The O’Donnells left the church after Mass to find Danny waiting for them on the pavement. He tipped his head at the sight of Kate. ‘Well, there’s a stranger.’
‘Don’t tease her, Danny. She’s come to take Finola home so that we can…’ She nodded across the road to where a row of old and grubby two-storey buildings huddled as if ashamed to be there.
‘‘Oh, right, of course. I’m an eejit Kate, pay me no heed.’
As if taking him at his word she gripped Finola’s hand and set off with hardly a backward glance.
‘I think your sister is not fond of me, Maeve.’
‘She’s not fond of anyone, since Mark Harris died, and with him her dreams of a grand American life. She hasn’t taken it in that she had a lucky escape.’
‘Ah, but you haven’t told her the truth about him yet, have you?’
Maeve shook her hea
