When the majority had cleared out and only the core friends and family were left, about thirty in number, the lads pulled out their guitars, Louis played the piano and Davey played on his dad’s old bodhrán. Jack’s friend Gerry went to his car and brought in his accordion. ‘Brought it just in case,’ he said as he passed Molly, holding it high. Francie’s missus Lorraine had a good voice and Francie could hold a tune. So could Jay and Kev, and even Grace joined in once she had enough whiskey in her. They sang songs about freedom, love and loss. They sang about war and hope and despair. Then Louis hit a familiar key and all the other players stopped playing and he played the love song Johnny wrote for Rabbit so many years ago, and with Lorraine singing her heart out there was barely a dry eye in the house. Molly just sat with her hands in her lap and she didn’t cry or sing along, she just breathed in and out and in her head she repeated the words Dear God, dear God, dear God, dear God . . . she couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Father Frank got up to leave and in that moment she felt a little desperate. Dear God . . . Dear God . . . Dear God . . . ‘One decade of the rosary before you go, Father,’ Molly asked. He looked around at Rabbit, the musicians, friends and family.

‘This is what she wanted, Molly. Not me or God.’

‘You’re right, Frank, but Rabbit’s gone. I’m asking you to pray for us, the people she left behind.’

He sighed and pulled off his scarf. ‘You should have gone into politics, Molly.’ She looked around at the others assembled in the room.

‘Just one decade.’

Jack piped up from the corner he shared with Gerry and his accordion. ‘Maybe just one.’

‘I’m in,’ Marjorie said, and shrugged off Davey’s dirty look.

‘So we’re actually doing this? Praying over Rabbit’s dead body.’

‘The irony’s not lost, son,’ Molly said, before kneeling on the ground. Grace, Jack and Marjorie followed suit, then the rest of the party, leaving Davey standing by his stone-faced sister’s side. Father Frank made the sign of the cross and everyone followed.

‘In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,’ she said aloud, finishing the sign of the cross. Here we go. Just relax, Molly, just breathe in and out and everything will be fine. Father Frank started to rattle off the Apostles’ Creed: ‘I believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ.’