‘What about a night at the Greyhoundstadium?’ suggested Red to the group. ‘Come on. Don’t tell me that doesn’t excite you all?’
‘Redmond,’ said Angela. ‘I hope you’re joking about that. We want something a little more sedate. ‘What about a nice pizza at the place in the village?’
‘As long,’ said Fidelma, ‘there’s a fair few bottles of vino to wash them down with.’
They all laughed.
Later, before I left for the day, I wrote atext.
Red, you asked if I was happy. I’m not. All that disappointment you had, I had too. But I married Michael because I knew I’d lost you and I wanted a child. I thought that marrying someone so different to you, would help me forget you. I was wrong. I’m sorry for everything but there are reasons. I missed you too. And still do. Tab.
For ages, my finger hovered over the send button, butthen, rashly, I pressed it and there was no going back. I gathered up my things, worrying about Rosie and wondering about Red and hoping that wherever Mary was, she was safe.
*
‘I’ve told granny, yes,’ said Rosie.
Really? What did she say to convince you?’
‘She said she was leaving me out of her will if I didn’t go and that I would never get my hands on her teapot shaped like a cottage.’
I laughed. ‘You’ve always loved it.’
‘So, I said yes. I had to.’
‘Good. Because I couldn’t go if you don’t. Are you okay with it?’
She nodded. ‘Yeah, I’ll be fine. You’ll be there anyway.’
‘That’s what mothers are for. Secret bodyguards. Just hovering around ready to be needed.’
She smiled. ‘I’m sorry that what happened, happened to you. If you know what I mean. I’ve been thinking about it.’
I did. ‘Me too,’ I said. ‘But I had you. Maybe if I hadn’t lost that baby, I wouldn’t have had you exactly the way you are. So I wouldn’t change a thing.’
‘Did you have a name for the baby?’
‘No, it was really early days.’
‘Granny is convinced I need a bit of West Cork magic. Says I’ll come back transformed, that it never fails to work.’
‘That sounds ominous,’ I said. ‘Transformed into whatexactly?’
‘Who knows?’ she said. ‘But anything would be preferable to me right now. It’s quite romantic though, isn’t it? This man’s dying wish. That’s what Granny said it was, anyway.’
‘You make it sound like Romeo and Juliet or something.’
‘Granny said she wants to bring me to Rosaleen’s house. There’s a tree apparently.’
‘She’s full of it,’ I said. ‘Never gives up, does she?’
Rosie shookher head. ‘She’s an amazing woman.’
‘Amazinglyawful,’ I said, making Rosie laugh again which was lovely to see. ‘And you’re happy to subject yourself to a car journey with me and granny?’ She nodded. ‘Listen, I have to warn you, there may be a few cross words, the odd tetchy comment, a side-of-the-road throttling.’
‘Mum, I’ve been dealing with that since the day I was born. The only thing thatwould surprise me is if there was no side-of-the-road throttling. And it might be fun. A road trip… anything might happen.’
‘Fun? Are you sure that’s the right word?’ It was pretty heartening to see Rosie’s lighter side re-emerge.
