Molly read out the list of speakers: Marjorie, Francie, Jay and Derek.

‘One of us will have to say something,’ Molly said, and looked around at her family for volunteers.

Grace couldn’t speak. Davey couldn’t speak. Jack couldn’t speak. Juliet couldn’t speak.

‘Fine, then,’ Molly said, ‘I’ll do it.’

Davey took care of the music; he had spoken to Rabbit and he knew exactly what she wanted.

‘I suppose there isn’t a hint of a hymn in there?’ Molly said.

‘No, Ma.’

‘Right, then,’ she said. It doesn’t matter anyway.

The chapel was full to the brim, with people standing outside listening to the service over a speaker.

‘Jaysus, our Rabbit’s like Princess Diana, they’ve come from all over,’ Kev said as he sat into the pew behind Molly before leaning in. ‘Sorry again, Mrs H. The missus couldn’t make it. Looks like the youngest might have the measles.’

‘Oh God, Kev, was the child not vaccinated?’

‘Don’t start me on vaccines, she’s convinced they’re shoving alien DNA into the kids. She’s a mad yoke.’

‘Well, she married you,’ she said.

It was nice to see Kev, especially in proper clothes. When he was in the band, he wore a boiler suit for three years straight. It was his look. He sat back beside Francie, who was focused on reading his speech.

‘What’s up with you?’

‘Just want to hit the right tone with me speech.’

‘Yeah? What tone is that?’

‘I don’t know – sad but not depressing. Do you think I should tell a joke?’ he asked.

‘No,’ Jay said.

‘Sure?’

Molly turned in her seat and flicked Francie’s ear. ‘No jokes, I’ve had enough of bleedin’ jokes.’

‘Fair enough, Mrs H.’

Louis walked down the long aisle and shook all the mourners’ hands. He hugged Davey.

‘All right?’ he said.

‘You’re handling the music,’ Davey reminded him.

‘All under control.’

‘Nice one, Louis,’ Francie said as he sat in next to him. Kev nodded ‘hello’; he and Louis were never in the same band.

‘All right, lads.’ They saw each other rarely these days but that didn’t matter. They were childhood mates, comfortable in each other’s company no matter how long the passage of time. Molly liked that; those boys were her extended family. She loved them all. Each one of them carried a little piece of Rabbit inside them. That thought wasn’t enough to lighten her heavy load, but it was something.

She’d contacted a civil celebrant through the people in Glasnevin. She seemed like a nice woman. She had a few kids, a husband and a dog. She had a kind voice on the phone and she asked lots of questions about her daughter. She’d talked about Rabbit to the woman for over an hour. She’d listened patiently and taken notes.