Page 11 of Things We Never Said
‘It’s hard, though.’
‘I’m sure.’
‘How’s Dave?’ Sean asks. ‘You don’t seem to mention him much at the moment.’
‘Oh, you know,’ Maggie says. ‘Dave’s Dave.’
‘Meaning?’
‘Messy. Disorganised. Confusing. Distracted.’
‘Things are no better, then?’
‘Do things get any better at our age?’ Maggie asks through a sigh. ‘Does anything change?’
‘I don’t know,’ Sean says, thoughtfully. ‘Things can certainly get worse, so ...’ He scratches his head.
‘Yes,’ Maggie says, looking uncomfortable again. ‘Sorry, here’s you with ... with all of this to deal with, and I’m the one complaining. I’m sorry. I don’t seem to be very good at this.’
‘It’s fine, Maggie. You’re fine. Really.’
‘It’s just that I don’t know how to ... I don’t know. I mean, you don’t want to talk about ... all of that ... and that’s understandable. Of course it is. But everything we normally would talk about ... sounds silly. Unimportant. Compared with ... your stuff. Do you know what I mean?’
Sean blinks slowly. ‘A dead wife trumps everything, I guess.’
‘Yes,’ Maggie says. ‘I’m sorry. I should go.’
‘You don’t want that cup of tea?’
‘No. I should just ...’ She gestures towards the hallway. ‘I just wanted to check that you’re OK.’
‘Well, your concern is appreciated.’
‘Thanks. And you’re doing very well.’
‘Am I?’
‘You are. So just, you know ... keep it up.’
‘Thanks. I’ll do my best.’
‘So, what’s for dinner tonight?’ Maggie asks, nodding at the freezer.
‘This.’ Sean lifts a still-frozen chicken tikka masala box from the countertop. ‘They’re quite edible, actually.’
‘Good,’ Maggie says, stepping towards him and leaning in for another peck on the cheek. ‘Bye sweetie.’
‘Oh, Mags?’ Sean says as she turns away.
Maggie pauses, her hand on the doorjamb, and glances back. ‘Yes?’ she asks. She sounds almost hopeful.
‘Don’t tell April, yeah? About the messages.’
‘Oh. No,’ Maggie replies. ‘No, of course not.’
‘It’s not that ... it’s not, like, a secret or anything ...’ Sean stumbles. ‘I just want to listen to them all first. Before I tell her.’
‘Of course,’ Maggie says. ‘And you know me. I won’t say a word.’
