‘I honestly can’t be making any plans. I’ll shoot back to my mum’s soon and get changed, then come straight back here.’

Albie kissed his beautiful bride on the cheek. ‘OK, my love. Well, if I don’t see you later tonight, I’ll come and find you tomorrow.’ This wasn’t exactly how Albie had planned his wedding day, but it wasn’t Queenie’s fault. It was just one of those things.

Not long after Albie left, Daniel turned up looking flustered. ‘I heard Mum fainted. Where is she?’

When Patrick explained the true horror of the situation, Daniel was shell-shocked. ‘Sweet Jesus, no. Not Mum. Fucking hell.’

Queenie felt ridiculous wearing her wedding dress in front of Daniel. ‘I’ll pop home. While I’m there, I’ll nip in your mum’s and pick up her rosary beads. She’ll want them when she wakes up, I know she will.’

‘Did you end up getting married?’ Daniel looked at Queenie and couldn’t hide the hope in his eyes. Now wasn’t the time, but he couldn’t help himself.

‘Erm, yes. Your mum became ill after the service. I won’t be long.’

The next few days were a blur for Queenie. Mary woke up, but couldn’t speak properly or move her limbs. To see her dear friend like that tore Queenie apart.

The doctors and nurses were kind, but could give no guarantee that Mary would ever return to her previous self. They said only time would tell if the damage her brain had suffered would be temporary or permanent. They also said that Mary was lucky to be alive as many don’t survive such trauma.

Struggling to get her head around what was happening, Queenie visited Albie and her mum, but couldn’t face staying with either. Sleeping at Mary’s house made her feel close to her lovely friend. She’d cook for Patrick and Daniel, make sure they had at least one good meal inside them a day. Daniel didn’t leave her side. Mary always fussed over feeding her boys; therefore Queenie knew she’d approve of her helping out.

One person who didn’t approve was her mother. ‘It’s wrong, you sleeping at that house with two grown men, Queenie. People will talk. Albie’s been very patient with you. You even left the poor man on his wedding night. I know you’re upset about Mary, but you need to put your own husband first. Your father ain’t happy, let me tell you. He saw you and Daniel entering that house alone late last night and he said Daniel had his hand on your back.’

‘Dad’s a fine one to talk,’ hissed Queenie.

‘And what is that supposed to mean?’

‘Nothing,’ lied Queenie. ‘Daniel’s married and Patrick has recently got engaged, in case you’d forgotten. They’re also Mary’s sons. Nobody else understands how I feel, only them and vice versa. So sod what the gossip-mongers say or think. I couldn’t give a shit.’

Queenie felt herself becoming closer to Daniel than she’d ever been. She saw a vulnerable side to him she’d never witnessed before. She knew from stories Mary had told her that Daniel had a vicious temper, but he was like a little boy lost now Mary was seriously ill. He opened up about his marriage to Bridie and admitted he’d never loved her. Queenie couldn’t help but feel she’d married the wrong man, but it was too late for regrets. Like Daniel, she’d made her bed, so would now have to lie in it.