And then she turns to me with her hand extended
Her palm is split with a flower with a flame
And she says "I've come to set a twisted thing straight."
And she says "l've come to lighten this dark heart."
And she takes my wrist, I feel her imprint of fear
And I say "I've never thought of finding you here."
Mary had her first child that year - a little girl she called Rachel, after her mother. Rachel Marlene.
“Not gonna lie,” she told Remus over the phone, “I’m praying she’s a squib. Can’t be doing with all that nonsense.”
She invited him to the Christening, and he went out of obligation. It had been decades since he’d set foot in a church, and this was a huge catholic one in Croydon. Grant didn’t come, said he was too scared he’d burst into flames when he crossed the threshold.
“That’s ridiculous,” Remus sighed, tired and humourless, “Mary is literally a witch. If she’s safe in a church...”
“My grandad was a bible-basher,” Grant shuddered, “They can all do one , far as I’m concerned.”
Grant was rarely so stubborn, so Remus went alone, and tried not to think about funerals.
After the ceremony, there was a bit of a party in the hall next door, and Mary showed off the baby. She was gorgeous; chubby with huge brown eyes and huge brown curls and a gummy smile sure to be as dazzling as her mothers’ one day. Remus waved at the giggling cherub nervously, and patted her soft baby hand.
“I’m completely obsessed with her.” Mary gushed, holding her up, “Want to hold her?” Mary grinned, then laughed that girlish cackle which took him back years, “I’m teasing , Remus darling. Here, I’ll give her to Darren’s mum for a bit, let’s you and me have a catch up…”
They sat on red plastic chairs in a quiet corner of the church hall, clutching paper cups of watered down orange squash. It was a small space, filled with the noise of family celebration, and children playing. Mary’s family was huge, and as brash and loveable as she was. Remus felt very out of place, but what else was new.
“You’re not getting married, then?” Remus asked, “You and Darren?”
“Shh, Mum’ll hear you,” Mary giggled, “She’s furious, of course, she’s pretending we had a small ceremony in Jamaica before Rachel was conceived. Nah, I don’t fancy it - and we’ve barely got the time what with the garage and the new house…”
Remus nodded along, smiling. It felt so good to be sitting next to Mary again; to have her chattering away, full of energy and joy.
“How about you, still up Soho?” Mary asked, giving him an appraising look. He’d come dressed in a suit he had bought the day before from a charity shop. It was ok; a bit seventies, and too big on him, but that was the style these days anyway.
“Yeah.” He nodded, “Don’t think I’ll ever move, to be honest, the flat’s paid for.”
“Got a boyfriend?”
“Mm, sort of…”
“I know you have, why are you being so mysterious? Is he a muggle?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, I wish you’d come and see me more often, Remus. I worry about you.”
He smiled at her, “You’re such a mum.”
