Hidden past

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

As the 'Pride of Erin' pulled away from the Princes Land ing Stage, Chloe stood and waved to Ava and Ellen who had insisted on going to see her off. 'She's a remarkable woman, your sister. I admire her very much.'

She thought about Ava's words and then dis missed them.

'She was always different from me and even Bridget. She's like Ma in many ways."

'And who are you like, Chloe, your father?'

She shook her head. 'No, not really. Oh, I get my determination from him, but I think I must be the 'black sheep', every family has one I believe.'

'And are you looking forward to going home?'

She smiled. "The last time I made this crossing, I vowed I'd travel First Class and that I'd need porters to carry my luggage and everyone on board would be thrilled to be travelling on the same boat as me!'

'Well, we are going First Class, you did need porters to get all your stuff on board, but I don't know about the passengers although I did see a few heads turn in your direction. Will that do?"

'Oh, I was boasting. I told everyone I'd come back rich and famous, the truth was I couldn't wait to leave!'

She watched the dim outline of the buildings of the Liverpool waterfront fade into the mist of the night. I wonder how much Clonmel has changed? I never took much notice of what was going on there, but I suppose it has changed. Nothing stays the same, does it?' 'No, Chloe, nothing does, sadly.'

It hadn't changed much, Chloe thought, at least not from this distance. The train was skirting the bottom of Sleivemanon and dropping down the gentle gradient of the hillside towards Prior Park Station.

'It's beautiful. So peaceful,' Edward remarked quietly as they looked down on the rich, rolling pastureland. The small town lay in a bowl as though cupped in a giant hand, circled by Slievenamon and the peaks of the Comeraghs in neighbouring Waterford County. The river was a silver ribbon, winding and twisting through it.

"Cluain Meala" is its Irish name. It means "Honey Meadow", Chloe said with detachment. She was tired, for the journey had sapped what little strength she had.

'It's very apt. It must be the Irish blood in me, for it feels

as though you're not the only one who is coming home.' She looked at Edward with surprise. What a strange thing for him to say. But she didn't waste much time on exploring the reasoning behind his words. 

'I hope Ma and Matty aren't late, I don't feel like waiting around.' 'Who knows, there may be a civic reception waiting for you!' he joked. Chloe brightened. 'Do you think so?'

'I was only joking. I told your mother you were to have complete rest, at least for a week.'

She looked disappointed.

'Oh, you'll have plenty of time to show yourself off and no doubt they won't let you leave without throwing some sort of a shindig!"

She smiled to herself, thinking of the day they'd all stood on the steps of St Mary's and announced that they were leaving. She was the first one to come back, but although that girlish boast had become reality, she couldn't take much satisfaction from it, she was too exhausted. 

Matty and Evelyn were both waiting behind the barrier and Evelyn raised her hand to wave as she caught sight of them. Chloe smiled. Ma hadn't changed and neither had Matty, but as Evelyn hugged her tightly she felt the tears sting her eyes and suddenly she realized just how much she'd missed her mother.

'Look at you! Skin and bone and worn to a shadow.' Evelyn held her at arms' length. 'I'm just tired, Ma. But it's so good to be home.'

'It's plenty of rest you need and I'll make sure you get it. And is this the one who's been working you to death then?' 'Yes, this is Edward and he hasn't been working me to death at all!'

'I'm not guilty on that account. She's done all that by herself! Your daughter is one of the most stubborn women I've ever met, Mrs O'Donnell!' Edward smiled as he shook the hand Evelyn extended to him.

'Sure, that's something I don't need reminding about. She hasn't changed then?'

Chloe laughed. 'If anything, I've got worse I suppose, otherwise I wouldn't have ended up like this, would I?"

'Heaven preserve us! I didn't think you could get any worse. She needs a strong hand does this one.' Evelyn looked meaningfully at Edward, but he just shrugged. 'Are we going to be standing here all day, then?' Matty interrupted.

if "That we are not! Matty, load those cases into the trap, you can get them all in and have enough room for us as well.' Evelyn, her arm around Chloe's waist, guided her towards the trap.

Matty with Edward's help took the luggage.

'Is it back you are to stay then? Sure, you look as though you've brought your entire wardrobe. We'll not get all this lot in!'

Then leave some of it with Mr O'Brien and come back for it later, you great cejit! Himself won't mind, he'll keep an eye on it!' Evelyn stated tersely as she helped Chloe up, studying the pale face with a frown. She'd need more than a few days to get rid of that unhealthy pallor and put some weight on the gaunt frame. Chloe looked ill. A mere shadow of her former self.

'If you've not come back for good, you'll have to stay at least two months so everyone can enjoy the fashion parade. You've enough here to wear at least two outfits a day,' Matty remarked in his dry fashion.

Edward roared with laughter at this and it was obvi ous to both women that the two men had hit it off right away.

Everything was so much smaller than she remembered. The streets seemed narrower; the shops tiny and a little drab and the people who waved and called out to her were dressed in styles reminiscent of the previous decade. It all seemed a million miles away from London.

She'd forgotten, too, that there would be no bathroom, only an outside privy and that water still had to be carried in from the pump at the back of the house. How quickly she'd become accustomed to the hustle and bustle of city life, of wide streets congested with traffic, of elegant shops and houses all with the most modern conveniences. 

But she had also forgotten how tranquil it was and she began to relax as they meandered along the narrow lanes, where only the birdsong and the clip-clopping of the horse's hooves broke the silence. Matty took the cases upstairs with instructions from Evelyn not to bang them into every piece of furniture on the way, and after they'd had a light meal he offered to drive Edward back into town to the and to collect the rest of the 'wardrobe', as he described it. 'And don't you be stopping there, Matty O'Donnell!

There's things to be done." 'Don't I know that well enough, Ma.'

'Aye, well, you tend to forget over a few jars of stout and I don't want you driving under the influence or the Garda bringing you home - again!' Matty raised his eyes to the ceiling and grinned at

Edward. 'Once! Last Christmas. You'd think it was a regular occurence!' I'm saying nothing about the Tipperary Hunt and Declan O'Hagan and the fact that it took three of the Guards to separate you. That little episode I've forgotten!'

Matty grinned again at the open curiosity on Edward's face. 'She's forgotten it! Come on, I'll tell you about it on the way. Oh, it was fine day, was.'

When they'd gone, Evelyn went upstairs and quietly opened the door to Chloe's room. She stood watching her for a moment. She felt as though Chloe were almost a stranger now. It was so long since she'd seen her and she had changed, but that didn't make her love her any the less.

'It's good to have you home, Chloe. We've missed you and I haven't had to fill up that enamel jug for years. In fact, I think I threw it at those two renegades who came trying to get Matty to join them.'

Chloe smiled. 'Oh, I've still got the divil of a temper, Ma, but I've missed you, too!'

Evelyn sat on the end of the bed and studied her. 'Have you, Chloe, truthfully? You were always the most inde pendent, even when you were a little girl. You knew just what you wanted and how to get it. Are you happy now?

'Yes, I suppose I am.'

'But once you're well enough, you'll go back to London and back to chasing your dreams again. Are they worth it, Chloe?'