‘Rosie says she doesn’t want it,’ said Michael when he came back downstairs.‘She started crying.’ He looked utterly perplexed as though he had bestowed her wildest dream only for her to reject it.
‘She’s under a huge amount of pressure,’ I said. ‘She just needs a break over the summer. Hang out with her friends. Eat pizza. Go somewhere nice. Be a teenager.’
‘But she is a teenager.’
‘A proper teenager,’ I said. ‘Not one who is having to pretend to be an adult, wearinga suit and scurrying around after some MEP.’
‘It’s the opportunity of a lifetime,’ he said. ‘I worked every school holiday for Dad, learning the ropes. I used to do carbon copying, heading up to the train station for deliveries… it’s much easier these days. She’d only have to take notes and see what it’s like. One day, she’d be hooked. That’s all it would take.’
‘Maybe just leave it awhile,’I said. ‘I should go and see how she is.’
Wait a moment,’ he said. ‘There’s something I need to talk to you about.’
‘Oh yes? Did I leave the immersion on again?’
He looked up, alarmed. ‘You haven’t, have you? All that hot water, being wasted.’
‘Michael, we don’t even have an immersion. It’s all on a timer.’
‘Don’t we? When did that happen?’
‘About three years ago, an electrician did it.’
He looked visibly relieved. ‘Well, that’s okay then. Now…’ He looked at me, seriously. ‘You’re not going to like this… but after great consideration, and soul-searching, I have decided that…’
Was Michael about to end our marriage, I wondered. What on earth would cause him to look so grave? I felt a feeling of admiration. He’d had the guts to do it. He was better than I was.
‘It’s Brussels. Iam going to spend even more time there. I know I get to come home every few days or so but I have to make a bigger commitment to my role there. I know you miss me around the house, I know that it must be hard to do things such as source electricians and the like… I know it must be hard for the man of the house to be absent.’
I wasn’t sure what to say. ‘Okay…’
‘Will you be all right?’
‘I thinkso.’
He nodded. ‘That’s the attitude. Sacrifices have to make for our country, for Europe. This is your little bit.’
‘Thank you.’
He smiled. ‘Some people stay at home and watch daytime television. Others waste their lives on picket lines and protests. Others play their part.’
I pretended to be puzzled. ‘And which one are you?’
‘The latter! Mammy! Were you even listening?’
