Moths by Jane Hennigan

Author:Jane Hennigan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781915202703
Publisher: Watkins Media
Published: 2023-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Later on, when Luca had come back in from exploring the woods, he wanted me to go upstairs to show me his room, but I told him I’d see it next time. Olivia gave an annoyed sniff when I said “next time” and Emily wouldn’t look at me. He was crestfallen, but then he saw the mobile phone on the table. “Can I hold it?” he asked, then, as he cradled it in the palm of his hand, “What does it do?”

“Not much these days, Luca,” I replied. “You used to be able to call people all over the world with one of these – see them too.”

Luca looked dubious as he turned it over in his hand and inspected it from every angle. “How?”

As I left with Olivia, Emily and Luca were sitting close together at the kitchen table, leaning over my old mobile phone, their faces bathed in the screen’s reflection. Emily held it and flicked through the pictures. I saw a flash of Adrian standing at a fairground, Southsea perhaps, with Ryan as a podgy toddler sitting on his shoulders. I wanted to run over and prise it from her hand, save my last link to a time that held a place for me. But I left them to it. I left Luca at the table, his eyes wide with wonder as he scanned the visual echoes of a world long dead. “Remember to delete all of Mary’s stuff before you start recording,” said Olivia as we left, “and when you’re done, hide it where I showed you.”

It was getting dark, the black silhouettes of the trees only just contrasting with the darkening sky. Olivia slammed her door as she got in beside me and fumbled angrily with the key. I looked out of the passenger window and we started off.

The silence stretched on for a few miles. Olivia stared forwards, using the illumination of the headlights to pick a path through the potholes. The air in the car was heavy with things unsaid.

“I gave you the phone. That’s enough, isn’t it?”

No answer.

“I’m too old, and I’m tired. You shouldn’t even have asked.”

Again, nothing. I couldn’t see her clearly in the shadowy light cast back from the headlights. “Contact Jade Philips yourself and explain, or any of the other Heads of Council. You don’t need me.”

More silence.

My voice was becoming whiny now, and I hated myself for it. “I only met her one time, years ago. She won’t even remember me. That story I told you… I made more of it than there was.” I felt my face grow hot, and I was glad of the dark to hide it. “You have the phone. The recording, it’ll be enough.”

“Forget it, Mary. I’ll try and contact her,” she spoke quietly and calmly, which didn’t make me feel any better. Then she turned to me, her face drawn and tight. “But she’s more likely to take your call, Mary, and you know it.” She turned back to the road.

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