Avril has seen photographs of Grunnie Meggie in Laura’s family albums. There’s one, in particular, one she remembers. A group of adults and children at a beach picnic. Laura had pointed out to her each person, explaining relationships, naming, but it was Grunnie Meggie who had caught her eye. Grunnie Meggie, looking straight at the camera as if the photographer had called her. Uncanny, like seeing Coop’s features in an older face, a woman’s face, the resemblance so much more than between Laura and Coop. Avril’s own sense of ancestry is tenuous, at best, and she has always been curious about the things handed down through families, through time.

Laura?

Mmm.

Are they, um, are they very personal? I was wondering, if it’s OK, could I——?

Yes. And yes, I guess. She was … she was what you might call a character. There are things … Maybe you’ll see shades of Cooper in her. I do, sometimes.

Avril watches through the glass as Laura takes the chair beside Cooper. Goes to kiss his forehead. Remembers.

14

Laura

Laura rubs her eyes, sits up, alert, when the neurosurgeon arrives with a satellite of interns.

They run through the usual examination, notes, questions and answers. The students are focused solely on Coop, his chart, Dr Meagher’s words. Only one, a slight young man with very white hair, throws Laura a sympathetic glance.

When they’ve finished, Dr Meagher looks directly at her.

Yes, Laura? You have questions?

The pain … how bad is it going to be?

Bad. But best you talk to the Burns Team about that. He softens his voice. There are ways of managing pain.

But not stopping it.

The interns look down, not one of them wanting to acknowledge what she is thinking, what is written all over her face.

No.

You’ve spoken to Avril?

Yes, I’ve just seen her in the lounge.

Her mittened hands stroke the sheets. She can’t ask. Not again.

I’ll tell you what I told Avril, Laura: Yes, he’s strong enough. And no, we don’t know.

~

Avril is in the chair in the corner of the lounge, twisted round so her back is to the door, her long legs looped over the arm. Sleeping, Laura thinks. Good. She needs it.

But when she tiptoes in to the lounge, Avril’s head jerks up and she swings her legs round. Meggie’s first notebook is open in her lap.

Ohmygod, Laura, isn’t this amazing!

~

Two mugs of instant coffee. Two jam doughnuts from the coffee shop. Late dinner.

Eat, Laura urges. Please. Not that it’s healthy. I’m not even sure it’s food.

Avril pushes back the fringe from her eyes and bites into the doughnut. She examines the centre. Did you actually get any jam in yours?