‘Yuk!’ Gus looked around again. They were all looking queasy and red in the face. Grown-ups could tell such silly stories. ‘Shall I show you my picture? See… that’s you and you… and I’ve put a rainbow bridge in the sky like my banner but there isn’t one here at the moment. I shall paint it when I get home to remember. Is there any more cake? I’m starving. Do I have to go back to hospital?’

His parents were ferreting in the bottom of the basket for a box that was hidden under Father’s serviette. He coughed like the Minister before the Sermon. ‘It’s handy us all being together on the occasion of wee Gus’s coming home. We wanted to thank you, Netta, for all you’ve done these past weeks. I hope we can all find a way to make things work for the young chap but we wanted you to have something, just a wee tochar to help you along.’ He was handing her an old blue box and she opened it and started snivelling. Inside was a necklace, the one in the story with stones on a gold chain.

‘That’s the rainbow necklace,’ Gus said promptly. ‘You like rainbows.’

‘Aye, it belonged to Granny Jean and Peg but I… we want you to have it now.’ Pa looked awful embarrassed as if he was afraid she’d hug him. Auntie Netta looked pleased and dangled it in the sunlight.

‘Thank you, you know how much this means to me.’

What was the matter with grown-ups? Why did they bite their lips and sniff when they really wanted to blubber and greet? What a strange picnic this was turning out to be and no one was answering his question, thought Gus, as he turned to finish off his drawing. He was tired and not sure if he wanted two mammies to fuss over him. But he didn’t want the nurse hurting him in hospital again.

*

The sun blazed down on the party, the flies buzzed over the crumbs. They retreated into a companionable silence. Father was lazing on the rocks with a pair of binoculars, pointing out the sea birds to Gus. Peg snoozed over her knitting and Netta just stared out to Ardwall in a daydream. Something momentous had shifted that afternoon. Their honest exchanges, however hesitant, had been made. Gus knew the score now. It wouldn’t change anything much. She would always be just his Auntie Netta.