The Rose Garden (10 page)

‘Will I manage … be able to survive on the remaining insurance money?’

‘Hopefully, though this is a house that probably costs a fortune to keep.’

‘Bill, be honest – do you think I should sell the house?’

‘I am not here to tell you what to do,’ Bill said, raising his hands, ‘but Mossbawn is a valuable property.’

‘But I love this house,’ she protested. ‘David wouldn’t have wanted me to sell.’

‘No one wants to sell their home,’ he said softly, ‘but many of us have to.’

‘Is that why you sold your house?’

‘After Ruth died I found it lonely as hell without her. The house was full of memories. But then Liz got married, Mike moved to Canada and even Kim was off doing her own thing. To tell the truth, I’d been thinking of selling and downsizing for ages. When I met Carole I knew that she was never going to live there; she wanted us to have a new place and I wanted that too.’

Molly didn’t know what to say.

‘The only person who can decide about selling is you,’ he said firmly. ‘But the market is difficult at the moment, so even if you put Mossbawn up for sale there is no guarantee it would sell.’

‘So basically the insurance money is my only income until the pension fund goes up?’

‘Exactly, unless you make the house earn for you or find a job.’

‘So what am I to say to the bank on Thursday?’ she worried. ‘I just want to get all this bloody loan stuff sorted.’

‘If you want I’ll come with you,’ he offered.

‘Bill, that would be wonderful,’ she said, unable to disguise her relief.

‘It’s the least I can do,’ he said. ‘Molly, you have always been very good to me and the kids when we needed you.’

‘How are they all?’ she asked.

‘Fine, I guess. Liz is busy with work and the kids. We don’t get to see each other half as much as I’d like. Mike talks to me on Skype, so at least I get to see my Canadian grandson. And Kim –
she’s the one I worry about most. I don’t know if you’ve heard that she’s broken up with that boyfriend of hers.’

‘Oh, poor Kim! How awful for her!’

‘It’s all a mess. She moved out of the apartment they were sharing. She’s staying with Liz for the moment. But she still hasn’t got a job, and I suspect deep inside doesn’t really know what she wants to do.’

‘But she’s such a bright girl.’

‘I know,’ he sighed, ‘but it’s a worry.’

‘Why don’t I give her a call and arrange to see her?’ she offered.

Kim, Ruth’s youngest, was her goddaughter and always had been very different from her older brother and sister. Ruth’s death had hit her the hardest and she still remembered how her niece had turned up on her doorstep, a skinny, pale, broken-hearted streak of misery who had ended up staying in Mossbawn for six weeks that summer, Molly taking her under her wing as if she were her own daughter.

‘Thanks, I’d really appreciate it.’ Bill sighed. ‘The two of you have always been so close.’

‘I’ll phone her tonight,’ she promised.

‘Look, I’d better get going. Carole and I have a bridge game at the golf club this evening,’ he said standing up and taking his briefcase. ‘But I’ll see you next Thursday.’

Molly thanked him profusely.

‘It was really good to see the place again,’ he said, hugging her before he got in the car and set off down the driveway.

MOLLY FELT RELIEF WASH OVER HER AS SHE LEFT THE BANK. BILL
had been wonderful. Dermot hadn’t expected her to bring him along with her today and her brother-in-law had been so professional in negotiating a deal on her behalf.

All their loans were cleared, every bit of money owed on the house settled. Okay, she mightn’t have a huge amount of money left to live on after agreeing to use some of the insurance money to pay off what was due to the bank. Bill had also advised the bank that she was drawing down 25 per cent of David’s pension and using that to pay off the rest. Molly decided to put a sum of money into an account for each of their daughters; it was something she knew that David would have wanted. The remainder was split between her current account and a savings account.

‘I’ve been having nightmares about it all,’ she admitted as they chatted outside afterwards, ‘but thank heaven it’s all sorted. I am so grateful to you, Bill.’

‘It’s what accountants do all the time,’ he laughed. ‘I’m glad I could help. Do you want to come for coffee or grab a sandwich?’

‘Actually, I’m meeting Kim for lunch.’

‘Molly, thanks. I appreciate it – but please don’t mention my concerns to her.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ she assured him. ‘Besides, I love seeing my lovely goddaughter!’

