Minding Frankie - Maeve Binchy [145]
“I salute them all on your behalf.”
There was tumultuous applause at this, and the new graduates all beamed from the stage. Then the presentation began …
They had planned a special lunch in Ennio’s together with Noel, his family, Emily and Hat, Declan, Fiona and the Carroll parents. Faith would bring her father and three of her five brothers. Lizzie was working there as a supervisor, and she had reserved a big table for them; Ennio would give them a special price; the twins and Marco would be serving. Lizzie would even sit down and join them for the meal.
Lizzie had found the job a great help. For whole sections of the day she didn’t stop and think of Muttie with that sad, empty look that broke her neighbors’ hearts. Here it was too busy, too frenetic. There was too much shouting to leave any time to go over all she had lost. Ennio was always there with a coffee or a word of encouragement. She met new people, people who had never known Muttie. It wasn’t really any easier, but it was less raw. Lizzie would admit that much, and the twins were there for her every step of the way. Lizzie was a religious person. She thanked God every morning and every night for having arranged things so that Maud and Simon came to live with them.
Ennio had said they should have a banner over the table—FELICITAZIONI—TANTI AUGURI—FAITH LISA NOEL: that would be alphabetical order, so nobody could be offended.
“What does it mean?” Faith asked.
“Congratulations, best wishes,” Marco said excitedly.
They were a mixed group, including the two babies, but they all got along very well and there was no pause in the conversation. More and more food and wine kept coming to the table. And finally a great cake arrived, iced in the shape of a mortarboard and scroll.
People at other tables gathered round to see it.
“It was iced by Maud,” Marco said proudly.
“And everyone else.” Maud tried to shrug it off.
“But mainly by Maud,” Marco insisted.
And then there was sparkling wine for the toast and a glass of elderflower cordial for Noel. The health of the three successful scholars was drunk to and they were cheered to the echo.
To everyone’s surprise, Noel stood up.
“I think that, as the president said earlier, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to our families and friends and that we three should raise a toast to you also. Without you all, we wouldn’t have been able to do all this and have this great graduation day and feast. To our families and friends,” he said.
Lisa and Faith stood up and all three repeated the toast:
“To our families and friends.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ania’s baby was almost born in the heart clinic—not quite, but almost. It was too soon.
Her waters broke during one of the healthy cookery demonstrations and they got her into the maternity wing of St. Brigid’s in the shortest possible time. Later that night the news went around: a baby boy, born prematurely and taken into the special-care baby unit. Everyone was concerned for Carl and Ania: it was going to be a traumatic time for both parents. They had been so anxious throughout the pregnancy, and the worrying wasn’t over yet. They were staying with the tiny baby by his incubator; Carl would come down to the clinic later and tell them what was happening.
Clara Casey called her ex-husband and asked him to drop by her house.
“Don’t like the sound of this,” Alan said.
“Haven’t I done everything you ever asked me: had two babies for you, left you free to follow your heart? I gave you a divorce when you wanted it. I never asked you for a penny.”
“You got my house,” Alan said.
“No. If you remember, the house was paid for by a deposit from my mother and every month by a mortgage which I earned. It was always my house, so we won’t go down that road again.”
“What do you want to talk about if I come over?” He sounded sulky now.
“Various things …