Cormac was shaking his head.

‘Who’d have thought it, Maggie pregnant at 13? Who was her boyfriend? Did dad not kill him?’

Tom started back towards the cottage and spoke quietly.

‘No, he just threw him out of the house, Cormac.’

Cormac felt a chill despite the midday sun.

‘What?’

‘Cormac, it was Daniel! He raped her. It wasn’t the first time.’

He staggered the few yards to his front gate. He passed a group of teenagers who were at one stage blocking his way, until he heard one of them say his name with sufficient reverence. He watched them, through tunnel vision, back warily away until they completely disappeared. He enjoyed the moment. As he approached the front door and fumbled for his key, he felt the rage rising again. What if Cormac realised it was him at the door this morning? There was only one thing that cowardly cunt would do. Run! Just like he’d run before. If he ran this time, then the plan was ruined, all because of his unacceptable human weakness. He hoped to be inside before the rage took him, but it was too late. He focused on the pebble dashed wall and swung his fist in an arc. He felt the skin on his knuckles flap from the bones. The vodka worked to dull the pain. But he needed the pain. He deserved the pain for being such a weak cunt! He aimed for the dark patch of blood and skin on the wall. He drew his hand back and threw straight from his shoulder. He felt his bones crack … then nothing … then burning pain. Beautiful, burning pain!

8

Maggie didn’t return. They ate the food, which was cooked to perfection. Cormac and Annie said goodbye to Tom and made their way to Harry’s place. Cormac’s head was so full of Maggie’s pain and Liam’s menace; he hardly noticed his daughter’s growing anxiety. They were on the outskirts of Lisburn before he realised they hadn’t spoken since leaving Maggie’s house.

‘I was thinking, Annie - we might as well go home tomorrow. There’s nothing for us here.’

‘I thought you had a function to go to at Hillsborough on Friday night?’

‘I do, but I’ll travel back with the official party on Friday afternoon.’

He felt her hand gently touch his leg.

‘There’s something wrong, Dad, isn’t there?’

He hated himself for lying to her. He had a past she was entitled to know about, but he could never bring himself to tell her the truth. They had always spoken openly about everything, but not that. He pulled the car off the road.

He took her hand.

‘I left this place behind me a long time ago. I’ve built a life for myself and you, and it is so far removed from here, it almost overwhelms me. The trouble is, Annie, there are still people here who won’t let me forget.’