The Forever Gift

by Brooke Harris

  I sigh. ‘It’s only teachers and parents in the hall.’

  ‘It is,’ Aiden backs me up. ‘My mam’s in there. She’s looking for you actually, Heather. She said something about muffins melting next to a radiator.’

  ‘Look,’ Jack says, ‘I’ll stay with Kayla if you’re worried. You go on in and sort the muffin crisis.’

  Mam shakes her head. ‘No. Thank you, Jack. But—’

  ‘Right,’ Dad says, standing up and placing his hand on Mam’s shoulder. ‘Maybe we should give Kay a little space. I’m sure she’d like to spend some time with Aiden without us crowding her. And if Jack’s with them it will be fine.’

  Mam shakes her head again, but she doesn’t bother with words this time.

  ‘And after all your work last night you don’t want your muffins destroyed now,’ Dad says. ‘Molly loves the three-legged race, so we’ll be just over there.’ Dad points nearby where some of the junior classes are partnered up and tying their ankles together with mouldy, coloured neck ties like the ones the vice principal always wears.

  ‘Okay. Yeah. Okay,’ Mam says, sounding super unsure, like she’ll change her mind any second. ‘Thanks, Jack.’

  ‘Right, C’mon, Molly,’ Dad says, taking Molly’s hand. ‘Let play a game of guess who will fall over first.’

  Molly giggles with excitement as Dad, Molly and Charlotte walk away.

  Mam walks away too, ridiculously slowly, twisting her head over her shoulder to say, ‘Have fun. And put your coat on before you get sick.’

  ‘Bit late for that,’ someone says and there’s a lot of laughing and joking.

  ‘You got something to say there, Roisin?’ Aiden snaps, marching over to where Roisin Kelly and some of her horrible friends stand in the doorway of the science building trying not to get caught smoking by the teachers. I really wished I’d noticed them there sooner. I hate that they were in earshot of our conversation. No doubt having a good laugh at my expense.

  ‘Oh, piss off back to the cripple,’ Roisin says and all her friends laugh as if she’s hilarious.

  Aiden sees red and charges towards her.

  ‘Leave it, Aiden. She’s not worth it,’ I shout, worried he’ll get in trouble if any of the teachers see him.

  There’s more laughing and pointing and I hope my face isn’t going bright red because I feel as if my cheeks are on fire. Maybe I should have gone into the hall with Mam after all.

  ‘Disease is a funny thing,’ Jack says, suddenly standing where Aiden was two seconds ago. I didn’t notice them switch places. ‘You never know when or if you’ll be affected.’

  ‘I wasn’t trying to slag her,’ Roisin says, and her face goes as red as mine feels.

  ‘Yes you were,’ Jack says. ‘But that’s okay. You can’t help being an asshole any more than Kayla can help being unwell. Goodbye.’

  ‘Oh burn,’ one of Roisin’s friends says before they erupt in laughter.

  ‘Is she always like that?’ Jack asks coming back.

  ‘Yup,’ Aiden and I say together.

  ‘Wow. Her parents must be proud,’ Jack says. ‘Some kids, eh?’

  Aiden and I don’t reply. There isn’t really anything to say. Roisin Kelly is the type of person who puts chewing gum in your hair when you’re healthy and teases you about being in a wheelchair when you’re not. I guess she’s the one who’s really sick.

  ‘Right.’ Jack smiles, rubbing his hands together. ‘Who’s up for a game of basketball.’

  ‘Really?’ I smile. ‘Can we?’

  ‘Sure,’ Jack says. ‘I don’t see why not. I mean, if you think you can make the shot from your chair, then bring it on.’

  ‘I can.’ I smile, confident and excited.

  ‘I should warn you, I’ve improved a bit over the years,’ Jack says.

  ‘Yeah but you’re old now,’ Aiden giggles. ‘And Kayla is still the captain of our team.’

  Aiden’s words fill my tummy with butterflies. ‘They didn’t replace me?’

  ‘What?’ Aiden says. ‘No. Of course not, you wally. Someone stands in for you when we’ve a game on. But you’re the captain, Kayla. Everyone knows that. And no one ever wants that to change.’

  Forty-Eight

  Charlotte

  Molly is in her element as the older kids fuss over her.

