Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
Saoirse
I reach for Maura’s hand as a tear trickles down her cheek. I shove my other hand in my pocket and pull out some tissues and offer them to her.
“It’s clean, I promise,” I say softly.
Maura nods and smiles and takes it. She dabs under her eyes and blows her nose.
“Oh, look at me being all silly,” she says, swallowing a stubborn tear-soaked lump. “I haven’t cried about all this in a long time. But every now and then the memories sting.”
My chest feels tight. Suddenly Maura’s story isn’t the loveliest story I’ve ever heard. And, somehow, at the same time, it feels like an even greater honor to hear it.
I put that tissue in my pocket earlier, just before I stormed out the door of my apartment. I thought I’d walk around for a while and have a good cry. But tears didn’t come. As much as I wanted to cry, I had no tears. But now, holding Maura’s hand and feeling the gentle shaking of her body, tears gather in the corners of my eyes.
“I’m sorry you married such a bastard,” I say.
Maura stops sobbing and bursts out laughing.
I’m so confused. But her laughter goes on and on, and then she snorts and laughs even louder. I find it’s quite contagious. Soon tears are pouring down my face, but this time it’s because I’m in hysterics.
“You know, I’ve been telling this story for fifty years. Every year on this exact train I make it my business to tell at least one person this story. And nobody, not one single person, has ever called my husband that before.”
I take a deep breath, worried I’ve offended her. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I speak before I think.”
“Like Bernie,” she says.
“Yes. I s’pose.”
I feel a ginormous sense of pride in being compared to her best friend.
“You know, you’re a lot more receptive than that businessman last year. Poor chap. I thought he was going to jump out the window when I mentioned childbirth.” The corners of her lips curl into a cheeky smile. “Thankfully, he settled for shoving some earphones in.”
“His loss,” I say, and Maura’s smile widens. “More wine?” I ask, anxious to get back to the story, if she’s ready. “My treat this time.”