She looked back at Father Jerry, but he wasn’t looking at her, his gaze was firmly fixed on Joe, and she was perturbed by the adoration and respect in his eyes. For pity’s sake, she thought, mildly irritated, is that what money does to people? Has Father Jerry never met a man who knows how to use a razor before? He should have met Nicholas. The pain returned to her heart. She needed to stop thinking, but she couldn’t. If Nicholas had been a free man, if they had been able to marry, if she had brought him to Tarabeg, it would be him they were all fawning over, not the man in the fancy shirt.

She wanted Father Jerry to get on with his welcome home speech so she could talk to Nola and find out more about why this so-called cousin was living up at the farm and what his real intentions were. She didn’t have to wait for very long.

Father Jerry cleared his throat. ‘It is always a joy when a lost sheep returns to the fold. Didn’t the Lord Jesus preach the very same to his followers and don’t we all know how that feels, here in Tarabeg.’

‘Amen. We do indeed,’ said Teresa Gallagher in a well-timed chorus.

Mary Kate looked over, a smile ready and waiting on her face, but Teresa was not looking at her either. She folded her arms in front of her and a shiver ran down her spine, even though it was warm in the kitchen.

‘But isn’t it a fact that when a lost sheep returns to the fold and brings a whole new world to our door to learn from, well, that has to be a blessing now.’

Keeva circled an arm around Mary Kate’s waist. ‘Are you okay?’ she whispered.

‘Aye, I just wish he would get on with it,’ Mary Kate whispered back.

Bridget slipped in next to her, on the other side. ‘I have a message for you, Mary Kate.’

Mary Kate almost jumped out of her skin. ‘A message?’ she whispered. ‘From the other side?’ Her heart began to beat wildly as the words she could not say stuck in her throat. From Nicholas?

‘Come on, Father, get on with it,’ Michael called from beside the barrel, where Paddy was filling his pot.

‘Don’t be rushing me, Michael. ’Tis a special thing to celebrate. So many leave Tarabeg and never return, not in a lifetime. Always meaning to, but, as we all know, time slips away and with it the hopes and dreams. You know, everyone thinks the grass is always greener, but how can it be – don’t we have the greenest right here on our very doorstep? I have always thought how blessed we are here in Tarabeg and wouldn’t it be the Lord’s own work if we could share what we have.’

Mary Kate shuffled from one foot to the next. Father Jerry was heading off in a very strange direction.