Dana gave Jake everything he needed, and he loved her with all his little heart. As he was getting older, he was starting to question his world and the people in it. His mother Jessie was an anomaly to him; she drifted in and out of his life and didn’t know how to treat him when they were together. But what would she know about love and caring? It wasn’t as though she had learnt it at home. Dana saw that Josephine would always put her husband Michael above anyone, even Jake, if it came to it. How was Jessie supposed to live with that knowledge? Now that Michael had given Josephine a much-needed reality check, forcing her to acknowledge the truth of her life for once, it seemed that Josephine had suddenly forgotten she had a small grandson who needed her. Josephine had locked herself away in her room, broken-hearted and full of self-pity. She had refused to see her little grandson, saying she was too upset. It was shocking and cruel to ignore the little boy like that, but what could she do about it?

Michael Flynn came into the kitchen and, sitting down beside his grandson, he kissed him on his cheek heartily, grabbing the boy out of his chair. Jake laughed loudly with happiness; he loved to be noticed.

‘I hear a certain young man is going to Mass this morning with his school. He’s learning about his Holy Communion.’

Jake grinned at his granddad. ‘I am. That’s me! How did you know?’

Michael shrugged theatrically. ‘I heard about it, and I wanted to give him a hug before he went! It’s a sacrament you know, Jake, Holy Communion, like a deal you make with God. It’s very important. It’s a big thing for anyone. Remember that. You’ll make your First Confession, and then, when you’ve been absolved of all your sins, you can finally make your First Holy Communion. It’s a big event in your life, mate.’

Jake was hanging on his granddad’s every word.

‘Never forget that you are a very special person, who is going to do a very special thing, and that being a Catholic is very important, OK?’

Jake nodded solemnly. ‘Will my mummy be there?’

Michael hugged his grandson tightly. ‘’Course she will be there, Jake, she wouldn’t miss something as important as this!’

As he said the words, he hoped he wouldn’t be proved a liar. For all he knew, his daughter was already dead.

Chapter One Hundred and Seven

Chapter One Hundred
and Seven