Page 91 of Our Secrets and Lies

‘I was making you a box foryour jewellery.’

‘Oh, love, that was very sweet of you.’

‘Billy was helping me, but then his phone rang and he told me to stop cutting for a minute, but sure I know how to do it so I just kept going and then it slipped.’

‘Oh, Ollie, you have to be more careful.’

Sarah heard a cough behind her. Billy was standing there, ashen-faced. ‘I’m so sorry, Sarah. I’m completely responsible,’ he said,in a strangled voice.

‘Ah, Billy, will you stop? Ollie told me what happened. It’s not your fault.’

‘No, Billy,’ Ollie said. ‘It’s not your fault at all.’

‘Yes, it is. He was in my care, under my supervision. I told him to put down the saw, but then I turned away and didn’t make sure he did it.’

‘It’s got nothing to do with you, Billy. You’re a saint for letting him into your shed.’

Shannontook a selfie with the hospital-room background. ‘I reckon he was dropped on his head when he was born. I bet Dad dropped him and is afraid to admit it.’

Darren came back into the room with three coffees. He handed one to Billy, another to Sarah and kept the last for himself.

‘Did you, Dad?’ Shannon asked.

‘What?’

‘Drop Ollie on his head when he was a kid?’

‘No, and you can stop taking selfies.It’s a hospital, not a nightclub.’

Shannon pouted and clicked. ‘I know, but it’s kind of cool to be in hospital.’

Billy put his coffee down. ‘I’ll leave you in peace. I’ll wait outside.’

‘Go home and get some rest, Billy. I’ll call you when it’s sewn back on and tell you how it went,’ Darren said.

Billy looked shocked. ‘There is no way I’m leaving this hospital until I know he’s on the mend.It happened on my watch, Darren. I have to know the lad’s finger is saved.’

‘Billy,’ Darren said, putting his hand on the older man’s shoulder, ‘Ollie has been in this hospital with two broken legs, three broken arms, four concussions and one broken nose. All of those accidents took place while he was on our watch.’

‘I’d never forgive myself if his finger wasn’t right.’ Billy’s voice shook.

‘Billy, he’ll be fine,’ Sarah said. ‘Honestly.’

‘I feel terrible. I’m obviously too old to look after a young boy. I took my eye off the ball. I promise you he won’t be allowed in the shed again. Not ever. It’s too dangerous. I should have known better.’

‘NO WAY!’ Ollie roared, his eyes wild. ‘I amnotgiving up the shed. Don’t make me, Billy. Please!’

‘Ah, now, Billy, don’t say that. He lovesbeing with you in the shed.’ Darren looked alarmed. ‘We’ve seen a huge difference in him – he’s so much happier, these days.’

‘He really is, Billy,’ Sarah added. ‘He loves that time with you and you’re such a good influence on him. He’s even going to bed earlier because you told him to. Please don’t give up on him because of this.’

‘Please, Billy,’ Ollie pleaded. ‘I will never, ever, ever, evernot do what you say again. I swear on my life and Mum and Dad’s life and Shannon’s life and –’

Billy smiled. ‘Let’s get through tonight, Ollie, and we can talk about it again. I’ll wait outside. I need to stretch my legs.’

They watched as Billy left. Ollie turned to his parents, tears streaming down his face. ‘I will not give up the shed. No way. You have to make Billy see it’s not his fault.It’s mine. I didn’tlisten to him. I’m a gobshite, I know I am. I love making stuff with Billy. Dad, Mum, you have to make Billy take me back. Please, I love it there, it’s the best part of my week.’

Sarah sat down and took Ollie’s hand. ‘Ollie, we’ll talk to Billy. But you have to stop doing dangerous things and taking risks with your safety. You are a ten-year-old boy, not an SAS soldier orBear Grylls or any of them. You are Ollie McDaid, only son of Sarah and Darren, who love you and want you to remain in one piece.’

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