‘She had you young. Smart woman. We’re what’s called geriatric parents. I wish I’d got my two when I was in my twenties. That’s them there.’ She pointed to another framed photo. The two teenage athletes. ‘Ursula and Ava. Emmet and I adopted them from Vietnam. It’s a long process here, so much red tape. It’s survival of the fittest. But we were determined. If we couldn’t have children of our own, we’d find ourselves a family some other way.’

Eliza looked from one to the other. ‘That’s what you meant?’ she said to Emmet.

He nodded. ‘I knew Dervla would be able to tell you more easily than I could. She’s much happier discussing my reproductive system than I am. Though I’m sure the locals have guessed that Ursula and Ava aren’t my biological children. How, I don’t know.’

Dervla rolled her eyes. ‘He always thinks that’s funny.’

‘It is,’ he said. ‘But yes, Eliza. When I said I was sure I’m not your father, that’s what I meant.’

‘Is that what Jeannie told you, Eliza?’ Dervla asked. ‘That Emmet was your father?’

‘Not exactly,’ she said. Where did she start? She had that urge again, to pause everything. Or to go back in time and still have that hope that it was him. Because if it wasn’t, who —

A bell sounded from the bar. A group of people, by the sound of the voices.

‘I’ll go,’ Emmet and Dervla said as one.

‘You go,’ Dervla said. She waited until he’d left, then spoke. ‘Eliza, why didn’t you let us know you were coming? We were away last week. You could have turned up like this and we wouldn’t have been here. Are you in Ireland on holiday?’

Eliza explained about being in Edinburgh. Her godmothers helping her piece it together.

‘They were never a couple, Eliza. Your mum and Emmet. Believe me, I wondered as much at the time. Especially when she came back from London with him, and he followed her out to Australia. Not that I could say anything. I’d asked him for a break. I thought we were too young. But he told me – and I’ve always believed him – that they really were the best of friends. She was the big sister he’d never had, he said. I think she felt the same. I spoke to her once after he had his accident. She was so devastated, she blamed herself – I’m sorry, do you even know about his accident?’

‘Not everything. I only heard about it this week, from my godmothers. My mother’s best friends. It’s a long story but —’

There was a sudden burst of laughter from outside. More voices. Another group had arrived.