John didn’t argue with his mother and bowed his head as we chewed over the familiar words. The daily bread, the forgiveness of trespasses, the dodging of temptation and the delivery from evil floated into the greenery outside. We didn’t bother with the Prayer for Peace. It was all going well until he had to help me off the floor when I went limp, a dizzy whale out of water. He was behind me with his hands under my armpits before I had time to burn with embarrassment. He wiped his palms on his trousers and got on with his day.

All the hundred pinks of the apple blossom were gone and the fruit was on its way. The soft, sweet scent of the orchard with its damsons and apples ruffled the draught curtain at the half-door. Brandy dog lay in a panting heap in a pool of shade at the foot of the biggest tree at the end of the street. I was going to take him to the river later on for a dip, he loved that. I might beg Bridie to come with me if her pains weren’t too bad. She was my only company. There was no word from Lizzie Magee.

I was nearly five months pregnant when my mother summoned me to get my GCSE results. She told John to drop me off when he was passing next time. I had to be up very early as he left by 6am. We both tried to ignore the fact that the bump kept hitting him on the side as we joggled up the hill in the tractor. I hadn’t seen my mother since the day I got married off and instead of being angry with her I was pathetically grateful that she had, at last, asked to see me. Daddy still hadn’t.

John dropped me off and informed me that I would have to walk back as he wouldn’t be home ’til the usual time. I told him it was okay as it was all downhill and then we stared at each like goms. It passed for the third longest communication we had ever had because the ‘I do’s’ and the first-night row don’t really count. I blushed and he cleared his throat and we parted company.

Mammy greeted me at the back door, arms crossed, the smell of Jeyes Fluid letting me know the floors had been washed in the last hour. I was honoured.

–  Well, well. And how are you?

–  I’m fine.

–  Sit down and I’ll make us some tea.

–  I don’t want any tea. Living with Bridie, I’ll be the colour of tea before long.

–  Well, she never did have any sense!

–  I said she makes a lot of tea, I didn’t say she had no sense!