‘No way,’ Grace said, and her mother lifted the book and showed her the front cover.

‘Happy?’ Grace asked.

‘It’s like she’s here and still with us, Grace.’

‘It’s beautiful,’ Grace said, and took it in her hands and turned it over and read the back. ‘It’s really happening.’

‘No thanks to me.’

‘Ah, Ma, you were just trying to protect her. I get it.’

‘I’m an old fool.’

‘You are no fool,’ Grace said.

They went into the kitchen and Molly made tea and they opened the book onto a page she’d highlighted. Grace read the passages out loud and they reminisced and laughed together. It was lovely – going back in time to the eighties when Rabbit talked about her childhood, the band and Johnny, Swap Shop on the TV, climbing trees, falling from trees, hanging out with Grace, stalking poor Davey, big hair, batwing jumpers, long leather coats, having nothing, having everything, and that old avocado bathroom.

‘That avocado bathroom – you thought you were the bee’s knees, Ma.’

‘Jaysus, Grace, it was ugly, and poor Pauline saved up for ten years to buy a putrid pink one, just as everyone else was getting a clue and changing back to white – she still has it, the poor cow.’

She read out another part of the book: Rabbit talking about mighty Molly’s famous temper.

‘God Almighty, am I that bad, Gracie?’ she said.

‘Nah, Ma, you’re better.’

Molly laughed to herself; she felt more at ease than she had in nearly two years and still she was sorry, so very sorry.

‘It’s like she’s in the room, Ma,’ Grace said.

‘Yes. Yes it is, love.’ Sorry.

Molly’s family didn’t know what she had done, how she had let Rabbit down. Sorry. She had kept it to herself for one year and nine months. Sorry. How could they know? Sorry. Everyone around Molly believed the change in her was down to grief but it was guilt, and a mother’s guilt is so much worse. Sorry. Oh Rabbit, I’m so, so sorry. Her dad hadn’t let her down, though. He’d fought for her. Molly wanted to see him, to tell him what a good man he was. He was playing bowls but she couldn’t wait. She wanted to forgive him even if she couldn’t forgive herself.

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Grace

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Grace

GRACE PARKED HER CAR outside the clubhouse and they both got out and walked up the steps, through the clubhouse and out the other side to the viewing area. Jack and his bowls friends were engaged in a serious game. They watched for a minute or two before the rain started to fall and Molly got bored.

‘Jack,’ she shouted. ‘Jack Hayes.’ He looked up and she waved. His face went pale and he started running.