‘You okay?’ asks Niall.
I shrug. ‘Sort of.’
‘Look, I know what it must have looked like earlier at my mam’s, but I couldn’t say anything in front of them.’
‘Why?’
‘It would have caused a big argument again. Whatever we’ve decided, they’ve decided the complete opposite. Don’t think I didn’t try and get my parents to see it my way, because I did. I argued and argued, but they won’t budge. You know what my mam’s like.’
‘So, we’re letting them decide our future?’
‘No. No, we’re not.’ He pulls out a little blue book from his jacket pocket. I read the gold writing stamped across the cover. It’s a savings book. Niall opens it and shows me the figure.
I look and look again.
‘Is that how much you have in your account?’
Niall nods. ‘Yes. It was left to me by my grandparents for when I was eighteen, to pay for university. Seven thousand euros.’
I don’t know what to say. My mind is racing ahead, but I may have this all wrong. ‘Why are you showing me this?’
‘Oh, Erin, you are such a daft thing at times,’ says Niall. He leans over and kisses me on the head. ‘This is for us. We can use it for rent and food. I’ve looked into it all. We have enough for a deposit and a month’s rent up front. I’ll have to get it in my name and you will need a guarantor. I was thinking maybe Fiona would do it.’
I nod, still not quite daring to believe what he is saying.
‘And…’
‘I’ll still go to uni, but I’ll go to one nearby. You can do your college course. We’ll get part-time jobs, like we said. We’ll get by. I promise.’
‘But, what about the termination?’
‘Just go along with it all. The night before you’re due to fly out to London, we’ll leave. We might need to stay in bed and breakfast to start with until we get somewhere, but if we can wait as long as possible before we leave, we won’t be using so much money.’
‘Oh, Niall, I don’t know what to say.’ I put my arms around him and we cling to each other. ‘I’m so happy. I thought you had changed your mind about everything. I’m sorry I doubted you.’
‘Here, I almost forgot. I have something for you,’ says Niall. He takes a small box from his pocket and presents it to me.
I take the lid from the box and inside is a silver Triskelion pendant. The three points are curled around into a scroll at each end. ‘It’s beautiful,’ I say.
Niall takes it from me and fastens it around my neck. ‘There are lots of variations on what the three scrolls represent,’ says Niall. ‘I like to think it’s the symbol of family. Father. Mother. Child.’ He touches each edge in turn. ‘Me. You. And our child.’
‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘I will treasure it forever.’
Chapter 13
The days seem to be rolling into one. I ponder my new, but temporary, routine as I open up the café one morning. I’m surprised at how quickly I’ve adapted to living in Rossway, I hadn’t expected the transition to be so simple. I certainly hadn’t been expecting to actually enjoy it.
And then the black cloud of reality descends. Of course, I shouldn’t get used to living here. Once Dad is out of danger, I’ll have to return to England and pick up my old life. Once I had been so certain London life was for me, but now the doubts are kicking in.
Since the barbecue, Bex has called in several times for a coffee and a chat, which I’ve really enjoyed. We even went out for a drink one evening, complete with Breeze snuggled safely in the baby sling so Bex could still breastfeed when necessary. Apparently Bex breastfed Storm up until he was two years old and fully intends to do the same with Breeze. When I relay this to Ed during a phone call, he annoys me up by uttering the words ‘gross’ and making a retching noise.
‘God, I hope she’s not going to start all that at the naming ceremony,’ he complains.
‘For goodness sake, Ed, you make it sound disgusting and unnatural,’ I say. ‘Anyway, speaking of the naming ceremony, have you booked your flight?’
‘Yes, all done. I won’t be coming over in the interim, though.’
I’m aware my immediate reaction is one of relief. It surprises me. The disappointment is mild by comparison. ‘Oh, that’s a shame,’ I say. ‘Why’s that?’
‘I have a lot of work on and Ralph and Melissa have invited me over for dinner.’
‘You’d sooner be with Ralph and Melissa than with me?’ It irks me slightly, but I know I have no right to be put out, not least because of my initial response to Ed cancelling on me. I speak again before Ed can. ‘It’s fine. I’m sure you’ll have a great time, anyway.’