‘I think I’m coming down with something,’ she said, and Francie got up and put his arm around her and walked her to the door. ‘I’ve seen that look before – on your ma’s face when she looked at Johnny Faye.’

She looked back at Darren. ‘See ya, Darren,’ she said, and he nodded, smiled and waved.

‘Hope you feel better soon,’ Darren said.

Juliet grinned at Francie.

‘Don’t start stalking that fella,’ he said.

‘As if,’ she said.

‘Yeah, right – if you’re anything like your mother, you’ll be in a building across the road with night vision glasses and a pair of fuckin’ handcuffs.’

Juliet giggled to herself. He opened the front door and she walked outside into the cool air.

‘Do you think Mrs Faye will say yes?’

‘I don’t know but I’ll talk to her, and Davey too.’

‘Do you think it’s weird?’

‘Just about weird enough.’

‘Thanks, Francie,’ she said, and she skipped down the road. Ma, guess what: I think I’m in love with Darren Byrne.

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Davey

Chapter Sixty-Seven

Davey

THE SOLICITOR, MAX MURPHY, called Davey and Marjorie into his office. They all shook hands and he observed that the bump was coming along and then they moved quickly to business. He talked about the sale, what they were buying and the legals around it. They were in the enviable position of being able to buy the house outright and without a mortgage. Davey was putting the majority of the money in. Max went through the division of the monies, and that’s when Marjorie asked to be excused and ran out of the room.

‘Everything all right?’ Max asked.

‘Doesn’t look like it,’ Davey said, and he followed her out and to the bathroom she’d locked herself in. He knocked on the door.

‘Marjorie?’

‘Hi.’

‘Any chance you’d open the door?’

She opened the door and he squeezed in. She was sitting on the toilet but thankfully the lid was down.

‘What are we doing, Davey?’

‘We’re buying a house, Marj.’

‘No, you’re buying a house, I’m throwing in a few quid for a sofa.’

‘We’re buying a house, Marj.’

‘Why?’

‘Because we’re together.’

‘Why?’

‘Because you’re having my baby.’

‘People have babies all the time, it doesn’t mean they move in together.’

‘Are you happy, Marjorie?’

‘That’s not the point.’

‘I think it is,’ he said.

‘I think we’re rushing into things, Davey,’ she said, and tears poured from her eyes.

‘If I hadn’t got pregnant—’

But you did get pregnant, against all odds.’

‘You’re not going to start talking about miracles – Rabbit would turn in her grave.’

‘How do you feel?’ he asked, and he felt nervous of the answer because if it was the wrong one it could shatter him.

‘I’ve never been happier,’ she admitted.

‘What’s so bad about that?’