Page 67 of The Forever Gift

‘I forgot,’ Kayla shrugs.

‘You forgot,’ I say. I shake my head with my lips pursed together.

‘I don’t think there’s any real harm done,’ Jack says.

I exhale sharply until I’m light-headed. ‘Maybe not this time, thank God. But Kayla, I think we need to talk.’

‘Oh great,’ Kayla groans.

‘Aiden would you mind?’

‘Sure,’ Aiden says. ‘I’ll wait outside’

‘I think it’s time to go home now, Aiden,’ I say, shaking my head. ‘It’s been a long day.’

‘Maaammm,’ Kayla grumbles. ‘That’s not fair. Aiden’s come all the way up just to visit.’

‘It’s okay, Kay,’ Aiden says.

‘Aiden Iamsorry,’ I say. ‘But Kayla needs some rest.’

‘S’okay, Heather. I get it. Anyway, my mam says I have to be home before six. She doesn’t want me on the train when it’s dark.’

‘Are you sure your mother is okay with you getting the train alone, Aiden?’ I say, trying to hide my suspicion that Aiden has skipped off school and come to Dublin without his parents knowing. I wonder if I should text Mary, but I don’t want to get him into trouble.

Aiden nods, wide-eyed and emphatic. ‘Yeah, she’s cool with it.’

‘Okay, then. Well, text us when you get home, won’t you?’ I say, reaching a compromise with my conscience. ‘You know, just so we know you made it back okay.’

‘Will do,’ Aiden says. ‘Oh, I nearly forgot.’ He bends down and reaches into his school bag and pulls out a large Toblerone. ‘Your favourite, Kay.’

‘Oh my God, is that a white chocolate one?’ Kayla asks, sitting a little straighter.

‘Yup.’

‘You absolute legend.’

Aiden passes her the giant bar of chocolate and she pulls him in for a hug. She catches him off guard and he wobbles. I hold my breath, panicked for a moment that he’ll lose his balance and come crashing down on her.

‘Maybe you could come visit again soon,’ Kay says.

‘Yeah,’ Aiden says, zipping up his school bag and sliding one strap over his shoulder. ‘But, it’ll have to be the weekend. If I skip another day of school my mam will kill me.’

I glare at Aiden, waiting for him to realise what he’s confessed.

It takes a bit longer than it should but eventually he says, ‘Ah, Heather. You’re not going to tell my mam are you?’

‘Not this time,’ I say. ‘But you really can’t do this again, Aiden. It puts me in an awful position. And now I’m worried about you making it back home safely. I’m already worried enough about Kayla, I don’t need this on top. Do you even know what bus you need to catch to get back to the train station?’

‘Erm…’ Aiden mumbles, unsure.

‘Oh Aiden,’ I say.

‘You know, my shift finished forty minutes ago,’ Jack says, standing up and lifting the tray of Kayla’s murky bandages with him. ‘I’m heading home once Kayla is okay. I drive through town on my way. I can give Aiden a lift to the station, if it helps.’

‘Oh.’ I wince, unsure.Gosh, I could choke Aiden for going behind his mother’s back and making this all so awkward.

‘That’d be cool. Thanks,’ Aiden says, sliding his arm into the other strap of his bag.

---