Chapter 39
Granny Annie led the way to Laundry Lane.
She swept ahead with me and Johnny walking quickly to keep up.
I explained about the website and how the warehouse was more than just a knitting circle.
‘Except the warehouse is being closed. The council won’t allow it to continue, but I think the Richmonds are behind it. ’
‘Of course they are!’ Even from behind her huge sunglasses, Granny Annie’s eyes flashed. ‘They did the same to Mrs DeCourcey and the old knitting circle. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they added to poor Sheila’s health.’
As soon as we turned up Laundry Lane, Eddie and Matty were edging the sofa out of the door of the warehouse where a van was waiting, its back doors open.
‘Your side,’ Eddie was saying to Matty. ‘Just a bit up there…’ He looked up at us, about to smile, but it froze on his face, staring at Granny Annie.
He and Matty put down the sofa and Eddie peered closer, squinting.
Matty was already smiling. ‘It’s not… is it? ’
Granny Annie removed her sunglasses.
‘Hello, you two,’ she said. ‘It’s been a long time.’
Matty was shaking his head. ‘Well, hasn’t it just?
You’re a bold one, Annie O’Sullivan. Not a word all these years later.
But I tell you something, you’re a sight for sore eyes.
Looking as good as you did the day you left.
’ He thrust his arms around her, squeezing her tight.
‘You’re very welcome home, you know that. Very welcome indeed.’
Granny Annie smiled. ‘Better late than never, wouldn’t you say?’
Eddie had been rendered statue-like, he couldn’t quite find the words. ‘Annie,’ he said. ‘Annie.’
Granny Annie turned to face him. ‘Hello, Eddie.’ She swallowed and she seemed nervous. Johnny and I glanced at each other. ‘It’s good to see you.’
He opened his mouth to speak and emitted a raspy sound and he gaped at her, taking her in, his face a rainbow of emotions.
They stood looking at each other.
‘It’s really you?’
‘It’s me.’
‘After all these years?’
Granny Annie nodded.
‘You’re real? You’re not codding me? I’m not dreaming this, am I?’
‘I’ll pinch you, if you like, Eduardo,’ said Matty, giving Eddie’s upper arm a squeeze.
Granny Annie shook her head. ‘I’m real.’
‘But… but what happened?’ went on Eddie. ‘I waited and waited for you. You’d just left. Your mam said you’d gone to Liverpool.’
‘I kept going after Liverpool…’ she began, as Eddie turned to look at me.
‘Boston,’ he said. ‘I knew it, I knew it! I thought you looked like Annie O’Sullivan. Didn’t I say? I could swear I could see her in you. The eyes.’ He turned back to Granny Annie. ‘You came back, so?’
‘It was about time.’
He nodded. ‘’Twas indeed.’
Granny Annie held out her hand, and Eddie reached for it, grasping it with both of his.
‘Well, I’ve waited and waited for you. And I’m just glad you are here now. I wouldn’t have liked never to set my eyes on you again. And you are a beauty. Always was. But never more than now.’
Granny Annie was smiling, but her eyes were filled with tears. ‘Ah, Eddie.’ She took a moment to collect herself. ‘It’s wonderful to see you too.’ Still with their hands clasped, Granny Annie spoke, ‘Who’s going to introduce me to everyone?’
‘I will,’ said Eddie. ‘The gang’s not all present and correct, are they, Matthew? We have two missing in action. Sheila’s in hospital, awaiting a heart operation, and Finnuala’s with her.’
Abandoning the sofa in the lane, we stepped into the warehouse, and the women who had all been talking together, while packing boxes, fell into silence.
Mary spent a moment blinking at Granny Annie before she said, ‘Ah, Annie O’Sullivan, you’re just in time for a cup of tea.’
‘Well, Mary Dunne, I was hoping the kettle would be on.’
The two women beamed at each other, eyes shining, before hugging the life out of each other. Johnny was agog. ‘And there was me thinking she was just our grandmother. I didn’t think she’d had a whole life before us.’
‘Oh Annie,’ said Mary, ‘this is the most wonderful day, to think of our Annie being home again.’ She shook her head. ‘There’s not a day I haven’t thought about you or said a prayer to keep you safe.’
‘Me too, Mary,’ said Granny Annie. ‘Me too. Every single day.’
And then it was more embracing and remembering with everyone, and no end of hugs and kisses and tears, and Johnny and I were both squeezed and passed around, as though it had turned into some kind of parlour game.
Mary and Granny Annie had linked arms, Betty on the other side, and there were Diana and Ethel, and Sarah-May and Philomena, and Granny Annie knew them all.
‘She’s returned to us,’ said Betty. ‘There wasn’t a week that went by without me wondering what happened to our old friend Annie.’
‘I ran away,’ said Granny Annie. ‘And I’m sorry.’
‘Grief does that to people,’ said Diana.
‘Ah, sure we were all grief-stricken. We were all so young and it was all such a shock,’ said Mary.
‘Tell me about poor Sheila,’ said Granny Annie. ‘How is she?’
‘Heart attack,’ explained Mary. ‘It’s all very sudden. She’s not the best, we’re all worried sick. But you know Sheila, strong stuff… and she has Finnuala there to grab the consultant as soon as his nose is through the door of the hospital.’
‘We need a drink,’ announced Betty. ‘To welcome you home.’
‘The Harbour Bar?’ suggested Granny Annie. ‘It’s still there, isn’t it?’
‘Of course the Harbour Bar!’ said Matty, laughing as though they would countenance going anywhere else. ‘It’s barely changed, just like you.’
Granny Annie hooted. ‘Go away with you, Matty Moran. Anyway, it’s Friday night, regatta eve, we always used to go to the Harbour Bar, didn’t we?’ She smiled at Matty, just as Lucy arrived.
‘Lucy,’ she said, introducing herself. ‘Mary’s granddaughter, Kerry-Anne’s best Sandycove friend…’ She winked at me. ‘We ruined her holiday. Me and my brother Henry…’
Johnny nudged me violently in my ribs, catching me where he knew it would really hurt. ‘Henry?’ he mouthed, his eyebrows raised again.
The kettle had been put on and now tea was being handed around, steaming mugs passed along the line.
And next was a packet of already open pink wafer biscuits, the top twisted to keep them fresh, and I thought of Sheila and hoped she would be back soon to finish them and that Finnuala would be back among her other friends, ready to boss everyone around again.
Granny Annie caught my eye and smiled. ‘Where’s that drink then?’