Her father stopped and turned, doing a double-take. ‘Marie-Claire!’

‘Oh Papa, it’s so good to see you!’ she exclaimed, launching herself at him, and he laughed with joy and hugged the daylights out of her, and for a while her sadness disappeared and she gave herself over to the immense pleasure of being with her parents.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Una Farrelly was at her wits’ end. She was doing her best to keep Reverend Mother Brigid’s surprise party under wraps but the RM kept poking her nose into things that were really none of her business, commenting on the amount of bacon and eggs in the fridge, and the ‘mountain’ of sponge for the trifle she was going to make later. ‘You’re not going to be feeding the multitudes, Una. It’s only a few Sisters from the convents and two from the Mother House,’ Brigid remarked mildly, heading upstairs.

As soon as Brigid had left her in peace, Una picked up her mobile phone and dialled Keelin’s number. She wanted to alert her to how difficult it was to keep on top of everything, with Brigid in situ. Keelin was like a sister to her, and Una felt the need for a bit of reassurance now that the pressure was on.

She heard her friend’s cheery voice in her ear. ‘Hi, Una, how are things? Can’t wait to see you.’

‘Keelin, I can’t wait to see you, too,’ she replied, keeping an eagle eye on Brigid, now out in the garden. ‘I’m ringing to let you know that it’s not easy trying to keep everything under wraps down here. Brigid’s under my feet all day, wondering why I have so much food in the fridge. Thank God she doesn’t know what’s over at Maura’s. I’m trying to keep her occupied, but I don’t know how I’m going to set up the party and buffet without her copping on that it’s going to be bigger than a little get-together with the Sisters.’

‘Oh dear. We didn’t think of that when we were planning it. Look, do your best. Get one of the nuns to take her out for a couple of hours. Or try telling her the parlour’s out of bounds.’

‘Ha! She might not take too many orders from me. I’m only the housekeeper,’ joked Una.

‘They’re all afraid of you, Una. Look, don’t worry about it. It will still be a surprise when we all arrive and that’s the main thing.’

‘OK!’ Una sighed. ‘I’ll see you when I see you. How’s Imelda behaving?’ Una was privy to Keelin’s difficulties with her mother.

‘She’s herself,’ Keelin said caustically. ‘Spoiling for a row.’

‘Oh lordy!’

‘Guess who’s coming too?’

‘Who?’

‘Marie-Claire.’