The Penance Room by Carol Coffey

Author:Carol Coffey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: epub, ebook, QuarkXPress
ISBN: 9781842235737
Publisher: Poolbeg Press

Chapter 21

When Kora arrives back from visiting Jeff at the hospital, my mother is waiting to fill her in on the news. My father is home from working late at the mine. They are sitting quietly on the porch and Father is drinking a beer and listening to the sound of the cicadas, something he says he loves to do. I move to the side of the house and watch them speak from a safe distance. Kora gets herself lemonade and together they talk about Victoria and Penelope and what a dreadful life they have had. My father starts to joke with Kora about Jeff. Father says Scottish people love joking around but Kora doesn’t and my mother knows that Father’s comments will annoy her sister.

“Well, how is the nurse–patient romance coming along, Kora? I hope you’re not giving that bloke bed baths?”

Kora frowns and ignores him. She directs her conversation to my mother.

“He’s having another test tomorrow. His headache hasn’t gone and they’re worried about concussion.”

“Did you see Jimmy Young?”

“Yeah, mate. Would you believe the old sod’s looking better? Said a few words today. He even thanked me for bringing stuff in to him. His daughter arrived when I was there. Remember Lorna?”

My mother nods. “Yes – she lives a good distance away now.”

“Married some bloke out the way. She’s got three small ones. Anyway, she thought I was there because he was one of our residents but he introduced me as . . .” tears spring to Kora’s eyes and I can see her swallow, “as . . . Jeff’s girlfriend . . .”

My mother reaches forward and touches her shoulder. “I’m so pleased, Kora. I knew he’d come around. He’s been impressed with how good you have been to Jeff and to him since the accident.”

My father knows how to spoil the moment but only because he doesn’t enjoy sentimental talk and always tries to lighten the atmosphere. The only time I see my father sad is when he is drunk. It is the time he thinks most about me and about what might have been.

“Too right he’s impressed. He’d be lucky to have you. Mind you, Kora, Jeff will have to ask me for your hand, seeing as I’m your only male relative.”

Kora is in no mood for jokes and stands up. She checks with my mother that she doesn’t need her tomorrow and walks down the pathway.

“Don’t forget what I said, Kora! He’ll need my permission!” my father laughs after her but she doesn’t look back.

“Andy, can’t you see how that’d annoy her?” my mother asks.

“What?” my father asks with a mock-innocent expression on his face.

My mother frowns. “She doesn’t really see us as her family. Don’t think she ever really will,” she sighs, looking out onto the road.

I watch my father move my mother’s hair back.

“You look tired. Aishling up?”

“Yeah. She’s not sleeping much. I’ve noticed that she seems smitten with Steve. I hope she’s not going to get hurt. She’s even stopped looking through the mail each morning.

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