Post by Kira & Lee Norris on Jul 10, 2009 0:08:37 GMT
ooc: Set prior to ‘Legal’ and after ‘Memory Lane’. The title is pointless, but w/e.
September.
A dreaded month, at its worst.
Although most schools really began in late August- perhaps around the 29th, or so- September was the month that people really hated to roll around. Unlike August, it didn’t carry the merits of the summer to make up for what was in store at its end, and unlike October, it carried no blessing in the shape of a holiday.
Yes. September was a dreaded month, as it was the first full month any student had to spend back at school after the long, long summer.
Lee- proving once and for all, once more, that he was an absolute nerd- was thrilled it was September. He was happy he was back at Orchid.
It had been a long summer. It had been a brilliant one. He hadn’t seen much of his family; only at the beginning, and then again at the end- but he had seen a lot of whom he considered to be his future family; the travellers than Maddie had grown up with and known all her life.
And now he knew them, too.
It had been great- most of it, anyway, Lee hadn’t forgotten Jace’s attempt to straighten his hair- and Lee had beaten everyone he met at chess, which for some reason had served to increase his popularity rather than detract from it. When recounting his stories of the campsites he’d visited later to his own family, they’d all been satisfactorily enthused.
Except for his aunt.
And… Kira.
Once upon a time, Lee had been able to say that mother and daughter were poles apart. No matter how alike their features were- or how more alike they seemed to grow with each passing year- Kira’s smile, Kira’s eyes, Kira’s temperament and Kira’s imagination were in the essence of her father.
When Lee had returned in late August to his family home… he’d noticed something… different in their relationship.
Something bad.
“Mum!”
“Lee!” she held the door, awkwardly, the large bump of her pregnant stomach visibly protruding from beneath her large T-shirt. Lee’s eyes widened slightly as they drank her in. He had only seen her briefly at the beginning of July, yet her belly had expanded at an alarming rate. “Eight months, now,” she said proudly, correctly interpreting the direction of his gaze. “He’s heavy.”
“He?” Lee said quickly, looking up.
“Maybe,” his mother laughed, “but I think so. Call it instinct. I knew with you, and I knew with our Bethany.”
“Is she around?” he asked, stepping across the threshold of the house to embrace his mother.
“Scotland,” she replied, shaking her head. “You just missed her. She was here up until about a week ago.”
The house seemed quiet as Lee walked up the hallway. Clearly his aunt and uncle weren’t visiting. He wasn’t sure where his father was- perhaps the garage, building something, or the lounge. Lee followed the familiar pathway through into the kitchen, noting the subtle changes- the removal of several pictures; a change of carpet; a lack of shoes sitting beneath the radiator.
“Where’s Kira, Mum?” Lee asked once he’d reached the kitchen.
Though they had kept in contact by text over the summer, and the odd phone call from time-to-time, Lee had sorely missed his cousin’s dreamy presence at his side. Particularly, during moments when Madeleine had sat back and laughed with her parents- her other relatives and her friends- Lee had felt an odd pang- one he recognised, but, for some reason, had not expected whilst spending time with Madeleine and the other travellers.
Homesickness.
He’d been glad when it rained. Like it did it at Orchid, on the variety of campsites he had visited over the summer, the rain had not failed to remind him of the wet, green little island he called home. And, more importantly, its inhabitants. Hearing Bethany sigh down the phone about the hormonal imbalances of their very pregnant mother suddenly seemed ten times more fascinating that it really was; hearing Kira’s vague recollections of trips into Dublin with their friends were suddenly far too sparse to be satisfactory; his dad’s once work-related mishaps were exciting and dynamic; his aunt and uncle’s flourishing rhododendrons… well, no, they weren’t really interesting, but it sounded nice.
Tomorrow, unbelievably, Lee was going back to Orchid Hill.
Initially, Lee hadn’t intended to be away for so long. He really hadn’t. But after learning about more details of Shaun’s death… he supposed he hadn’t really been able to tear himself away. It wasn’t Madeleine’s fault- she’d told him to go home more than once- but Lee had felt… he’d sort of felt…
Like he had to be with her.
One day, Madeleine was going to be his wife. Sometimes, Lee even caught himself already thinking of her as such. It would probably be years before they officially tied the knot, but until then… Lee couldn’t help himself. He was getting into the habit early. And everyday- cheesy as this sounded- he woke up finding himself loving her all the more.
He couldn’t seem to win. Sure, he’d agreed to go and spend the last two days of the summer holidays with his family before his return to Orchid. Sure, he’d just spent the last two months with Madeleine 24/7. Sure, he’d missed his family like nuts the whole time.
But now that he was away from her… he missed her just as much as he’d missed all of them- probably, actually, more, because although he loved his family, he was more used to their absence due to his time at Orchid Hill. But Madeleine was always there, all the time.
As, usually, was Kira.
“Kira didn’t…” Lee paused, casting about for words as his wide-eyed mother followed him into the kitchen, “er, she did… know when I’d be coming?”
“Oh!” his mum nodded happily. “Yes, of course. Well- I mean- we’d expected you… a couple of days ago, of course. We weren’t sure what times exactly you were coming.”
Lee nodded. Yeah, that’s right. His letter. He’d been due back a week ago, but the thought of leaving Madeleine again-
It was alright. He’d see her in a couple of days.
“Tea?” she asked brightly, crossing the kitchen.
Lee nodded gratefully, sitting down at the table. The gentle sound of rain was pattering in their back garden. The window was slightly open, and the familiar smell of damp grass was floating through their window.
His mother breathing a little heavily as she attempted to crouch, reaching for the cupboard with the teabags. “If I can just…”
“Mum,” he said suddenly, standing up, “I’ll do it. You shouldn’t be moving about like that.”
