Some kind of child bride? Some weird Victorian arranged-marriage type deal? And then, God help me, way too slow, it hit me. Lorry hadn’t died. Lorry hadn’t died at all. He had grown up. God damn it, Lorry might even still be alive! ‘Cheryl was engaged?’ Ma was utterly astounded. ‘Cheryl?’ she repeated. ‘My Lorry?’ whispered Dom. James Hueston’s eyes began to drift to Dom again. ‘Mr Hueston,’ I said loudly, ‘maybe you should sit down? You look shattered.’ There was more of a command than a request to my voice, and I pulled back my own chair and offered it to him. He gave me a long, level look, and I tried to drill holes through him with my eyes. Stop looking at Dom! I don’t think I blinked for about fifty seconds. Then James Hueston rounded the table, purposely keeping his eyes off my brother. He only flicked a brief glance at Dom as he sat in his chair. It’s very cold, isn’t it?’ said Nan. ‘That’s because of Francis. ‘Laurence says he’s killing poor Dom.’ Dom leapt like a fish.