Molly strolled up towards St Stephen’s Green. She’d always loved the big city-centre park with its lake and bridge and walks. She’d time to kill before meeting Kim. Passing the windows of one of the country’s biggest auctioneering firms, she found herself stopping to study the photos of various properties that were for sale: houses and apartments and duplexes and townhouses, and on one stand a number of large expensive city and country properties. Over in the other widow there were country houses and estates, and even two castles displayed. She studied them. Beautiful old houses all for sale from one end of the country to the other, many of their owners deceased or struggling to maintain them … She gave a sigh. What option did people have?

What option did she have? She knew after meeting the bank that things were going to be tight. Dermot and Bill had both made that crystal clear.

She found herself pushing the polished glass door. If she was even to consider selling Mossbawn House, she needed to find out what kind of value a firm like this would place on her home.

An hour later Molly found a small sunny outside table on the corner near Duke Street. A few seconds later Kim appeared in leggings and a bird-print dress.

‘Hello, darling,’ Molly said, getting up to hug her. ‘It’s lovely to see you.’ Kim was so like her sister Ruth – tall, with the same blue eyes and tumble of dark hair. It was almost a sense of déjà vu, seeing her.

The waitress was hovering so, glancing at the menu, they ordered quickly.

‘How are things?’ Molly asked casually, putting the menu away.

‘I don’t know if you heard, but Gareth and I broke up.’

‘Oh Kim, I’m so sorry.’

‘So … I’ve no boyfriend! No job! No home!’ Kim giggled, desperately. ‘Things couldn’t be worse really!’

‘You poor pet!’ Molly said gently. ‘I know how much you cared for him.’

‘I loved him, and stupidly I thought he loved me.’

Molly could see that her niece was fighting to control her emotions.

‘I honestly don’t know why things didn’t work out between us,’ she continued. ‘Gareth’s big into career and work and he hated that I wasn’t working. But surely we should have got over that. Besides, I am trying to get a job.’

‘Perhaps there is more to it than that, Kim love,’ she suggested, noting the grey shadows under her niece’s eyes and that she was far thinner than she had ever seen her before.

‘I suppose. It’s weird, because even though we were living together we were growing apart instead of being closer …’

‘Nothing worse,’ said Molly. ‘Life is tough enough for us all without being lumbered with the wrong partner.’

‘Everyone keeps saying I’ll meet someone else,’ Kim said, her eyes welling with tears.

‘I wouldn’t dare.’

‘It’s just that it doesn’t really help, because I miss him so much.’

‘I understand, Kim love. I miss my David every day, and it doesn’t matter what good advice people give you about time healing, it’s just so hard losing someone we love, no matter what the circumstances are.’

Molly really felt such sympathy for her young niece. Kim had always worn her heart on her sleeve, been impulsive and giving, and rather reckless, throwing herself into things without thinking, and now she had got hurt, badly hurt, by falling in love with someone who wasn’t as passionate and caring as she was.

‘How are your courses and classes going?’ she asked, trying to change the subject as the waitress appeared with their plates of pasta and a salad.

‘I had photography last night. I took photos of Dún Laoghaire Harbour at night with the yachts and boats and the sun going down, and they’ve turned out really well. I’m doing some portraits
of Finn and Ava as a surprise for Liz. Do you want to see them?’ She passed Molly her phone so she could see the photos of the children.

‘They are gorgeous!’ she said. The photos seemed to capture their spirit, the look in their eyes – their sense of mischief. ‘These are beautiful.’

‘Finn is so funny and a dream to photograph. They’re both wild and keep Liz and Joe busy all the time!’

‘Your mum would have loved them! Ruth would have been in her element, in the thick of it, helping Liz with babysitting, outings … She’d have been a wonderful grandmother.’

‘I know Liz really misses her … We both do,’ said Kim softly.

‘Well, these photographs of the two of them look amazing.’

‘I’ll make you a copy. I’ve learned a lot about how to take photos,’ she laughed, ‘but I’ve only one class left. And my website-design course in Rathmines is finishing up too. I’ve been doing it for six months and it’s been brilliant. I was struggling at first because it’s so technical, but I absolutely love it! It was tough trying to get my head around so much jargon about programs and that, but it’s fascinating seeing what you can actually do with technology.’

‘I’m afraid I’m a bit of a dinosaur where these things are concerned,’ Molly admitted.

‘I hadn’t a clue when I started, but our tutors really make you understand how things work.’

‘When do you finish?’

‘The end of the month, and I’m going to miss it and the group. There are only twelve of us. I’d love to try and get some work in that area. Do you remember my friend Evie – she’s an artist?’

‘Yes, is she the girl with all the different hair colours?’