“Oh, no!” she laughed awkwardly. “You sound like your father. I’m fine, Lee…”
Vicky wasn’t fine for crouching and stretching. She was heavily pregnant, and couldn’t walk very quickly. Her face was a little rounder than the last time Lee had seen her- but it suited her- and despite being clearly out of breath, his mother seemed to be glowing.
Shaking back the loose dark curls she and Lee both wore, she stretched up, and leaning on the wall for support, pushed herself back to her feet.
“Fine,” she grinned, and the corners of Lee’s mouth were tugged irresistibly back up in response, “fine, but you have to make the tea.”
He laughed, nodding.
Yeah. It was good to be home.
The Reception of Orchid Hill was thronging with queuing and mingling pupils. Laughter rippled across the crowd; friends threw arms around each other and embraced, reunited after the long summer; the surly receptionist staff took names; ticked boxes; pointed new students towards their groups; handed out maps. Lee breathed a sigh of relief as he set down his bag and looked around.
The school year was starting.
“Hello, Lee.”
“Hello,” he looked around. Kira was a little ahead of him, trailing her suitcase lazily along the ground by her feet. A swarm of Spies were buzzing around her and she was laughing, answering questions about Training and duties.
Matt was standing behind him, a heavy bag at his feet.
“How’d the summer go?”
“Good,” Lee’s mouth relaxed into a smile. “Yeah, it was good. I was with Maddie-”
“Great, great,” Matt waved it away. His eyes were following Kira, who had just stopped, tossing her new short curls back to speak to a familiar redhead who’d managed to push her way through the crowd of Spies… “You up for a chess match tonight? I haven’t played a good game all summer…”
“Yeah,” Lee frowned, “yeah. Actually, I have. Madeleine’s dad-”
“Cool, thanks,” Matt nodded, then brushed past him, heading for Kira and Lydia. Lydia’s head turned to him a little nervously. He looked for a few moments as though he was about to say something to her. Lee silently willed him not to.
And he didn’t.
Matt muttered a hello, and hurried on.
Lydia, apparently troubled, gave Kira’s curls one final, admiring ruffle, before picking up her own bags and hurrying on.
Lee approached his cousin.
“What was that about?”
“He kissed her,” Kira said serenely, her blue gaze flickering in his direction, “just after her and Mike broke up.”
“They-?” He stopped. “I thought Mike didn’t like Lydia?”
“He never did,” Kira shrugged, “but he doesn’t cope well under pressure. He gave in, chickened out two weeks in, and was straight with her. Naturally, she was heart-broken. Enter Matt, the Expert Idiot.”
“I didn’t-”
“No,” Kira said softly, “don’t feel bad. I didn’t know, either. I didn’t hear much from anyone this summer.”
Lee bit his lip. “Ah- no. Neither did I.”
“No,” her own lips pressed together tightly. “No. I expect you wouldn’t have.”
She turned, and continued walking.
“Kira,” his arms were held open warmly. From within his warm house, the sound of Irish laughter and music mingled and blended in a beautiful dance. “Kira, how-” he stopped. “Whoa. Your hair.”
“Hey, Lee,” she smiled, and rose a little onto her toes, brightly kissing his cheek. “You looked tanned.”
“I- you look taller,” he blinked.
“I’m not,” she replied, “at all. Look.” She lifted up a delicate foot and pointed. Lee was surprised to see the slightest of heels protruding from the back of her shoe. “Caitlyn,” she said shortly, in response to his raised eyebrows. “Excuse me…” Gently, but firmly, she placed her palm on Lee’s chest and pushed him out of the way.
Lee, a little unsure of what had just happened, turned to beam at his aunt and uncle, who came up the path behind Kira. Both smiled; though Uncle Tom looked nervous. Aunt Rachel looked grim.
“Lee,” she said slowly, stopping just short of the door. “Did you have a pleasant summer?”
“Yes, Aunt Rachel,” he said, shifting uncomfortably. Her sharp eyes always put him ill at ease when she watched him so closely, as though scrutinising something small and dirty.
Uncle Tom, the much pleasanter of the pair to speak to, said, “Great! So have we. Mind if we get past you, Lee? I must speak with your father…” His blue eyes lightened. “He promised to build me a bookcase.”
“As if buying one wouldn’t do.”
“Come on, Rach!” chuckled Uncle Tom, kissing his wife on her cheek. “You know John’s work is the best a man can get!”
“Yet the shelf he installed two years ago still managed to snap clean in two,” Aunt Rachel responded coolly. Tom was laughing again, but when Lee looked at his aunt’s expression, he didn’t see any humour dancing in her eyes.
“Let us by, Lee.”
“Yes, Aunt Rachel,” he replied, stepping back and allowing them into the glowing orange warmth of his home.
Lee hadn’t been expecting this: his mother, thrilled by his last-minute return, had thrown together a little party- a gathering of neighbours and friends. They’d lit a barbeque in the back garden (the clouds had spent themselves that afternoon, leaving a few pale wisps as their only sign of any activity). The evening sun hung low in the sky, disappearing in and out behind the remainder of clouds, but it brought little warmth and a weak yellow light. The Irish neighbours had gathered in the garden, sweatshirt sleeves rolled down over gloves and hoods pulled high up. They sat around the flaming barbeque, congregating in little bunches at tables and chairs, gossiping about God knows what.
The teenagers of the neighbourhood had been delegated the job of waiting on their families and neighbours. John Norris had told them all that after all the years Victoria Norris had spent bringing them juice and baking them cookies it was the very least they could do.
Lee, though honoured guest, was by no means exempt from this task.
Marli wove her way past him, a tray balanced in the crook of her arm. Several empty beer bottles chinked musically against each other as she walked, humming to herself. Lee watched, smiling to himself, as she exchanged a bright, oddly intimate smile with his quiet pale neighbour, Eric, who sat unusually flushed in the candlelight, a bottle of beer held precariously in his hand.
