“I hope Jude’s daughters will be okay,” I said. “Although with Jude to keep an eye on them, I think they will be.” I smiled. “I think we might be seeing Jude again. Phyllis has stayed in touch with him.”

“Good for her.” Molloy stood up. “I’d better go and check on this food.”

While he disappeared inside, I took yet another olive. They weren’t bad. My phone rang in my bag and I took it out. It was an unknown number, a Dublin number. I answered it.

“Hello?”

A hesitant female voice said, “Hello, is that Miss O’Keeffe? Your parents live in Chapelizod?”

My throat tightened. I felt a flicker of fear. “Yes.”

The voice sounded relieved. “My name is Pat. I live in the house opposite your parents, same estate. I’m sorry, I haven’t met you, we haven’t been here very long. And I don’t want to come across like a nosy neighbor …”

I cut across her. “Go on.” My heart was thumping.

“It’s just, some people have moved in with your parents. There was a young man there for a while and he seemed all right, but there are at least four others there now and to be honest I don’t know where they’re all fitting. Your parents’ house is the same size as ours.” I heard her take a deep breath. “I’ve called over and your mum and dad say they’re fine, but it just seems a bit odd.”

I swallowed. My mouth was very dry. “No, you did the right thing. How did you get my number, by the way?”

The voice sounded sheepish. “I’m afraid I told your mother that we were heading to Donegal on holidays and thinking of visiting Inishowen, and I asked her for it. I hope I’ve done the right thing. They’re not young and, well, I was worried.”

“You did the right thing,” I repeated. “Thank you very much, Pat.”

Stomach churning, I rang my parents. Voicemail on all three numbers.

Fear clutched at my chest as I ran into the kitchen. Molloy read my expression immediately. He held my hands as I told him what had happened, the words tumbling over one another as they fell from my mouth.

“I’m going down there, straight away,” I said. “I have to.”

“I’ll come with you. I’ll drive. I’ve only had half a glass.”

I gave him a relieved hug: it seemed “normal” coupledom would have to wait. Or maybe this was what passed as “normal coupledom” for us.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS