Divided Loyalties (12 page)

Her pure childish voice rang out in the cold, clear air, her breath little curlicues of frosty white.

‘
Ring out those bells tonight
. . .’ Bobby added his contribution.

‘
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
.’ Dan’s deep baritone joined in.

‘BIM BAM BOM. BIM BAM BOM.’ Chloe was not to be outsung.

Carrie and Shauna started to giggle. And soon they were all laughing, even Noel, as they stood at the grave, singing to Anna, all except Greg, who shuffled, mortified, from one leg to the other,
wishing they’d hurry up and get on with it. He hated visiting graves. He thought it was morbid. His own father had died years ago and he never visited the grave. His mother and a friend had
gone to Egypt for Christmas, anxious to do a past-life regression at the pyramids, so he wouldn’t be seeing her again for a while.

‘Children are great, aren’t they?’ Shauna remarked to Carrie as they walked back down the narrow path towards the iron gates. ‘I just loved the way Olivia spoke to Mam as
if she was there. I love the way she sang for her with no inhibitions, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.’

‘We should learn from our kids. It would be nice to believe Mam is here in spirit. It makes it more bearable to think so, doesn’t it?’ Carrie sighed.

‘I think she
is
here. I feel very close to her sometimes,’ Shauna said quietly. ‘Sometimes I sit and light a candle and play soft music and just think of her and I
swear I can feel her around me.’

‘That’s a nice thing to do. I must try it sometime,’ Carrie said thoughtfully.

‘I do it when Chloe’s having a nap. You could do it when the kids are at school. It’s like switching off from the world and going to a different place.’

‘I could do with switching off from the world.’ Carrie grinned. ‘Come on, let’s go back to my house and have a cup of tea and a bite to eat before you get on the road.
I’ll bring Dad and Bobby to Malahide in my car and Dan can bring the kids in his after we’ve finished our visiting.’

Shauna frowned. ‘That would mean Dan couldn’t have a few drinks. I know that you’re not drinking, but I’d like Dan to be able to and he won’t be able to if
he’s driving.’

‘We’re not all going to fit in one car,’ Carrie pointed out.

‘Dad and Bobby can come back with us after we’ve had a cup of tea with you,’ Shauna said firmly. ‘I’ll sit in the back with Chloe and Bobby. Dad can sit in the
front. He can stay the night or go back with you if he wants to. Bobby’s staying.’ Shauna pulled her scarf tighter round her neck.

‘Thanks, Shauna, that’s a good idea. I’d say Dad will come home with us, but we’ll see how it’s going. I’d like Dan to have a couple of drinks and relax.
He’s been working his ass off coming up to Christmas,’ Carrie said gratefully.

‘No problem. Try and not be too late getting over, won’t you? It would be nice if we could have some time together before the Freeloaders arrive.’

‘I’ll do my best. Dan’s parents are going to his aunt’s so they’ll be anxious to get going. We won’t have to stay as long as we usually do,’ Carrie
assured her. ‘With any luck we’ll have an hour or so before Della and co. arrive.’

Della shook a travel tablet into her hand and held it out to her daughter. ‘This will make you feel better, chicken. Now when we get to Shauna’s don’t say
anything about being sick. Sure you won’t?’

‘No, Mommy,’ Kathryn said wearily, swallowing the tablet down with a sip of 7-Up. The best thing about being sick was getting lemonade, she decided. 7-Up tasted lovely.

Della glanced at her watch. Just gone half ten. The tablet would work within an hour and hopefully Kathryn would sleep her way to Dublin. She knew Shauna had said to come in the afternoon, but
she could take a running jump. Della had no intention of hanging around a minute longer than necessary. Once that tablet was absorbed into Kathryn’s system they were hitting the road and if
Shauna didn’t like it, she could lump it.

‘You’d want to mind that chap on the bike there, Greg. He’s not very steady. I suspect that he’s drunk,’ Noel declared as Greg drove out of
Whiteshells Bay and headed for the M1.

Shauna gave Bobby a dig in the ribs and grinned. Bobby elbowed back. They were sitting in the back of the car and Noel had a running commentary on everything from his front seat position. Chloe,
flakers in her seat after all the excitement of being with her cousins, was fast asleep. Shauna tucked a blanket round her daughter. ‘It’s great that she’s having a nap now; she
won’t be cranky at dinner,’ she remarked cheerfully. She was surprised at how stress-free she felt, but she was actually enjoying her Christmas Day so far. The dinner was under control,
Chloe was in good form, and Greg hadn’t protested too much when she’d told him that he was driving to and from Whiteshells Bay. She’d very much enjoyed her two glasses of
champagne at Carrie and Dan’s and it had been fun watching the kids, giddy with excitement, play with their toys as they tucked into smoked salmon and delicious home-made brown bread.

