Kyle took her hands in his. ‘Come home.’

‘Can’t.’

‘You sure about that?’ he said, and she wasn’t sure. Since she’d stepped off the plane she’d felt better than she had in over a year. I’m home. Her mother wasn’t just a painful memory, she was alive somehow and present everywhere Juliet looked. I’m home. In one day Juliet had lived more than she had since she left. I’m home.

‘I think we should go in,’ she said, and he nodded.

‘Sorry, Kyle,’ she said, and he smacked his mouth on hers and kissed her as they walked towards the door.

‘We’re getting better at this, aren’t we?’ he said when he pulled away.

‘We rock at this,’ Juliet said.

Backstage the lads were a little worse for wear. Jay was sleeping upright on a hardback chair. They turned a corner to see Kev facing Davey and Francie, fixing his boiler suit. It was a little too snug, especially around the genital area.

‘This has either shrunk or my mickey is huge,’ he said, as Francie raised his hands in the air.

‘Juliet Hayes!’

Kev turned to see her. ‘Jaysus! Sorry, Juliet. Lovely to see ya. How are ya?’

‘Comfortable in me clothes,’ Juliet said, and the others laughed.

‘It’s like seeing a ghost,’ Francie said with a little pride. Louis appeared with the set list in hand. He nodded Juliet’s way, ‘Howya?’ and she gave a little wave.

‘Where’s Jay?’

‘He’s sleeping.’

‘Wha’?’ Louis said. ‘Who let him sleep?’

‘He always sleeps before a gig,’ Davey said.

‘He hasn’t gigged in twenty years,’ Louis said before mumbling, ‘For fuck’s sake,’ and walking away.

‘He has a point,’ Davey said, but he really didn’t care, he was too drunk.

‘Are you OK, Davey?’ Juliet asked.

Davey grinned and made the thumbs up sign. ‘A-OK.’

‘Oh no, who got him drunk? I’ll kill yis!’ She sounded cross.

Francie turned to Davey. ‘Just like her mammy.’ Then back to Juliet. ‘We had to get him oiled up or else he’d moan all night about rack toms and cymbals and shite.’

‘That’s harsh,’ Davey said. Jay rounded the corner with Louis.

‘Juliet? Welcome home,’ Jay said, and she tossed her hair. ‘Who’s this?’

‘Kyle.’

‘Hi Kyle. And what do you do?’

‘Eh, dunno. I go to school?’

‘Do ya?’ Francie said. ‘Are you sure? You don’t sound sure.’

Juliet laughed. ‘They’re messing.’

‘Oh, we’re deadly serious,’ Jay said. ‘You all right with this kid, Davey?’

‘He likes to eat worms,’ Davey said.

Kyle’s face blushed red and he stuttered a little. ‘I don’t – I didn’t – maybe once. I was four.’

‘He’s a good kid,’ he said, and winked at Kyle.