‘I’ll talk to Sylvia and I’ll see what I can do,’ Father Frank promised.

‘I’m desperate.’

‘I know, Jack.’

‘Thanks, Father.’

‘Don’t thank me yet,’ Father Frank advised as they made their way down through the dark hallway. ‘If I do manage to get to her, she might kill a man yet,’ he said, pointing to himself.

‘I’ll pray for you, Father,’ Jack said.

Jack left the priest pulling a stray weed in his front garden. He got into his car and drove home to his empty house, hoping and praying that even though Rabbit’s beautiful book or a new grandchild on the way didn’t ease his wife’s troubled mind, sense could still prevail and she would find her way all the way back to him.

Chapter Seventy-Nine: Grace

Chapter Seventy-Nine

Grace

LENNY CAME HOME FROM work to find his wife in bed. He took off his jacket and shoes and he climbed in beside her. She was on her side, facing the wall, so he spooned her.

‘Ma’s in jail,’ she said.

‘The kids told me.’

‘It’s like a bad joke.’

‘Things will work out,’ Lenny said

She turned to face him. ‘I’m sick of hearing that.’

‘Things are working out, Grace.’

‘I got my appointment for the oophorectomy this morning. It’s in six weeks.’

‘Good,’ he said. ‘Then I’ll book us on a holiday for six weeks after that.’

‘What about the kids?’

‘Fuck the kids,’ he said, and she laughed.

‘What about me ma?’

‘Fu—’

‘Don’t you dare.’

‘I’ve spoken to Stephen – he’ll help out with the younger ones, and so will your parents.’ He leaned over and pulled out a brochure for a tropical island and handed it to her.

‘That’s where we’re going?’

‘Ten days, just you and me.’

‘What if I’m menopausal?’

‘We’ll deal with it.’

‘What if I don’t want to have sex?’

‘Not an option,’ he said. ‘Besides, who could deny all this?’ he said, pointing to himself.

‘What if my ma is still in prison?’

‘She won’t be.’

‘You’re so sure about everything.’

‘Yip,’ he said.

‘Lenny.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Lock the door.’

‘Seriously?’ he said. They could hear the kids moving around downstairs and at least one of them was in their bedroom down the hall.

‘Yeah.’

He jumped out of the bed and locked the door; on the way back he had his trousers and jocks off before he hit the bed.

‘Sexy,’ she said, looking at his shirt, tie, stiff cock, bulging balls and black socks.