Caitlyn and Conner (both looking brightly blonder than ever) were also carrying trays, but they were offering refreshments rather than collecting bottles. Caitlyn had told Lee in a low, mysterious voice earlier that Conner had been away to summer camp, and had come back wildly excited and in love with a girl six years his senior, whose name he had tattooed into his right forearm. Their mother had nearly taken his head off for it.
“Still,” Caitlyn had concluded, “I don’t think she reacted as badly as the time I dyed my hair.”
“It was blue.”
“It was a statement!”
Sean- who had apparently lost weight as he’d gained height (though he hadn’t lost or gained much of either)- had also had some luck in the love department. He’d confessed to Lee on the porch when he’d first arrived he’d actually liked Marli a while back, but couldn’t do anything because that was when Lee and Marli had been dating. Lee- who now found all memories of him being with anyone other than Maddie a little bizarre and strangely embarrassing- had stammered his confused apologies, but Sean had shaken them away.
“No, no, come on, Lee! Don’t be thick. Anyway, I wanted to tell you about Amanda-”
Amanda was, like Caitlyn’s new beau, Luke, was from Northern Ireland and attending Trinity College. She was from a mysterious place known as, ‘Ballymena’. Lee was sure she was very nice, but the problem was, he didn’t really understand a word she was saying to him, whether it was she who was speaking, or Sean translating.
“She said, ‘What about you,’” Sean told Lee solemnly after Amanda had opened her mouth for the first time to him.
Lee, a little stunned, had asked, “Wh- what does that mean?”
“I’m not exactly sure,” Sean said in a hushed, hurried tone, “I think it means, ‘What are you wearing’, or something…”
Lee had nervously looked down at his shoes. “Er… they’re just trainers…”
Amanda, apparently unimpressed, had shaken her head and walked off, much to Sean’s dismay, who promptly waddled after her.
The night had been a good one. The music had been wonderful. Eric had surprised everyone with an interestingly solemn style of singing. Marli had clapped enthusiastically, and then later cursed her hearing aid, and wished she had been able to hear him properly. The sight of them together had made Lee smile for a while.
Then sigh.
“You miss her already?”
Kira’s eyes had appeared at the edges of his vision, narrowed with a surprisingly venomous ferocity.
“What?” Lee’s dark eyes, now so different to hers, had rolled to face her. “Something wrong with that?”
“You’ve been away one day, Lee,” she hissed softly. “One day. Are we not good enough company for you?”
Before them, Irish music was playing again. Laughter was growing louder, slurring with half-spoken, half-forgotten sentences. Lee’s parents were swaying gently across the garden to the sound of light-hearted catcalls and shaky wolf-whistles. His mother was literally glowing under the soft, orange light of the lanterns. The sun was fading now, sliding lazily along as it made its sleepy way across the pale yellow sky.
“You’re perfectly good company,” Lee’s voice was low- but sharp. “I’m very happy here.”
“You don’t look it.”
“What is your problem?”
“Me?” she flushed. “I don’t have a problem. There is no problem. Not a single bloody one!” Her voice ended on a furious whisper, and Lee, his temper spiking for the first time, opened his mouth to retort-
“Hey, guys!” Caitlyn appeared out of nowhere, winding her way between the cousins. “Admiring Kira’s new hair, Lee? Doesn’t she look-?”
“Excuse me,” Kira said; her face a sudden, serene blank. “I think I’d like to have another burger…” She turned abruptly, and then wandered off, her head tilted dreamily skywards.
Lee watched at his cousin, a little in awe. He’d never seen someone so quick to regain their composure like that.
“She’s mad with me,” he said suddenly.
“Kira?” Caitlyn swivelled around, quite surprised. “No, Lee, she’s not mad. She’s just sad.”
He frowned. “Why would she be sad?”
“She’s missing that boy,” Caitlyn said wisely. “The one from your school. Can you imagine? She hasn’t heard from him once. Not once, all summer-”
“What boy?” Lee said quickly.
Caitlyn blinked, then her face, too, closed into a mysterious blank.
“Nothing, Lee. My mistake.”
She drifted, leaving Lee quite alone.
“Oh, Lee!” Ellie’s voice was as bright and charming as ever when she flung her arms around him. He stumbled backwards slightly, dropping his bags once more on the ground. “How are you? How was your summer? Your postcard was lovely- Lylis Glen sounds amazing-”
Brian stood behind her, chuckling softly. “Apparently,” he said wisely over her shoulder to Lee, “she’s happy to see you.” He then turned his head to Kira, who, upon disentangling herself from a further crowd of Spies eager to converse with her approached them shyly.
“Hello, Brian.”
“Hey,” he said warmly.
“Kira! Your hair!” Kira received her own personal hug from Ellie as well, and embraced her tightly back.
“It’s grown a bit.”
“It’s grown-?”
“Do you like it?”
“Mais, oui! I went to Paris this year, can you tell-?”
“You look tanned,” Brian said pleasantly to Lee, picking up one of his friend’s bags for him.
Lee laughed. “So everyone says. It comes from spending so much time outside.”
“Awk, don’t sweat it,” Brian grinned, “in this weather, you’ll be back to your old pasty, chess-playing self in no time.”
“Gee, thanks-”
The four headed towards the door, and squeezed through the crowd- Kira only just managing to avoid being accosted by another group of Spies.
“How was your summer?”
“Good,” Brian said, “saw a lot of family. And Ellie came to stay for a while! That was fun.”
Lee grinned and nodded. “Good, good. Have you seen Jude, or Jack, or-?”
“Jude? Nah- but I think he spent his summer at the school.”
Lee frowned. Again? “Really? He did?”
Brian nodded. “Yeah. I know. Weird. Oh, and I don’t think Jack had a good summer.”