  ‘Oh, she’s so cute,’ a tall girl says, noticing us standing on the sideline of the three-legged race. Gavin has gone to find somewhere quiet to take a work call, so it’s just me and Molly and I must admit I feel a little self-conscious because we don’t really belong here.

  ‘That’s Kayla Prendergast Doran’s little sister,’ another much shorter girl adds.

  They both seem about Kayla’s age.

  ‘Do you want to race?’ they ask together, and Molly nods and smiles and takes their hand.

  ‘Is that okay?’ one of the girls asks me.

  ‘Sure,’ I say, ‘I’ll be right here watching.’

  ‘What’s your name?’ one of the girls asks, bending to come down to Molly’s level.

  ‘I’m Molly.’

  ‘We’re Kayla’s friends, by the way,’ I hear them tell Molly as they walk towards the starting line and a woman I assume is a teacher hands Molly a silver dessert spoon and a potato.

  Kids take their spots at the line. Some are very tall and seem very grown-up. Molly seems to get lost among them. I become quite worried that they’ll knock Molly over in their enthusiasm to win. I move around to get a better view.

  ‘Three… two… one… go!’ the teacher shouts and they all take off running very slowly.

  Potatoes tumble to the ground and lanky teenagers pick them up and hurry back to the starting line to begin again. Kayla’s friends are on either side of Molly, shielding her, and Molly’s potato is wobbling but not falling and she’s pulling ahead as more overzealous racers lose their spuds and have to start over.

  ‘Yes, Molly. That’s it. Good girl. Good girl,’ I shout as Molly approaches the finish line way ahead. ‘Woohoo. Woohoo!’ I cheer when she comes first.

  Molly passes her spoon and potato back to the teacher and runs over to me with her hands above her head and a huge smile on her face. ‘I won. I won. I won.’

  ‘Yes. You did. Well done, champ.’

  ‘Do I get a prize?’

  I’m about to explain to Molly that the satisfaction of winning should be a prize enough when the two girls come running over.

  ‘Don’t forget your medal,’ they say.

  Molly jumps up and down on the spot with excitement. ‘I do get a prize,’ she says.

  One of the girls slides a plastic medal from the euro shop with bright pink-and-yellow ribbon around Molly’s neck.

  ‘Thank you,’ I say.

  ‘You’re Charlotte, right?’ the taller of the two girls asks.

  ‘Um, yes,’ I say, wondering if Molly told them my name.

  ‘You’re Kayla’s stepmam, right?’

  I wince, not sure what to say. Kayla never refers to me as her stepmother and Gavin doesn’t either. And I imagine Heather would rather stick pins in her eyes than use the term. But I guess as Gavin’s wife that’s what I am. And acknowledging that these two friendly kids see me that way fills me with joy.

  ‘Yeah. Yes I am,’ I say, owning the title, proudly.

  ‘I’m Sarah. And this is Amy,’ the taller girl says, pointing to herself first and then her friend. ‘We saw your Help Fund Me page.’

  ‘Oh,’ I say, wondering if all the kids have been talking about it. Wondering if the teachers know. Suddenly I’m very aware that Heather is in the hall packed with gossiping parents and teachers.

  ‘Did you know they were talking about it on the radio this morning?’ Sarah asks.

  I shake my head unsure what to think or feel.

  ‘She lives in Dublin,’ Amy says, pointing at me. ‘You don’t get Radio Cork up there, do you?’

  ‘No,’ I say, glad that Heather won’t have heard anything.

  Sarah nods.
‘Ah, right, yeah that makes sense. Well, anyway, the DJs were talking about it on the breakfast show this morning. Saying how Kayla is a local girl and all. They were saying how awesome an idea it is and then loads of people were phoning in saying there were going to donate.’

  ‘Really? People are donating?’ I ask.

  ‘Yeah. Like tonnes of people,’ Sarah says, practically bouncing on the spot, the way Molly does when she is excited. ‘There’s a hashtag on Twitter too. #HelpKaylasCakes.’

  ‘It’s just #KaylasCakes, silly,’ Amy corrects.

  ‘Okay, whatever. It’s something like that and people are really into it. I think it’s so cool. You’ve done such an amazing thing. Kayla must be so excited.’

  ‘And her mam must be super happy too,’ Amy adds, a little more calmly than her friend. ‘Like a bakery is awesome. And I’ve known Heather since I was little. She makes the best cakes. It will be so cool when she has her own shop. I’m going to go there all the time.’

