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FIA ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• "You're a spitting image of your ma, so you are."
Fia whipped her head around from where she sat at the kitchen counter. Her Uncle Sean was standing at the opposite end with a Polaroid camera. "Smile."
"Uncle Sean, do I really look like her that much? I mean- I don't see it."
Sean chucked as the camera spit out a blank photo. "I'll show you when I get the photo album out- of photos of your ma when she was 18 like you. You guys have the same smile and the little bits of freckles on your nose."
Fia smiled sadly, remembering how when her mom laughed, the freckles danced across her nose. How she missed her Ma and Da. She hoped her children saw that smile on her when she was older. She wanted them to notice the small things, like the freckles dancing across the nose.
It was a hot July Friday, and she has spent her morning painting at the kitchen counter. Erin and Michelle were both at work, Clare of course was in Strabane (but she visited every weekend), and Orla has step aerobics class.
James however, was returning that evening from a trip to visit Cathy in Scotland. Cathy had been living there, and she wanted her son to come see her home. Fia missed him dearly for the four weeks he was gone, but she was jumping for joy at the reunion she would have later when he's home from the airport.
"You must be excited to see your lad, aye?" Sean asked, waving the photo, trying to make it develop faster.
"I've missed him so much." She smiled sadly. They'd been dating for 2 years, and Fia would never have imagined she would have such a strong bond with someone. This man was her rock, and without him, she didn't know what she'd do.
For someone with PTSD, four weeks felt like forever to be away from her comfort person. She'd, of course, call him in the morning and in the evening before bed, but the feeling of physical closeness was something she craved. She loved him so dearly.
"Uncle Sean, I'm still okay to sleep over at the Mallons tonight, right?"
Just then, Ella came off the phone with her friend and into the kitchen.
"Of course, sunshine. And he's gonna come here tomorrow night? Oh, I'm so excited to see our little English fella. I've missed him around here!"
Fia chuckled. She loved that her Aunt and Uncle loved James almost as much as she did. They saw that he was good for her.
"I can't wait. I'm gonna clean up this paint, and then bake his favourite cake to bring to their house. Then, all I have to do is wait for Deirdre to call the house and let me know I can come over."
Ella smiled at her niece. "Did you pack an overnight bag?"
Fia shook her head. "No need. I have enough clothes there. Oh- also, can I quickly run to the store? I need more flour. The girls are coming to Michelle's for dinner also, so I need to make an extra large cake. Knowing Orla, she'll pound the whole thing back."
