In My Dreams by Elin Annalise

Author:Elin Annalise
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ineja Press
Published: 2020-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Harry

“IT’S OKAY, MUM.” I hold her hand and the dogs are pressing against her as her whole body shakes with tears.

From the doorway, Sara gives me an alarmed look, eyes all wide. In the kitchen, I can hear Bo’s on the phone, reporting the crime to the police.

I look around the living room, suddenly wondering if we should even be in here. This is a crime scene. But I can’t see Mum agreeing to move outside until the cops get here. She’s just crying and gulping as she sits on the sofa, eyes staring straight forward at the place where Dad’s collection should be.

I didn’t get a clear glimpse of the men that broke in. Bo and I were out. We just got a panicked call from Sara.

“There was a man here and he pointed a gun at Mum.”

We hurried back, hearts pounding, and found Mum and Sara in tears, speaking in jumbled sentences about men and firearms. The men who took Dad’s collection of rare coins. The collection that he put his life and soul—literally—into. Dad died three years ago. He was traveling to Canada to look at some rare coin when he had a heart attack. He didn’t return.

Now, all we have are his coins.

Or, rather, had.

I hear Bo end the phone call. “Police are on their way,” he says. “It’ll be okay.”

His face is a picture of calmness. I’ve always envied my older brother of that ability, how he can seamlessly turn off his expressions. Replace them with a smooth curtain to reassure us. But I know my brother and he still feels deeply.

When Dad died, Bo didn’t cry once in front of us. He was the practical one. He did most of the organization for the funeral. I’d have thought he wasn’t affected at all, if I hadn’t heard his sobs at night, through the wall we share.

Mum’s eyes are glassy. She’s still staring at the empty mantelpiece. I want to jump up and put something there, try and fill the empty space.

But some spaces can never be filled.

“He’s gone,” Mum says. “He’s finally, completely gone.” Her voice wavers. “You’re gone, John. Gone. Go away.”

I widen my eyes at Bo, that creeping feeling pulling through me again. Mum does this. She still sees Dad. Even though he’s not there.

“Mum, it’s okay,” Sara says.

But Mum jumps up and there is fire in her eyes as she turns around. Sometimes, when she’s like this, I think she’s possessed. I know I shouldn’t think that—she’s not well. It started when Dad died. Grief. A mental breakdown.

But I get scared. And I shouldn’t, because I’m nearly a man.

But I’m not the man of the house. That’s Bo.

He walks calmly over to Mum, places his hands on her shoulders and guides her to rest her head against his chest. Bo’s touch is always like magic.

“Don’t be angry, John,” Mum whispers. Her face is wet with tears and she curls her fingers into Bo’s flannel shirt. “I did my best.”

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