Mary Kate looked over to Michael, who came and stood by her other side. ‘Bee’s right. You can go straight upstairs if you want to.’

‘No, let’s do it. And besides, I want to see Granny Nola and Aunty Bridget. I’ve missed them.’ And, smiling weakly, Mary Kate was the first to step in through the door.

Michael bent his head to Bee. ‘You go on in now too, Bee. I just need a word with Captain Bob here.’

With the women safely out of earshot, he handed Captain Bob the keys to his car. ‘Does Mary Kate have any idea about the surprise visitors?’ he asked.

‘Not a clue,’ said Captain Bob. ‘And nor even does Bee.’

‘Be as quick as you can,’ Michael said, ‘before anyone starts asking after ye.’

Captain Bob winked at Michael as they shared a conspiratorial smile. No one heard the car start up as Michael followed the others into the warmth and light of the kitchen. Only he heard the gears change as the tyres crunched and the car pulled out onto the main street.

*

Mary Kate entered a room filled with excited chatter and the clinking of glasses. The first person she saw was Peggy, fussing over Pete Shevlin, forcing a cup of tea into his hand as his cheeks flushed as red as the fire. Next her eyes alighted on Seamus and Nola, and even she wasn’t prepared for the rush of emotion as they fought to be the first to fold her into their arms.

‘For the love of God, would you look at her! Isn’t she the image of her poor dead mother,’ said Nola, and for a second the room fell quiet.

Rosie didn’t flinch. Before Mary Kate had left Tarabeg, she used to hear someone make that same comment at least once a day. Rosie may have been Michael’s wife and the stepmother to Sarah’s children, but no one would ever let her forget that Michael had chosen Sarah first.

Bridget and Porick were standing against the range with Paddy and Josie, who was stirring the stew over the fire. It felt like it took forever for Mary Kate to meet and greet everyone, and then Keeva and Tig arrived. Neighbours had been invited to call in for a glass and there wasn’t one that didn’t take up the chance of a free drink.

Keeva joined Mary Kate and prevented the questions from becoming too deep with frequent interventions of her own. She dragged her away, over to Tig. ‘Keep your eye on this one, Tig,’ she said. ‘As nosey as crows, the lot of them. They ask her that many questions, they’ll be wanting to know when she last went to the toilet. Something is wrong,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t know what it is, they aren’t telling me anything, but she’s not right. Keep an eye on her and don’t leave her alone while I dish out the food.’

Tig’s expression turned from cheerful to concerned.