Liv dumped the stupid book at the back of the hall stand when she arrived home. From the living room, she heard the low sounds of a television programme playing away and, she knew, more than likely being ignored. She ran to the bathroom and scrubbed her face clean from the little amount of make-up she’d been wearing earlier and then put on her pyjamas before she looked around the sitting room door to see if anyone would like a hot drink before bedtime.

‘Huh, what time is it?’ Her father stirred; perhaps not really realising he’d been asleep at all. Her mother was snoring contentedly on the couch. On the TV, Batman was slugging it out with Superman – hardly her parents’ cup of tea. ‘Nothing for me, dear, but come in, tell us all about what’s happening down in the village.’ Her father hadn’t left the farm since midnight mass on Christmas Eve – no need, everything he wanted was right here.

‘Oh, not a lot, the usual carry-on. The older team managed to win the match, but Eddie was out in the first fifteen minutes.’

‘Sent off?’ Her father shook his head. Eddie had always been what her father called a ‘dirty player’. He was as likely to strike out at an opponent as he was to put the ball in the back of the net.

‘But there was a good crowd in Flannelly’s.’ She turned towards her mother who had just woken up. ‘We met Anya; she seems good after the break-up. She’s looking for a place to stay in Dublin.’

‘Well, no better girl; I have a feeling that Anya is well able to look after herself. You didn’t offer her your spare room, did you?’ Her mother looked at her through narrowed eyes; her family thought she was a soft touch for every waif and stray.

‘No, of course not.’ She didn’t mention that Maya would have murdered her if she had and she was probably right – the flat was hardly big enough for her and Eddie, never mind Anya and the extensive wardrobe that she’d acquired while she was going out with Pete.

‘Good. I was never keen on that girl; always had a feeling that wherever she goes there’ll be trouble not far after her,’ her father said uncharacteristically. ‘Don’t look at me like that – I know more about the world than just sheep and lambs.’ He squeezed Liv’s hand affectionately.

‘It’s lovely to be home for Christmas,’ Liv said and the words had come from nowhere. Or maybe, they were just a reaction to the disappointment that Eddie’s gift had left her with. But it was nice, to be sitting here in the big old farmhouse, surrounded by the people who would love her no matter what happened.

‘Aye. It is lovely, all right,’ her dad said contentedly.