Kiki sits at her usual place.
They both stare at their bowls. Their faces expressionless.
Then Rach picks up a chopstick, gripping it like a screwdriver, and stabs ineffectively at a cube of salmon. Trying to skewer it. ‘This is so kind of you, Jadey,’ she repeats faintly.
Kiki still hasn’t touched her meal and is eyeing it suspiciously. ‘Is thatrawsalmon?’ she asks.
‘Yes. But it’s been marinated in lemon, soy sauce, sesame oil, and mayo. Try it. I think you’ll like it,’ I say encouragingly. ‘It’s called a poke bowl, from Hawaii. I ... er ... found the recipe in a magazine and thought it looked interesting.’
Kiki’s eyebrows shoot into her crimped fringe. ‘Hawaii! Wow, exotic!’ She picks up her chopsticks and copies Rach, who is nowgripping them in both hands and attempting to lever up a cube of avocado to her mouth but keeps dropping it.
I fight the urge to laugh at how ridiculous and cute they both look because that would be mean. They’ve obviously never used chopsticks before and are wondering what on earth I’ve served them but are giving it a go for politeness’ sake.
Without saying anything, I demonstrate gripping the chopsticks and show them how to scoop up the rice and veggies. I’ve never been to Japan, but I order a lot of Deliveroo donburi.
‘Gosh, Jadey,’ says Kiki, looking impressed. She watches me for a bit and then says, ‘Ah, OK.’ She attempts to manoeuvre her chopsticks like I do, and she doesn’t do too badly. Poor Rach is still having difficulties, so I go and get her a fork so she doesn’t starve.
When they’re almost done eating, I pull the envelope with the concert tickets out of my pocket and place it on the table. ‘Not sure what you guys are up to tomorrow night, but I’ve got free tickets to the Echo Ministry concert,’ I say casually.
Fuck it. I might as well have some fun. And when else am I going to get the chance to see my dad perform?
Rach’s brown eyes widen, and she gasps, a hand flying to her mouth. Kiki squeals and jumps up to hug me. She bounces around the kitchen like a kangaroo, singing, ‘I love you! I love you! I love you!’
I laugh. ‘So you want to go then?’
Kiki screeches, ‘Oh my god, yeeesss!’
Rach nods emphatically, then sobers. ‘Though I should really be at the hospital...’
Kiki stops bouncing and brushes a chunk of crimped blonde hair out of her eyes. ‘No way. You’re coming,’ she says firmly.
Rach looks grave. ‘But what if...’
‘It won’t. Not yet. And your mum would want you to have some fun. Besides, it’sEcho Ministry.’
I look at Rach, unsure if I should ask, but it seems uncaring not to. And I do care. ‘What’s going on?’
Rach stares at the remains of white rice in her bowl and doesn’t speak, so I turn to Kiki enquiringly. She slides back into her seat and puts an arm around Rach, who looks pale and drained.
‘Her mum has taken a turn for the worse,’ Kiki says quietly. ‘The doctors don’t think it will be long now. They thought they’d got it all, but this type of cancer is relentless.’
Tears spill down Rach’s cheeks.
My throat contracts. Fuck, poor Rach. This is awful. I wish I’d known sooner. I could have helped her more. Instead, I’ve been caught up in my own selfish problems.
Kiki rubs Rach’s arm briskly, and Rach takes a deep shuddering breath and pulls herself together. ‘Thanks,’ she says to Kiki. ‘I’m OK. It was just hard to hear that tonight. Mum is being so brave...’ She reaches into the pocket of her denim jacket. ‘And she gave me this before I left. It’s nice to have it, but it made me feel more emotional than usual. Like she’s saying goodbye.’
Rach places the object on the tablecloth, and it’s a Kodak photo of a brown-haired woman. She looks like an older version of Rach and even has the same ponytail. Behind her is a white house with shutters and a large blooming red rose bush.
I freeze, my mind not believing what my eyes are seeing. With a shaking hand, I pull the photo closer for a better look. But it’s the same one—the same photo that’s on the bookshelf at my parents’ house.This woman is my grandmother.I never met her. She died before I was born. Of cancer.
‘What’s your last name, Rach?’ I ask with a thumping heart.
Rach frowns in confusion. ‘You know my last name, Jadey.’
‘Humour me.’
She hitches a shoulder and glances at Kiki, then says, ‘Nichols.’