Maeve knocked gently on the Bains’ door, and when she got no reply knocked harder. They could hear the sound of revelling children from where they stood, Maggie’s voice rising above the clamour. ‘There’s somebody chappin.’ Will one of you weans open the door?’
As it was Maggie herself opened the door with an apologetic hand on her chest. ‘They"ve got ma heart roasted so they have. Maeve…’ she looked behind into the dim close, ‘and Danny. What can I dae for ye? C’mon…come in…come in. God, it’s freezing oot here.’
The house should have resembled the O’Donnell’s above and maybe it did, if half the contents and the multiple occupants were to be removed. At least three children were sitting up in the set-in bed while another couple were scrapping in the corner; one standing inside the black i