‘Yeah,’ Kim giggled. ‘I’ve designed a website to show off her paintings. They are brilliant and people can find out about her and buy some of her work online.’

‘That sounds very interesting,’ Molly said, relieved that at least Kim was keeping herself busy.

‘But I don’t know what I’m going to do when it finishes,’ Kim conceded candidly. ‘I was supposed to have an interview for a job, but apparently they have already filled the position internally and there’s nothing else.’

‘So what will you do?’ asked Molly.

‘That’s just it! I don’t know what I’m going to do. Things are a mess right now and I can’t keep on staying with Liz and sponging on her and Joe.’

‘I’m sure Liz doesn’t mind.’

‘I’ve taken Finn’s room,’ she admitted.

‘Kim, why don’t you come and stay with me in Mossbawn?’ Molly found herself offering. ‘I’m down in Kilfinn on my own and would love a bit of company.’

Kim had always loved coming to stay in the house ever since she was a little girl. Why, hadn’t she run away to Mossbawn when she was barely twelve years old? Bought a train ticket on her own and taken the train to their station, walked up to the house and surprised herself and David? There’d been utter turmoil at home when Bill and Ruth had discovered that she was missing, but she’d stayed for three days with them before Molly had brought her back home to Ruth. And then of course she’d stayed with them again a few months after Ruth’s death, rambling around the house and garden like a lost kitten, David and she doing everything they could to help her get through her grief.

‘Are you sure?’ Kim asked, a catch in her voice.

‘Of course I’m sure. Emma is studying for her thesis thing in Galway and Grace after her exams is off backpacking around Europe, so I’m on my own.’

‘I haven’t been for ages, but it’s funny,’ Kim confided, her lip trembling, ‘when Gareth and I broke up I just wanted to get in my car and drive to Mossbawn.’

‘Why didn’t you?’ wondered Molly.

‘I was too upset to drive – I’d probably have crashed the car. Anyway, I told myself to be grown up and stop running and face things.’

‘Well, you’ll come and stay now,’ Molly coaxed. ‘Daisy and I would love to have you.’

‘Oh Auntie Molly, that would be lovely!’ she said, leaping up and hugging her.

‘Well, that’s settled then,’ Molly said firmly. ‘You just let me know when you are coming, Kim, and I’ll have the room aired for you and the bed made.’

‘I’ll come as soon as my course is over, if that’s okay.’

‘That sounds perfect.’ She was really looking forward to Kim coming to stay with her in Mossbawn.

KIM SURVEYED THE BACK SEAT OF HER CAR CRAMMED WITH HER
clothes and luggage. Thank heaven Liz and Joe had agreed to store the rest of her stuff, or her aunt would think she was crazy!

‘Drive carefully,’ warned Liz, ‘and give our love to Molly.’

‘I wish that you were coming down for a visit too,’ Kim coaxed, checking that her laptop was securely stored. ‘Promise you’ll try to come down!’

‘Kim, you know how hard it is for me to get a night away from this crew,’ Liz said, grabbing a struggling Finn into her arms. ‘Joe would have a fit.’

Leaving the estate, Kim headed up to join the steady stream of cars flowing on to the M50. The traffic was light as she took the exit road for Cork and Kilkenny and put on the radio.

She had always loved going to Mossbawn. The big old house just outside Kilkenny, surrounded by trees and fields and woods, was like a magical kingdom that she had loved to explore, pretending she was a wood sprite or fairy or enchanted princess when she was a kid. They used to go and stay with Molly and David regularly – her dad and mum, with the three of them in the back seat, squashed with their luggage as they drove the winding country roads to Kilfinn village where her aunt and uncle lived. Molly had always made them feel welcome and there would be a massive dinner with a home-made tart or cake afterwards and ice cream.

Kim remembered wriggling in her chair, itching to run around and explore, to check that nothing had changed since their last visit … Mossbawn was somehow always the same.

She and Liz used to share a massive room with an old-fashioned four-poster bed. They loved it and would stay up late reading from the big bookshelf filled with dusty old books belonging to their aunt. Enid Blyton, E. Nesbit and Frances Hodgson Burnett were their favourites. Their brother Mike would sleep in the Captain’s Bed – the room done out like a ship’s cabin with mementoes of voyages from all around the world displayed on two shelves, the wall adorned with maps which Mike convinced them were secret treasure maps. Come rain or shine, there was always something to do – tennis, fishing in the river, riding, playing in the fields and hanging out in the village. Sometimes she wished that she lived there and would never ever have to go back to Dublin and normal life!