A Family Matter

Heron, an old, divorced man who lives on his own, has just been informed by his doctor that he has a terminal illness. He goes to the supermarket to do his weekly shopping. He heads for the frozen foods section, where he opens the glass lid of a waist-high freezer and steps into it, pulling the cover back over him. After a while, a woman opens the freezer, sees Heron, and screams. Three staff members pull him out, and he ends up back at home.

Heron calls his daughter Maggie, as he does every night. He does not tell her about the incident at the supermarket but sticks to safe topics—the small details of his day. He always tells Maggie everything. After the call, Maggie and her husband Conor share a glass of wine then prepare for the next day. Maggie checks to see what their two children, Tom and Olivia, will need.

One Saturday in summer, Dawn goes to a church jumble sale in the village, where she buys a cardigan. She then buys tea and cake at the refreshment table, where she strikes up a conversation with a young woman who seems outgoing and friendly.