Cover

ABOUT THE BOOK

Maisie Brennan is standing on a podium on the twentieth anniversary of the death of her son, trying to find the first breath that will help her start talking to a roomful of strangers. A daunting task at the best of times, but she’s also menopausal and one hot flush away from totally losing it.

But as Maisie begins her story, she relaxes and word by word soon disappears into her past, back to 1st January 1995: the day when one misunderstood action led to a chain of events that changed her life for ever . . .

Somewhere Inside of Happy will have you laughing and crying from the first page to the very last.

Title Page

Dedication

To my husband, Donal. I’d be lost without you.
(You’re a bit like GPS that way …)

Prologue

Introducing Maisie Bean Brennan

The room was silent, but for the sound of shuffling, an unidentifiable clicking and Maisie’s own heartbeat. Shuffle, click, boom, shuffle, click, boom. Calm down, ya silly old cow. It’ll be OK.

She could feel her husband’s hands on her shoulders. He was standing right behind her, at the side of the stage, and she could hear him talking in her head. It’s all good, lady, you’re doing fine. Forget the sweats. Just smile. She watched her daughter Valerie limp in and lean against her stepfather, then pull off her shoe and shake out a piece of gravel.

Her face and head were on fire: her latest hot flush had drenched her scalp, frizzing her lovely blow-dry at the roots. She tried to smile but her lips stuck to her upper teeth. Oh, brilliant. Now I’ll look mental.

The distinguished, learned man introducing her to the stage had been talking for several minutes; clearly he liked the sound of his own voice. It was a nice voice, to be fair, posh and plummy, and he was so softly spoken it had a lulling effect as you listened.

Maisie was busy scanning the crowd and immediately spotted Deirdre, in an immaculate and expensive dark suit. Just behind her, Mitch and Jonno sat together. Mitch was eating a large ham roll, dropping half its contents on to Jonno’s lap. Years pass by … Everything changes, yet everything stays the same. She looked for Dave: he’d promised he’d be there if he could, but he toured a lot and his girlfriend had just given birth to twins. That’s no joke, Dave. She smiled to herself as she spotted him moving across the aisle to push a gawky teenager out of his seat so that he could sit with his old mate. John elbowed him and grinned, then tickled the back of Lynn’s neck, earning himself a shake of one of her knitting needles.