‘It was a farm when my husband was alive – we’d to feed five weans, of course.’
Seven people in that tiny cottage .?.?. It was no wonder Pete was able to deal with a bit of hardship, she thought.
‘You know,’ ventured Kathleen, ‘I was always hoping he’d findsomebody like you. A lovely, natural girl, not—’
‘Oh, Kathleen, I really need to explain. We’re not actually going out or anything .?.?. We’re just friends.’
The woman looked at her strangely, as though trying to figure out what Ally really knew.
‘Well, sure, you’re here now, aren’t you? And I’m glad he’s found a nice .?.?. friend.’
Perhaps it was a chance to do a little investigation.
‘Kathleen, Pete told me you lost your husband early. That must have been so hard for you .?.?. I mean with five children, I can’t imagine how you managed to cope with it all.’
‘Aye, of course, you just had to get on with things.’
‘Funny, that’s exactly what Pete says.’
‘You know, I wouldn’t say this to most people, but .?.?. I sometimes wonder if I didn’t lean on him too much. He was always so responsible .?.?. He never had time to do what the other fellas did, all the messing around, getting into trouble. I sometimes wonder .?.?. did he miss out on something?’
‘How do you mean?’
‘Did he miss a few lessons in .?.?. street smarts? Some of the people he gathered around him .?.?. like Tony and that .?.?. Tanya.’
Oh boy, this was fascinating; Kathleen’s tone was full of distaste.
‘Tanya .?.?. That’s Pete’s ex – what was she like?’
‘Gold digger,’ Kathleen burst out. ‘On the make. You see, Peter .?.?. When they made all the money with the building, ’course it all looked great: fancy clothes and cars, restaurants .?.?. But sure, none of that’s real. It can all go .?.?.’ She snapped her fingers.
Ally nodded; this woman was far from gullible. She could obviously see right through the big wins and surges of fortune that could’ve turned the heads of a lesser person.
‘Still, I never had that Tony fella for a straight-up fraudster, I’ll say that.’
Ally wasn’t going to miss this golden opportunity.
‘All the same, Kathleen .?.?. Pete was with Tanya for a long time .?.?. he must’ve cared for her?’ OK, she was straying into risky territory.
Kathleen scoffed. She mightn’t be the most impartial witness, Ally observed, but she’d had a ringside seat for the whole thing.
‘Loyalty. You mightn’t know this, but Peter is loyal to a fault. I’ve said it to him, those boys of hers calling him Dad .?.?. I don’t want to be harsh, and I can see how he wanted to do it, but sure .?.?. some things you can’t be told, you have to find out for yourself.’
Ally met her gaze and nodded. What reams of fabulous advice had washed over her own head as she’d ploughed into disaster? ‘Well, that’s for sure.’
The rest of the morning was spent wandering around the farmyard, scratching the goats behind the ears and trying to stop Patsy annoying the hens, although they seemed to consider themselves his seniors and strutted past him unconcerned. Ally felt a bond with this strong, fearless woman, a million miles from her own cossetted mother. Kathleen had needed to be both father and mother in a harsh, unforgiving time – and how lonely that must have been.
As they were leaving, she hugged Ally warmly and said, ‘Come back and see me again soon, won’t ye?’
She was vaguely aware of a look passing behind her back between mother and son, but she somehow didn’t feel left out.
* * *
‘She liked you,’ remarked Pete, as the scenery rushed past themin the fading light. ‘And she doesn’t like everyone.’
‘I really liked her, you know. I got the feeling she’d like to see more of you.’
He huffed in acknowledgement.
