Page 24 of The Life Daisy Devlin Designed
“Maybe you could go back part-time,” Daisy said. “You know, two days a week, or something.”
Judging by Rosie’s expression, Daisy imagined she’d be less horrified if she’d suggested that Rosie run naked through Eyre Square.
“Can we change the subject?” Rosie said tightly.
Séan cleared his throat and turned to his father-in-law. “How are the chickens, Eric?”
The older man ran a hand over his spotlessly clean, grey beard. “Ten of the happiest girls around,” he said. “Clever, too. Do you know they can sense changes in the weather? We don’t need anyone to tell us when there’s a storm coming.” He looked around at his grandchildren. “They do the chicken dance when it’s going to rain.” He batted his arms and made some loud clucking noises, causing the children to dissolve into giggles.Grinning, he turned back to Séan. “I’ve just finished extending their run, so they’re safe as houses.”
“Are we eating one of your chickens today, Granddad?” Rosie’s younger son, Sam, asked, apparently more curious than anything.
The twins shrieked and dropped their forks.
“Relax, kids!” Eric waved a hand at the table. “I bought these birds in the local butcher’s yesterday. Our hens are specially bred for egg-laying, and they’ll live long, happy lives and die peacefully of old age.”
There was a tense pause, when Daisy wondered if half of Rosie’s children would suddenly declare themselves vegetarian, but they seemed to decide it was all right to eat chickens they’d never actually met.
“Oh now, we’ve a bit of news, haven’t we, Mim?” Eric nodded at his wife, who beamed at him.“Of course.” She clapped her hands. “To celebrate our fortieth wedding anniversary in June, we’re going to throw a big party.”
“Will it be like ours?” The twins bounced up and down.
“A bit.” Miriam winked at them.
“With a unicorn bouncy castle?” Annie shrieked.
“No, loveen, but we’re going to have a huge big tent in our front garden and have lots and lots of people.”
“What?” Rosie looked horrified. “Seriously, Mum?”
Daisy guessed Rosie was worried that her parents would simply throw open their home to the whole town. And that she’d get stuck with helping to plan the logistics of it all. Privately, she wondered if her parents could really afford to hire a marquee and cater for the numbers she knew her generous mother would insist on inviting. Her dad’s salary as an English and history teacher was modest, and she was pretty sure that whatever her mother made just about kept her in canvasses and paintbrushes.
“Of course I’m serious.” Miriam tucked her long hair, heavily streaked with pinks and purples, behind her ears. “It’ll be fun.”
“I fancy a good DJ,” Eric said, tapping Sam on the hand. “We’ll get them to play the Chicken Song.”
“All the local DJs are useless,” Rosie said dismissively. “You’ll need a halfway decent band. At least it’d lend some atmosphere.”
It was astonishing, Daisy thought. She could almost see the cogs in Rosie’s brain starting to whirr into motion.
“As long as they can play some Garth Brooks stuff,” Eric said, helping himself to some more potatoes. “Oh, and a few Kayley Lynch songs, too. I like that one – ‘One More Like You’.”
Daisy grinned. “That’s not very rock and roll of you, Dad!”
“Just mixing it up a bit, Daisy flower.” He winked at her.
“You know she’s coming to Ireland this June?” Daisy drank some of her mother’s home-made elderberry wine. “She’s doing a night here in Galway. You and Mum could go and see her.”
Miriam glanced at Eric. “Well, if you’re stuck for something to get us, I suppose you could buy tickets. But, to be honest, your dad is the real fan.” She patted Daisy’s arm. “The party will be very relaxed, loveen. You can invite James’ parents. Oh, and Laura, too. How’s she keeping, anyway? And that husband of hers – although you don’t like him, do you?”
Daisy stifled a sigh. Her mother could be very blunt.
“Laura is great, Mum. Brian’s just a bit of a ...” She stopped as she noticed Rosie’s warning look.
“Twat?” Miriam said.
“Mum!” Rosie tutted loudly.
“They’re married a few years now, aren’t they?” Miriam said, completely ignoring Rosie.
