Contents (71)
- THE
- DAUGHTER
- MICHELLE FRANCES
- PROLOGUE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- EPILOGUE
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
‘Where were you this afternoon?’
He looked bemused by her question. ‘What? At work.’ He frowned. ‘What are you insinuating?’
‘I went to meet you. Your last bus.’
A flicker of something in his eyes. Nerves? She watched as Tim blinked rapidly. ‘I clocked off early. Soon after I rang you. Had a bit of a dizzy spell. Bosses don’t like you behind the wheel if you’re not up to it. Health and safety rules.’
‘Are you OK?’
He quickly reassured her. ‘Oh, yes. Fine now.’
Kate appraised him. ‘Why are you so against me doing this?’
‘I don’t know, because I don’t want you to die?’
It was sarcasm but gently done; the look on his face was one of disquiet.
She put her hand on his. ‘I understand why you’re so worried, but it feels wrong to just throw away everything I’ve done.’
‘You’ve done enough,’ said Tim. ‘Look at everything you’ve achieved, those trucks today. You’re amazing. What you’ve done is amazing—’
‘So, let me finish,’ said Kate. ‘I can’t abandon her, Tim. I might not be smart, or have a string of qualifications, but that much I do know. And I’m struggling, God dammit. Half the time I’m just winging it, scared to death, but I can’t let her down. Another couple of months, then I’m sure all this will be over.’
‘And if it’s not?’
‘I can’t stop, Tim. If I did, I’d become a part of it.’
‘No—’
‘She’s my daughter. How can I live with myself if I don’t carry on?’
THIRTY-SEVEN
2010
‘It’s a new initiative,’ said Becky. ‘We voted it in. The whole school. Ninety-seven per cent of us said “yes”. Come on, Mum, it’ll be fun.’
Kate secretly thought it would probably be one of the worst days of her life. The school had dreamed up ‘Family Woman Day’, where the mothers of the pupils got to go in with their children and take part in the school day.
‘Is Claire’s mum going?’
‘No.’
‘There we are then.’
‘But only because Claire’s mum is in Zurich for her work. If your mum’s not around, you’re allowed to bring someone else. Your aunt. Or grandmother.’
Of which Becky had neither. Kate was an only child and she hadn’t spoken to her mother for over fifteen years. Dervla would be turning sixty this month – still a relatively young woman. Kate hadn’t told Becky, but she’d sent her mother a birthday card and a photo of Becky, taken on her fifteenth birthday. Kate wasn’t expecting her mother to suddenly become a doting grandmother, first in the queue at events like this Family Woman Day, but such a lot of time had passed, she was quietly hopeful that they might re-establish contact.
Kate looked at her daughter’s pleading face. It would be cruel to say no. If she kept her head down on the day, maybe she’d get away with it.
‘OK.’
Becky beamed. ‘Thanks, Mum. And don’t worry about the quiz. We’ll be together for that bit.’ Then, knowing what her mum’s response would be, she pegged it out of the kitchen, grabbed her bag and, calling out a goodbye, slammed the front door shut.