Chapter 17
Lucy drove them home from the pub just as inky darkness was falling heavily on the village.
Things were still strained between Lucy and Madeleine as they ascended the narrow boreen up the headland.
Faith knew that Madeleine was sulking, and Lucy was still smarting over their mother’s prying questions into her marriage.
Faith did her best to make chit-chat on the drive home so there wasn’t an awkward silence, but the atmosphere in the tiny car was so tense, she couldn’t wait to get back to the cottage.
As they drew up to the house, they noticed a car parked on the road outside.
‘I wonder who that is?’ Faith remarked.
‘It’s probably one of the neighbours dropping off food or a mass card,’ Madeleine replied dismissively.
The villagers had been very generous, dropping off loaves of homemade bread, hearty stews and apple tarts since Elizabeth had died but they were running out of space to store it all as both the fridge and freezer were full.
As they drew closer, Lucy clapped a hand to her mouth and gasped. ‘Oh no,’ she cried.
‘What is it?’ Faith asking, leaning forward between the front seats to get a better look.
‘That’s Kyle’s car.’
‘You’re right, it is,’ Faith said as she recognised the metallic blue BMW that her brother-in-law drove.
‘What the hell is he doing here?’ Lucy blazed. ‘He didn’t tell me he was coming.’
Madeleine was puzzled. ‘I don’t understand why you don’t want to see your own husband?’
‘Because I just don’t, all right?’ she snapped.
‘I’m sure he just wants to talk to you,’ Faith said sagely.
‘Well, it’s too late for talking! I don’t want to see him.’
‘Come on,’ Faith cajoled. ‘There’s never going to be a good time to do this. You can’t keep avoiding him forever. He’s here now – just listen to what he has to say.’
‘He didn’t exactly give me any choice,’ Lucy grumbled. She switched off the engine and they all got out of the car.
Kyle made his way sheepishly towards them.
He moved towards Lucy, his arms half outstretched, ready to embrace her but looking unsure of himself.
Faith took in his dishevelled appearance.
He looked awful. His eyes were bloodshot and shadowed and his clothing was crumpled and creased, as if he’d picked it off the floor.
His hair was longer than he usually wore it and fell in front of his eyes.
Kyle was always so well put together, but the man standing here before them was a mess.
Faith couldn’t help but feel sorry for his pitiful state.
It was obvious that Lucy’s absence was affecting him.
‘What the hell are you doing here?’ Lucy hissed as he approached them, putting her hand up to stop him. ‘I told you to stay away from me.’
‘Please, Lucy,’ he begged, clasping his hands together as if in prayer.
‘We need to talk. I’m so sorry to hear about Elizabeth.
I bumped into Chloe in Dunnes yesterday and she came over to offer her condolences.
’ Chloe was a work colleague of Lucy’s. ‘I wish you had told me. I was so embarrassed, standing there like a fool. It was really awkward because Chloe clearly didn’t know the situation between us and neither of us knew what to say. ’
Lucy groaned. ‘I’m sure the office gossips are having a field day!’
‘But even forgetting about all that, it would have been nice to pay my respects to your grandmother. She was a remarkable woman. And I would have liked to be here for you too. I know how close you were.’ He hung his head mournfully.
Lucy pursed her lips and nodded mutely.
Madeleine looked on in bewilderment. ‘Why didn’t you tell him, Lucy? Surely you would tell your husband news like that?’
Faith looked down at the ground. How could their mother be so tactless? Probably because she was so consumed with her own woes.
‘It’s none of your business, Mum.’
‘Lucy, come on, be reasonable. Surely you can talk to him for a few minutes,’ she suggested.
‘Stay out of it, Mum!’ Lucy ordered.
Madeleine fell quiet, looking suitably chastened.
‘I’m sorry,’ Kyle went on. ‘I really am, but I didn’t know what else to do.
You wouldn’t return my calls or texts and I needed to see you.
The last couple of weeks have been the worst of my life.
I can’t keep living like this. We need to talk.
Please, can you just give me five minutes?
That’s all I ask.’ He wore a hangdog expression.
Lucy’s face softened. ‘Five minutes,’ she conceded.
‘Deal,’ he agreed, sounding eager to take whatever hearing he could get.
Lucy set her jaw as they all headed inside the cottage. They stood around Elizabeth’s tiny kitchen, which was warm and cosy thanks to the Aga.
‘Mum, why don’t we go into the living room so they can talk?’ Faith suggested.
‘I don’t understand you young people at all,’ Madeleine muttered, making a dramatic display of hobbling out of the room.
‘We’ll be in here if you need us,’ Faith said to Lucy, patting her sister’s arm before she left the room.