She was looking forward to spending time with Bobby. She figured he could do with some rescuing. He’d been subdued at the grave and Shauna knew instinctively that he was remembering his
father’s cruel assertions about the reason for their mother’s death. He was going to stay the night in her house and Carrie was bringing their father home. Her brother would have some
respite from Noel.

‘Ah what speed are you doing there, Greg? I think it’s fifty on this stretch,’ Noel interjected.

‘Don’t worry about it, Mr McCarthy,’ Greg said tightly, trying to hide his irritation.

‘You don’t want to be stopped for speeding,’ Noel warned self-righteously.

‘The crib was lovely,’ Shauna remarked diplomatically, her nice buzz of relaxation beginning to fray. She could see by the taut line of Greg’s jaw that he was getting
annoyed.

‘The new committee decided on using artificial greenery. I don’t think it worked as well as when myself and Mrs Murphy were in charge of it,’ Noel said petulantly. He had
always looked after the decorating of the crib but this year the responsibility had gone to Mrs Hall and Miss Carter, much to his dismay. Father Doyle had told him that after his last hospital
stay, he should not be doing strenuous duties such as putting up the crib. Noel had protested, but Father Doyle had suggested giving ‘the women’ a chance to show their mettle.

They had gone way overboard in Noel’s estimation, using poinsettias along the base of the crib. He couldn’t be sure, but he didn’t think poinsettias were indigenous to the Holy
Land, a fact he was going to research and point out at the next committee meeting. He’d mentioned it to Mrs Hall but she’d just brushed him off and told him she was in charge this year.
Noel had been raging. She wasn’t even from the parish. She’d moved from Dundalk a year ago and had muscled in on the parish committee. He detested her.

‘I thought it looked good. I liked the poinsettias,’ Shauna remarked, unaware of his feelings about the showy plants.

‘Not at all realistic,’ Noel said dismissively. ‘Cactus would have been more appropriate if they wanted authenticity.’

‘Oh.’ Shauna had no answer to that.

‘Traffic is heavy enough, isn’t it?’ Bobby observed.

‘I suppose everyone is out and about visiting,’ Greg replied as he put the boot down to overtake a red van. Shauna saw her father’s gaze flicker towards the speedometer and
hoped that he’d keep his mouth shut. Greg would only take so much and then he’d tell Noel to mind his own business. She didn’t want a bad atmosphere to taint the day. Fortunately
Noel, apart from a deep inhalation of breath, said nothing and Greg slowed down a little as he came onto the stretch leading to the turn-off for Malahide.

It was with relief, ten minutes later, that she saw the house ahead of them. She intended plonking her father in front of the TV with a cup of tea the minute she went in. That would keep him out
of harm’s way. The smell of roasting turkey that wafted out of the kitchen, filling the hallway, made them all sniff appreciatively.

‘Smells good,’ Greg approved.

‘Will you just lift it out to baste it?’

‘Sure,’ her husband agreed. ‘I’ll just put Chloe into her cot. Bobby, help yourself to a drink; you can pour me a beer. And whatever your dad would like.’

‘Would you like a cup of tea, Dad?’ Shauna took her father’s coat.

‘Lovely, Shauna. That would go down nicely.’ Noel rubbed his hands.

‘Why don’t you come in and sit by the fire? There might be something you’d like to watch on TV.’ She led him into the lounge and switched on the TV and the coal-effect
gas fire. She handed him the remote control, showed him how to use it and then went to the kitchen where Bobby was opening two bottles of beer.

‘What are you going to have?’ he asked.

‘I think I’ll have a white wine spritzer. I need to keep my wits about me for a little while longer, regretfully.’ She made a face. The doorbell rang.

‘I’ll get it,’ Greg called. It was Maria and Colin: neighbours from down the road. Five minutes later another couple called in and a jolly buzz filled the house as Greg poured
drinks for them and they nibbled on the selection of canapés Shauna had ordered from the caterers. The turkey, basted and turned, was cooking satisfactorily and Shauna had time to have a
quick drink before she started the rest of the dinner. She made Noel’s tea and brought it in to him. She was determined to make the effort to see that he enjoyed his day. Carrie’s
kindness was something to aspire to, she thought a little guiltily, remembering how sharp she often was with him.

