Chapter 25
‘Bronagh, I’m ringing you on my mobile. We’ve had a change of plan,’ Maureen shouted down the phone.
Recoiling from the unexpected bellowing in her ear, Bronagh held the phone a safe distance away. From the comfort of her swivel chair, she continued to doodle on the message pad as she listened to Maureen’s explanation.
‘There I was, all set to head over to O’Mara’s, only to find my car wouldn’t start.
Bronagh, I was turning the key in the ignition and pressing down on the accelerator like a mad woman, so I was, but nothing was happening.
All I can think is the battery must be flat.
I’ve a feeling, in my haste to get into the house last night, I might have left the car lights on. ’
‘Oh dear,’ Bronagh said, but Maureen was already carrying on with her tale of woe.
‘There was no point ringing Donal because he’s at the dentist — there’s talk of a root canal, and him with all his gargling too.
Fat lot of good that’s done him. Anyway, I knocked on Terence and Amanda’s door, but they weren’t home and I’m only half joking when I tell you Kiera’s car was beginning to look like my only option. ’
Kiera’s car? Bronagh stopped doodling. What was she on about?
‘You know that red plastic yoke we bought her for Christmas that Aisling banned from the apartment on account of her running everybody over in it. Fair play, because that granddaughter of mine is like a Dublin bus driver with a clear stretch of road in the thing. It’s an outside toy, so it is, and you’d not want to be on the pavement when she’s coming through. ’
Bronagh wondered when Maureen was going to get to the change-of-plan part of the story.
‘Then, would you believe it, my mobile phone rang.’ Maureen made the ringing noise to ensure Bronagh got the gist of things.
‘It was Rosi calling to tell me she was fed up with lounging around with her feet up. You know she’s got Sarah and Gemma doing the afternoon yoga classes between them now.
It was perfect timing and I said to her, ‘I’ve something for you to do, Rosi.
’ Now here we are on our way to pick you up. ’
Bronagh felt exhausted by the time Maureen had finished.
‘Hi, Bronagh,’ Roisin called out.
‘Hi, Roisin,’ Bronagh called back. ‘Thanks a million for coming to the rescue.’
‘Janey Mack, Bronagh! You don’t need to shout like so. You deafened me then,’ Maureen hollered. ‘Now then, we’ve an ETA at O’Mara’s of ten past twelve, so that should get us over to Ranelagh in plenty of time.’
‘I’ll be ready and waiting outside.’
‘Bronagh, you’ll have to speak up. You’re breaking up.’
‘See you soon.’ Bronagh put the phone down before there could be any more toing and froing.
‘Ready and waiting for what?’
Bronagh jumped out of her skin and spun around in her swivel seat.
‘Moira O’Mara, don’t be sneaking up on me like so! You’re like that little Addams Family girl who was always lurking about the place.’ She made a show of clutching her chest, then added, ‘I’m off for a house viewing and your mam and Roisin are picking me up.’ She explained the car debacle.
‘Ooh, can I come? You know yourself, Tom and I love wandering the DIY shops at the weekend, getting ideas for when we buy a place of our own. This might give me some more inspiration and I’d like to see where you and Lenny might be living one of these days.
I’ve the afternoon off from college and Aisling will keep an eye on Kiera. ’
‘I don’t see why not. It won’t make any difference to Maureen and Rosi.’ Bronagh had hoped for a second opinion from Maureen. Now it seemed she’d get a third and fourth too.
‘Grand.’ Moira rubbed her hands together and lingered.
‘What else brought you downstairs?’
‘Aisling’s after eating the last biscuit and I’m in dire need of a sugar fix.’
‘One, Moira. One.’ Bronagh opened her bottom drawer.