Chapter 49
THE END
‘It’s not the first time you’ve taken matters into your own hands though, is it, Marianne McDonagh?’ says a voice at the door. ‘Not the first time things have got out of control. Not the first time you’ve tried to frame someone so you can get your own way.’
Everyone turns to see Moya standing there with Sergeant Brennan.
Marianne gasps and shakes her head. ‘What are you talking about, you mad ole witch?’
‘I think you know exactly what I’m talking about,’ replies Moya as she steps into the room. ‘I’ve kept your lies too long. No more.’
‘What are you talking about, Moya?’ I ask.
‘I’m talking about the fact that Marianne here framed your mother because she was jealous – she wanted Mick as her own.
She wanted to move into The Lake House and live the life of lady muck as Mick Kennedy’s wife.
But he wasn’t interested. He was already head over heels for Rose Clarke.
A traveller, an outsider, an unworthy object for his affections, according to Marianne.
So she decided she’d take matters into her own hands, stage a theft and pin it on Rose,’ explains Moya, her voice cold.
‘And it worked… in so far as it drove Rose away – never to return. But Mick still didn’t want Marianne.
The Lake House was still out of reach. Scores were still to be settled. ’
My hand flies to my mouth. ‘Is that true?’ I look between Moya and Marianne.
‘You’re delusional – always were, always will be,’ replies Marianne, her voice shaking.
‘Don’t give me that, Marianne!’ snaps Moya.
‘I know exactly what you did! You took Rose’s key from her coat pocket, let yourself into the guest room and stole the jewellery box.
You staged the whole thing – made it look like it was an inside job, that it could only be Rose.
It was the reason she left. You scared her off then, just like you tried to scare Daisy off now… well, no more.’
‘You’re lying!’ exclaims Marianne.
Moya shakes her head and speaks louder. ‘No, I’m not! See, I witnessed it myself – I saw you let yourself into the room with the key.’
‘Moya, you knew all along?’ I stammer.
She softly bows her head and places both palms together.
‘I’m truly sorry, Daisy. There isn’t anything I can say or do to return what was taken away from you.
Shame, fear and guilt have ruled my life and kept me silent when I should have spoken up – until now.
I’m here to try and right those wrongs… if you’ll let me? ’
I nod, and Moya turns back towards Marianne.
‘Yes, I was there, too afraid to speak a word, my own neck on the line, a decision that haunts me still. But here I am with a second chance to make things right and prevent history from repeating itself,’ Moya says in a cold voice. ‘God is the only one who can judge you now.’
‘Marianne… is this true?’ Gus demands, his eyes displaying incredulity as he stares at his wife. ‘Is this true?’
She swallows hard, finally nodding. ‘Yes, it’s true,’ she rasps, trembling from head to toe.
Sergeant Brennan steps forward, allowing Marianne to offer her wrists for handcuffs, tears streaming down her cheeks as she’s taken away.
But when she looks up, it’s directly at me.
‘I’m sorry, Daisy, I’m not proud of myself, but I’ll say this: I did what I did to protect my home and my family. To survive.’
She scans the kitchen full of people before continuing. ‘I’m sorry to all of you.’
For a moment, our gazes lock, and it feels as if the world tilts on its axis.
I take a deep breath; Oscar wraps around my legs as I look around the room.
Gus has his head in his hands. What will this mean for him?
Losing his wife to prison? Grace looks pale and stricken – how will she cope with the shame of villagers gossiping about her?
Stephen is trembling from shock and alcohol addiction: he’ll keep drinking until he blacks out. And then fall into an early grave.
I don’t want this to be the way it is. I’d rather not start another round of sorrow, deception and disgrace. I think of my favourite Forest Fable verse, the one that’s stayed like a sticker on my heart since I first heard my mother read the words to me.
Let’s leave behind what no longer fits
And build something better, with exciting bits.
Sergeant Brennan brushes off her uniform trousers and steps closer to Marianne saying, ‘Right, time to go.’
I hold up my hand and say, ‘Hold on – not yet.’
She looks at me suspiciously.
‘No handcuffs. There’s no need for any as I’m not taking this any further.’
‘What about the charges?’ she inquires. ‘We’re looking at second-degree arson under the Criminal Damage Act because of the fire alone…
never mind all else: theft, defamation, suppression of evidence.
’ Sergeant Brennan looks to Marianne. ‘You’re facing serious punishment, Marianne – this is no minor offence here – you could have killed these two. ’ She looks at us.
As we stand in the McDonaghs’ kitchen, shock, anger, disgust all mingle together to form an undefinable mixture that leaves me breathless. Yet, even as my heart aches, I can’t help but think about the what ifs.
What if my mother and Mick were still here?
What if this nightmare had never unfolded?
What if everything could have been so different? Better?
Marianne, the person we once trusted and thought of as a close companion, set the fire that caused so much harm – and tried to put the blame on others she wanted out of her life.
I thought of her as a friend, but do I really know the person behind the pleasant facade?
Is she truly malicious or more a scared, desperate individual struggling to maintain control over matters that are out of her reach?
I glance at James and see he’s feeling the same doubts as me. He reaches for my hand, offering his understanding and help. With his touch, my determination begins to build inside me.
What if I don’t let myself be overcome by darkness – by the dark clouds of Marianne’s behaviour?
What if I can shape my own destiny in Innisfree?
What if I don’t give away my power to change this story and take this chance to give it a brand-new ending, this time a much better one?
I came to Innisfree in search of the truth and have found it. I always had faith that the truth would set me free.
I step forward to Marianne and give Sergeant Brennan the nod. I’ve made my decision.
‘The truth is,’ I confess, ‘you took away my mother. You robbed me of my past.’ I look to James. ‘But I’ve grown tired of fighting against the tide. I’m ready for a new beginning, to get on with my life. Thank you for your assistance, Sergeant. I won’t be pursuing this further.’
Sergeant Brennan shakes her head in disbelief. ‘You can do what you want, but I think you’re making a mistake.’
‘I know what I’m doing, thank you,’ I tell her.
She shrugs and walks out of the kitchen, muttering under her breath.
Now it’s just us.
And it ends here.
I walk towards Marianne and I pry her hands from her face.
I meet her gaze, this woman before me who changed the trajectory of my life.
The road we’ve travelled has been fraught with deceit and secrecy, but it has also been paved with courage, empathy and with the desire for a better future.
I think of Kayla, of the tiny new life growing inside her.
‘Why are you doing this?’ Marianne asks me.
‘Same as you. To protect my home and my family. To survive.’
Marianne stares back at me, her expression fearful, unwilling to look away from our intertwined fingers. ‘What happens now?’ she whispers softly in uncertainty.
‘We start again. But this time, we do it right.’