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Back A Family Reunion Save as PDF
Chapters (66)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. PART ONE
  6. CHAPTER ONE
  7. CHAPTER TWO
  8. CHAPTER THREE
  9. CHAPTER FOUR
  10. CHAPTER FIVE
  11. CHAPTER SIX
  12. CHAPTER SEVEN
  13. CHAPTER EIGHT
  14. CHAPTER NINE
  15. CHAPTER TEN
  16. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  17. CHAPTER TWELVE
  18. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  19. PART TWO
  20. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  21. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  22. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  23. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  24. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  25. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  33. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  34. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  35. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  39. PART THREE
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  42. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  43. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  44. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  45. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  46. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  47. CHAPTER FORTY
  48. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  49. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  50. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  51. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  52. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
  53. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
  54. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
  55. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
  56. CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
  57. CHAPTER FIFTY
  58. CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
  59. CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
  60. CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
  61. CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
  62. CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
  63. CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
  64. EPILOGUE
  65. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  66. About the Author

Imelda sat in the armchair in her hotel bedroom and studied her surroundings. A Boutique Hotel was the way it was advertised. Boutique, indeed! she thought waspishly. A jumped-up B&B, more like it. Her bed was facing in the opposite direction to how she slept at home. She hoped it wouldn’t affect her sleep. The room, though small, appeared clean and it did have tea-making facilities like a real hotel, Imelda conceded. The warm, buttery cream colour on the walls and soft yellow lamplight gave it a tranquil air. She was tired after the early start and journey to Butlersbridge. Keelin had advised her to take a nap. Everyone from Ardcloch was meeting up in the bar for a drink, later, before getting the hired minibus to take them to the Four Winds.

She had to admit, Keelin had done a good job planning the surprise bit of the party. All the guests were booked in. They wouldn’t have to worry about walking in bad weather, or looking for parking. People would be able to have a drink. Every aspect covered. Would any of them bother to go to such trouble for her? Imelda wondered.

She doubted it. She knew she was an irritation to her children. Keelin had been her father’s favourite, Imelda had always known that; truth be told, her daughter struggled not only to love her, but also to like her. She sighed deeply. Keelin had no idea of how things really were. None of the family knew any of it. Just as they knew nothing about Brigid, whom they all adored.

No, there’d be no surprise party for Imelda, when . . . if she ever got to eighty. But if they knew the truth they’d feel sorry for her, Imelda thought forlornly as she got up to make herself a cup of tea. This party would have to be endured. She’d told Keelin she wouldn’t be making a speech; their brother could do that.

Imelda eased her feet out of her suede court shoes and wriggled her toes. She was wearing a two-piece outfit, an indigo blue velvet dress and black sequined jacket she’d bought in Brown Thomas after Keelin had told her of the plans for a surprise party. Imelda was no Mary Hick. She’d hold her own anywhere, she thought proudly, hanging the ensemble in the wardrobe while she waited for the kettle to boil.

Not that anyone would be taking much notice of her. Tonight it would be all about her saintly sister – who really was no saint at all, if they only knew it.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE PARTY