Chapter 13

Conor sensed that something was wrong. Paula’s presence added to his unease. His sister kept touching her hair, a sign she was on edge. She’d left her two children at home with Marty. His first instinct was to blame the TV programme. Then again, perhaps someone was ill. His dad was nearly fifty. Not ancient, but who knew better than Conor that bad health could strike at any time? His mother had been only thirty-five when she died. When he’d been a kid it hadn’t seemed particularly young. Now, he appreciated the full tragedy of her death.

‘You’ll have a cup of tea,’ said Paula, her voice making it clear that this was an order, not an offer.

‘Well, now,’ said his father, from one end of the sofa, ‘it’s a good while since the three of us were together.’

‘It is indeed,’ replied Paula, who was sitting beside him, hands clasped, like an old woman at prayer.

For the next few minutes, they sipped their tea and swapped bland small talk. From his chair on the other side of the sitting room, Conor scrutinised his dad for signs of illness, for sunken cheeks or twitches of pain, but he couldn’t spot anything. Finally, he decided to put an end to the shilly-shallying.

‘I’d better get moving. I’m meeting Tess and Nina.’

‘Ah,’ said his dad. ‘Tess. She’s doing very well.’

‘She is,’ said Conor.

‘So … what I’ve been meaning to tell you is that Tess’s mother and I have been seeing each other. Nothing serious at first. But the way it is … it’s got more serious. I like Ginny a lot. She’s a smashing woman. And we’ve agreed that it’s time we let people know we’re a couple. We’re too old to be mooching around like teenagers.’

Conor tried to stop himself appearing shocked. ‘Aren’t you the dark horse? I knew you were fond of Ginny, but I’d never pictured you together.’

His dad gave a self-conscious smile. ‘She’s a calmer woman than she was a few years ago. Not that there was anything wrong with her then either. She hasn’t had an easy life.’

‘Yeah, I—’

‘Raising a child on her own, that took courage. Lots of women do it now. But back in those days there were plenty around here who would’ve preferred if she’d had Tess adopted. And look at what a top-class job she did. I was watching Tess on the telly a while back, and she was a star. A credit to her mother. Ginny’s always worked hard too, you know. It’s easy to forget that. She’s very independent.’