Page 186 of The Missing Sister

‘I hate that Ambrose; ’twas him that stole you away from us all in the first place. Getting Father O’Brien and Daddy to agree to send you to that fancy boarding school in Dublin, then you staying with Ambrose all the time when you were up there. It was likehewas wanting to be your daddy, even though he wasn’t. He wasn’t, Merry.’

‘No, he wasn’t, but the reason I left has nothing to do with him, I swear.’

‘Have you seen him since you came back?’ she eyed me.

‘I have, yes.’

‘He must be very old these days.’

‘He is, but he still has his wits about him.’

‘And what didhesay when you turned up out of the blue with no warning?’

‘He was shocked, but happy to see me. Katie, please don’t cry anymore. I’m here and I promise, I’ll tell you why I had to leave, and I just hope you’ll understand.’

‘I’ve had so long to think about it, and I’d reckon I have an idea. I think—’

‘Would it be all right if we talked about it another time, Katie? I’ve my children here with me and I haven’t told them anything about it either.’

‘What about your husband, assuming you have one? Does he know?’

‘My husband died a few months ago, he didn’t know. Nobody did. When I left, I forgot the past. I made a whole new life and got myself a new identity.’

‘Then I’m sorry for your loss, Merry. But... well, I’ve some things to tell you aboutourfamily, some things we didn’t know as children, but that make sense now, looking back. Especially for you.’

‘Then you must tell me, Katie.’

‘’Tis not a pretty story, Merry, but it explains a lot.’

I was just about to mention I’d read Nuala’s diary, when there was a brief knock on the door and Connor appeared.

‘Sorry to interrupt, but will we be having something for our tea tonight or not, Katie? There’s nothing in the fridge that I can see.’

‘No, Connor, I need to go shopping. I just came back here to take a shower and change out of my uniform.’ Katie stood up. ‘What about I come to see you tomorrow?’ she said to me. ‘’Tis my day off. Where are you staying?’

‘The Inchydoney Lodge Hotel.’

‘Oh, ’tis a lovely place that, with a beautiful view.’

‘It is,’ I said, sensing the tension that had appeared in the room with the arrival of Connor. ‘Well, I must be off anyway.’

‘Would eleven o’clock suit?’ she said.

‘It would. I’ll be down in the lobby to meet you. Bye, Katie. Bye, Connor.’

As I drove back to the hotel, I decided that, despite the car, the perfect home and the handsome, rich husband, my sister was not a happy woman.

That evening, Jack, Mary-Kate and I enjoyed a relaxed supper at a pub in Clonakilty. Afterwards, we went to listen to some Irish music at An Teach Beag, once a tiny cottage that had now been turned into a pub. The traditional band played the old ballads, bringing back memories of my father playing his fiddle. Then we headed back to the hotel.

‘Looks like the weather is set fair for some good surfing tomorrow, Mum,’ said Jack, ‘so if it’s okay with you, MK and I will get our togs on after brekkie.’

‘I’m seeing one of my sisters anyway, so that’s perfect.’

‘I really love it here, Mum,’ Mary-Kate said as we kissed goodnight. ‘Everyone is so friendly. It’s like NZ, with a different accent!’

I was happy that my children liked it here, I thought the next morning, as I donned a pair of jeans and a blouse for Katie’s imminent arrival.

At eleven o’clock prompt, she arrived in the lobby. Yesterday she’d been in her navy-blue nurse’s uniform, but today she was immaculately dressed in tailored trousers and a silk blouse.