Some people live in fancy houses by the sea but we all share the sky, Bunny. Isn’t it beautiful? Juliet lay down beside her ma and looked up at all that blue . . . She exhaled and felt warm.

Yeah, Ma, she said, and then the picture faded and she was standing alone and cold again. She slid under her mother’s covers and put herself back to bed. She hugged her mother’s pillow and inhaled its scent. You’re still here, Ma, you’re in the hospice and I’m going to visit this evening. I’ll paint your nails and rub cream into your head and tell you what Kyle said, and you’ll say, ‘I told ya so. How could he not love you? Everyone loves you.’ Maybe later Francie or Jay Byrne will call in and make us all laugh, or Granny will say something inappropriate. We’ll lie together in the bed and share a sandwich, you’ll pretend to eat it and I’ll pretend I believe you and we’ll snuggle. I’ll tell you that I love you and you’ll breathe me in. I’m just a little tired now. I’m going to take a nap and I’ll see you later, OK Ma? I’ll see you later.

By the time Juliet finally fell asleep, her mother’s pillow was soaked through.

Chapter Six: Molly

Chapter Six

Molly

THAT EVENING THE ADULTS convened at the funeral home and met the funeral director, Vincent Farren, a heavyset man in his sixties with a black Elvis-style wig, a pink pudgy face and blood-red lips. Beside Vincent stood a huge man-child with a similar pudgy face and dark hair but, in contrast to the older man, a thin top lip sprinkled with bumfluff. They were both dressed in identical suits complete with silk waistcoats. Molly was a little rotund herself, but she kept her short hair a respectable cool blonde and wore clothes suitable for her age and size. She kept herself well, not like these two jokers. She found it hard to look away from them. They belong in the circus. She’d picked the funeral home because of its close proximity to the house. She briefly wondered if she should have shopped around.

‘Our deepest sympathy,’ Vincent said.

Bollocks, Molly thought, you couldn’t give a shite. Show me the money. Isn’t that right, Rabbit? But Rabbit didn’t reply. Rabbit was gone.

‘Thanks.’

‘Please sit down,’ he said, and he directed Molly, Jack, Davey and Grace to red velvet-cushioned chairs. He dragged one over, placed it directly in front of them and sat.

‘Tea, coffee, water?’ Vincent asked. All of them shook their heads.