Without waiting for a reply, she walked forward and was greeted by a rush of women around the car, all of them delighted to see her safely back home and keen to meet and talk to her visitors from Liverpool.

‘I’ve no idea what’s got into her,’ said Michael apologetically to his passengers.

‘I think we do,’ said Mrs O’Keefe. ‘I think she’s come back too soon. It might not be the right thing for her, Michael.’

She placed her hand on the back of his seat, expecting a rebuke. But he simple stared at his daughter’s retreating back. ‘I’ll do everything I can to keep her here – she’s all I have of her mother,’ he said. ‘But I fear you may be wiser than me.’

When they finally made it to the post office door, Mrs Doyle sent Michael on his way as fast as she could. ‘Keeva and Tig are waiting for you. They need for you to go and get your van and give them a lift to the long hall so they can take up one of the barrels ready for the dance at the end of the week.’

‘Right, ladies, I’m off. Mary Kate, could you look after Cat and Mrs O’Keefe and walk them back to the shop. They’re having tea with us, Rosie has it all sorted, and then I will run them back up to the farm.’

‘Well, didn’t you just pick a grand week to visit,’ said Mrs Doyle as she clasped her hands together. ‘And was it the dance in the long hall that brought you? Is it the talk of Liverpool now, is it?’

Cat looked confused. Mary Kate came to her rescue. ‘Sure, I couldn’t have picked a better time to come home, could I? Mrs Doyle, do you still make the best tea in Tarabeg?’

‘Well now, why don’t you come inside and try it and tell me for yourself,’ she said.

They all turned as they heard a car horn beep and everyone began waving like a group of cheerleaders as Joe drove past in his car.

‘Hello, Miss Gallagher,’ he shouted out of the window as he slowed down. Joe had a soft spot for Teresa. She was the one who’d told him about his heritage and taken him to Daedio. If it hadn’t been for her, he might have left Ireland without even making contact before the old man died. Teresa was his favourite and everyone knew it.

‘Hello, Joe,’ she shouted back.

‘Will I be seeing you at the dance, Miss Gallagher?’

‘No, Joe, you will not. I am long past the dance,’ she said with a twinkling smile. ‘I will be sat by my fireside with a cup of cocoa.’

‘Now that sounds like a very inviting proposition,’ he said.

‘Have you met the new visitors?’ she asked. ‘You aren’t the only one now, Joe. There are visitors all over. It seems Tarabeg is the place everyone wants to come to.’ She took a few tentative steps towards the car.