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Jamie takes a sip of coffee then places his cup on the work surface. By looking at him, you wouldn’t know what he’s been through. It’s pretty amazing how he’s recovered. On a whim I cross the kitchen and pull him into a hug. Normally, he’d shove me away for attempting such a thing, but today he doesn’t protest. Neither of us says anything, but there’s comfort in our shared silence. I clap his back then withdraw again, in time to see Ally enter the kitchen.
“Jesus,” I say. “Can’t remember when I last saw you up this early.”
Since setting up Bannock Adventures with Aidan, Ally has passed his former breakfast duties—of serving as front of house—to Emily. That means he usually gets to stay in bed longer than the rest of us.
“Aye, well, the one night Ru sleeps through without stirring, and I’m lying awake the whole time because I can’t sleep.” Ally stretches his arms above his head then lets them drop back to his sides. “I figured I might as well get up and be useful. Is there coffee going?”
He pours himself some. As he sips on it, he taps out something on his phone. Moments later, both Jamie’s screen and mine light up. There’s one new message in the “McIntyre Clan Group Chat”.
Ally
How you doing, Cat?
“Wow,” Jamie says. “Inspiring stuff.”
“Aye, well, it can’t be easy for her being up in Wick today, away from family and friends.”
Jamie chuckles. “I’m not disagreeing with that, Ally. My point is you sent her four words—not even a kiss. Bloody hell, I thought Emily had thawed that frozen lump you call a heart?”
“Jesus Christ! All right, fine.” Ally taps his phone a couple more times.
Ally
x
Jamie howls. “That’s even worse! A single kiss as a message on its own. You’re the eldest—the leader. Can’t you come up with anything more moving to unite our family today?”
Ally leans against the counter. “All right, if you’re so good at this stuff, why don’t you send her something? You normally communicate solely in GIFs. Is there one for I’m sorry you’re in Wick by yourself on what would have been Maw’s birthday?”
“Hmm . . .” Jamie furrows his brow and scratches his chin. “I bet there’s something from the US version of The Office. There always is.”
As though suddenly struck by inspiration, he taps away on his phone, and soon an animated image appears on my screen. It shows the character Meredith speaking to camera and holding an alcoholic drink. As her mouth moves, a caption flashes up: You’re not alone, sister. Let’s get a beer sometime.
“Not bad,” Ally begrudgingly admits. “That one actually works pretty well.”
Jamie gives a smug smile. “There isn’t a single emotion or sentiment in the entirety of the human experience that can’t be communicated with a four-second clip from The Office.”
Shaking my head, I compose a message of my own.
Lewis
Cat, it’s a shit day, but I hope you’re all right. When can you come back to Bannock for a visit? We miss you. x
After maybe thirty seconds, all three of our phones light up with a new notification.
Cat
Wow, so none of you could sleep either? Love the predictability of your messages—Ally with the bare minimum, Lewis with the genuine sentiment, and Jamie with the inappropriate GIF.
Jamie
Excuse me? That was VERY appropriate. Ally thought so too.
Cat
To be fair, of the three messages, I did like yours best.
Jamie posts another Office GIF, this one of Michael and Dwight doing the Raise the Roof dance.
