ENSHROUDING LIGHT

THE CHANGES

CHAPTER 4

THE CHANGES

Nevaeh's ability to be aware of her surroundings grew stronger each week. There was nothing she didn't take note of, no sideways glance she didn't catch. Studying Tom's behaviour dominated most of her time. Tom stopped smiling whenever Luke was near and if he went too close his body stiffened. One thing was clear, he was never his usual, happy self when he was around—which, thankfully, he seldom was of late.

Luke had lost his job but was still out of the maisonette all day. He was also out each night. He said he was looking for a job, but how any good impression could've been made she'd never know; he looked like fried shit. Luke's hours away from home left them little, if any, time to converse with one another. She wasn't sure if she even wanted to communicate with Luke. He was distant and withdrawn, and she shirked away from his nonchalant attitude toward Tom. Though she still wasn't willing to believe he was influenced by dark powers, there was a definite change.

'I don't want to go in.' Luke stopped at the bottom of the cobbled drive of her parent's white, thatched cottage, looking anxious. 'Your brother will be on my case about losing my job!'

She didn't want him to go in either. She looked him up and down and felt her cheeks flush. He may have gotten away with looking grungy in Manchester city centre, but not here in suburbia where the neighbours peeked through each curtain as they walked by with looks that wondered how such riffraff could dirty their pavements. Frank would likely say something about his personal hygiene or lack thereof. 'If you were that worried about what Frank would say then...'

'Don't start!' He stomped up the drive, his boots crunching the cobbles.

She didn't retaliate. She'd been warned many times by Luke not to interfere with his job-hunting techniques.

As she pushed the pram inside, the smell of her mum's Sunday roast made her stomach rumble. Leaving the pram in the hallway, she carried Tom into the chintzy living-dining room. Her dad and Frank, who sat on the settee, shouting at the football match blaring from the television, smiled at her then grimaced at Luke.

Her niece, Francesca, was in a pink, padded baby bouncer on the floor. She put Tom in the blue one next to her and then pulled the padded support from behind him which he'd grown out of. Francesca still needed hers, even though she was two weeks older than him. She stood back. How was he already twice her size? While she gargled and looked around unfocused as if in some kind of dreamland, not knowing what day it was, he stared, wildly alert, with a great big smile; like he was hoping she'd chat to him.

As she fiddled with the straps, Alicia walked from the kitchen and stood next to the dinner table, one hand on her hip. 'Hello, Nevaeh.' She shot Tom a quick, sideways glance, assessing and dismissing him in an instance. 'I'm awfully sorry I haven't been to see you. I hope Frank has explained that I haven't been at all well?'

Nevaeh bit her teeth together and gave her a fake smile. Her false, upper-class accent was getting worse, she was sure of it. 'Yes.'

'Your mother and I are making tea. Would you like a cup?'

'Go on, then.'

'Earl Grey? Lemon...?'

She smiled harder. 'Just the everyday variety for me please, Alicia.'

'We can do some of that, I suppose.' Alicia flicked her long, glossy red hair before turning and walking back into the kitchen, failing to give Tom the slightest bit of attention.

'Give us my laddo.' Her dad stood, and unfastened the straps.

Tom gave him a huge, gummy smile as her dad picked him up.