‘We never had sex again, and he felt terrible guilty because he felt I should have a proper married life, and because of who he was, I was denied it. So we struggled, I can tell you, especially in those early years after I found out. But, believe it or not, Keelin, your father was my best friend and I was his and we eventually accepted each other for what we were and found a middle way. He knew what was behind my unhappiness and bitterness and he made allowances for me, just as I made allowances for him. It wasn’t all bad. I did miss sex, though, because I was a healthy woman with rampant hormones and desires, so I might as well have been a nun,’ she gave a shaky grin.

Brigid gave her a sympathetic pat on the hand. ‘It’s the pits, isn’t it? Being horny and wanting a man. I’ll never forget my menopause. Those surges that would sweep over you—’

‘Oh yes! Did you have them too? They nearly did my head in. Girls, you pair are so lucky, have as much sex as you can,’ Imelda joked to Marie-Claire and Keelin and they stared at her, astonished.

‘Don’t look so surprised,’ Imelda said. ‘Brigid and I were normal young women, once, too. You know the biggest irony?’

‘What?’ asked Keelin warily.

‘The day I found your dad and Fran together, I had come back from Dublin with condoms Teresa had bought for me, up in Belfast, when the women went up North on the Contraception Train, as it’s called now. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humour.’

‘My God, Mam, you’ve kept this to yourself all these years. Could you not have shared it with me, even when I was older?’ Keelin squeezed her mother’s hand.

‘Why would I? You adored your father and he adored you. You were the light of his life. I didn’t want to make you miserable and burden you with my problems. I had made you unhappy enough in life as it was. I wasn’t a good mother and I’m sorry. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.’

‘Mam, if only I’d known, I would have understood more. I wish you’d told me sooner. It explains so much. Let’s try and put the past behind us and make the most of what we have now, will we?’ Keelin came around the table and put her arms around Imelda.

Imelda exhaled a deep, weary sigh. Now that she’d finally said her piece she was shattered. ‘Keelin, that would be all I could wish for,’ she said quietly, nestling into her daughter’s embrace. ‘I think Larry helped us plan this trip. You were right, Brigid, it is our time of healing.’