Page 138 of One Night Only
“Oh, I’m grand,” she sighs. “How are you?”
“I’m okay.”
“It’s lovely to see you again.”
“You too.” I perch on the edge of the sofa and she immediately grabs my hand. At least she doesn’t try to hug me again.
“I hoped I would,” she says. “Not many people can do what you did, you know. Fly halfway around the world and spend a week with a bunch of mad people you’d never met. It’s impressive.”
“Everyone was very nice.”
“Everyone’s always nice,” she dismisses. “But it’s still intimidating. You more than held your own. More so than Annie,” she says, her voice dropping to a whisper. “She’s grand now but the first time she came over I found her hiding in the toilet most nights, looking like a scared mouse. She’s like a daughter to me now but it took her a while, she’ll be the first to admit it. But you.” Mary sits back with a proud look. “You’re well able for us. For him.”
I tense as she continues to pat my hand, almost oblivious to my presence as she talks.
“He almost looked like his old self. When I saw you two together, I thought…” She trails off, her eyes growing absent and I know I shouldn’t prompt her, especially when someone could walk in on us at any second, especially when she’s clearly high on whatever Paul gave her, but my curiosity is too great.
“He told me about Fiona,” I say, trying to recapture her attention.
“Nowthatwas a real shame,” she says, pursing her lips. “I knew they were through as soon as she decided to leave but instead of giving them both a clean break, she dragged the whole thing out. She didn’t even give him a chance to try and prove himself. Just kept him dangling on a string. Acting as ifhewasn’t good enough forher. Like what was happening between them was allhisfault.” Her voice drops. “She had anaffair,” she says mouthing the last word. “But I shouldn’t talk about it. He doesn’t like us to talk about it and everyone knows it. That’s why we all had to walk on our tiptoes around him at the wedding, acting like nothing had happened. His father wasconvincedhe’d go back to his brooding at the first mention of her. He said we’d just upset him. He almost tried to stop Paul inviting her parents to the dinner and there’s us knowing them since before Paul was born!” She tsks. “As if Declan didn’t know exactly what we were doing. As if I didn’t raise my boys to deal with their emotions. Now, I believe everything happens for a reason and while I didn’t like my son having his heart broken maybe it was the wake-up call he needed. He’s been happier ever since she left. Sure, look at him now,” she adds, waving a hand. Her movements are so loose she almost hits me in the face and I have to swerve to avoid her. “He’s trying. And that’s all I ever wanted him to do. But some people just need a little more time to figure things out. Your hair’s very long.”
It takes me a moment to catch up with the sudden change in conversation. “I…yes.”
“Everyone my age has short hair. I miss my long hair.” She focuses on me again, a smile lighting up her face. “Maybe I’ll grow it.”
“What are you two nattering about?”
I twist to see Declan standing in the doorway. God knows how long he’s been there.
Mary settles back against the cushion. “I was admiring Sarah’s hair.”
“It is very shiny,” he says, not looking at me. “My friend’s on his way. You’ll like him. He’s handsome.”
Heishandsome.
Amir, an endlessly patient nurse who used to work at O’Shea’s, checks her out while Annie and I share smirking glances at each other across the room, much to Paul and Declan’s displeasure.
“She doesn’t have a concussion,” he says to us when he’s finished. “But it’s not going to look pretty. She needs rest.” He looks at us pointedly. “And fewer people around her.”
It’s our cue to go.
There’s more hugging and drawn-out goodbyes. Now that Declan knows his mom’s alright his attention switches back to me and I can feel his frequent glances as Annie pulls me to the side.
“Are you okay?” she asks as the brothers talk to Amir.
“I’m not the one who almost killed my mother-in-law.”
“It was terrifying,” she mutters. “Thank God she’s alright.”
“Now watch Paul bring it up at every family gathering for the end of time.”
“I know.” She sighs. “And you’re avoiding the question.”
“I’m fine. No head bumps for me today.”
“I meant with you and Declan.”
“I don’t know yet,” I say truthfully. “We were kind of in the middle of it when Paul rang.”