His frown deepened. “Really- why?”
Brian shrugged. “Dunno. Just… a feeling.”
And, as a Spy, that meant Brian’s ‘feeling’ was completely correct. Lee looked dead ahead at the two girls, who were both giggling about something… something stupid.
“Kira’s mad at me, I think.”
Brian’s eyebrows shot up. “What? She seems fine.”
“I just…” Lee’s front teeth extended over the curve of his bottom lip, tugging it worriedly. “I don’t know. I don’t know why.”
“Then forget it,” Brian said wisely. “Kira seems fine to me. If you don’t know why then it’s probably nothing.”
“Yeah,” Lee nodded slowly. “Yeah. Probably…”
Probably.
“Mum?”
Victoria looked at her son sleepily from her low position on the couch. “Oh, Lee, sweetie. Hello. Don’t make too much noise. Your father’s sleeping… I think he drank a little too much.”
Somewhere upstairs, the soft sound of a hiccup floated down towards them.
Lee smiled. “How’s… how’s things around here?”
“Lovely,” she nodded, “very lovely. How’s darling Madeleine? I’ll bet she’s even prettier now than the last time I saw her.”
Lee had to agree- but perhaps he was simply biased. To him, Maddie grew more beautiful, more lovely, more exquisitely charming every time he looked at her, and was lost in her soft, blue eyes.
“She’s good.”
“And you had a good summer?”
“Yes… did you?”
“Oh!” she sat up slightly, nodding. “Oh, er, yes. I missed you, though.”
Her last sentence hung awkwardly between them. His mum looked a little odd when she’d spoken them. Lee didn’t know exactly how to respond.
The words, “I missed you, too,” were stuck in his throat.
“Kira missed you as well.” Her words were low and heavy. The warm orange glow that had earlier filled the house had faded to shadows, now. “She doesn’t say much- but I know. She asked about you sometimes. I think she was… hoping you might be home earlier.”
Again, he didn’t know how to respond. He felt like he was supposed to be explaining something. But how could he explain? And what was there to explain? Shaun? Madeleine’s loss- her pain?
He’d never told his family about Maddie’s brother…
“Next summer,” her voice sounded bright again, “bring Madeleine here! I should like that- and the neighbours are so curious.”
“I will, Mum,” he finally spoke, and the words were easy once more. “I will.”
“Ooh, we’ll have another barbeque,” she nodded to herself. “It was a wonderful night, Lee. I’m so glad you were here.”
“Me, too.”
“And everyone says how well you look! They think you’ve grown into a very handsome young man, Lee,” she chuckled, “clearly, they’re all going daft in their old age.”
Lee had to laugh at that. “Thanks, Mum.”
She chuckled. “Sorry- oof!”
He started, but she held up her hand, shaking her head.
“It’s fine. He’s… kicking.”
Lee looked at his pregnant mother a little breathlessly. She’d been glowing earlier- did all pregnant woman glow? He’d heard that somewhere, once, maybe in a book, or in a T.V. show… It felt strange, thinking back to her first meeting with Maddie those few short months ago… now there was a baby, a proper baby, not just a bunch of cells, kicking in there.
Delicately, he held his hand forward.
“Can I…?”
She smiled, and moved her hand from her belly, like an invitation. Gently, Lee spread his palm and pressed it gently against her soft, round stomach. They waited together, mother and son, for a few quick, excited seconds.
Then Lee felt it.
A quick thud. A knock.
“Wow,” Lee took his hand away. “It… he kicked me.”
“He kicked you,” Vicky shook her curls back, laughing. “Little bástard. That’s no way to treat your big brother!”
Lee chuckled. “Have you… thought of a name?”
“Oh, yes,” Vicky replied smugly. “It’s a good one, too. Do you want to here it?”
Another chuckle. “Yes, please.”
She smiled broadly. “I’m going to call him… Callum Graham Norris.”
“Graham? Like Granda?”
“Yes,” she nodded, “like my dad.”
Callum Graham Norris.
Lee tried it out in his head a few times. Callum Graham Norris.
Callum Norris.
Callum G. Norris.
Bethany, Lee and Callum Norris.
Callum, Bethany and Lee Norris.
Callum Norris, his little brother.
“Do you like it?” Vicky asked him this question ever so carefully, her eyes widening, as though the weight of the world rested on Lee’s opinion of her unborn child’s chosen name.
“Yes,” Lee replied, and her face broke into a smile of relief. “Yes. I really do.”
He couldn’t believe it.
It was the day after his return to Orchid Hill, and he found himself in the main Reception area again, an open letter in his hand.
Dear son,
The moment you and your cousin left, the contractions began! I think it must have been the emotional trauma of seeing you two go, haha- you know what your mother can be like. She’s sleeping now- she’s exhausted, and who can blame her? Eight hours of labour!
Callum Graham Norris weighs a healthy 8Ib 6 ounces. See? Your mother said he was heavy! He looks just like you did. Black curls, blue eyes and all. You should hear him cry- the kid’s got iron lungs! Your aunt and uncle have seen him already- they came with us to the hospital, God bless them- and your aunt won’t stop fawning over Callum. I’ve never seen anything like it. Warn Kira- she may end up with a baby sibling of her own at this rate!
Do you see the photo? Sorry it’s so blurry. My hands were a little shaky when I took it. It was exhausting. I don’t remember being this tired after you or your sister was born. Bethany’s flying out tomorrow to come see us and the new baby. She’s so excited!
I’m glad you came home, son. We missed you this summer. A few postcards aren’t a substitute for a son. I hope your lovely fiancée is keeping well- and don’t be strangers! I’m sure she’ll be ecstatic to know she’s just gained a brother-in-law!
Anyway, like I said, I’m bloody exhausted. Sorry this is so short. I’ll phone you tomorrow. Your mother sends her love.
