Ruth Writes

She narrows her eyes slightly before widening them dramatically, unblurring the rear lights of the car in front of her. She stops behind it, pulling up the handbrake abruptly, and reaches for her coffee from the cup holder beside her. She takes a large gulp, letting her eyes close briefly as she inhales the mixture of hot milk, coffee beans and a hint of gingerbread. She loves the expensive themed drinks that are only available at this time of year. The lights in front of her change colour and she quickly puts her cup back and takes off.

She’s nearly there and still simmering underneath the growing tiredness is a buzz of excitement. She feels like she’s been travelling all day. Her flight from London landed in Dublin at six. She grabbed a breakfast roll and a coffee and collected her rental car by eight. She drove straight to Cork, only stopping once for another coffee, which landed her on her brother’s doorstep a little after noon.

As she expected, he was not ready to go so she took a quick nap on his shared couch while he finished packing. He let her sleep for two hours and, after grabbing some chicken fillet rolls, they were back on the road to Dublin just after three. And now, finally, after the sky has turned itself off for the evening, they’re twenty minutes from home. Adam fell asleep hour one into their trip, but she didn’t mind. She switched on her Christmas playlist and let it tinkle quietly in the background as she drove and took in the gradual change from country to city sights.

Adam’s phone trills loudly, assaulting her ears and shocking him awake. Slightly disorientated he pats himself down until he locates his phone.

‘It’s Mam,’ he says, answering and putting it to his ear. She folds her lips together, trying not to breathe, and listens to the short conversation. Mam talks so loudly she can hear her tinny voice through the little speaker.

‘Hi Mam.’

‘Adam, have you been talking to your sister lately?’

‘I was texting her this morning, why?’

‘She’s not answering her phone.’

Her eyes widen. She hasn’t been on her phone since the airport this morning; it must still be on airplane mode. Adam stutters.

‘I’m sure she’s fine, Mam. She’ll call you back when she can.’

‘Yeah, I know. Would you just text her and make sure she’s okay? I know you’re grand about not coming home for Christmas, but I think it’s hitting her kind of hard. You know how much she loves Christmas.’

She clamps her hand over her mouth, trying not to scream with excitement. She can’t remember the last time she felt this ecstatic. Her whole body tingles with the anticipation. Adam shoves her shoulder.

‘I will, Mam. I’ve a late lecture, I’ll call you later.’

She doesn’t hear mam’s goodbye but when he hangs up, he looks at her, grinning.

‘She hasn’t a clue we’re coming,’ he laughs.