I often forgot, as it was rarely relevant, that there were two types of houses in town, and that most Cures felt it a kind of distinction to live on the left side.

–I see, I—

–On the left side we each have our own private yard, though of course they’re small, but you can leave children out back and let them play, because you see they can’t go anywhere.

–Yes, of course. I see what you mean.

For I did see now, though she was eager to keep speaking and the words came breathless and fast.

–And well, Miss Ada, I haven’t been in the fields of late. With the birth so close, I’ve been staying at home, and for all of yesterday I was busying myself in the garden, and then at about five I came in for my bath and … and well the thing is Miss Ada I’ve always been fond of Lorraine but she’s not above acting strange and I don’t know exactly how long she was wandering around my damn house.

She moved the hair out of her face and made to laugh. As if the laugh would undo the venom.

–Strange behaviour, I said. Strange behaviour, to be sure.

When they had left I went into the kitchen to make sure the bowl was empty, and it was, though the blanket still held a soft smell of orchids, of milk freshly churned.

I rarely wore black on account of the heat and when I saw myself in the mirror I startled. I looked like my own shadow-twin. I went into my room to change and noticed that the ivy was growing thickly through my open window, latching onto the already chipping paint. The whole of the house was warm and creaking. I opened my wardrobe and pulled on the first thing I saw, leaving the shirt in a dark pool on the floor.

–You’re going to meet him?

I turned around with the smock snagging around my neck and shoulders.

–I’m going out for a walk.

–Ada, he’s not safe.

–For who? Cure girls and women?

–His own sister—

–Is a snake if I ever I saw one.

–His own sister doesn’t want him around girls—

–And what’s that got to do with me?

He was quiet then. The old tension between us, that he’d made me in this halted way.

–It doesn’t worry you?

–When did we start worrying over things without being paid to?

–So you don’t care that he’s sick. That it’s his sickness that makes him want you.

–You’re going off rumours.

–You know what you look like to them.

–What does it matter? He won’t hurt me.

–Won’t try to hurt you.

–Right.

–Because he knows he can’t.

A few moments’ quiet. I pulled the smock down over my chest.

–You’re letting that sickness grow inside him.

–Even if that’s true, it’s not the kind of sick we’re concerned with.

–Sick is sick is sick. It’s got to go somewhere.

–This sickness is not my problem.

–No! Only your pleasure. ’Til you’re no longer enough and it’s some Cure girl he climbs on top of.

–That happens it’s his fault, not mine. And what do you want me to do? Kill him? Castrate him?

–I only know I don’t want you lying with him.

–Father—

–I’m telling you not to lie with him.

I bit hard on my lip and walked by him, the soft skin on his arm grazing mine.

–I think some of his sick has gotten inside you.

–You think what you want. No one’s stopping you.

Concord Jackson

Miss Ada was our resident fairy. Magicking everyone’s sickness away.

Are you sick? Is that why you’re looking for her?

When I got to the truck it was still wavy with heat, so he couldn’t have been there long.

–You’re late, I said.

–So are you.

He ran a hand under his cap, into his short soft hair.

–We go to the river?

I nodded and opened the passenger door. The handle was hot in my hand and the worn leather hot on my legs. We drove with the windows down and I leaned out, letting my hair whip.

When we got to the river he opened the door but before he put his legs out I said

–So I’ve seen your sister twice now.

He didn’t look at me but rested back in the seat again.

–What she want?

–For me to look at the baby. What else would there be?

–The baby all right?

–The baby is fine.

–Is she all right?

There was a sneer in his voice, a venom he didn’t think I’d catch.

–She is, aside from worries about her brother.

His arms were loose in his lap. He looked straight out the window now, into the trees where shade was waiting. I couldn’t let on I didn’t believe her if I wanted him to tell me about the strangeness between them.

–You really think I’m a bad man, Ada?

–I think your own sister’s afraid of you.

–Don’t … don’t let Olivia fool you.

–And why would she be out to fool me, Samson? What is it you don’t want to tell me?

–So Olivia comes around telling stories and I have to make excuses.