A hideous truth, Danny noted. At least twice her age. She’d kissed that mouth? Slid her tongue through those teeth?

“I said—you miss me, luv?”

Thomas Coughlin held up a hand. “You’ll need to be clearer, Mr. Finn.”

Quentin Finn narrowed his eyes at him. “Clearer about what, sir? I married this woman. Gave her me name. Shared title to me land in Donegal. She’s my wife, sir. And I’ve come to take her home.”

Nora had gone too long without speaking. Danny could see that clearly—in his mother’s eyes, in Connor’s. If she’d ever held hope of denial, the moment had passed.

Connor said, “Nora.”

Nora closed her eyes. She said, “Ssshh,” and held up her hand.

“‘Ssshh’?” Connor repeated.

“Is this true?” Danny’s mother said. “Nora? Look at me. Is this true?”

But Nora wouldn’t look. She wouldn’t open her eyes. She kept waving her hand back and forth, as if it could ward off time.

Danny couldn’t help but be perversely fascinated by the man in the doorway. This, he wanted to say? You fucked this? He could feel the liquor sledding through his blood and he knew some better part of himself waited behind it, but now the only part he could reach was the one who’d placed his head to her chest and told her he loved her.

To which she’d replied: You love yourself.

His father said, “Mr. Finn, take a seat, sir.”

“I’ll stand, sure, Captain, if it’s all the same to ya.”

“What do you expect is going to happen here tonight?” Thomas said.

“I expect to walk back out that door with my wife in tow, I do.” He nodded.

Thomas looked at Nora. “Raise your head, girl.”

Nora opened her eyes, looked at him.

“Is it true. Is this man your husband?”

Nora’s eyes found Danny’s. What had she said in the study? I can’t abide a man feels sorry for himself. Who’s feeling sorry now?

Danny dropped his eyes.

“Nora,” his father said. “Answer the question, please. Is he your husband?”

She reached for her teacup but it tottered in her grip and she let it go.

“He was.”

Danny’s mother blessed herself.

“Jesus Christ!” Connor kicked the baseboard.

“Joe,” their father said quietly, “go to your room. And don’t dare argue, son.”

Joe opened his mouth, thought better of it, and left the dining room.

Danny realized he was shaking his head and stopped himself. This? He wanted to shout the word. You married this grim, grisly joke? And you dared talk down to me?

He took another drink as Quentin Finn took two sideways steps into the room.

“Nora,” Thomas Coughlin said, “you said was your husband. So I can assume there was an annulment, yes?”

Nora looked at Danny again. Her eyes had a shine that could have been mistaken, under different circumstances, for happiness.

Danny looked over at Quentin again, the man scratching at his beard.

“Nora,” Thomas said, “did you get an annulment? Answer me, girl.”