‘No, really, I can’t. I had to do something in the café and then I have to get back.’ I point with my thumb over my shoulder.
‘Well, the café’s shut. This is the only place you’ll get a drink now.’ Margaret takes another swig.
Oh, what harm could it do? The least I could do is sit with her for a while; it was me that delivered the bad news in the first place after all.
‘You and Sean. Were you …?’
‘I wish,’ Margaret says, taking big swigs. ‘But it will happen,’ she says confidently.
‘Really? How do you know?’ I wish I could be that confident about my life falling into place.
‘It’s in my stars,’ she says with a dreamy look on her face.
‘And how long have you thought you two were … fated to be together?’ I ask, taking the bottle and sitting down beside her. Grace lies down at my feet. I take a swig from the bottle. It’s warm but somehow hits the spot after the day I’ve had.
‘For ever, I think,’ Margaret replies flatly. ‘I remember the day he turned up here, out of the blue, after he’d been … y’know.’
‘Hello again, ladies.’ Seamus and Padraig stop beside us. The squeaking on the bike Seamus is pushing stops. He touches the brim of his hat. I try to hide the bottle behind my leg but don’t think I manage it.
‘Making a night of it, are we?’ Padraig laughs.
Just then a black BMW drives past with a blast of its horn.
‘It’s him, isn’t it, going out with her? Staying in town, no doubt at some swanky hotel.’ Margaret grabs the bottle and swigs deeply.
‘Her place.’ I’ve given her all the facts now.
Seamus touches his hat again. ‘Should be a nice night.’ He nods at the reddening sky. ‘Enjoy your evening.’ The bike starts up its squeak again. Padraig walks beside him, talking in a low voice.
‘Where will you go?’ Margaret asks while staring straight out to sea.
‘Probably to my mum’s in Malta.’
‘You don’t sound keen.’
‘I’m not. She left me to my own devices just before I turned sixteen, and hasn’t really bothered with me since. I can’t see her welcoming me with open arms. And to be honest, I don’t think I can take all the “I told you so” looks.’
‘I told you so? What about?’
I sigh, and instead of drinking from the bottle rest it down on the bench and open the Doritos instead. I take one out and bite it so the pieces shatter everywhere. I sigh again.
‘She told me my marriage wouldn’t last. I’d never make him happy.’ It’s my turn to look out to sea.
‘And did it?’ Margaret sticks her hand into the big bag and grabs a handful, tossing them into her mouth.
‘No. The ink wasn’t even dry on the register when he left me.’
Margaret’s crunching faster and faster, her eyes fixed on me. I’ll probably be the talk of the town by this evening, but what does it matter now – I’ll be gone tomorrow.
‘We said “I do”, then he realised he couldn’t.’
‘Not one of the bridesmaids?’ Margaret’s still throwing Doritos at her mouth at superfast speed.
‘The best man,’ I say flatly.
Margaret nearly chokes.
‘I thought it was the belly-dancing outfit he’d found in my going away bag at first.’
