Emer didn’t say anything, because her mother was right. University had been a safe space for a few years. The first time in her life she’d lived away from home, out of her mother’s overbearing presence. When she’d finished her degree, she had already fallen in love with Galway and couldn’t bear the thought of leaving and starting again somewhere else. Instead of looking for jobs related to her degree, she’d worked in various bars around the city, telling herself she would get a ‘proper’ job eventually. Then she’d met Nikki, fallen head over heels in love and the idea of leaving Galway became harder than ever. Because how could she leave the only place she’d ever felt at home in? ‘You could consider it, at least,’ Ursula continued. ‘I’m sure Robert would be more than happy to put in a good word for you. In fact,’ Ursula looked across the table at her husband, ‘why don’t you call him after dinner? You know Emer won’t do anything unless we push her. And we both know she refuses to listen to a word I say. I’m only her mother, the woman who gave birth to her and devoted my life to taking care of her, but apparently that’s not enough for her.’

Emer rolled her eyes, but didn’t bother responding. This was a favourite tactic of Ursula’s – to speak about Emer as if she wasn’t in the room. It drove Emer mad, but she’d learned a long time ago that the best thing to do was ignore it completely.

‘It’s not a bad idea, Emer,’ Robert said. ‘Brian Kennedy’s a decent fella. And working in the surgery, you’d find out all sorts of stuff about people. Might be a bit of fun. You know, a lot of our apprenticeship girls did their work experience at the surgery. It helped quite a few of them to find permanent jobs later on.’

‘I haven’t heard back from the job in London,’ Emer said. ‘That might still happen.’

‘If they were going to offer you the job,’ Ursula said, ‘they’d have done so by now.’

‘Your mother’s worried about you,’ Robert said, before Emer had a chance to respond. ‘She just wants to see you happy and settled. It’s what we both want.’

‘It’s not just that,’ Ursula snapped. ‘We’ve got your reputation to think about as well, Robert. You’re a high-profile figure, possibly the future leader of this country. Your speech next week in the Dáil is focusing on job prospects for our young people. What’s it going to look like if your own stepdaughter can’t even find a job? You have your reputation to consider, and I will not let Emer’s laziness jeopardise that.’