«Thanks, Dad… goodbye.»
He pushed the garden gate, and it swung open without a soundthe hinges had been oiled recently.
«Good old Bert,» he muttered. Of course, itd be his neighbour looking out for the place.
Walking across the yard, he dropped his backpack by the porch, took another slow lap around, then touched the old bronze lock on the door.
The key Bert had one, but he couldnt be bothered to fetch it now. He was too tired. Then he rememberedfelt around above the doorframe, and there it was, dangling on a frayed black string.
The key clicked in smoothly, and the door creaked open. Stepping inside, the thin embroidered curtains fluttered in the breeze. *Lizzie stitched those*, he thought, smiling faintly. He moved through the house without turning on the lights.
It still smelled like home. God, how hed missed that. His eyes stung, and his heart hammered hard enough to hurt. *Blimey, not now.* He patted his pocketsbloody tablets were in the backpack.
Back outside, he grabbed it, popped a pill under his tongue. The drumming in his chest eased, the ringing in his ears softened. Just a dull throb in his temples now. Fine.
He sat by the window, perfectly still, perfectly content. Home.
«Whos there?» A voice called from the open door.
«Me, Bill.»
«Tom? That you?»
«Yeah.»
«Whereve you been? Your Sarah came by with some folkssaid you were in hospital, no idea whats next.»
«Theyll be waiting a while,» he chuckled. «What folks?»
«Dunno, some city types. Sarah was showing em round. Reckon theyre buyers.»
«Right. Well, never mind. The wifes got supper onfancy joining us?»
«Nah, thanks, Bill. Cheers for keeping an eye on the place.»
«Dont be daft. Come on, just a quick one?»
«Im good. Im home.»
«Suit yourself.»
As if hed leave. *This is my house.*
He sat by the window till dawn, watching the sun rise. Stretched, wandered outside, checked the shed, the woodshed, the garden. All tidy.
Around noon, an engine rumbled. A car pulled up. Who now? Sarah in a new motor?
Laughing, loud, they unloaded bags and boxes. Who were they? *Sarah?* How? Behind his back, shed sold the house?
«Scuse me, whatre you doing here?»
«We live here now,» a little boy piped up, head tilted. The others ignored him, hauling things inside.
«Live here? Who said you could?»
«We bought it,» the boy said.
«Bought it? From who?» He slammed the door in their facesbut they pushed back, complaining about the draft. *What draft? The windows are shut.*
«Ill call the police!» he snapped, but they shoved paststrong, young.
«These hinges need oiling,» one muttered.
*Sarah, Sarah couldnt wait, could you?*
«Grandad, will you live with us now?» the boy asked.
«Live with? No! And neither will you!» He snatched up old photo albums, clutching them tight.
«Need to call the old ownerAndy, shut the door, the drafts messing things up!»
«Mum, is this grandad staying with us?» The boy pointed at his portrait.
«Enough, Mikey. Sit down. Lets pack this stuff for the old owners.»
«*Old owners?* I *own* this!» He barricaded himself in the bedroom.
«Grandad, have a sweet.»
«Ta, lad. Why wont they listen?»
«Dunno. They dont listen to me either.»
They rang someoneSarah? Good. Shed explain, make this right.
He grabbed a drawingSarahs childhood sketch for Armed Forces Day. And now? Shed sold his home. *Their* home. His, Marys, and hers.
She arrived. He rushed to her. «Sarah, love» She brushed past, just like her mum used to. «Sarah! Im *here*!»
«She cant hear you,» Mikey said. «None of them can.»
«What? *You* can.»
«Yeah. They just tell me Im making things up.»
«Ask herask if she sees me!»
Mikey ran to her. «Sarah, do you see this grandad?»
«What grandad?»
«Mum, hes asking about the time you flew on a plane, saw clouds from underneath?»
Sarah froze.
«And when you hid from geese? Sat under the apple tree waiting for one to fall? Or year six, when you fancied Will and kept whacking himtill his mum came round, and Grandad recognised his first crush?»
«*Dad?*» Her voice cracked. «Where is he?»
«Here,» Mikey said. «He loves you. Hell always be near.»
The room fell silent. The family stared, wiping tears.
«A miracle»
Sarah sat on the bench with Mikey, whispering.
«Love,» the boy said softly, «Ive got to go.»
«Dad»
«Dont cry. Im still close.»
«Hes gone,» Mikey said. «But he said your Ellies having a boy.»
«What? The scan said *girl*!»
Her phone rang.
«*What? A boy?* But we picked a girls name»
She looked up at the sky.
«Thanks, Dad and goodbye. The wind stirred the curtains one last time, carrying the scent of rain and earth.
Sarah smiled through her tears, hand resting on her belly.
Mikey waved at the empty window, certain he saw a hand wave back.
Then the sun broke through the clouds, warm on the porch where the old man once sat.
