Chapter Thirty-Five

Ingrid

I don’t know why I feel unnerved by Declan having told Niall he called at my house, or by the expression on Niall’s face when he speaks to me about it. But I do.

‘He called round when he heard the news, wanted to check I was okay,’ I say.

‘How did he know where you live? Has he been there before?’

Niall’s tone is light, inquisitive. If I didn’t know that there is little love lost between the two brothers, I would probably think nothing of it, but knowing what I do it feels wrong.

‘He’s been over once before,’ I say, not revealing it was the night before, or what state his brother was in when he arrived.

I wonder if I should tell him that Declan made me feel uneasy last night. That I didn’t like how he spoke, or how he looked at me.

‘Seems it’s not that hard to track me down if you want to find me,’ I say.

I think of how Niall had tracked me down himself, almost effortlessly. A quick search on Facebook and we were in touch.

Niall sighs. ‘Ingrid, sit down a wee minute again.’

I look to the couple of elderly shoppers who had been eyeing up our table and mouth my apology as I take my seat again. Niall pinches the bridge of his nose with his fingers and takes a deep breath.

‘I know I said things last night about how Declan has spent his life, or how he has let his life be defined by what happened, but beneath that I do love him. That said, I can’t keep quiet. Especially not now.’

I search his face for any sign of what is to come. I just see a man, lost in thought, worry lines running across his forehead.

‘He’s not right,’ Niall says. ‘Not mentally well. My parents have tried to keep it all quiet as much as possible. God knows they’ve cleaned up enough of his messes to last them a lifetime.’

I’m conflicted about where this might be going. I feel sorry for Declan. I have the feeling he has always been and always will be the underdog, especially when it comes to his relationship with his brother. But the last two nights have also made me uneasy enough to need to know what Niall is going to say next.

Niall leans across the table, gestures at me to come closer. He keeps his voice low.