The suitcase on the bed bulged with clothes and a shirt sleeve spilt out between the two zip runners. Sinead sat on the lid, squashing it all down. She’d meant to have a clear-out and take some old stuff to a charity shop, but the past week had flown by. All morning she’d been packing and moving her belongings downstairs. Dylan had turned up half an hour ago and was busy loading the van. The bedroom was now bare apart from two framed photographs on the wall.
Sinead climbed down and walked over to the pictures. She removed one from the hook on the wall. The photo had been taken twenty years ago: it was her as a shy little girl, hiding behind her mother’s legs. It had been snapped by her father, not long before he’d walked out on them. It occurred to Sinead that back then her mother was only a few years older than she was now. Before the alcohol had won. She was still just ‘funny mummy’, slipping off her chair and cracking a joke so as not to alarm her anxious daughter.
Sinead looked closer at her mother, Caitlin; she was smiling, but the depression was there in her eyes. She wore a short-sleeved white blouse with tiny black dots, and around her neck was the silver pendant. Sinead fiddled with the same pendant and remembered sitting on her mum’s lap and playing with it, the shiny silver catching the light as it dangled in front of her face.
There was a light knock at the door before it creaked open. Joel was leaning against the door jamb, wearing ripped jeans and an open-necked plaid shirt. Sinead repressed a smile.
‘Hey, d’you need a hand with anything?’
‘No, I’m good, thanks. I’m nearly done.’
Joel pointed at the photograph. ‘Is that you – the little girl?’ Sinead nodded. ‘Can I see?’
Sinead handed him the frame. Joel studied the picture and smirked. ‘Weren’t you a cutie!’
‘Yeah. All buck teeth and gangly legs.’
‘I can’t believe how shy you were.’ He flashed his white teeth. ‘What happened?’
‘Shut up!’ Sinead wanted to give him a playful shove, but resisted the urge.
Joel returned the frame to Sinead. ‘Wow. Your mum was a beautiful lady.’
‘Yeah. She was.’
He looked at the pendant hanging from her neck. ‘Is that the same one she’s got in the photo?’
‘Yeah. My grandma – her mum – gave it to her when she left for England.’
‘It’s nice.’ Joel gazed at her. Sinead’s skin was tingling.
Joel said, ‘It’s really hard what you’re going through. If you ever need to talk, you know I’m here for you.’
‘Okay. Thanks.’ Sinead was concerned she’d start blushing. Joel took a backwards step.
‘I’m off to get some milk. Anything you need?’
Just you, Joel. Sinead shook her head, but said nothing. Joel smiled.
‘Well in case you’re gone by the time I get back, I’ll say goodbye…’ Joel moved, opening his arms for a hug. Sinead went towards him, felt his warm hands on her back, her breasts touching his chest, her chin brushing his shoulder. She wanted to stay there a while.
‘Joel! We’re out of butter.’ Imogen’s voice travelled up the stairs.
Sinead eased away from the embrace. Joel looked deep into her eyes and grinned. Sinead stared back without blinking.
‘Babe!’ called Imogen.
He darted back around the other side of the door. ‘Yeah, coming. Do we need anything else?’ Sinead heard Joel jog down the stairs.
She put the frame down on the bed and picked up the other photo from the walclass="underline" herself and the girls dressed in graduation robes, arms around each other’s waists. They were laughing and throwing their mortar boards up in the air. It’s funny, she thought – their graduation was less than four years ago, but it seemed as far in the past as her childhood. Both photographs were mementoes from another era. Carefully, she placed the frames in bubble wrap.
Sinead closed the bedroom door behind her, gripping the handle of the heavy suitcase with both hands as she lumbered onto the landing. The wheels had broken, so it had to be carried. Magz was coming up the stairs, munching toast. She arrived at the top step and saw Sinead waiting for her.
Magz said, ‘I might have one of your tops. That funky blue one with the stars. Shall I go dig it out?’
‘No, don’t worry. I’ll get it from you next time I’m round here.’ Sinead smiled warmly at her. Magz chewed more toast. ‘Well. This is it then.’ She put down the suitcase; Magz slinked over.
‘Yeah. The next episode.’ Magz enunciated the words in her usual ironic tone.
Sinead initiated a hug and held her friend tight while Magz kept the toast aloft. Sinead released her and touched Magz’s elbows. ‘Come and check out my new place soon, won’t you?’
‘Have a little housewarming. I’ll see if I can sort out some pills.’
‘I promised the landlord no parties, but, yeah, I’ll work on him.’
Magz bit into the slice. Sinead delved into her jeans pocket, removed a piece of folded notepaper, and passed it to Magz. ‘I wrote down the address. If I get any post, can you forward it, please?’ Magz, still chewing, murmured an acknowledgment. Sinead picked up the suitcase.
‘Okay then. Take care. See you soon.’
Magz made a be seeing you gesture, moving a forefinger to her eye then pointing it at Sinead, who wasn’t sure how to react. Magz hurried up the second flight of stairs before Sinead could say anything else.
Sinead brought the suitcase downstairs and set it alongside her final few belongings. The front door was open; a transit van was parked by the kerb with its rear doors open. Dylan clambered down onto the pavement and adjusted the tongue on one of his trainers. She thought about how much easier the move was with his help.
She heard a noise and turned round: Imogen was sauntering out of the kitchen, holding a paper bill.
‘Sinead, before you go…’
‘Yep?’ Sinead waited as Imogen read the bill.
‘It looks like you owe some money for the cable.’
‘No, I don’t think so – that’s all paid up.’
Dylan strode up to the door. ‘Is that the lot?’ he asked Sinead.
‘Just my bike. I’ve brought everything else down.’
Dylan looked over at Imogen who ignored him as she consulted the bill.
‘Imogen, I don’t think you’ve met Dylan.’
Imogen glanced at Dylan with a tiny nod of the head; a gesture so small it was hardly worth making. She continued speaking to Sinead.
‘You’ve only paid for last month. There’s thirteen days outstanding on this month’s bill.’
‘I’ll finish loading up then,’ Dylan said. He collected the suitcase and slung a bin liner of clothes over his shoulder. Sinead was mortified by Imogen’s rudeness.
‘Okay, yeah. Thanks Dylan. Be out in two minutes.’
Dylan lugged the stuff outside. Sinead turned to Imogen.
‘How much do I owe?’
‘Not sure what the exact amount is…’ Imogen ran a finger down the bill and made a half-hearted attempt to do the maths. ‘Have you got the calculator on your phone?’
‘Look, just let me know when the next bill comes in and I’ll give you the cash. Or I could transfer it, whatever works.’
‘We really should sort it out today.’
‘As you can see, I’m kind of busy right now. So…’
‘Actually, do you know what? It’s fine. Just forget it.’
‘I said I’d pay it.’
‘Sure – whatever.’
‘Imogen – what’s the problem?’
Imogen smiled condescendingly, turned and sashayed off upstairs.
Sinead saw Dylan climbing into the back of the van. Fucking bitch – how dare she embarrass me like that in front of him? She rushed upstairs, then halted halfway. ‘Hi babes, can you get me some Gummi Bears?’ she heard Imogen say as the bedroom door shut.