In fact, she’d almost given up on Maeve. It was almost three months since Emer had found her on social media. Until yesterday, Maeve hadn’t reciprocated Emer’s follows or shown any sign that she might want to get in touch. Then, yesterday evening, Emer had received a text message from a number she didn’t recognise. The sender was Maeve, asking if Emer would like to meet up. Emer had called her immediately and they’d arranged to meet here, in this anonymous bar just off Eyre Square.

Maeve said something, but Emer didn’t catch it.

‘Is there anywhere quieter we can go?’ Emer shouted. ‘I can’t hear myself think.’

‘There’s a conservatory through there,’ Maeve said. ‘No music. You go through and grab us a table. I’ll get the first round in.’

The first round, Emer noted. Well, she was fine with that. It wasn’t as if she had anything better to be doing this evening. She’d driven to Galway this evening and, guessing the night might involve a few drinks, she’d booked herself into a cheap B&B in Salthill. Even if Maeve didn’t want to stay out too long, Emer knew that a night away from her mother’s cloying presence would do her the world of good.

Emer gave Maeve her drink order before going into the conservatory, as instructed. She didn’t have to wait long before Maeve was back, weaving her way through the crowd, a glass in each hand.

‘One G&T,’ Maeve said, placing Emer’s drink in front of her. ‘Sláinte.’

‘I forgot to ask how you got my number,’ Emer said, after she’d taken a healthy slug of her drink.

‘Robert,’ Maeve said. ‘We’ve been doing a bit of work together. He hasn’t mentioned it? Well, I suppose there’s no reason to, really. I’m thinking about opening a second hotel and Robert’s coming in as a silent partner.’

‘Wow.’ Emer drank some more gin and tonic, trying not to feel woefully inadequate. While she was throwing her life down the pan, Maeve was successfully running one hotel and about to open another one. ‘That’s impressive.’