Queenie’s heart was beating so fast she could barely breathe. ‘Oh, Daniel. You’ve always had a place in my heart too. You always will have. I know Mary was against it, but I didn’t know she’d warned you off.’

‘Mum knew there was something real between us. I denied any wrongdoing, but Mum wasn’t stupid, was she? She could sense the change in us, how we acted towards one another after she came out of hospital.’

‘Did Patrick know?’

‘No. He’s never said nothing to me, anyway. He used to joke you had a crush on me when you were a kid, that was all. Mum knew though and when Vinny was born, that confirmed her suspicions.’

‘What d’ya mean?’

‘Oh, come on, Queenie. You only have to look at the boy. Vinny’s not Albie’s son. He’s mine.’

CHAPTER FORTY

‘Hello, Queenie.’

‘Mary, what are you doing here? I’m in a bedsit in Ireland.’

‘Yes. I know. Thank you for my lovely flowers. They’re gorgeous.’

‘You’ve got my scarf on again. You look so beautiful.’

‘So do you, sweetheart. I loved your dress.’

‘Thank you. Oh Mary, it’s so good to see you again.’

‘And you. But what you gonna do about our Daniel, eh? I know he loves you and you love him. But it’s a gamble, Queenie. He’s not reliable. Never will be. But on the other hand, you’ve never loved, Albie, so what you got to lose? Not like your kids are babies, is it? Daniel could be your one chance of finding true happiness.’

‘Mary. Mary—’ I cried out, but she’d gone. I woke up, my heart pounding. I knew it was only a dream, but like the last time Mary appeared in one, it seemed so real. She seemed so real. Was my unconscious mind trying to tell me something?

My brief yet passionate affair with Daniel felt as though it were only yesterday. I’d often relived it in my mind. Not when having sex with Albie – that would have tainted my most wonderful memory. Daniel and I didn’t just have sex, we made love. Passionate love.

The affair lasted four days, to be precise. It ended when I saw Bridie and Daniel kissing at the hospital. I’d been in my own little bubble up until then, but seeing that kiss burst it. It brought me back to reality. So I went home to Albie, did my best to act normal, and carried on with married life. We were newlyweds. I should’ve felt guilty, but I didn’t. The only guilt I felt was towards Mary. I’d made love to her son six times over the four-day period while she was laid up in hospital.

Weeks later, it was confirmed I was pregnant. Albie wasn’t suspicious because we’d made love lots of times, such was my desire for a son. Inwardly though, I wanted my son to be Daniel’s. That was the only way I could always hang on to a part of Daniel. I’d also have a part of Mary.