Best wishes and God Bless,
John Norris (Proud father of three).
September.
A dreaded month, at its worst.
Although most schools really began in late August- perhaps around the 29th, or so- September was the month that people really hated to roll around. Unlike August, it didn’t carry the merits of the summer to make up for what was in store at its end, and unlike October, it carried no blessing in the shape of a holiday.
Yes. September was a dreaded month, as it was the first full month any student had to spend back at school after the long, long summer.
Lee- proving once and for all, once more, that he was an absolute nerd- was thrilled it was September. He was happy he was back at Orchid.
It had been a long summer. It had been a brilliant one. He hadn’t seen much of his family; only at the beginning, and then again at the end- but he had seen a lot of whom he considered to be his future family; the travellers than Maddie had grown up with and known all her life.
And now he knew them, too.
It had been great- most of it, anyway, Lee hadn’t forgotten Jace’s attempt to straighten his hair- and Lee had beaten everyone he met at chess, which for some reason had served to increase his popularity rather than detract from it. When recounting his stories of the campsites he’d visited later to his own family, they’d all been satisfactorily enthused.
Except for his aunt.
And… Kira.
Once upon a time, Lee had been able to say that mother and daughter were poles apart. No matter how alike their features were- or how more alike they seemed to grow with each passing year- Kira’s smile, Kira’s eyes, Kira’s temperament and Kira’s imagination were in the essence of her father.
When Lee had returned in late August to his family home… he’d noticed something… different in their relationship.
Something bad.
* * *
“Mum!”
“Lee!” she held the door, awkwardly, the large bump of her pregnant stomach visibly protruding from beneath her large T-shirt. Lee’s eyes widened slightly as they drank her in. He had only seen her briefly at the beginning of July, yet her belly had expanded at an alarming rate. “Eight months, now,” she said proudly, correctly interpreting the direction of his gaze. “He’s heavy.”
“He?” Lee said quickly, looking up.
“Maybe,” his mother laughed, “but I think so. Call it instinct. I knew with you, and I knew with our Bethany.”
“Is she around?” he asked, stepping across the threshold of the house to embrace his mother.
“Scotland,” she replied, shaking her head. “You just missed her. She was here up until about a week ago.”
The house seemed quiet as Lee walked up the hallway. Clearly his aunt and uncle weren’t visiting. He wasn’t sure where his father was- perhaps the garage, building something, or the lounge. Lee followed the familiar pathway through into the kitchen, noting the subtle changes- the removal of several pictures; a change of carpet; a lack of shoes sitting beneath the radiator.
“Where’s Kira, Mum?” Lee asked once he’d reached the kitchen.
Though they had kept in contact by text over the summer, and the odd phone call from time-to-time, Lee had sorely missed his cousin’s dreamy presence at his side. Particularly, during moments when Madeleine had sat back and laughed with her parents- her other relatives and her friends- Lee had felt an odd pang- one he recognised, but, for some reason, had not expected whilst spending time with Madeleine and the other travellers.
Homesickness.
He’d been glad when it rained. Like it did it at Orchid, on the variety of campsites he had visited over the summer, the rain had not failed to remind him of the wet, green little island he called home. And, more importantly, its inhabitants. Hearing Bethany sigh down the phone about the hormonal imbalances of their very pregnant mother suddenly seemed ten times more fascinating that it really was; hearing Kira’s vague recollections of trips into Dublin with their friends were suddenly far too sparse to be satisfactory; his dad’s once work-related mishaps were exciting and dynamic; his aunt and uncle’s flourishing rhododendrons… well, no, they weren’t really interesting, but it sounded nice.
Tomorrow, unbelievably, Lee was going back to Orchid Hill.
Initially, Lee hadn’t intended to be away for so long. He really hadn’t. But after learning about more details of Shaun’s death… he supposed he hadn’t really been able to tear himself away. It wasn’t Madeleine’s fault- she’d told him to go home more than once- but Lee had felt… he’d sort of felt…
Like he had to be with her.
One day, Madeleine was going to be his wife. Sometimes, Lee even caught himself already thinking of her as such. It would probably be years before they officially tied the knot, but until then… Lee couldn’t help himself. He was getting into the habit early. And everyday- cheesy as this sounded- he woke up finding himself loving her all the more.
He couldn’t seem to win. Sure, he’d agreed to go and spend the last two days of the summer holidays with his family before his return to Orchid. Sure, he’d just spent the last two months with Madeleine 24/7. Sure, he’d missed his family like nuts the whole time.
But now that he was away from her… he missed her just as much as he’d missed all of them- probably, actually, more, because although he loved his family, he was more used to their absence due to his time at Orchid Hill. But Madeleine was always there, all the time.
As, usually, was Kira.
“Kira didn’t…” Lee paused, casting about for words as his wide-eyed mother followed him into the kitchen, “er, she did… know when I’d be coming?”
“Oh!” his mum nodded happily. “Yes, of course. Well- I mean- we’d expected you… a couple of days ago, of course. We weren’t sure what times exactly you were coming.”
Lee nodded. Yeah, that’s right. His letter. He’d been due back a week ago, but the thought of leaving Madeleine again-
It was alright. He’d see her in a couple of days.
“Tea?” she asked brightly, crossing the kitchen.
Lee nodded gratefully, sitting down at the table. The gentle sound of rain was pattering in their back garden. The window was slightly open, and the familiar smell of damp grass was floating through their window.
His mother breathing a little heavily as she attempted to crouch, reaching for the cupboard with the teabags. “If I can just…”
“Mum,” he said suddenly, standing up, “I’ll do it. You shouldn’t be moving about like that.”
“Oh, no!” she laughed awkwardly. “You sound like your father. I’m fine, Lee…”
Vicky wasn’t fine for crouching and stretching. She was heavily pregnant, and couldn’t walk very quickly. Her face was a little rounder than the last time Lee had seen her- but it suited her- and despite being clearly out of breath, his mother seemed to be glowing.
