‘Oh, my, I hadn’t seen those. They’re just beautiful,’ she gushed. ‘I don’t think I could wear heels like that these days, but in my youth…’ She patted her hair up and let that easy smile once more light up her face. ‘But what the boy means is something a little more practical perhaps. Have you got anything? What size are you? I’m sure we can find you something if not.’

Ten minutes later I’d changed into jeans and was wearing an old pair of Maria’s hiking boots and a thick, waterproof coat. ‘It’s dry out there now,’ she said, as she held up a sleeve for me to feed my arm into, ‘but you never know with Ireland. Now, have a lovely time, both of you, and I’ll see you later for dinner.’

‘What time do you want us back?’ Lorcan asked, pulling the beanie from yesterday back on.

‘Just take your time, love. It’ll be dark before dinner’s ready anyway so just come back when you’re done,’ she replied, reaching up and straightening the hat a little.

Lorcan bent and pecked her on the cheek, before opening the back door. ‘After you.’ He motioned to me. ‘See you later, Mammy.’

‘Bye, darlin’. Drive safe, now.’

He waved in response and pulled the door closed behind him.

33

‘We’ll go in this,’ he said, pointing at a four-by-four vehicle, although thankfully not school-bus size like the hire company had reserved for me. ‘If we get stuck somewhere, we’ve got a better chance of getting out again in this than yours.’

‘I wasn’t aware we were going off-roading,’ I said, swinging myself up into the seat from the outside step of the vehicle. Lorcan, no doubt, wouldn’t need the step with his long legs.

‘Just in case,’ he said, checking I had all my limbs inside the vehicle before closing the door and heading around to the driver’s side.

‘Is this yours?’ I asked as he got in, hoping to make general conversation and prevent us from sitting in silence for the rest of the day.

‘Mam’s. We got it for her a couple of years ago after she’d got stuck late at night in some bad weather in her old car.’

‘We?’

‘My siblings and me.’

‘That’s so thoughtful.’