Nina lived on the other side of the village. Although her house wasn’t quite as big as Tom’s, it was in far better shape. Her father’s surgery was in a separate red-brick building to the side. As they walked, the snow returned, whirling and dancing around them, making it hard to see more than a few inches ahead. This was good. Tess didn’t know how the Minogues would feel about all of them arriving on the doorstep. In this weather, though, nobody would turn them away. She told Tom and Conor about hearing the report on the radio. Conor said the radio guy had gone to the garda station. Other journalists were there too. From what he could gather, Father Galvin had died from a bang to the head. More than that, nobody would say.

‘You’d swear we were kids,’ he added.

For most of their walk, Tom said nothing. This was unusual, and Tess didn’t know how to deal with the situation. She ended up chattering about what Mags and Mercedes had said. They passed the Crossans’ petrol station, but it was closed.

Nina’s mother answered the door, and if she was surprised to see them all, it didn’t show. ‘Come in out of that snow,’ she said. ‘You must be frozen.’ Then she ran a hand through her hair. ‘You’ll have to forgive the state of me. I’m a little frazzled today.’

To Tess, Helen Minogue looked as beautiful as ever. She always wore the kind of plain clothes that cost an absolute mint. A while back, Tess had realised that the best way to look wealthy wasn’t to wear lots of jewellery or flouncy gear. If you wanted to look rich, you had to dress in boring clothes. Mrs Minogue had gorgeous hair too. Ash-blonde, Tess supposed you’d call it. Nina said her mam had her hair cut and coloured in Limerick by a man who used to work in London. Most of the women in Kilmitten went to Mrs Grogan who insisted on doing a shampoo and set like it was 1962. You were lucky to escape without a blue rinse.

After they’d trooped in, Nina’s mother was all fuss. She even gave Tom a huG and told him not to worry about anything. He went stiff, as if it hurt to be touched. You’d better get used to it, thought Tess. There’s going to be a lot of hugging and back-patting over the next few days. By now, Nina had arrived, her eyes as big as dinner plates.

Mrs Minogue told them to go into the sitting room. ‘You look to me,’ she said, ‘like a gang who could do with some hot chocolate.’

Tess wanted to kiss her.