Page 90 of Things We Never Said
Sean swallows with difficulty. ‘I don’t know,’ he says. ‘That’s the truth. It suddenly feels very ... I don’t know ... symbolic. Final. Do you know what I mean?’
‘Sure ...’ April says, doubtfully. ‘Well, it isn’t final though, is it? Not until you sign on the dotted line.’
‘No.’
‘When’s that supposed to be happening, by the way?’
‘Saturday morning. If I go through with it.’
‘Why the sudden doubts, Dad? Is it the hassle of moving? We could help with that. Or the money? Or is it ... it’s not because of Mum, is it?’
‘We lived there for nearly twenty years,’ Sean says. ‘We chose every bit of furniture together. Every roll of wallpaper. Your mother hung most of it.’
‘I know. But isn’t that why?’
‘Why what?’
‘Well, why this is necessary.’
‘I thought so,’ Sean says. ‘But now that it’s real, I’m not sure.’
‘Do you want me to come up, Dad? So we can talk it through? I could come this weekend – maybe even drag Ronan along. He’s very sensible about things like this. Very logical. Very detached. That’s helpful. Well, sometimes it is. Sometimes it’s really bloody annoying.’
‘You don’t want to be driving all the way to Cambridge,’ Sean says unconvincingly.
‘Hmm,’ April says. ‘OK. I’ll see you Saturday morning, then.’
‘I’m signing Saturday morning,’ Sean reminds her. ‘Well, I’m supposed to be signing.’
‘OK. Then I’ll see you Friday night.’
Sean is just pulling three curries from the freezer when the doorbell rings.
He dumps them on the counter and walks to the front door. ‘Hello,’ he says as he opens it. ‘You’re early.’
‘Hi Dad,’ April says. ‘I got off earlier than usual, so ...’
‘But mainly it’s because she drives like a maniac,’ Ronan jibes.
‘That’s not very reassuring. Perhaps you should let Ronan drive?’
‘Fast but careful,’ April tells Sean. ‘That’s me. Whereas Ronan is slow and distracted. He’s always looking at the clouds or the cows in the fields or something. Believe me, you don’t want him doing the driving.’
‘I do tend to look around a bit,’ Ronan admits.
April follows Sean into the kitchen and Ronan dumps their bag at the base of the stairs before joining them.
‘How do you feel about curry?’ Sean asks.
‘Ooh,’ April says. ‘Your curry?’ As an aside to Ronan, she adds, ‘Dad’s curries are the best.’
‘No, these are Sainsbury’s, I’m afraid,’ Sean explains, moving to the counter and gesturing at the frosty packaging. ‘But they’re all right. I’ve got rogan josh and—’
‘Can we get pizza?’ April asks. ‘Those aren’t defrosted yet, are they?’
Ronan laughs heartily.
‘Pizza?’ Sean asks, then, ‘What’s the joke, Ronan?’
