Page 60 of The Pieces of Us

The Fairy Bridges are busy today. Hikers and families cross the rocks, stopping to take pictures, watch the surfers ride the waves below or simply admire the late-summer views across Donegal Bay. We’ve timed our visit well; it’s high tide, so the waves splash through the holes in the rocks.

‘That looks freaking awesome,’ says Ruby, who no longer swears now that she’s a mother.

‘I’ve always wanted to learn to surf.’ While much of her future remains undecided – her plans to go to college aren’t yet set in stone and her relationship with Sean didn’t last more than a few months after Elizabeth was born – she’s embraced her new role as a mother.

My heart melts as I look at my one-year-old granddaughter strapped to the front of Ruby’s chest so that she can kick her legs and wave her hands and enjoy an unrestricted view of this exciting new place.

Elizabeth has her mother’s dark eyes and, I like to think, my curls.

I tickle her rosy cheeks; she rewards me with a flash of her gums. She might be a Beth one day.

Or maybe a Lizzie or a Betty. Time will tell.

Lisa and Charlie are here, arms entwined, faces shining with the joy of the newly married.

They pull me between them for a selfie, which Charlie declares a success because it cuts half his face off.

A little lower than where we stand, on one of the smaller bridges, Emily, the woman who loved my first mother, who was by her side until the end, turns and waves.

As I wave back I see more hands moving in the near distance. Sandra, Reenie, Aoife, Patrick and Joe.

‘More great-great-aunties and uncles for you to meet, baby girl,’ Ruby says, kissing her daughter’s head.

‘Have I told you how proud I am of you?’ I say to her.

‘Oh, all the freaking time,’ she says drily. ‘It’s getting boring.’

We chat, make introductions and take endless pictures.

After a while, Lisa and Charlie join Emily to walk down to the beach, and the rest of us fall into silence.

We’re all thinking of Beth, but of many others too.

As always, Minnie is at the forefront of my mind – in all her incarnations.

I think of the one I knew best, the single mother who gave me more than she’ll ever realize.

‘It’s time,’ I announce, scrolling through the apps on my phone. ‘I hope you’ve all brought your disco shoes.’

‘Wait.’ Ruby reaches into the bulging changing bag. ‘I brought this. So we can really get the party started.’

‘Nice one, Rubes.’ I take the Bluetooth speaker gratefully and place it on top of the mound of jackets and bags we’ve discarded. ‘OK. Are you ready?’

We’re more than ready for ‘Dancing Queen’, each of us moving in our own way without rhyme or reason. We’re just getting into it when the music stops. I laugh, grabbing my phone. ‘Sorry, guys. Someone’s calling me. Hold on a second –’

I look down at the screen and smile at the name of the caller. ‘Give me two seconds; I need to take this.’ Into the phone I say, ‘Hello, handsome.’

‘Hello, you,’ Asim says. ‘Good news.’

‘Tell me.’ I hold my breath.

‘They’ve accepted your offer. The house is yours.’

‘ Really? ’

He laughs. ‘Really.’

I’ve been trying not to think about the cul-de-sac townhouse with a bedroom for each of us and the small neglected garden I can’t wait to inject colour and harmony into.

Cherry trees for spring blossom, fig trees for foliage, apple trees to keep the doctor away.

Maybe a wildflower corner, because beautiful doesn’t have to be perfect.

‘I need to tell Sandra and the others. This is all thanks to them. And Beth.’

‘Do it. I’m just pulling up. Minnie insisted on stopping to get fancy biscuits.’

I turn round and see their faces in the front of his car. Asim says something to Minnie, and she gives me an enthusiastic wave.

I laugh, waving back. ‘You’re here.’

‘We’re here. You told me to call as soon as I had news. So I called.’

‘Hurry up. I want to see your disco finger in action.’

He laughs. ‘Don’t you worry about that. Oh, and, Cat?’

‘Yes?’ I wait, my eyes drifting across the Atlantic Ocean.

‘Keep dancing.’

I end the call and the music starts again.