She hadn’t believed that Keelin and Armand would actually go back to France without saying goodbye, despite Felicity coming to collect their luggage. Her pride had prevented her from asking her daughter-in-law what day were they meeting her en route to Dublin, and Felicity hadn’t mentioned it. But as the days dragged by and it became clear that they weren’t going to phone, let alone visit, Imelda felt bereft. Keelin was clearly very angry. Brigid might be a little more forgiving. There was nothing to do but make some sort of apology to her sister and hope that Brigid might persuade Keelin to let bygones be bygones.

The thing was, Brigid’s phone seemed to be constantly off. Or perhaps it was a dodgy signal down at the Four Winds. Imelda’s best bet was to ring the landline and ask to speak to her, though she wasn’t particularly enamoured of the idea of speaking to Una. She clicked on the name and pressed dial, her heart thumping a little faster, wondering what sort of a reception she’d get from her sister.

‘The Four Winds.’ Una’s familiar west of Ireland burr came clearly over the airwaves.

‘Una, it’s Imelda here. I’d like to speak to Brigid, please, I can’t seem to get her on her mobile,’ Imelda said briskly, not even bothering to say hello.

‘Well I’m afraid you won’t reach Reverend Mother here, Imelda. She’s gone to France. You’ll have to ring her at Les Quatre Vents.’

‘Gone to France! For how long?’ Imelda was astonished.

‘Indefinitely, Imelda. As I say, try ringing Les Quatre Vents. Bye bye,’ came Una’s crisp response, and then the phone went dead.

Imelda stared at the receiver, stunned. Brigid had gone to France too, without even a text to say she was leaving. How long had this jaunt been planned for? It had to be since before the party, she’d imagine. No one had said anything to her about it. Typical! The whole lot of them couldn’t care less about her. All going on holidays behind her back. Did they not think that a holiday in France might have done her good? If she’d been invited to go with them, she might have kept her powder dry at the party and not been driven to vent her resentment at their treatment of her. But this slap in the face was one more example of the way she was treated by her so-called family.

Well, she’d had enough of them. If they could hurt her, she could hurt them.