Page 2 of Family Secrets in Inishbeg Cove

‘Yes, and that’s if I don’t meet any more traffic or blasted tractors.’ Madeleine groaned. ‘And I need to find somewhere to stop for petrol too…’

‘But she might not hold⁠—’

‘Sorry?’ Madeleine asked. ‘I didn’t get that.’ The phone signal was patchy and her daughter’s voice was cutting in and out.

‘She might not last that long…’ Faith was almost shouting down the phone at her.

‘I’m going as fast as I can!’ Madeleine replied defensively.

‘But Lucy spoke to you just after eleven this morning – it doesn’t take that long to get here.’

‘Well, I couldn’t just drop everything and drive to Inishbeg Cove,’ she scoffed. ‘I was in the middle of a meeting. I had things to wrap up. We have a very important book launch on Thursday. It’s for Howard O’Brien.’

‘Story of your life,’ Faith quipped, an unmistakable acerbity to her tone.

Madeleine was sure she must have misheard her. It wasn’t like Faith to be snipy. She was always so mellow, so kind. She wasn’t like Lucy, who had no problem telling Madeleine exactly what she thought of her.

‘Faith?’ she called, but she had gone. Madeleine groaned. Her girls were always so sensitive, so protective of their grandmother. Their grandmother had indulged that side of their personalities – whereas, if Madeleine was being honest, she found it rather irritating and tiresome.

She finally managed to overtake the tractor and put her foot to the floor as she continued on her journey. She came up the crest of a hill and felt her stomach drop as she descended the other side. She knew she was going fast, but being stuck behind the tractor had cost her time. Suddenly she saw blue lights flashing in the distance. Shit, she thought. It was the Gardaí. She tried to slow down, but it was too late: the Garda jumped out of the car and moved into the centre of the road to flag her down. She came to a stop and wound down the window.

‘Do you have any idea what speed you were doing?’ he began.

‘I wasn’t going that fast. Look, I’m sorry. It’s an emergency. I need to get to Inishbeg Cove.’

‘Well, you won’t be going anywhere now,’ he said contrarily.

‘Now, come on, I’m sorry but it’s urgent.’ She glanced at the clock on her car dashboard. ‘My daughters’ grandmother is on her deathbed and they will never speak to me again if I don’t get there in time.’

‘You should have thought about that before you drove like Michael Schumacher on these rural roads. You’re not on the M50 now.’ He took great satisfaction in telling her. ‘Can I see your licence, please?’

‘I-I don’t have it with me,’ she admitted, knowing she was walking into more trouble. ‘It’s at home.’

‘Are you aware that it is a legal requirement to be in possession of a valid driving licence at all times?’

‘Yes, but I forgot to bring it with me,’ she said slowly, as if she was talking to someone who had difficulty comprehending. ‘As I mentioned before, I had to leave in a hurry.’

‘You are breaking the law.’

‘I already told you it’s an emergency!’ she cried in exasperation.

‘As you’re travelling dangerously in excess of the speed limit and driving without a valid licence, I have no choice but to impound your car.’

‘What?’ she cried. ‘Y-you can’t do that!’ If he took her car, how would she get to Inishbeg Cove? There was no public transport in this neck of the woods.

‘I assure you that I can.’

‘But I need it to get to Inishbeg Cove. It’s an emergency. I told you my mother-in-law is on her deathbed!’

‘Well, you should have thought about that before you broke the law. Please step out of the vehicle.’

‘You c-can’t do this to me!’ she said, refusing to move. ‘I am the marketing director of Interstellar PR!’ If he took her car away, she wouldn’t be able to get back to Dublin again in the morning.

‘And I run the roads policing division for this jurisdiction.’ He offered her his hand.

‘Look,’ she tried again, ‘I have a big launch in three days’ time. I’m overseeing the publicity for Howard O’Brien’s new book.’

‘It that supposed to impress me?’ he asked.