‘Emmet’s the MC and quizmaster,’ Dervla said, coming back with sheets of paper and pencils. ‘One of the barmen too. You’ve got a few minutes before we start if you want to get a drink. His mother Sheila’s just arrived. We haven’t told her you’ll be here. It’ll be a great surprise.’ She gestured towards a woman at the bar, talking to a group of people. She was in her seventies, grey-haired, well-dressed.

Eliza insisted on getting the drinks for Lawrence and herself. The noise increased as she followed Dervla to the bar. She stood back as Dervla tapped Emmet’s mother on the shoulder.

‘Sheila, let me introduce someone to you. A surprise visitor.’

Sheila turned and smiled at Eliza, waiting.

‘Do you remember that Australian barmaid from all those years ago?’ Dervla said, speaking over the hubbub. ‘Emmet’s friend from London? The one he stayed with when he went over to Australia?’

Sheila frowned as if she was trying hard to hear. She nodded, still looking at Eliza.

‘This is her daughter,’ Dervla was now nearly shouting. ‘She’s come all this way to meet us.’

Sheila’s expression changed. Behind them, Emmet was tapping a glass, bending down to a microphone, calling for quiet. Dervla turned and began calling for quiet too, cheerful, clapping her hands. ‘Quiz time, everyone!’

Eliza realised Sheila was saying something to her. She had to lean in close to hear.

‘You can’t be,’ the older woman was saying. There was a brief lull in the noise of the room. Long enough for Eliza to clearly hear Sheila’s next words, spoken in a whisper. ‘Jeannie said you’d died.’

Chapter Thirty-one

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

She must have misheard. It was the only explanation, Eliza thought. The microphone squealed again. There wasn’t a chance to ask Sheila to repeat it. Dervla had taken her mother-in-law by the arm, escorting her to her table, calling ‘Good luck’ over to Eliza.

She brought their drinks back, a pint of Guinness for Lawrence, Coke for herself. In the few minutes before the questions began, she learned the Canadians were relaxed, witty company. Full of stories about their Irish travels. Lawrence was equally relaxed. As the quiz got underway, she also discovered he was very smart. Their teammates soon bowed to his knowledge.

Eliza found herself taking it seriously. All the nights alone in her Melbourne apartment watching documentaries on world politics, current affairs, geography and geology began to pay off. Between her and Lawrence, with only occasional help from their quizmates, they were winning rounds.

‘We struck it lucky,’ one of the Canadians said. ‘You two do the work, we’ll get the spoils.’