I sat down across from Susan and did my best not to think about Natty in the shower. “So, you’re Will and Natty’s cousin? Button John’s... sister?”
“That’s me.” She poured hot water into the mugs, and dropped the teabags in. She set mine down in front of me, and Susan’s in front of her. Susan’s, I noticed, had been half-filled from the tap instead of the kettle. Then she took the last two mugs from the kitchen bench and set them down too. She took her seat, and I tried to look at her instead of staring at the empty spot that was waiting for Natty.
“Thanks,” I said, and took a sip of tea.
“Red Joe says we’re getting a doctor,” Addy said out of nowhere, eyeing me like she was waiting for my reaction.
“Oh. Well, that’s good, isn’t it?” I wasn’t sure. Who the hell knew how the islanders felt about doctors? Maybe a doctor had poked an islander in the eye two hundred years ago and they were all still holding a grudge.
Addy hummed thoughtfully. “It’s good,” she agreed. “We’ve got more use for one of them than a copper.”
“Statistically, I hope that’s true,” I said, “because you should go to the doctor regularly, whereas most people only call the coppers when something goes wrong. But there’s other stuff we do too.”
“Like what?”
“Like blue light discos.” It was all I could think of on the spot.
She snorted. “For all the teenagers running around the place?”
“Well, not now,” I said. “But in the holidays when they’re back from boarding school. I could get some funding, put something on.”
“You do that,” she said. She lifted her cup, and her eyes danced above the rim as she took a sip. “Let me know if anyone turns up.”
“Oh, they’ll turn up,” I said. “Out of morbid curiosity if nothing else.”
Addy laughed, and I decided that we liked each other. There was a fine line between being antagonistic and taking the piss, and I was pretty sure Addy was taking the piss. She was still laughing when Natty appeared in the doorway, looking flustered and anxious as his gaze darted between me and his cousin and his mother. He looked panicked, like he was wondering if I’d opened this whole conversation with, “Hey, Susan, did I ever tell you I know what your son’s dick tastes like?”
“Hi,” I said. “I just came by to see how your mum was doing today.”
Natty swallowed. “Oh.” He sidled into the kitchen and sat down at the table. “She’s good, aren’t you, Mum?”
Susan smiled at him, and it was like watching the sun come out on a cloudy day. And then, before Natty could even bask in it for a moment, it was gone again, leaving no trace behind. The loss of it lingered in Natty’s eyes though.
“What’ve you got planned for the day, Natty?” Addy asked in a conversational tone that suggested it was second nature for everyone under this roof to pivot away from painful moments. “If Button John asks you to help him work on Dad’s old generator, say no.”
“I will.” His eyes widened. “He won’t try to work on it himself, will he?”
“Dad already gave it to Old Peter Corporal,” Addy said. “But Button John doesn’t know that yet.”
Natty nodded. “That’s smart.” He traced his finger around the rim of his mug. “I’m helping Katrina Finch out. She’s over at Yellow Sarah’s because Yellow Sarah’s kids are sick, so she asked if I can pack the eggs for her this morning and Robbie can deliver them in the afternoon when he’s back from the milk run.”
“Robbie’s an odd one,” Addy said.
“He’s not odd,” Natty said. “He’s just quiet.”
I didn’t know enough about Robbie to agree or not, but I was glad to see Natty sticking up for him. If it wasn’t for Robbie, I’d be living a milkless existence.
Addy chattered on about a few more of the island’s residents while I drank my tea, Susan stared into space, and Natty looked in every direction except mine. Then Addy abruptly decided we were finished by standing up and swiping our mugs back before they were empty.
“Go on, then,” she said to Natty. “Daylight’s wasting.”
“You’ll be okay?” Natty asked, gaze darting to Susan.
“I brought a bunch of quilting squares,” Addy said. “Mum’s been at me for ages to do something with them, so me and Aunt Susan are going to work on them today.” Her expression softened. “We’ll be fine, Natty. I won’t let her out of my sight, I promise.”
She all but chased Natty out of the house, and I followed until we were both standing outside in the sunlight, and Addy was firmly shutting the door behind us.
“So, you’re working at the Finches’ farm today?”
