Secrets on Wetherby Close

The bin hadn’t been wheeled out. That was the first thing I noticed.

Then the curtains: drawn all day.

Nona usually waved from the kitchen. Jac normally appeared to mow the grass or clean the gutters. Paint or rake or trim or fix.

In the afternoon, I told Ian to keep an eye on the house. "Don't let them see you, though," I said.

I dug out a dish from the back of the cupboard, and went over there under the pretense of returning it.

Nona came to the door, and she didn't look like herself. She normally looked so put-together. No bold red lipstick today. Hair like a haystack, clothes thrown on. Like a mere mortal.

Like me. Before. Before Ian got his Upgrade.

She took the bowl from me, without inviting me in. Without questioning if it was even hers.

"Wait," I said. "Is everything ok? You look- Is everything ok?"

Nona took a deep breath. "Honestly, no," she said. "We've had a bit of a family emergency. Jac is minding the girls. I've got some things to sort out."

"Is there anything I can do?"

I meant it, too. I wasn't just being a nosy neighbour, or repeating a trite platitude.

A beat later she said, "Actually, yes. Could you get Sean round here for his Upgrade?"

"Are you sure? I thought he wasn't... I mean, his wife left, didn't she?"

That should have made him ineligible. What was going on?

"Yes, but... Could you just bring him round here for it? I've got everything ready."

+

I knocked on Sean's door and asked him if he'd like to pop round for drinks at Nona's. He looked quite as terrible as she had. Worse, actually. I could see him gearing up to refuse, ready to shut the door in my face.

"Please," I said. "It can't have been easy for you since... We just want to be there for you."

Something in him wilted. Sympathy can do that; can bring a strong person to his (or her) knees. He nodded.

"Eight ok?"

"Sure."

+

Ian took the message round to Nina, and helped her set everything up. I joined them at seven thirty, and we waited for the handsome man from Number Four.

He was late, which was hardly a surprise. It was gone half past eight by the time Sean showed up.

I handed him a doctored drink, and once it took effect, I told Ian to help Sean to the sofa. I turned to Nona.

"Do you need Ian to help?"

"I don't think so," she said. "Maybe have him wait in the kitchen, just in case?"

I didn't want to leave her to do this alone. I'd helped with all the Upgrades, ever since Ian.

She fetched the supplies herself, and got to work. Clipping away the hair behind his ear, applying the iodine and local anaesthetic. There was a robotic quality to her movements. I guess she's done it several times now, right?

She pulled a Ziploc back from the cool box.

That's the chip. Why isn't it in the normal packaging, though?

"Nona..."

She didn't answer.

"Nona, is that.... That is a new chip, right? You're not reusing one?"

"Rita, I'm sorry, but I really need to concentrate."

This was the quickest I'd ever seen her stitch the device into place.

I waited for her to fetch the device, to begin the... What did she call it? The handshake. The pairing. But she didn't. She manhandled him to face her, and squashed herself on to the sofa with him, adopting the position of The Little Spoon. I got the impression she'd forgotten I was there.

She arranged his arms around her, and patted his hand.

When he came round she twisted in his arms and looked up into his face.

"Jac? Is that you?"

+

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