‘Why don’t you hang them around Holy Mary’s neck?’ Andriu says, laughing as he puts the lid back on the tube of cream. The statue has been resting against the back wall of the garden since we arrived here. It’s a strange sight and no one knows how it got here. It’s not like there’s a church or monastery anywhere nearby. This house belonged to one of the last operating farms in the city of Dublin according to Larry, my dad’s friend who is renting it to us. Most of the land was sold off for new development. The lodge is the only thing remaining. Well that and the unexplained statue of Our Lady.

‘I just might,’ Tara replies, shouting over the music that John from college is playing from the sound desk. He has it set up outside the kitchen window. He’s checking the speakers are working for tonight because anything up to a hundred people could arrive here. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had that many. When word gets around that there’s a party at Huntley, everyone wants to come.

Tara jumps down from the chair she’s using as a ladder and shouts at John behind the desk to plug the lights in.

‘Yep, they’re working… what do you think?’ she says, standing back and staring at the little coloured balls draped along the wall.

‘Hmm.’ I nod.

‘I know it’s hard to tell in this light but tonight they’ll be lovely. Anyone for a beer?’ she says.

I thought she’d never ask. I didn’t want to be the first to suggest it because it’s still so early and Andriu says I shouldn’t drink as much as I do. He thinks I drink too quickly but I slag him and say that’s just because he’s so old. Andriu is only three years older than me, but honestly, sometimes he sounds so much older. He’s often commented on how immature we can get when the shots are brought to the table or the drinking games are suggested. Andriu hates all that stuff now. He’s been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.

I can sense his eyes boring through me from behind but I ignore him and tell Tara that I’ll have one. Then I hear his voice.

‘Are you sure, Faye? Is it not a bit early? You’ll be drunk by the time the party starts.’

‘The party has already started,’ Tara says, handing me a can of cider. She holds one out to Andriu but he says no. Then he stands up from where he was kneeling by my side and heads into the house. Andriu will take this as a loss and he doesn’t like losing.