The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes Read Online Free PDF Page A

– but how could she spend a few hours at a hairdresser’s when her youngest child needed her most?
    She didn’t notice Rita come in as she examined her hair and tried to work out whether or not a hat would be appropriate indoor wear.
    ‘I can have a hairdresser come to the room for you,’ Rita said, making Molly jump.
    ‘No, no, it’s fine.’
    ‘Nothing’s fine, Molly,’ Rita said.
    ‘No, it’s not.’
    ‘So I’ll arrange for a hairdresser to come to the room. It will be tomorrow, if that’s OK? She can do something for Rabbit too.’
    ‘Rabbit’s head is shaved. Her hair never grew back properly.’
    ‘She’ll give her a head massage.’
    ‘She might be too tired.’
    ‘We’ll see how she is tomorrow.’
    ‘OK, thanks,’ Molly said, and began to leave.
    ‘Molly,’ Rita said, and Molly turned back. ‘I’m here if you want to talk.’
    ‘I’ll keep that in mind.’ She left the room.
    Rabbit was still sleeping when she got back, but Davey and Grace were there.
    ‘Hiya, Ma,’ Davey said.
    ‘Hiya, son.’ She walked up to him and held him close, exhaling loudly as she rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Still can’t get used to the short hair.’
    ‘It’s been ten years, Ma.’
    ‘It seems like yesterday.’ She looked from him to Rabbit asleep in the bed. ‘She’ll be awake soon.’
    ‘Da’s coming in tomorrow.’ Grace said.
    Molly nodded. ‘He’s not able. He keeps crying in her face. If she told him to fuck off once yesterday, she told him to fuck off a hundred times.’
    Davey laughed a little. ‘Only in this family,’ he said.
    They sat down, Grace and Davey on the sofa, Molly in the recliner chair. ‘Did your da eat?’
    ‘He’s waiting for you,’ Grace said.
    ‘I’ll pick up a curry. Speaking of which, how’s Jeffrey?’
    ‘Starving.’
    ‘He reminds me of you, Grace. When you were five you used to eat dirt – I was worried you were simple for a while. Thank God it was just greed.’
    ‘Thanks, Ma, I feel so much better about things now,’ Grace said. ‘If you want I can make something for Da instead.’
    ‘I’m not sure he’ll have the stomach for anything,’ Davey said. ‘He looks shook, Ma.’
    ‘And the rest of us don’t?’ She stared at his tired pale face. ‘We’re all shadows, son. How could we not be?’ Her dark eyes filled but the tears dared not fall.
    Rabbit woke when Michelle was changing her Fentanyl patch. ‘There you are,’ she said, as Rabbit’s eyes slowly opened. ‘Your sister and brother are here.’
    Grace and Davey stood up and met her gaze with smiles painted on their faces. Davey even waved at her, like a contestant on a quiz show.
    ‘Jaysus, I’m so bad my siblings have turned into two big goons,’ Rabbit whispered.
    ‘At least I didn’t wave,’ Grace said.
    ‘Fuck off, Grace,’ Davey said, in as playful a tone as he could muster.
    ‘Welcome home, Davey,’ Rabbit said.
    ‘Don’t want to be here,’ he admitted.
    ‘You and me both.’
    ‘How’s your pain?’ Michelle asked.
    ‘A seven.’
    ‘The fresh patch should kick in soon. If it doesn’t, you call me.’ She looked at her watch. ‘I’ll be leaving in half an hour, but before I go I’ll introduce you to Jacinta. You’ll like her – she fancies herself as a singer, so, if you want a laugh, get her to sing “Delilah”.’
    ‘She’s that bad?’ Rabbit asked.
    ‘She makes that chicken-stuffer on
The X Factor
look like Justin Timberlake,’ Michelle said, ‘but she’s good at the day job and she’s a great old egg.’ She winked. ‘Jacinta’ll look after you. Now, how’s the bowels?’
    ‘Whistling “Dixie”.’
    ‘I’ll take that to mean they’re grand. I’ll leave you to it.’ Michelle walked out.
    ‘She’s nice,’ Rabbit said.
    ‘And pretty,’ Grace said. Davey’s eyes were following Michelle’s arse out of the door.
    ‘Slow down. You’re only here five minutes,’ Rabbit said.
    ‘Don’t be making enemies of Rabbit’s