A young Cormac sang his first song and drank his first drink in the bar. He danced his first dance and kissed his first girl in the lounge. He spent his last night in Ireland in the room upstairs.

‘Come on, Cormac, it’ll be all right.’

Cormac and Tom were about to enter the lounge.

‘Tom, I’m really sorry, but I don’t think I can go in.’

‘Half the village is in there to pay respects to Mammy, the other half is on its way! Whatever it is you’re feeling, put it to one side for one night and let’s give the old girl the send off she deserves!’

Cormac was about to take a step back when he felt a hand slip into his.

‘I was looking for a handsome Irishman to escort me. I couldn’t find one, so I thought I’d settle for you instead.’

Before he’d time to think, Cormac, Tom and Annie slipped inside Lalor’s and found Maggie and Jack’s table. Maggie sat alone.

Tom smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

‘What would you like to drink, Maggie?’

‘Just a Coke, thanks.’

‘Sure you don’t want a wee Black Bush in that?’

‘Tom, you know I don’t drink alcohol and besides, I’m going to the retreat tomorrow night.’

Cormac remembered what the argument was about. Maggie had forced her mother’s funeral forward so she could go on some bloody retreat! She always seemed to get everything the wrong way round. She was more concerned with an afterlife that may never be than living the life she had. He stifled the urge to continue the argument.

‘Maggie, I haven’t seen Jack since this morning and even then, he seemed to disappear before we had a chance to speak.’

She didn’t look his way.

‘Sorry, but he’d some important work to take care of. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll see him tomorrow when you all come to my house for lunch.’

Annie pulled up a seat beside her aunt and he marvelled at how much alike they were physically and thankfully how different they would always remain.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cormac caught a glimpse of a huge man marching towards his table. He felt the first pangs of fear since his arrival in Ireland. Why had he listened to Tom? It was a mistake to come here. Why had he come here with no security? Somebody in this place would love to make a name for themselves by battering the life out of a British minister. He was standing above him now. Cormac could feel moisture on his brow. He frantically searched for Tom. The man mumbled something. Cormac couldn’t make out what he said.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.’

The big man leaned down over him.

‘I said … you got a lot of nerve to say you are my friend!’

Cormac looked up suddenly.

‘Dad, are you all right?’

Before Annie had finished, Cormac was on his feet and locked in a warm embrace with the stranger.