  ‘It’s totally going viral,’ Sarah says. ‘Kayla is, like, famous.’

  I pull my phone out of my pocket and log into the app. ‘Oh my God. Oh my God,’ I say as I see the hundreds of donations that have come in since this morning.

  ‘See. Told ya,’ Sarah says. ‘And it’s going up all the time.’

  ‘This is incredible,’ I say, barely able to believe my eyes. ‘People are so generous. Kayla won’t believe this.’

  ‘She’s on the basketball court with Aiden and that hot old guy,’ Amy says. ‘If you want to go tell her.’

  I’m the same age as Jack. I try not to take offence that Kayla’s friends think anyone in their mid-thirties is obviously ancient.

  ‘Can we come with you to tell her?’ Amy asks, beginning to become as excitable as her friend.

  I really wish they hadn’t asked. I’m not sure what Kayla will say when she discovers her story is all over the internet and radio, but they’ve been so lovely I can’t ask them to leave now.

  ‘Sure,’ I smile. ‘I’m sure Kayla would love to catch up with you both.’

  Forty-Nine

  Heather

  I’m in the school hall nattering to teachers I’ve never spoken to before and parents I barely know as I finish up taking brownies out of the large Tupperware box I borrowed from Charlotte and display them on paper plates on the tables. The school has gone to a lot of trouble. There are floral and lacy table cloths. They’re horribly mismatched and a bit gaudy but they’re a vast improvement on the bare desks that are doubling up as display tables. There are balloons and banners, and there is music playing. Colourful art is splashed all over the walls, along with pictures of runners, trophies and medals, scattered across the brickwork like a rainbow collage.

  ‘There you are,’ Miss Hanlon says, startling me as she appears suddenly behind me. She laughs. ‘Oops. Did I give you a fright?’

  I blush.

  ‘Is Kayla here, too?’ she asks, craning her neck to look all around.

  ‘Yes, somewhere,’ I say. ‘Still outside, I think.’

  ‘Oh right.’ Miss Hanlon sounds surprised and my concern that Kayla playing outside is a bad idea is compounded.

  ‘No doubt she’s found her way to the basketball court if I know Kayla,’ Miss Hanlon adds. ‘We’re hoping to get the awards ceremony started in the next few minutes so will I go out and call her?’

  ‘The awards…’ I say blankly.

  ‘We have something very special for you both. And the hall can get pretty uncomfortably packed when all the parents and kids start coming in. It would be good to get Kayla in first, and seated so she’s comfortable.’

  Oh God, I think, instantly uncomfortable. I wasn’t expecting any fuss. This is all a bit awkward. I hope they haven’t bought some sort of a gift. Especially not if they’ve taken the money from the parents-association fund. I’ll never hear the end of it from the bitchy yummy mummies who moan about absolutely everything and never actually help with the fundraising.

  ‘Gosh, these look lovely,’ a women says, crossing the hall to point at my brownies. ‘I didn’t know we were supposed to bake. I’d have made my favourite red-velvet queen cake.’

  ‘No need, Mrs Kelly,’ Miss Hanlon says. ‘Heather has taken care of all our baking needs today. Thank you.’

  ‘Well, I must say they look delicious.’

  ‘Thank you,’ I say, doubting it’s a real compliment by the snotty tone of her voice.

  ‘May I have one, please?’ She picks up a brownie before waiting for an answer.

  ‘Certainly,’ Miss Hanlon says. ‘The brownies are two euros each.’

  ‘You have to buy them?’

  ‘Well, yes.’ Miss Hanlon tilts her head to one side and eyes the woman with disgust. ‘That’s the whole idea of a fundraiser.’

  ‘But the kids already brought in two euros this morning for the fundraiser,’ she says.

  ‘That was two euros to wear no uniform.’

  ‘So the children are expected to pay again for something to eat.’

  ‘They don’t have to. Just if they want to – all the cakes and treats are priced at two euros each. And like I said, Mrs Kelly, it really is all for a very good cause.’

  ‘This school gets more expensive by the day. My God.’ She places the brownie that she’s held disgustingly close to her lips back on the plate and walks away.

  Miss Hanlon rolls her eyes. ‘I’m sorry,’ she says. ‘There’s always one, isn’t there?’

  ‘I didn’t know we’d be selling the buns,’ I say, picking up the brownie the rude woman breathed all over and tossing it into the bin next to my ankles.

