Page 12 of A Merry Irish Christmas
‘Mary!’ She felt a twinge of longing as her mother’s face filled the screen. She was outdoors, muffled up against the cold in a thick padded coat and wool hat. Crowds milled around among the brightly coloured lights in the background. ‘I was just going to give you a call when I got home. I’m… I’ve come up to Dublin to do a bit of shopping. Where are you?’
Her mother was clearly still trying to keep up the pretence. ‘It’s okay, Mum. I know you’re in New York.’
‘Ah, no! Who told you? Well, maybe it’s just as well,’ she continued before Mary had a chance to answer. ‘We’ve doneenough pussyfooting around.’ She turned away from the camera and called, ‘She knows!’ waving whoever she was talking to over. And then the screen was filled with the faces of all Mary’s family as they crowded into shot, peering over her mother’s shoulder.
‘Surprise!’ they chorused, beaming at her. Mary’s heart lurched.
‘We’re in New York! We’re in New York!’ five-year-old Bo squealed, jumping up and down with excitement.
‘I know!’ Mary made an effort to sound happy about it.
‘Can we do the ice-skating now?’ Bo looked up hopefully at Aidan.
‘Soon,’ he said, picking up his daughter. ‘It’s not time yet.’
‘We’re at Rocket Fella Plaza,’ Bo told Mary, wrapping her arms around Aidan’s neck.
‘Why don’t you meet us down here?’ Abbie said.
‘Because I’m not in New York,’ Mary said.
‘So where are you?’ Finn asked.
‘We went over to your cubbyhole,’ her father said, ‘and you’re not there.’
‘I know, Dad. Tell me about it. You’re there and I’m… here.’
‘Where?’ Her mother squinted at the screen. ‘That looks like… is that the back bedroom? You’re not?—’
‘Yep. I’m in Inch. I got a last-minute flight and came home. I thought I’d surprise you.’
‘Oh no!’ Her sister Cara’s face fell, and one by one she watched everyone’s smiles slide away as the news sank in. Except her father, whose good humour was irrepressible.
‘Well, isn’t that gas?’ he chuckled. ‘We had the same idea! We probably passed each other over the Atlantic.’
‘Yeah, hilarious.’
Bo’s face crumpled in a way that signalled tears were on the way. ‘But I want you to come skating with us!’ she wailed.
‘Sorry, honey. I wish I could.’
‘Ssh, it’s all right.’ Aidan kissed the top of his daughter’s head. ‘Come on and we’ll get you a hot chocolate and watch the skaters.’ He made an apologetic face at Mary before they disappeared from view.
‘Have fun!’ she called after them.
‘I don’t believe this!’ Abbie huffed when they’d gone. ‘What a mess!’
‘It’s my own stupid fault,’ Mary said. ‘I should have told someone I was coming home.’
‘Well, what’s done is done,’ Finn said calmly. ‘There’s no point in beating yourself up about it now.’
Sometimes Finn could be maddeningly sanguine.
Sheena sighed. ‘Yes, we’re here now – and you’re there. We’ll all just have to make the best of it.’
It was all right for them, Mary thought, with a stab of self-pity. They were all together, with New York at their feet, while she was here all alone – not even alone, stuck with Grumpy McGrumperson downstairs who was making it clear he didn’t want her around.
‘It’s a pity we missed each other,’ Finn said in his usual easy-going way, as if it was no big deal that they’d flown across the Atlantic to see her only to find she wasn’t at home. ‘But it’ll be grand.’
