‘And I thought it was just all about getting the children to be quiet.’
He smiled. ‘I learned just how selfless and devoted and determined some mothers are to make sure their kids get to school every single day,’ he went on, energised. ‘I learned that I had no idea about the world, that livingin Ireland had not equipped me for what life is like for all those who scrape by, who are treated as though they don’t matter.’ He blushed, a little, embarrassed by his enthusiasm.
‘Well, I hope Star of the Sea is as rewarding…’
‘Thank you.’
Red was looking at the picture of Rosie on my desk. ‘Your daughter?’
I nodded. ‘That’s Rosie.’
‘She looks just like you… Like you were… you know…’ Hiswords trailed off.
I stood up. ‘I think that’s everything. Mary has the class list of where they are at, what they’ve been working on, the names of the girls. Maybe you could have a look at that on the weekend and be ready to start on Monday?’
He nodded. ‘Bright and early.’ He got to his feet and held out his hand and smiled, as though we’d just concluded any normal meeting. ‘Thank you…’
Wesmiled at each other, as we shook hands briefly.
‘It’s good to see you,’ he said. ‘I always wondered…’
For a moment, I couldn’t find the words. My throat was dry. Me too, I wanted to say. I always wondered too. ‘It’s good to see you, Red.’
His hand felt warm and soft and strong and then he dropped mine and was gone.
Before
The two of us, on a trip to the Blasket Islands, off the coast of Kerry.Camping on the mainland and then taking a small boat out, clambering up the rocks. Red shouting out a line by Patrick Kavanagh, one that we’d all learned for the Leaving Cert and all knew by heart. ‘O I loved too much and by such and such is happiness thrown away.’
*
‘You’re right, he’s very nice.’ Mary poked her head round my office door, interrupting my daydream. ‘Lovely so he is. We had agreat old chat before I brought him in. Such a nice fella. Told me all about living in San Francisco. But you probably heard all the same. That story of being in the White House! Tripping up the steps. Calling MichelleMichelleinstead ofMrsObama. But naturally she didn’t mind.’
‘We actually didn’t really have time for too much personal chat,’ I said. ‘You know, all business.’
‘Well, timeenough for a catch-up,’ she said. ‘Now, I’ve just had your mother on the phone.’
‘My mother? Why didn’t she call me?’
‘She said you weren’t answering…’
‘Phone’s on silent, that’s why.’ I’d turned it off when Red had come in and had forgotten to turn it back on.
‘Wants to know about the sale of the Copse. Asked me if it was true.’
‘Oh for goodness sake, I had a feeling she knew about it. Sheshouted something about trees the other morning. There’s no secret she won’t sniff out. MI5 should employ her.’
‘Secretisn’t in the Dalkey dictionary,’ Mary said. ‘Anyway, I told her that I’d pass on her message.’
Behind me, Mary’s phone beeped. ‘Excuse me,’ she said, after quickly checking it. ‘I have to make a quick call.’
From my window, beyond the hockey pitch, I could see the Copse. Thetrees were looking lovely at this time of year, all green leaves and squirrels. It would be a shame to see it go but this part of Dublin was pretty leafy. It wasn’t as though we were depriving a concrete jungle of its only trees and it wasn’t as it if we even used it.
‘Tabitha…’ Mary had returned. ‘Is it all right if I leave early today? Now, if that’s all right? I need to get into town. MolesworthStreet. The office closes at 3.30 p.m.’
‘Yes, of course.’ I looked at her, interest piqued. ‘That’s the passport office, isn’t it? Are you going anywhere?’
She didn’t say anything for a moment, which was most unlike Mary. ‘I’m not sure,’ she said, finally. ‘But I like to have it ready, you know. Just in case.’
‘In case what?’
‘In case… in case I have to go away.’
I laughed. ‘Mary, you soundvery mysterious.’ But something in her face made me stop. ‘Is everything all right Mary? Nothing’s wrong, is it?’ If there was a secret, she didn’t want to divulge. And teasing wasn’t appropriate.
‘Nothing… nothing at all. Thank you, Tabitha. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