Shaking back the loose dark curls she and Lee both wore, she stretched up, and leaning on the wall for support, pushed herself back to her feet.
“Fine,” she grinned, and the corners of Lee’s mouth were tugged irresistibly back up in response, “fine, but you have to make the tea.”
He laughed, nodding.
Yeah. It was good to be home.
* * *
The Reception of Orchid Hill was thronging with queuing and mingling pupils. Laughter rippled across the crowd; friends threw arms around each other and embraced, reunited after the long summer; the surly receptionist staff took names; ticked boxes; pointed new students towards their groups; handed out maps. Lee breathed a sigh of relief as he set down his bag and looked around.
The school year was starting.
“Hello, Lee.”
“Hello,” he looked around. Kira was a little ahead of him, trailing her suitcase lazily along the ground by her feet. A swarm of Spies were buzzing around her and she was laughing, answering questions about Training and duties.
Matt was standing behind him, a heavy bag at his feet.
“How’d the summer go?”
“Good,” Lee’s mouth relaxed into a smile. “Yeah, it was good. I was with Maddie-”
“Great, great,” Matt waved it away. His eyes were following Kira, who had just stopped, tossing her new short curls back to speak to a familiar redhead who’d managed to push her way through the crowd of Spies… “You up for a chess match tonight? I haven’t played a good game all summer…”
“Yeah,” Lee frowned, “yeah. Actually, I have. Madeleine’s dad-”
“Cool, thanks,” Matt nodded, then brushed past him, heading for Kira and Lydia. Lydia’s head turned to him a little nervously. He looked for a few moments as though he was about to say something to her. Lee silently willed him not to.
And he didn’t.
Matt muttered a hello, and hurried on.
Lydia, apparently troubled, gave Kira’s curls one final, admiring ruffle, before picking up her own bags and hurrying on.
Lee approached his cousin.
“What was that about?”
“He kissed her,” Kira said serenely, her blue gaze flickering in his direction, “just after her and Mike broke up.”
“They-?” He stopped. “I thought Mike didn’t like Lydia?”
“He never did,” Kira shrugged, “but he doesn’t cope well under pressure. He gave in, chickened out two weeks in, and was straight with her. Naturally, she was heart-broken. Enter Matt, the Expert Idiot.”
“I didn’t-”
“No,” Kira said softly, “don’t feel bad. I didn’t know, either. I didn’t hear much from anyone this summer.”
Lee bit his lip. “Ah- no. Neither did I.”
“No,” her own lips pressed together tightly. “No. I expect you wouldn’t have.”
She turned, and continued walking.
* * *
“Kira,” his arms were held open warmly. From within his warm house, the sound of Irish laughter and music mingled and blended in a beautiful dance. “Kira, how-” he stopped. “Whoa. Your hair.”
“Hey, Lee,” she smiled, and rose a little onto her toes, brightly kissing his cheek. “You looked tanned.”
“I- you look taller,” he blinked.
“I’m not,” she replied, “at all. Look.” She lifted up a delicate foot and pointed. Lee was surprised to see the slightest of heels protruding from the back of her shoe. “Caitlyn,” she said shortly, in response to his raised eyebrows. “Excuse me…” Gently, but firmly, she placed her palm on Lee’s chest and pushed him out of the way.
Lee, a little unsure of what had just happened, turned to beam at his aunt and uncle, who came up the path behind Kira. Both smiled; though Uncle Tom looked nervous. Aunt Rachel looked grim.
“Lee,” she said slowly, stopping just short of the door. “Did you have a pleasant summer?”
“Yes, Aunt Rachel,” he said, shifting uncomfortably. Her sharp eyes always put him ill at ease when she watched him so closely, as though scrutinising something small and dirty.
Uncle Tom, the much pleasanter of the pair to speak to, said, “Great! So have we. Mind if we get past you, Lee? I must speak with your father…” His blue eyes lightened. “He promised to build me a bookcase.”
“As if buying one wouldn’t do.”
“Come on, Rach!” chuckled Uncle Tom, kissing his wife on her cheek. “You know John’s work is the best a man can get!”
“Yet the shelf he installed two years ago still managed to snap clean in two,” Aunt Rachel responded coolly. Tom was laughing again, but when Lee looked at his aunt’s expression, he didn’t see any humour dancing in her eyes.
“Let us by, Lee.”
“Yes, Aunt Rachel,” he replied, stepping back and allowing them into the glowing orange warmth of his home.
Lee hadn’t been expecting this: his mother, thrilled by his last-minute return, had thrown together a little party- a gathering of neighbours and friends. They’d lit a barbeque in the back garden (the clouds had spent themselves that afternoon, leaving a few pale wisps as their only sign of any activity). The evening sun hung low in the sky, disappearing in and out behind the remainder of clouds, but it brought little warmth and a weak yellow light. The Irish neighbours had gathered in the garden, sweatshirt sleeves rolled down over gloves and hoods pulled high up. They sat around the flaming barbeque, congregating in little bunches at tables and chairs, gossiping about God knows what.
The teenagers of the neighbourhood had been delegated the job of waiting on their families and neighbours. John Norris had told them all that after all the years Victoria Norris had spent bringing them juice and baking them cookies it was the very least they could do.
Lee, though honoured guest, was by no means exempt from this task.
Marli wove her way past him, a tray balanced in the crook of her arm. Several empty beer bottles chinked musically against each other as she walked, humming to herself. Lee watched, smiling to himself, as she exchanged a bright, oddly intimate smile with his quiet pale neighbour, Eric, who sat unusually flushed in the candlelight, a bottle of beer held precariously in his hand.
