Minding Frankie - Maeve Binchy [60]
“We were lucky that they sent us Moira Tierney. She has done a superb report and has even braved the lion’s den itself. Frank Ennis has just telephoned to say that the board have agreed to us having the services of a social worker for one and a half days a week.”
“So you’ll be coming back!” Ania seemed pleased.
“No, Ms. Tierney made it clear that she has much more important work to do elsewhere. We are very grateful to her for putting it on hold for the two weeks that she was here.”
Frank Ennis had obviously briefed his girlfriend very adequately on the situation so far. Moira wished she had not stressed so heavily to Frank Ennis how important her own work was compared to the work here in the clinic. In ways, it would be pleasant to come here on a regular basis. Apart from Clara Casey, they were all welcoming and enthusiastic. And to be fair, Clara had been enthusiastic about the work Moira had done.
Hilary was always practical. “Maybe Ms. Tierney knows someone who might be suitable?” she said.
As if from miles away Moira heard her own voice saying, “I can easily reorganize my schedule, and if you thought I would be all right, then I would be honored to come here.”
They all looked at Clara, who was silent for a moment. Then she said, “I feel that we would all love Moira to join us here, but she will have to sign in under the Official Secrets Act. Frank will expect her to be his eyes and ears, but Moira will know that this can never happen.”
Moira smiled. “I get the message, Clara,” she said.
And to her great surprise she got a round of applause.
The head of the social-work team was not impressed.
“I asked you to write a report, not to get yourself yet another job, Moira. You work too hard already. You should lighten up a little.”
“I did there. I lightened up a lot. I know the setup in the clinic now. It makes sense that I do it rather than train someone in.”
“Right. You know what you can do and what you can’t, and no more behaving like some kind of private eye.”
“I’m just watchful, that’s all,” Moira said.
She went to Chestnut Court with her briefcase and clipboard. Noel was out, but Lisa was there. Moira went through the routine that had been agreed upon.
“Who bathed her today?” she asked.
“I did,” Lisa said proudly. “It’s quite hard on your own—they get so slippery, but she enjoyed it and she clapped her hands a lot.”
The baby was clean and dry and powdered. Nothing to complain about there.
“When is her next feed?” Moira asked.
“In an hour’s time. I have the formula there and the bottles are sterilized.”
Again, Moira could find no fault. She checked the number of nappies and whether the baby’s clothes had been aired.
“Would you like a coffee?” Lisa suggested.
Last time Moira had been rather swift and ungracious, so she decided she would say yes.
“Or, actually, I’m exhausted. You don’t have a proper drink or anything? I could do with a glass of wine.”
Lisa looked at her with a very level glance.
“Oh, no, Moira. We don’t have any alcohol here. As you know, Noel has had a problem with it in the past so there’s nothing at all. You must know that—you were always asking about it before, hunting for bottles stacked away and everything.”
Moira felt humbled. She had been so obvious. She was, indeed, like some kind of a private eye, except an inefficient one.
“I forgot,” she lied.
“No, you didn’t, but have a coffee anyway,” Lisa said, getting up from a table covered with papers and drawings to go to the kitchen.
“Did I interrupt you?”
“No, I was glad of the interruption. I was getting stale.”
“Where’s Noel tonight?”
“I have no idea.”
“Didn’t he say?”
“No. We’re not married or anything. I think he went back to his parents’ house.”
“And left you literally holding the baby?”
“He’s given me a place to live. I’m very pleased to hold the baby for him. Very pleased indeed,” Lisa said.
“And why exactly did you leave home?” Moira fell easily into interrogation mode.
“We’ve been over this a lot, Moira. I told you then and I tell you now, it was for