Page 50 of Family Secrets in Inishbeg Cove

‘I’m fine.’ He laughed, straightening up again.

‘Thank God you’re okay. You gave me an awful fright.’ Playfully, she slapped him on the arm.

‘You got a fright?’ he mocked. ‘What about me? I saw my life flash before my eyes. You were driving that thing like a woman possessed!’

She laughed. ‘The Christmas panic is real. If Lucy doesn’t get her turkey with all the sides, my life won’t be worth living.’

‘Looks like you’re expecting a crowd.’ He nodded towards the trolley, which was almost full.

‘Well, it’s just going to be me, Mum and Lucy. We’ll be eating turkey sandwiches for weeks afterwards, but I love making Christmas special. What are you doing?’

‘Myself, Heidi and Rosie are going to Mum and Dad’s for dinner. It’s going to be tough this year…’ He trailed off. ‘It’s … it’s our first Christmas without James.’

Faith cupped a hand over her mouth. ‘Your brother passed away?’

She recalled his older brother. Although he was several years older than them, she had remembered him from when they were younger. He and Jack had been very close, and they had played on the same hurling team so she had watched him play in matches. He had been a skillful player.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know he had passed away. How did he die?’

‘He was involved in a farm accident. A bull charged at him and pinned him against the shed wall.’

‘Oh, that’s awful, Jack. When did it happen?’

‘Eight months ago. It still hasn’t sunk in yet, to be honest. We’re all going around in a daze.’ He shook his head. ‘I normally love Christmas but I’m dreading it this year. It’s going to be tough on everyone.’

‘Of course, I can imagine.’ Although they were desperately missing their beloved grandmother, Elizabeth had been almost ninety and her death felt like the natural order. For the most part, she had lived a long and happy life, but James had been a man in his prime snatched away in a tragic accident, with no time to say goodbye. It must have been an awful shock for his family.

‘I’d better head on.’ He held up a bag of marshmallows. ‘I promised Rosie I’d bring her back marshmallows to make hot chocolate. She’s going to watch Home Alone for the first time.’

‘That sounds fun.’

He went to leave before turning back around. ‘Actually, are you going to the céilí tonight?’

The Christmas céilí was a big night in Inishbeg Cove and always had a good turnout. Most of the villagers had finished work for the Christmas break so people were in good spirits. The sisters went every year; it was almost as much of a Christmas tradition as putting up the tree. She nodded. ‘We wouldn’t miss it.’

‘Great. Well, hopefully I’ll see you there tonight.’

As Jack departed for the checkout, Faith continued to push her trolley down the aisle. Lucy returned, laden down with groceries, which she let free-fall into the trolley. ‘Was that Jack I saw?’

Faith nodded, lost in thoughts about the fragility of life. Her heart ached for Jack, then she felt a rush of crushing guilt; she had been so self-absorbed that day on the clifftop, thinking only of her own grief, when perhaps he hadn’t been hitting on her at all. Perhaps he had just wanted to talk to someone who would understand how he was feeling, but she had cut him off before he’d had a chance to start. Her cheeks burned with shame.

‘What’s wrong?’ Lucy asked. Her face darkened. ‘Was he trying it on with you again?’

She shook her head. ‘No.’ She paused to gather her thoughts. ‘He just told me something and it shocked me, to be honest.’

‘Go on…’

‘Remember his brother James? He was a few years older than us, but we’d see him around the village from time to time.’

‘Yeah, of course I do. He was a good-looking chap. I think he was the captain of the hurling team too.’

Faith nodded. ‘Well, he died in a farm accident eight months ago. Jack is devastated.’

‘Oh no, that’s so sad. I’m surprised none of the villagers ever mentioned it to us.’

‘They probably didn’t know anything about the history between Jack and I, so they might not thought it was relevant to us. I feel terrible about it all. That day on the cliffs, I thought Jack was coming on to me, but what if he was just looking for someone to talk to? He knew I’d understand what he’s going through, with the loss of Nanna and then the discovery of how Dad died.’ She couldn’t help cringing at how she had stood up and left abruptly without a proper explanation like she was the only one experiencing grief.

‘You weren’t to know,’ Lucy reassured her.