Apart from Davy’s schoolbag, they had brought no belongings. Seamie and Betty took Eamonn’s old bed, and Cushla brought the kids into the spare room. The paraphernalia of her father’s sickness was still there: a commode, boxes of pads and disposable sheets. She worried that the beds would be dusty, but remembered Gina had changed them recently enough, on the last soup day. She switched on the bedside lamp and showed Davy and Mandy where she kept her old books, in a box in the wardrobe, in case they couldn’t sleep. They were sitting on the edge of the bed in their clothes. She went to her room and found T-shirts for them to wear.

I know he didn’t do it, Mandy was saying when Cushla returned. Our Tommy wouldn’t kill anyone.

Downstairs, Gina poured tea. That she wasn’t reaching for gin was a mark of the gravity of the situation they were now in. You know what people are going to think when they hear we took in that family? said Gina.

What was I supposed to do? I had no idea Tommy had been arrested. Do you think he did it?

How could he have? He was probably scooped.

Cushla cleared the table and began washing dishes. Dear God, she said in her head. If you can get us out of this I swear I will never look at a man again, never have a bad thought about anyone again, I will become a fucking nun if that’ll keep you sweet, but please please let this be a mistake.

When she lay down on her bed, her chest was pricklish. She could hear Davy was coughing too. She brought a glass of water to the spare room. He was sleeping nearest the window, and sat up when she put her hand on his shoulder.

Sip this, said Cushla.

Mandy turned to face them. I can’t sleep, she said.

Any wonder. When I can’t sleep I get up for a wee while, then have a second go at going to bed. Come downstairs. It might work.

They pulled their jeans on and followed her. She uncovered the tray of sandwiches and poured three glasses of milk. This time they ate.

Where are we going to live? said Davy suddenly.

I don’t know, said Mandy. And all our stuff is there. Will we be able to get any of it back?

Something’ll get sorted out really soon, said Cushla.