  ‘Didn’t you?’ Miss Hanlon asks.

  I make a face. ‘I don’t mind. I mean, actually, I think it’s a great idea. It’s just I didn’t realise. If I’d known the school were trying to raise funds I’d have baked more.’

  ‘What you have here is fantastic. You’ve so much on your plate, Heather. I don’t know how you found the time to make all these. And they smell amazing. My mouth is watering.’

  ‘Would you like one?’ I ask.

  Miss Hanlon shoves her hand into her pocket. ‘I’ve no change, I’m afraid. And my wallet is in the staff room.’

  ‘I won’t tell if you don’t.’

  ‘I think my guilty face would give me away. I’ll get one later when I have some money. But thank you, Heather.’

  ‘Hey, Mam,’ Kayla’s voice carries through the air to tap me on the shoulder. ‘I scored six baskets. Jack could only manage five and he was on his feet and jumping.’

  ‘You played?’ I say, as Jack and Kayla come into view. Kayla looks exhausted and I instantly worry but I try to hide it. Jack is flushed but smiling and Aiden has beads of perspiration dotted around his hairline and his face is redder than Kayla’s hoodie. ‘Good game?’ I say, changing tack, trying to sound breezy.

  ‘The best. Even though Jack used to play in college he’s pretty rusty now.’

  ‘Hey,’ Jack says, trying to sound offended but his wide grin and kind eyes contradict him.

  Miss Hanlon places her hand on my shoulder. ‘Heather, would it be okay to get you guys to take your seats now? I’ve reserved the row up front for your family. I’m short a seat for your partner though but I’ll get one of the students to grab another. It’ll just be a moment.’

  I blush and drop my eyes to the ground. I can feel Jack looking at me and I wonder what he makes of Miss Hanlon assumption that we’re a couple. I don’t correct her and neither does he and I wonder if that’s just because it would be awkward or because we are both rather enjoying her error.

  ‘This way, this way,’ she says, ushering us towards the front row and she catches the attention of a passing senior student and asks them to fetch another chair.

  ‘Where are Dad, Molly and Charlotte?’ Kayla asks.

  ‘Here. We’re here,’ Gavin says, suddenly behind us.

  The hall begins to become very noisy as it fills with people taking up seats behind us. Kay
la stays in her wheelchair and Jack expertly tucks it in at the end of the row so she simply looks like she’s sitting beside us all. I take the seat next to Kayla and Jack sits next to me, which feels both awkward and lovely and I hope my feelings aren’t written all over my face.

  Gavin is next to Jack with Molly on his knee. She’s stroking a very shiny plastic medal and she’s showing it to everyone nearby.

  Charlotte is missing and it takes me a minute to realise that she’s crouched on her hunkers on the far side of Kayla’s chair. They’re whispering and giggling and there’s lots of hand movements and excitement. I wonder what on earth they’re talking about. I haven’t seen Kayla look this happy in weeks. Aiden joins their conversation and two girls from Kayla’s class are bending down to show Kayla something on their phones. And they’re nodding emphatically as they point at their screens.

  My niggling curiosity about their conversation switches into concern quite quickly as Kayla soon appears to be overwhelmed and becomes emotional. The noise in the hall is horrendous as the large crowd filing in behind us natter.

  ‘Jack, Jack,’ I whisper, tapping him gently on the arm.

  ‘Hmm,’ he says, turning to face me.

  ‘Is Kayla okay? Do you think she’s okay?’

  Jack leans around me to get a better view of Kayla and the small group surrounding her. He turns back smiling. ‘She looks good. Happy. Today has been good for her, hasn’t it?’

  ‘Yeah,’ I say, unsure. Something is definitely going on and I hope she’s as okay as she’s pretending to be.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today’s extra special Sports Day,’ a voice carries over the speakers and a hush falls over the hall as the principal takes to the stage.

  Fifty

  Kayla

  Miss Hanlon is staring at me and smiling. I haven’t seen her this excited since we got new hoops and nets in the gym last year.

  Mrs Maloney, the principal, is waffling into the microphone about the extension the school is building next year. ‘And the planning application has just gone in to the council,’ she says. Everyone claps as if it’s fantastic news. I guess it is. ‘If all goes to plan we hope to have a new, bigger sports hall and five new classrooms built in the next two years.’