‘That’s not surprising. I’m sure it was very difficult for you, getting your head round seeing something like that as a child. I was sorry to hear how troubled you’d been throughout your life. You never said anything.’ Hilary’s gaze and tone was sympathetic.
‘I couldn’t. I buried it deep.’ Colette’s lip trembled at her former friend’s compassionate response.
‘That was hard for you.’
‘Oh Hilary, maybe we could meet for coffee before I go back to London. I really need to talk about it,’ Colette exclaimed, all affectation aside. Hilary knew her better than anyone. Who else could she tell all her woes to without losing face? ‘Why don’t I ring you in a few days’ time, and we’ll arrange to meet before I go back?’ she suggested eagerly.
Hilary looked at her searchingly. ‘I don’t think so, Colette,’ she said slowly. ‘What’s the point? We’re not really friends. We’re just a habit, and a bad one at that. I could never trust you again. I’ve nothing to say to you actually. If it wasn’t for Mam I wouldn’t be here,’ she added bluntly. ‘I’m glad Jazzy and Sophie became friends and keep in touch. I hope their friendship works better than ours has. A long time ago, after we had the falling out when you moved to America, I remember saying to Niall that either you and I would drift apart, or you would do something that there was no turning back from. I think trying to seduce my husband would come into that category. Some things there’s no getting over and for me, Colette, believe it or not, that’s one of them.’ She gave a shrug. ‘I wish you well, always. Don’t doubt that. But coffee? A chat? No, I think not. I would suggest that you do talk to a counsellor or psychotherapist to resolve all your issues, though, if you haven’t already done so. I think it would be very good for you. But, if it’s all the same to you, let’s you and I call it a day. Take care of yourself.’ Hilary gave Colette’s gloved hand a squeeze and walked away, leaving the other woman standing with her mouth open, stunned.
Was that it? After all these years? Hilary had finally had enough. ‘To have a friend you have to be a friend,’ she’d once said to Colette during a row, implying that Colette wasn’t a good friend to her. She had been a good friend, she assured herself, as tears filled her eyes and she was left standing alone. Apart from that episode with Niall when she wasn’t herself, she’d been as good a friend as she knew how. A sob escaped her and then another and she fished in her bag for a tissue.
‘Are you OK?’ Des appeared at her side.
‘No . . . No, I’m not, Des. I want to get out of here,’ Colette wept.
‘All right, let’s tell Jacqueline to wrap it up and move on to the graveyard.’
‘Thanks,’ she managed weakly, trying to compose herself, relieved to have someone be concerned about her, even if it was her lying, cheating husband.
Des took her hand and led her towards the hearse. Her fingers curled around his. ‘Chin up, Lettie,’ he murmured encouragingly, using a pet name he used to call her, as Jazzy broke away from some of her Irish cousins and walked towards them.
‘Are you all right, Mom? You look a bit pale,’ she said, secretly delighted to see her parents holding hands. She slid her own hand into her mother’s free one.
Colette lifted her shoulders and smiled at her. ‘I’ll be fine, sweetie,’ she said, as the three of them walked hand in hand towards her mother, like a real family again, while Hilary, her arm tucked into Sally’s, walked in the opposite direction, out through the church gates, disappearing from view.
E
PILOGUE
‘Let’s get this wedding started,’ Hilary declared giddily, settling the small red rose in Jonathan’s lapel.
‘It’s a civil service,’ corrected her friend.
‘If I’m a bridesmaid, it’s a wedding,’ Hilary said firmly. ‘And you will be the most perfect blushing groom.’
‘Oh Hil, I never thought there was someone out there for me. I’m so excited,’ Jonathan bubbled. ‘I’m so happy I could burst.’
‘I’m so happy for you I could burst too,’ Hilary declared, raising her champagne glass to him and taking a last sip before they joined Nancy and his sisters to enter the function room where the service was taking place. Nancy was so proud to be walking her son up the aisle. And ecstatically happy that her prayers had finally been answered.
Murray had proposed on Valentine’s Day, fourteen months after Father McDaid had introduced them, and they were holding their ceremony on Midsummer’s Day in a country house hotel, just outside Rosslara. Nancy was giving Jonathan away and Hilary was his bridesmaid. Father Derek was going to perform a blessing after the legalities were complete and Murray and Jonathan couldn’t be happier.
The excitement of the couple was palpable as they stood side by side in their morning suits, and heard the Registrar finally say, ‘Jonathan, Murray, you are now joined together in civil partnership.’ Tears slid down Hilary’s cheeks as she watched the loving couple embrace. At last, her best friend had what he had always wished for. Someone he loved, and someone who loved him.
Ten minutes later, when the Registrar had left, because he was not allowed to stay for the spiritual ceremony,