Caitlyn and Conner (both looking brightly blonder than ever) were also carrying trays, but they were offering refreshments rather than collecting bottles. Caitlyn had told Lee in a low, mysterious voice earlier that Conner had been away to summer camp, and had come back wildly excited and in love with a girl six years his senior, whose name he had tattooed into his right forearm. Their mother had nearly taken his head off for it.
“Still,” Caitlyn had concluded, “I don’t think she reacted as badly as the time I dyed my hair.”
“It was blue.”
“It was a statement!”
Sean- who had apparently lost weight as he’d gained height (though he hadn’t lost or gained much of either)- had also had some luck in the love department. He’d confessed to Lee on the porch when he’d first arrived he’d actually liked Marli a while back, but couldn’t do anything because that was when Lee and Marli had been dating. Lee- who now found all memories of him being with anyone other than Maddie a little bizarre and strangely embarrassing- had stammered his confused apologies, but Sean had shaken them away.
“No, no, come on, Lee! Don’t be thick. Anyway, I wanted to tell you about Amanda-”
Amanda was, like Caitlyn’s new beau, Luke, was from Northern Ireland and attending Trinity College. She was from a mysterious place known as, ‘Ballymena’. Lee was sure she was very nice, but the problem was, he didn’t really understand a word she was saying to him, whether it was she who was speaking, or Sean translating.
“She said, ‘What about you,’” Sean told Lee solemnly after Amanda had opened her mouth for the first time to him.
Lee, a little stunned, had asked, “Wh- what does that mean?”
“I’m not exactly sure,” Sean said in a hushed, hurried tone, “I think it means, ‘What are you wearing’, or something…”
Lee had nervously looked down at his shoes. “Er… they’re just trainers…”
Amanda, apparently unimpressed, had shaken her head and walked off, much to Sean’s dismay, who promptly waddled after her.
The night had been a good one. The music had been wonderful. Eric had surprised everyone with an interestingly solemn style of singing. Marli had clapped enthusiastically, and then later cursed her hearing aid, and wished she had been able to hear him properly. The sight of them together had made Lee smile for a while.
Then sigh.
“You miss her already?”
Kira’s eyes had appeared at the edges of his vision, narrowed with a surprisingly venomous ferocity.
“What?” Lee’s dark eyes, now so different to hers, had rolled to face her. “Something wrong with that?”
“You’ve been away one day, Lee,” she hissed softly. “One day. Are we not good enough company for you?”
Before them, Irish music was playing again. Laughter was growing louder, slurring with half-spoken, half-forgotten sentences. Lee’s parents were swaying gently across the garden to the sound of light-hearted catcalls and shaky wolf-whistles. His mother was literally glowing under the soft, orange light of the lanterns. The sun was fading now, sliding lazily along as it made its sleepy way across the pale yellow sky.
“You’re perfectly good company,” Lee’s voice was low- but sharp. “I’m very happy here.”
“You don’t look it.”
“What is your problem?”
“Me?” she flushed. “I don’t have a problem. There is no problem. Not a single bloody one!” Her voice ended on a furious whisper, and Lee, his temper spiking for the first time, opened his mouth to retort-
“Hey, guys!” Caitlyn appeared out of nowhere, winding her way between the cousins. “Admiring Kira’s new hair, Lee? Doesn’t she look-?”
“Excuse me,” Kira said; her face a sudden, serene blank. “I think I’d like to have another burger…” She turned abruptly, and then wandered off, her head tilted dreamily skywards.
Lee watched at his cousin, a little in awe. He’d never seen someone so quick to regain their composure like that.
“She’s mad with me,” he said suddenly.
“Kira?” Caitlyn swivelled around, quite surprised. “No, Lee, she’s not mad. She’s just sad.”
He frowned. “Why would she be sad?”
“She’s missing that boy,” Caitlyn said wisely. “The one from your school. Can you imagine? She hasn’t heard from him once. Not once, all summer-”
“What boy?” Lee said quickly.
Caitlyn blinked, then her face, too, closed into a mysterious blank.
“Nothing, Lee. My mistake.”
She drifted, leaving Lee quite alone.
* * *
“Oh, Lee!” Ellie’s voice was as bright and charming as ever when she flung her arms around him. He stumbled backwards slightly, dropping his bags once more on the ground. “How are you? How was your summer? Your postcard was lovely- Lylis Glen sounds amazing-”
Brian stood behind her, chuckling softly. “Apparently,” he said wisely over her shoulder to Lee, “she’s happy to see you.” He then turned his head to Kira, who, upon disentangling herself from a further crowd of Spies eager to converse with her approached them shyly.
“Hello, Brian.”
“Hey,” he said warmly.
“Kira! Your hair!” Kira received her own personal hug from Ellie as well, and embraced her tightly back.
“It’s grown a bit.”
“It’s grown-?”
“Do you like it?”
“Mais, oui! I went to Paris this year, can you tell-?”
“You look tanned,” Brian said pleasantly to Lee, picking up one of his friend’s bags for him.
Lee laughed. “So everyone says. It comes from spending so much time outside.”
“Awk, don’t sweat it,” Brian grinned, “in this weather, you’ll be back to your old pasty, chess-playing self in no time.”
“Gee, thanks-”
The four headed towards the door, and squeezed through the crowd- Kira only just managing to avoid being accosted by another group of Spies.
“How was your summer?”
“Good,” Brian said, “saw a lot of family. And Ellie came to stay for a while! That was fun.”
Lee grinned and nodded. “Good, good. Have you seen Jude, or Jack, or-?”
“Jude? Nah- but I think he spent his summer at the school.”
Lee frowned. Again? “Really? He did?”
Brian nodded. “Yeah. I know. Weird. Oh, and I don’t think Jack had a good summer.”
His frown deepened. “Really- why?”
Brian shrugged. “Dunno. Just… a feeling.”
