He nodded. ‘What would you do?’
‘I can easily get a job.’ He still had contacts in the finance sector in Melbourne but he wasn’t sure he wanted to do that. His dad had been right about it being superficial. ‘But… I’m thinking I want to try something completely different.’
‘Like?’
‘I… don’t know.’ And that was the truth. Suddenly, Fin was standing at a crossroads where he couldn’t see anything in any direction.
‘What’s Sweeney say?’
Christ,Sweeney. In the continuing saga of the fake fiancé scenario, of course they would have had conversations about this. ‘I haven’t really raised the issue yet.’ Which was another truth and, given how much they’d lied lately, it was good to be honest where he could. ‘I’m still kicking it around for myself.’
‘Okay, well… don’t forget she left Ballyshannon like a bat out of hell the second she could and didn’t really look back.’
And now Fin knew why. ‘It won’t be there,’ Fin reiterated.
‘But if it’s Melbourne, then you won’t be far away. Take it from a guy who knows what side his bread is buttered on. Happy wife, happy life.’
It wasn’t exactly Proust but it was salient so Fin had to give him that. Or he would have, anyway, if he wasn’t so hung up on the wholewifeword. He swore he could feel the Claddagh ring burning a hole in his pocket. It might not be a big word but those four letters sure packed a hell of a wallop. Like another four-letter word starting with L.
‘Your mamma,’ Donny added, ‘is going to throw a party.’
Fin groaned. The last party his mother threw hadn’t turned out so well for him. He was avoiding another one at all costs.
‘If it counts,’ Donny said with a sly grin, ‘I vote for you coming back.’
Fin snorted. ‘It doesn’t.’ But he returned the grin. ‘Thanks, though, for… listening. I didn’t think you had it in you.’
Donny double-tapped his chest with the side of his fist. ‘What can I say?’ He sighed dramatically. ‘Not all heroes wear capes.’
Fin rolled his eyes. ‘You and your superhero fetish.’
‘Hey, those suits are cool.’
‘Please, you just want to wear your jocks on the outside.’
Donny winked. ‘Who doesn’t?’
*
Fin was no closer to solving anything as he climbed off the bus that had transported them from Tullamarine to Ballyshannon, but the idea of making the big move had crystallised further. It put a spring in his step as he exited the bus into the cool, misty night. The same could not be said for the kids. It was close to midnight and they weren’t so chipper now, having all crashed on the trip and been rudely awakened.
The less sleepy kids on his team managed to fist bump him as they walked past, but it was lacking in enthusiasm. Winnie and her grandparents were almost last off the bus.
‘What do you say to Fin?’ her grandmother prompted after they’d both clutched him in tight, grateful bear hugs.
Winnie smiled at him shyly as she signed, ‘Thank you.’
Fin returned her smile and repeated her sign. ‘Thankyou. You’—he pointed at her—‘made me very proud.’
And in the chilly, damp night it was as if the damn sun had come out as Winnie threw her arms around Fin’s waist and hugged him tight.
It was the best feeling. Thebestfeeling. Coaching these kids—most of them with two left feet—had been an absolute privilege. Had felt important.
Maybethat’swhat he should be doing?
*
His mother was up waiting for him when he got home. She was in her pyjamas, in the kitchen making a cup of tea, beneath the clocks ticking away the hour in their separate time zones. Obviously Sweeney had talked with Connie and his mother had moved back home.
