Page 2 of Coming Home to Inishbeg Cove

I felt my heart blister. Sarah was several years older than I was. Although I didn’t know her well, I was glad she’d got her happy ending, but right now, this tale of true love and fate was like salt in my wound. I thought that had been my story once upon a time too. Tears filled my eyes, but I pushed them back. I didn’t want Mam to see me upset.

‘Greg is a lovely fella. Wait until you meet him, Penny!’ Mam enthused.

I wasn’t used to hearing my mam gushing so romantically, but it sounded like the whole village had been swept up in Sarah and Greg’s love story.

‘Where’s Dad?’ I asked.

‘He’s helping to set up the village hall for the reception afterwards. I’ll meet him in the church. I do wish you had told me ye were coming, Penny…’ Mam chastised me once again. ‘I haven’t even put fresh sheets on the bed for you.’

‘We’ll be fine, Mam.’

‘I’m sure Sarah wouldn’t mind if you and little Lucy came with us...’ she continued.

I laughed. ‘Mam, I’m not gate-crashing Sarah O’Shea’s wedding. Lucy and I will be just fine here, don’t worry.’

She still looked uneasy. ‘And where’s himself, anyway?’

Mam never called Joe by his proper name, instead always referring to him in the third person.

‘Erm, he’s working...’

‘On a weekend?’ Her brows hiked up into her forehead.

‘He has a really important commission.’

She nodded half-heartedly and I knew she wasn’t buying my story. ‘He didn’t come with you the last time you visited either,’ she remarked through pursed lips. ‘So how long are you here for?’

‘A couple of days…’

‘You really should have told me,’ she repeated. ‘I would have had a few treats and things for Lucy…’ She trailed off.

‘Don’t worry about that stuff. Go and enjoy the wedding and tell Sarah and whatever his name is—’

‘Greg.’

‘Greg, I repeated, ‘that I said congratulations.’

‘Are you sure yourself and Lucy will be okay by yourselves here?’ she asked, tilting her head in concern.

‘We’ll be fine, Mam. Go on, go.’ I forced myself to sound bright.

I watched my mother as she reluctantly turned to leave. I knew she suspected something was wrong, but how could I tell her what had happened? She’d only worry. Besides, I wouldn’t be staying here for long. I was sure Joe and I would have patched things up in a couple of days. He just needed some space for a day or two. He would soon realise that he needed – wanted – us to come home.