And, as a Spy, that meant Brian’s ‘feeling’ was completely correct. Lee looked dead ahead at the two girls, who were both giggling about something… something stupid.
“Kira’s mad at me, I think.”
Brian’s eyebrows shot up. “What? She seems fine.”
“I just…” Lee’s front teeth extended over the curve of his bottom lip, tugging it worriedly. “I don’t know. I don’t know why.”
“Then forget it,” Brian said wisely. “Kira seems fine to me. If you don’t know why then it’s probably nothing.”
“Yeah,” Lee nodded slowly. “Yeah. Probably…”
Probably.
* * *
“Mum?”
Victoria looked at her son sleepily from her low position on the couch. “Oh, Lee, sweetie. Hello. Don’t make too much noise. Your father’s sleeping… I think he drank a little too much.”
Somewhere upstairs, the soft sound of a hiccup floated down towards them.
Lee smiled. “How’s… how’s things around here?”
“Lovely,” she nodded, “very lovely. How’s darling Madeleine? I’ll bet she’s even prettier now than the last time I saw her.”
Lee had to agree- but perhaps he was simply biased. To him, Maddie grew more beautiful, more lovely, more exquisitely charming every time he looked at her, and was lost in her soft, blue eyes.
“She’s good.”
“And you had a good summer?”
“Yes… did you?”
“Oh!” she sat up slightly, nodding. “Oh, er, yes. I missed you, though.”
Her last sentence hung awkwardly between them. His mum looked a little odd when she’d spoken them. Lee didn’t know exactly how to respond.
The words, “I missed you, too,” were stuck in his throat.
“Kira missed you as well.” Her words were low and heavy. The warm orange glow that had earlier filled the house had faded to shadows, now. “She doesn’t say much- but I know. She asked about you sometimes. I think she was… hoping you might be home earlier.”
Again, he didn’t know how to respond. He felt like he was supposed to be explaining something. But how could he explain? And what was there to explain? Shaun? Madeleine’s loss- her pain?
He’d never told his family about Maddie’s brother…
“Next summer,” her voice sounded bright again, “bring Madeleine here! I should like that- and the neighbours are so curious.”
“I will, Mum,” he finally spoke, and the words were easy once more. “I will.”
“Ooh, we’ll have another barbeque,” she nodded to herself. “It was a wonderful night, Lee. I’m so glad you were here.”
“Me, too.”
“And everyone says how well you look! They think you’ve grown into a very handsome young man, Lee,” she chuckled, “clearly, they’re all going daft in their old age.”
Lee had to laugh at that. “Thanks, Mum.”
She chuckled. “Sorry- oof!”
He started, but she held up her hand, shaking her head.
“It’s fine. He’s… kicking.”
Lee looked at his pregnant mother a little breathlessly. She’d been glowing earlier- did all pregnant woman glow? He’d heard that somewhere, once, maybe in a book, or in a T.V. show… It felt strange, thinking back to her first meeting with Maddie those few short months ago… now there was a baby, a proper baby, not just a bunch of cells, kicking in there.
Delicately, he held his hand forward.
“Can I…?”
She smiled, and moved her hand from her belly, like an invitation. Gently, Lee spread his palm and pressed it gently against her soft, round stomach. They waited together, mother and son, for a few quick, excited seconds.
Then Lee felt it.
A quick thud. A knock.
“Wow,” Lee took his hand away. “It… he kicked me.”
“He kicked you,” Vicky shook her curls back, laughing. “Little bástard. That’s no way to treat your big brother!”
Lee chuckled. “Have you… thought of a name?”
“Oh, yes,” Vicky replied smugly. “It’s a good one, too. Do you want to here it?”
Another chuckle. “Yes, please.”
She smiled broadly. “I’m going to call him… Callum Graham Norris.”
“Graham? Like Granda?”
“Yes,” she nodded, “like my dad.”
Callum Graham Norris.
Lee tried it out in his head a few times. Callum Graham Norris.
Callum Norris.
Callum G. Norris.
Bethany, Lee and Callum Norris.
Callum, Bethany and Lee Norris.
Callum Norris, his little brother.
“Do you like it?” Vicky asked him this question ever so carefully, her eyes widening, as though the weight of the world rested on Lee’s opinion of her unborn child’s chosen name.
“Yes,” Lee replied, and her face broke into a smile of relief. “Yes. I really do.”
* * *
He couldn’t believe it.
It was the day after his return to Orchid Hill, and he found himself in the main Reception area again, an open letter in his hand.
Dear son,
The moment you and your cousin left, the contractions began! I think it must have been the emotional trauma of seeing you two go, haha- you know what your mother can be like. She’s sleeping now- she’s exhausted, and who can blame her? Eight hours of labour!
Callum Graham Norris weighs a healthy 8Ib 6 ounces. See? Your mother said he was heavy! He looks just like you did. Black curls, blue eyes and all. You should hear him cry- the kid’s got iron lungs! Your aunt and uncle have seen him already- they came with us to the hospital, God bless them- and your aunt won’t stop fawning over Callum. I’ve never seen anything like it. Warn Kira- she may end up with a baby sibling of her own at this rate!
Do you see the photo? Sorry it’s so blurry. My hands were a little shaky when I took it. It was exhausting. I don’t remember being this tired after you or your sister was born. Bethany’s flying out tomorrow to come see us and the new baby. She’s so excited!
I’m glad you came home, son. We missed you this summer. A few postcards aren’t a substitute for a son. I hope your lovely fiancée is keeping well- and don’t be strangers! I’m sure she’ll be ecstatic to know she’s just gained a brother-in-law!
Anyway, like I said, I’m bloody exhausted. Sorry this is so short. I’ll phone you tomorrow. Your mother sends her love.
Best wishes and God Bless,
John Norris (Proud father of three).
