A knock at the door interrupted their flow and Maureen washed her hands calling out an ‘I’m coming’ before going to answer it.’
Moira and Aisling bowled in and Roisin looked up from her task. It was all the excuse she needed to take a break and she ran her hands under the tap, drying them on the apron her mam had supplied her with before giving them both a hello hug.
‘Nice pinny,’ Moira sniggered, checking out the embroidered wine glass and crown above the words ‘Your Wineness’ Roisin had on overtop of her sweater and yoga pants. Remembering she was the one who’d bought it for Mammy in the first place, she stopped.
‘Rosi’s put a pair of yoga pants out for you both in the spare room but before you go and get changed, I’ve a job for one of you.’
‘Moira will do it.’ ‘Aisling will do it.’
‘You’ll both do as you’re told. Moira, you can hold the bottle, she’ll pour,’ Maureen pointed to Aisling. ‘You’ve a steadier hand.’
‘What are you on about, Mammy?’ Aisling asked, following her over to the kitchen.
Maureen directed them to a clear spot on the worktop and retrieved the casks of wine she and Rosi had bought earlier.
‘Jaysus wept, Mammy, did you buy up Dublin’s supply of cask wine. That stuff’s like drinking vinegar so it is.’ Aisling grimaced.
‘Paint stripper,’ Moira added.
Maureen was undeterred as she retrieved the two bottles of red she’d enjoyed on different occasions with Donal.
‘What are you up to?’ Aisling asked, noticing Roisin grinning.
‘It’s a cost saving exercise,’ Roisin told her sister.
‘The cask wine is to be poured into these bottles and when we run out you’re to repeat the process but be sure no one sees you doing so.’
‘Mammy!’ Aisling said. ‘You can’t do that.’
‘Oh yes, I can. No one will know the difference and they’ll all be happy thinking they’re after getting a free glass or two of top-class wine. It’s a win, win.’
‘I think it’s very devious, Mammy, but smart,’ said Moira.
‘It was actually my idea,’ Roisin said.
‘Nice one.’
Aisling looked at her mammy and sisters. It was sneaky and underhand but it was oh, so clever and she and Moira set about their task.
Maureen was wiping down the worktop and Roisin was flopped in an armchair eating a hastily slapped together cheese sandwich as the olives had digested and she was hungry. There was no chance of a proper dinner as she waited for her sisters to finish getting ready so this would have to do. The platters were covered in cling film and ready to be taken to the church hall along with the wine and extra cask supplies to be topped up as and when needed.
‘Ta-dah!’ Aisling chirruped, stepping into the room. ‘Glamour Girl or what?’ She twirled Wonder Woman-style, her long red-gold hair splaying out around her.
Rosi snorted at the sight of her. She was wearing a plunging red velvet top that left nothing to the imagination along with yoga pants and strappy Valentino heels.
‘You’d be more at home in the Rio Carnival than in a church hall in Howth,’ she said. ‘Look at the state of yer bosom jiggling all over the place.’
‘Aisling, you look grand but Roisin’s right, a bra wouldn’t go amiss. Go on with yer and put them away,’ Maureen stated
Aisling glanced down and saw she was exposing her left nipple. ‘Feck,’ she said, tucking herself back in her top. She’d have to watch that but she couldn’t wear a bra under this top, you’d see the lacy edges and straps.
Moira appeared next, having teemed her yoga pants with a black top and sensible shoes.
‘You remind me of Michael Jackson for some reason, you just need a sparkling white glove,’ Roisin tittered.
‘That’s not helpful.’ Maureen gave her a cuff around the ear. ‘Moira, well done you look smart.’
Moira was enjoying not being the one in trouble for a change and wondered if perhaps she should turn over a new fecky brown-noser leaf. ‘Are you going like that, Mammy?’ she asked, taking in her mam’s bumble bee ensemble. ‘I thought you saved that outfit for the airport?’
‘Sweet Mother of Divine, I’ve forgotten all about getting changed and me the hostess! Give me five minutes, girls.’
Aisling and Moira joined their sister in lounging around as they waited for Mammy to get ready. They caught up on each other’s news.
‘How’re you finding living with Aisling and—'
‘My husband,’ Aisling jumped in.
‘She does that all the time, it’s really annoying,’ Moira said. ‘Quinn’s great but he leaves the loo seat up and they’re always,’ she pulled a disgusted face, ‘fondling one another.’
‘Fondling!’ Rosi said, trying not to choke on the remains of her cheese sandwich. ‘Where did you get that word from?’ It conjured up all sorts of lurid images.
Moira shrugged. ‘Well, they are.’
‘No, we’re not. She’s exaggerating. You know what she’s like, Rosi. We’re very mindful of you and not making you feel uncomfortable, so we are.’
‘Well you could have been more mindful last night when the bed springs were squeaking. I was so traumatised I couldn’t sleep. I’m thinking about moving in with Tom but I have to work out the logistics.’
‘What logistics?’ Aisling asked, already imagining cosy breakfast table scenes with her and Quinn, no Moira sitting down the end with a face like that Persian that kept showing up on Mammy’s balcony.
‘How I’m going to pay my half of the rent.’
Maureen reappeared, halting all further conversation as her daughters took stock of her.
She had her rhinestone blouse on, yoga pants and cowboy boots, that wasn’t all though.
‘Mammy where did you get the cowboy hat from?’
Maureen peered mysteriously out from under the white Stetson. ‘I borrowed it from Laura, my line dancing teacher.’
Mammy always took things a step too far, all three sisters silently thought.
Chapter 24
‘Ten minutes until showdown girls!’ Moira clapped her hands, the sound echoing around the church hall.
‘Yee-ha,’ Moira replied, fist pumping the
