Page 222 of The Missing Sister

After some coffee, toast and jam, I felt better. It was a sunny day again and Jack decided that an hour on the waves would clear out any cobwebs.

Back upstairs and seeing the time, I called Mary-Kate’s room.

‘’Lo?’ said a muffled voice.

‘It’s Mum, and it’s almost noon, sweetheart. Time to get up.’

‘Mmph... Not feeling well.’

‘Okay, well, sleep a bit longer and I’ll give you a call in an hour. Remember, my friend Ambrose is arriving this afternoon, and I don’t want him to meet my daughter for the first time with a hangover.’

‘’Kay, Mum. Bye.’

‘I only hope I’ve done the right thing,’ I muttered as I took myself off for a walk across the dunes.

At two on the dot, Katie’s car drew up in front of the hotel.

‘Right, Father O’Brien is here,’ I said to my children as we stood up from the sofas in the reception.

‘I thought it was Ambrose we were meeting?’ Mary-Kate queried.

‘It is, but Father O’Brien was a big part of my childhood too. I’ll go and help him inside.’

I hurried outside and saw Katie unfolding the wheelchair from the boot.

‘Hello there, Father, isn’t it a beautiful day?’ I said as I opened the front passenger door.

‘It is indeed,’ he answered.

I watched Katie expertly manoeuvre him out of the car and into the chair. She wheeled him into the hotel as I walked alongside him.

‘Remind me of the names of your children?’ he said.

‘Jack and Mary-Kate. I’m afraid they’re not feeling too well this morning. My brother John and his wife threw a party up at Cross Farm, so we could meet up with everyone again.’

‘And sure, a good time was had by all?’ Father O’Brien chuckled.

‘Exactly. They’re over there,’ I pointed as we wheeled him over.

‘Hello there, I hear you’ve been given a baptism in how to enjoy yourself the Irish way. I’m Father O’Brien and ’tis a pleasure to meet you. You’re the image of your mother,’ he added to Mary-Kate.

‘Thank you.’ My daughter threw me a look and I gave her a slight shake of my head. There was no reason for him to know just now.

‘Why don’t we go up to my room and I can order some tea up there?’ I said. ‘It’s a bit more private, isn’t it, Father?’

‘Ah, I’m just as happy down here, Merry. Please don’t go to any bother.’

‘It’s no bother. You go with Katie and we’ll follow.’

I handed Katie my key card, then she pushed Father O’Brien into the lift. As the doors shut behind them, my mobile rang.

‘Hello there, it’s Niall. We’re just approaching the hotel. Will I bring your man into the lobby?’

‘Yes, perfect timing. I’ll meet you there. Kids, go up and chat to Father O’Brien and order some tea. Don’t say a word about Ambrose arriving, okay?’

‘Okay, Mum,’ Jack shrugged as the two of them took the stairs.

Hurrying towards the lobby, I saw Ambrose being escorted through the entrance by Niall. He looked his usual dapper self in a checked jacket, pressed twill trousers and shiny black brogues.