The Last Charm. Ella Allbright

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      ‘Yes, please.’

      When Ray holds a match to them and they’re all lit, her dark eyes sparkle and her pale skin flushes with excitement as she leans forward to blow them out. Managing them all in one go, she grins.

      ‘What did you wish for?’ Henry asks as she sits down, and Ray starts cutting the cake into neat slices.

      Leila looks at her dad steadily for a moment, her grin fading. ‘A dog,’ she mutters at last.

      ‘Really?’

      ‘Really.’ But her eyes skitter away from his, like she’s lying.

      ‘This arrived last night.’ Ray produces an envelope from his back pocket.

      ‘Thanks.’ Grabbing it from his hands, she rips it open eagerly.

      Jake leans further forward, watching, holding his breath, wanting to hear. A car roars along the road, at risk of drowning out her reaction. Bugger off!

      ‘This is really cool,’ she says, holding up a small silver charm. ‘A tiny pencil! Mum must remember I like drawing. She remembered it’s my birthday!’ She beams, looking delighted. ‘There’s no note but that’s okay. Oh my God, I love it!’

      Oh. Jake wraps his arms around his raised knees, biting his lip.

      Ray opens his mouth to say something but subsides. Henry glances at him, and they exchange a look.

      Leila fastens the charm on the bracelet and grins at it, before jumping up and crossing to the apple tree on the other side of the garden. She traces a shape on the knotted bark with her finger. Jake knows there are intricate patterns carved into the tree, a series of waves, circles, and hearts. He once asked Ray what they were and who put them there, but the older man’s face set into concrete lines and he changed the subject. Jake suspects it was Leila’s mum who engraved the bark.

      Henry and Ray settle in the chairs with cups of tea in front of them, leaving the cake on its plate in the middle of the table as they chat. Jake’s stomach rumbles at the sight of it. Because he can hear and see everything, he feels somehow part of the scene. Almost there, but not quite touching. He knows that, even without a mother present, this is how a family should be. People who take care of each other and enjoy each other’s company.

      ‘We need to talk about that charm.’ Ray squints at Henry in the summer sunlight. ‘I’m not sure if—’

      ‘I know,’ Henry interrupts, glancing around, ‘but not right now.’

      ‘Soon,’ Ray says, and Henry nods. ‘So, what present did you get her this year?’

      Henry lets out a short laugh. ‘I didn’t. She just wanted money to spend on stuff herself. CDs, clothes, and lip gloss, I think,’ he sighs.

      ‘She’s growing up.’ Ray’s smile is wry. ‘I remember those days. Except with Amelia it was the early 80s, so it was stomach-baring white T-shirts with rolled up sleeves and low-slung jeans with big hair. She used to get through so many cans of hairspray. Anna and I called it the Madonna effect.’ He chuckles, before trailing off. Henry’s staring at him. ‘Sorry,’ Ray says, ‘I forgot who I was talking to.’

      ‘No, it’s okay.’ Henry clears his throat. ‘She was my wife. I would’ve liked to have known her back then. Perhaps if I’d understood her more, then what happened—’

      ‘You can’t blame yourself. My daughter is who she is, and I doubt anything you’d have said could have changed things. At the end of the day, she lived three doors down from me. You were out at work trying to earn a decent living and pay for the house, and your family. If she was struggling, she only had to come and knock on my door. I would have listened. Would have tried to help.’ He pauses, ‘It is a shame about the house though. I know how much you loved it.’

      ‘It’s just a building.’ Henry shifts in his seat, craning his head to watch his daughter. ‘My home is wherever Leila is.’

      Up on the roof, Jake’s hands curl into fists, and he blinks away the tears suddenly glazing his eyes. Leila’s so lucky.

      ‘It’d be nice if the house was being looked after though,’ Henry adds gruffly. ‘I spent lots of time on it.’

      Ray exhales, fiddling with a button on the sleeve of his brushed cotton shirt before looking at his son-in-law. ‘They’re not the type of family to take pride in their home.’

      ‘Really? Why’s that?’

      ‘They don’t really speak to anyone, and never come to the neighbourhood BBQs. The few times someone’s gone round to invite them, they’ve had the door slammed in their face.’ He grimaces, ‘You know I don’t like to speak ill of people, Henry, but their only saving grace is their son.’

      ‘The boy Leila spent that week with before we moved?’

      ‘Yes. Jake. He’s a lonely boy, but so bright and engaging. He struggles academically but whatever you tell him, he absorbs. He’s a thinker. If he can get out of that situation, he’ll do well.’ Pausing, he adds, ‘I don’t think everything is quite right in that house.’ Henry raises both eyebrows in question, but Ray shakes his head. ‘It’s not my place to say.’

      ‘Sounds like you’ve spent quite some time with Jake.’

      ‘He comes here sometimes to visit and helps me out with chores. We talk. He’s a good lad.’

      Jake’s face heats with embarrassment at hearing the truth of his family summed up so neatly, but at the same time, Ray’s words send a thrill through him. He thinks he’s bright and will do something with his life.

      ‘It’s been two years since Amelia left,’ Henry mutters, checking to see where Leila is before switching the topic. ‘Do you think she’ll ever come back? Leila still asks.’

      Ray looks uncomfortable, and it’s a strange expression on his face. Jake’s never seen him look anything but self-assured.

      ‘I don’t know,’ Ray answers Henry’s question after a long pause. ‘But I know she’s okay.’

      ‘How do you know that?’ Henry sits forward in the chair, the plastic groaning under his weight. ‘Have you spoken to her?’

      ‘She sent me a letter. I don’t where she is. There’s no postmark or forwarding address.’

      ‘You’ve had a letter from Mum?’

      They both jump in their seats.

      ‘Leila, I didn’t see you there,’ Ray exclaims.

      ‘Where is it? I want to see.’ She puts her hands on her hips, stepping closer to her grandfather. ‘What does it say?’

      ‘That’s probably not a good idea. I wouldn’t want you to get upset.’

      ‘I’ll be upset if I don’t see it. It’s my birthday. Please. I’m old enough. I just want to see it. I swear I won’t get upset.’

      Henry winces. ‘Is there anything СКАЧАТЬ