Page 7
“Ha! You’d think, but there’ll be a hundred kids and my brothers and sisters.”
“Do you have many?” Small talk. I rarely did small talk.
“I have three older brothers, an older sister, and two younger sisters.”
“That’s seven of you.” I tried to keep the astonishment from my voice. How did he cope with so many siblings?
“Is it just you and Logan?” Mac asked, crossing his legs, still wearing the sock with the hole.
“Yeah, just the two of us.” Sometimes I wished there was just me. “Mum would love more, but Brian won’t have it. Says we’re two too many as it is.”
His eyebrows shot up. “He actually said that?”
I shrugged. “He couldn’t care less about us. I’m surprised he’s still around, truth be told.”
Why was I telling him all this? What was it that made me spill stories of my life that I’d told no one before? Not that I had any friends to tell.
“Am I right in saying Logan’s scared of him?”
I nodded. “I used to be, too, but not lately. He knows if he carries on, I’ll up and leave, and there goes their childcare. Him and Mum go out most nights and leave me in charge of Logan.”
“I’m so sorry, Frankie. It’s no life. You should be out enjoying yourself, not at home looking after your brother.”
“It's no bother. Ain’t got no friends anyway, only Gran.”
My phone buzzed, the sound loud in the conservatory's quiet. I turned it over, not wanting to see who it was. Usually pent up, I’d relaxed here and didn’t want to shatter the illusion of not having anyone relying on me.
“Do you want to get that?” He sat forward, his elbows resting on his knees.
“Not really. It’ll either be Mum wondering why I’m not at home, or Gran wanting me to get something for her.”
“What about Brian? Doesn’t he call you?”
“Look, can we talk about something else? I’ll have enough of them when I go home. Tell me about your family. Only if you want to,” I added quickly.
“We’d be here all night if I did that. There are brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, and too many kids. It’s a nightmare remembering birthdays.”
“You don’t have a wife or girlfriend to help you remember?” I hadn’t seen evidence of anyone while I’d been there. The toiletries in the bathroom and the mess in the kitchen suggested he lived alone.
“I spent so long studying that I never seemed to get around to it, and now, I’m too knackered at the end of my shift to go out looking for a date. What about you?”
“Nah, I’m a lone wolf. I take care of myself.” I’d hooked up a couple of times in and around town, but it was a small place, and word got around. If Brian found out, I’d never hear the last of it.
My phone buzzed again, and as much as I was enjoying the peace and quiet, it was time to get back and see what she had to say.
“I should go. Mum will be worried and, like I said, she’s got bingo later, and she’ll want me to sit with Logan.”
“Let me give you a lift. I brought you all the way out here into the middle of nowhere. It’s the least I can do.”
I thought about saying no and walking home, but it was a long way, and I had no idea how long it would take. What if it rained again?
“Would that be okay? I don’t want to put you out.”
“It’s honestly no problem. I have a few groceries to pick up. Killing two birds with one stone.” He laughed and grabbed his phone and keys.
“I’ll go grab my stuff from the bathroom.” I picked up my still sodden clothes and grimaced as I slipped my feet into my cold, wet trainers. I’d have blisters the size of saucers in these, but what else did I have to wear?
My feet squelched in my trainers as I made my way out of the house and to the car.