‘Are you all right there, Dad? Will you have another canapé?’

‘No, this is grand. I don’t want to spoil my dinner,’ Noel assured her. He was watching a service of carols and Bible readings and was quite happy as he was. Shauna, her
daughterly duty done, felt free to mingle with her guests. She hoped Carrie and Dan and the kids wouldn’t be too long. If only Della and Eddie weren’t coming it would have been great.
Still, they wouldn’t be here for another hour and a half or so, she comforted herself as she took a long drink of her Chardonnay spritzer.

She was in the kitchen with Bobby putting more canapés on a tray when the doorbell pealed again. ‘Great, Carrie and Dan are here,’ she said happily.

‘I think not,’ Bobby murmured as Della’s gay tones rippled through the hall.

‘The sneaky tart!’ Shauna raged. ‘She never listens to what I say. I’m sick of her. Why does she always have to push it?’

‘Here.’ Bobby handed her a full glass of champagne. ‘Get that down you and you’ll be flying and you won’t give a hoot about her.’

‘It would take more than a glass of champagne to sort out how I feel about that cow.’ She scowled.

‘Come on now, come on, don’t let her spoil your Christmas,’ her brother urged, handing her the champagne flute. ‘Drink up.’ He took a generous slug from his own
glass. ‘Take a leaf out of my book,’ he advised as Della breezed into the kitchen.

‘Well, aren’t you blooming, Della. Is it triplets you’re expecting?’ he schmoozed insincerely, winking at Shauna when he got behind the other woman.

‘Oh!’ Della was momentarily taken aback. She didn’t think she’d put on
that
much weight.

‘Quite a party,’ she said, kissing Shauna on the cheek. ‘I’m glad we came early, it would have been a shame to miss it,’ she added acidly, placing two bottles of
wine on the table.

‘Oh, you’ll make sure you never miss
anything
, Della. Thank you
so
much for the wine.’ Shauna glanced at the two bottles and wasn’t the slightest bit
surprised to see that they were cheap supermarket wines. Probably on a special offer, she thought nastily. ‘Bobby, get a drink for Della and Eddie, will you?’ she said dryly.

‘Delighted to,’ Bobby said cheerfully. ‘Some Amé for yourself, I expect. Pity you’re preggers – the champers is just
gorgeous
! But I know
you’re into the health kick, and I think it’s great not to drink when you’re pregnant. Poor Carrie’s in the same boat.’ He had no intention of pouring Della a glass of
expensive champagne.

‘Well, one glass wouldn’t make—’ The doorbell pealed again, interrupting her as both Bobby and Shauna hurried to the front door, assuring each other that
‘I’ll get it’.

‘She’s not getting any of my good champers,’ Bobby vowed as he opened the door to Carrie’s gang.

‘I thought the Keegans weren’t coming until later,’ Carrie murmured as Shauna stepped back to let her in.

‘Well, that was the plan.’ Shauna made a face as she took her sister’s coat.

‘Typical,’ muttered Carrie as she helped Olivia remove her hat and scarf.

‘Happy Christmas,’ Della said unctuously, beaming as she emerged into the hall and threw her arms round Carrie.

‘Same to you.’ Carrie fought the urge to shrug her off.

‘And to you, Dan.’ Della launched herself on Dan, who had just come into the hall.

‘Kids, go on down to the playroom. Chloe and Kathryn are there,’ Shauna said. ‘Dan, a pint?’ She smiled at her brother-in-law.

‘I’d love one, thanks,’ he agreed, strolling into the lounge to join the others.

‘I’ll get it,’ Bobby offered and the women followed him back into the kitchen.

‘Mommy, Olivia won’t let me get on Chloe’s new rocking horse.’ Kathryn raced in to her mother, furious, a few minutes later.

‘Tell her she’s got to share,’ Della ordered.

‘You can have a go when Olivia’s finished, Kathryn.’ Davey had come to see that Olivia’s name was not being blackened. ‘We all have to take our turns,’ he
pointed out firmly, arms crossed in his I-won’t-take-any-nonsense pose. Shauna struggled not to laugh at Della’s nonplussed expression.

‘Not fair.’ Kathryn sulked.

‘Very fair,’ Shauna said firmly.

‘Well, she is that bit younger than they are. She doesn’t understand,’ Della said, a tad annoyed.

‘A good time to start, Della. Davey will sort it; he’s very good at playing fair,’ Bobby said firmly. ‘You forget about it and go and join the party and I’ll be in
with your drink.’ He ushered her out of the kitchen before she had a chance to protest.