Despite her promise to Conor, Tess hadn’t contacted Nina. If asked, she had a convoy of excuses lined up and ready to go: she’d been too busy; Daisy had taken up all her time; she’d been involved in a project in the village; she’d lost the number. None of this was true. She had thought about making the call. What she’d said to him about not liking Nina wasn’t true. She didn’t even know her. Save for a few brief meetings, their encounter in the hospital included, they hadn’t spoken in years. Call Tess a coward, but not lifting the phone was easier. Once they’d exhausted the basics – parents, children, Kilmitten – they mightn’t have anything to say. The piece of paper containing Nina’s number was gradually turning to lint at the bottom of her favourite handbag.

Helen was staring at her, expecting a reply.

‘Ahm … Isn’t it Nina’s birthday this week?’ she said.

‘Yes, it’s tomorrow. And the poor thing will be on her own. Julian’s on a golfing trip, and Bea’s gone to visit Alannah in London.’ Helen twirled her wine glass. ‘I do envy your memory. Imagine you remembering Nina’s birthday.’

‘The mad thing is, I can recite the birthdays of half of our primary-school class. Ask me for more recent dates, and I’m lost.’

Helen smiled. ‘Daisy’s not with you, is she?’

‘No, she’s at school. I was tempted to bring her, but a full-blown village funeral might have been too much. She’d be standing here now, saying, “Mummy, if a lady is dead, why are these people having such a good time?”’

‘She sounds like a wise girl.’

‘She frightens me she’s so smart. As Mam says, “She’s as sharp as a needle, that child.”’

Helen asked about Conor. Tess gave her standard response about his life slowly getting back to normal. Then she mentioned his meddling in the Father Galvin case. ‘I think he’s got over it,’ she said, ‘but it was such a pain for Flan, which meant it was a pain for Mam too.’

She would have liked to continue the conversation. Unfortunately, Emmet appeared with his coat on one arm and Helen’s on the other. ‘It’s time we made a move,’ he said. ‘Hugh and Gráinne want to drop down and pay their respects. They need us to watch the children.’

‘Well, it was lovely to see you, Tess,’ said Helen. ‘I’ll tell Nina we had a chat.’

‘Do that, and, ahm … wish her a happy birthday from me, would you?’