Moira’s eyes flashed in a silent challenge for him to get it right and she sensed Mammy stiffen next to her, willing her to behave herself. ‘And of course, you’re Moira. Your mammy said you’d a look of Demi Moore about you. How do you do?’ He gave her hand a pat between his big bear paw. It was warm and dry which gave him some kudos because Moira couldn’t stand a sweaty palm. He was nothing like Daddy to look at, she mused, drinking in the sight of him curiously but he did remind her of someone. Someone famous but she couldn’t put her finger on it. She liked his eyes, she decided; they were twinkly, maybe it was Father Christmas he reminded her of, he had a beard and twinkly eyes. She didn’t get to ponder this further though because Roisin popped up alongside her like a jack-in-the-box.
‘And I’m Rosi.’ She took Donal’s hand and shook it. ‘Pleased to meet you. I’m not late I hope?’
‘Not at all, Rosi. I’ve heard all about you, and Maureen was after telling me you can stand on your head and everything. Not to mention you’ve a fine young son.’
‘I can and I have, yes, Noah, he’s five.’
‘Well, Maureen, you’ve three beautiful girls. No wonder you’re so proud of them.’ Donal beamed at each of them.
Maureen looked from one to the other of her three daughters, the mother hen, who was indeed proud of her chicks.
Chapter 27
Donal clapped his hands and in that big voice of his suggested they join him at their table so as he could introduce them to Louise and Anna. ‘They’re looking forward to meeting you all and then we can get the drinks in.’ He’d taken charge, for which Maureen was grateful. He’d also taken hold of her hand in order to steer her over to the table to where his daughters were waiting. She could feel her girls’ eyes on her back soaking in the strange sight of their mammy holding hands with a man they’d only just met. The flash of disapproval at their father’s gesture on the face of the younger of the two women, Anna, didn’t escape her notice either and she shivered in trepidation.
Donal made the introductions and Louise who was the eldest by two years nodded her hellos to the O’Mara group, the curiosity on her face plain to see. Anna did so too, although her expression was guarded as she sized them all up. There was a lot of silent looking up and down one another as Maureen took her coat off and hung it on the back of the chair next to where Donal had been seated. He pulled it out for her and she sat down. She now knew what the saying ‘cat on a hot tin roof’ meant, because jumpy and skittish was exactly how she felt and she didn’t know what to do with her hands.
Louise, she saw, surreptitiously looking across the table at her, wore her hair short which gave her a no-nonsense, schoolteacher air. She gave the impression of being the sort of woman who’d be on committees and lots of them which, according to Donal, she was. She had her father’s grey eyes and Maureen found comfort in that. She planned on talking to her about her children, a boy and a girl and for the life of her she couldn’t remember their names which was ridiculous given Donal talked about them all the time. Her mind had gone blank due to her jangling nerves.
It was Anna who was making her nervous. You’d never guess Louise and Anna were sisters, at least not to look at. Mind, the same could be said about Aisling with her fair skinned colouring as compared to the rest of the family. Anna was small and fine boned with fussy, particular movements. Her hair was a soft blonde and sat on her shoulders flicking out at the ends. Donal had told her she’d struggled more than Louise with the loss of Ida. She’d been a mammy’s girl and where Louise had the distraction of a full and busy life, juggling work and raising a family, Anna was an emergency room physician, a demanding role that didn’t leave room, she said, for relationships. She looked fragile, Maureen thought, trying and failing to picture her taking charge in a hospital emergency room. Looks could be deceiving though and she hastily averted her eyes lest she get caught staring.
The walls around them were decorated with everything from framed newspaper cuttings, road signs and photographs, including one of Bill Clinton enjoying a pint here in the pub. The sense of good times had was imprinted in them all. Donal, who’d yet to sit down, had waited until everyone was seated before announcing he’d get the drinks from the bar. He took the orders repeating them slowly to try to remember who wanted what. Anna shot out of her seat. ‘I’ll help you, Dad.’
Louise looked trapped but she couldn’t very well get up as well.
Maureen smiled over at her, wanting to put her at ease, but for a woman who was never short of things to say she was suddenly tongue-tied.
Roisin leaped in. ‘I’m over from London for the weekend, Louise. My son’s staying with his father.’
Louise grabbed hold of the conversation starter, eager not to sit in awkward silence. ‘How old is he?’
‘Five.’ Roisin told her a little about Noah before asking if she had children. Louise gave them all the run down on her two, Brodie and Katie, making them laugh as she described the mayhem, they’d caused earlier that morning when they’d let their pet rabbits out of their hutch and they’d promptly hopped off on a
