“Not too bad,” the woman said hoarsely, “I think those tablets you gave me finally did the trick.” She patted her hand. “I’ll miss you when you’re gone. When are you moving down to Cork?”
“Next week,” Tessa confirmed. She was looking forward to it. New house, new job and new baby. And the beginning of a brand new life for herself and Gerry.
She said goodbye to the Ward Sister and switched on her phone as she left the hospital and headed towards her bus stop nearby.
As she waited idly for the next service, Tessa listened to the five-thirty news bulletin. There had been a very bad car crash on the M50 motorway, which of coursemeant that rush hour would be even more chaotic than usual.
She shivered again, but not from the cold. Gerry travelled that route on his way home. Tessa took her phone out and quickly dialled her husband’s number.
Better give him the heads up.
Jenny noticedBarry switch off the light in his office and checked her watch. Just after five-forty. Time to finish up and head home.
Home.
She recalled a recent conversation with Mike whereupon she’d been moaning about the landlord increasing her rent, and whether she should renew her lease.
Life all round was good. Things were going well for her at work; there was an Officer post coming up in the district, and if Jenny was promoted again, she would hardly notice the rent increase. In fact, she could even start thinking about buying something altogether. But while she loved living in the area there was no way she could afford to buy a place in these salubrious coastal suburbs like Mike had done.
When discussing all this, Jenny got the inkling – though he hadn’t said anything out loud – that he was about to suggest she move in with him. The thought of it didn’t frighten her, but she was loathe to give up her independence just yet.
Was she ready for this? Ready to commit herself wholeheartedly again?
Maybe she and Mike should talk seriously about where they felt the relationship was going. She’d give him a call and check if it was OK to pop over to his tonight. She hadn’t seen him since last week on account of a stomach bug she’d picked up somewhere.
She dialled his mobile and heard it ring out for a bit, until her call was diverted to InTech reception.
“Hi Ciara, it’s Jenny. I was looking for Mike,” she greeted.
“He’s off-site today,” the receptionist said snootily. Jenny couldn’t stand her but Mike was full of praise for her guard dog talents.
“OK, whereishe based then?”
“At a client’s office in one of the business parks off the M50.”
48
Karen sat in front of the TV, languidly flicking fromCoronation StreettoEastEnders. She didn’t follow either show and based on tonight’s narrative offerings, couldn’t see any particular reason to start.
She felt a low rumble in her stomach and wondered what on earth was keeping Shane. He’d since left a message, telling her that he’d pick up Chinese takeaway on the way home.
She wished he’d hurry the hell up because she didn’t think she’d be able to hold out for much longer. The thought of chicken, green peppers and black bean sauce was making her mouth water. She hoped he’d got her return voicemail asking for spring rolls and prawn crackers.
Ah sod it, a slice of bread would keep her going until he got back she decided, ambling into the kitchen. Except they didn’t have any bread, Karen remembered.She was rummaging around the back of her rarely defrosted freezer when she heard the doorbell.
Great, she thought darkly. Only the bloody Quinns would arrive at her doorstep unannounced on a weeknight. But at least these days they had the decency to ring the bell before barging in. That, or it was someone looking for directions again. Living at the corner of a busy street brought its problems, and Karen couldn’t count the number of times they had been disturbed by some lost soul trying to find his way to the city.
She padded out to the door in her stocking feet to find an ashen-faced Aidan in her doorway.
“Hey stranger,” she greeted. “If you’re looking for Shane, he’s not home yet –”
“Karen …” He came into the hallway and took both of her hands in his. She noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and his typically mischeivous grin absent. “Pet … there’s been an accident.”
“Where – at the crossroads?” she asked, looking past the doorway to the street.
“Please, just sit down for a sec OK?” Aidan continued gently, and she felt a rod of panic shoot through her as she realised that another man was standing at the door too – also in uniform.
A garda car was parked a little way down from the house, its blue overhead lights flashing and illuminating the expectant faces of a small crowd gathered on the path.
