Molly looked up and smiled at him and held out her hand. He took it in his and sat beside her on the bench.

‘You’re standing up for what you believe in,’ Jack said.

‘Telling a judge to fuck off isn’t going to change society, I know that,’ she said.

‘What can I do, Molly?’

‘Bear with me.’

‘I don’t want you going to prison, Molly, but we’ve been together long enough for me to know that you’ll do what you feel you have to.’

‘I’m not sure I know what I’m doing, Jack.’

‘So come home, Molls.’

‘I will, just not today.’

He kissed her cheek. ‘When you’re done, come back to us, Molly. All the way.’ He stood up.

‘I’ll do my best,’ she said. ‘Now leave me.’

He emerged from the holding cell. ‘No go, I’m afraid, Kevin.’

‘I’m sorry for that,’ Kevin said, leading the family and Pauline away.

‘Is me gran going to prison now?’

‘Yes, love,’ Jack said.

‘Why?’

‘Because it’s something she needs to do,’ he said, and he mustered the strength not to cry.

Chapter Seventy-Seven: Molly

Chapter Seventy-Seven

Molly

SERGEANT FOGARTY OPENED THE passenger door of his car and Molly sat into it.

‘You didn’t have to bring me,’ she said as he closed the door.

‘I’m not having you in a van with God knows who,’ he said, sitting into the driver’s seat and belting up.

‘You don’t owe me anything.’

‘I know that, put your belt on.’

‘So why are you being so kind to me?’ she asked, belting up.

‘You remind me of my mother, she was a nutcase, too.’

Molly smiled. ‘But you loved her anyway.’

‘I did,’ he said.

Sorry.

They drove through the suburbs of Dublin. It was after four and a large yellow ‘M’ sign loomed ahead.

‘I’m starving,’ he said. ‘Wanna stop for some McDonald’s?’

‘As opposed to going straight into prison?’

‘A Big Mac it is,’ he said, pulling into the left lane so that he could veer off. There was a drive-through, but he insisted on going inside. He demanded she sit in a corner booth near the window; it was a warmer spot, away from the door.

‘What are you having?’ he asked. She remembered she didn’t have her purse. ‘Don’t be silly, it’s on me.’

Sorry.