with you.’
‘I wouldn’t need any other gift if I got that; if there’s one thing I’d use my birthday wish on it’d be that.’
‘Wish it, then,’ she said. ‘Wish it now.’
‘What, like … ?’
‘Yeah, just close your eyes, wish it in your head and it’s done.’
‘But don’t I need candles and a birthday cake and stuff?’
‘You can do that part on your actual birthday. I’m assuming there’s going to be cake and candles?’
‘There was for my sixteenth.’
‘OK, well, leave that to me, there will be cake and candles on your birthday. You need to make the wish now to let it start gearing up, then on your birthday you can blow out the candles and seal the deal for it to come true.’
For someone who was so logically intelligent, Jennifer had a very magical approach to life sometimes. A believer in the power of positive thinking and luck.
‘OK,’ I said and closed my eyes.
In my head I said:
I wish Ronan will be awake for my birthday. I wish. I wish. I wish.
I opened my eyes and Jennifer was looking at me.
‘Done?’ she said.
‘Done.’
‘Good. Leave the rest to me,’ she said. ‘And the universe.’
Both of us, at the same time, looked at the big clock on the wall opposite.
‘I don’t know if you were still thinking of it,’ I said, ‘but today’s probably not the day for … you know.’
