Minding Frankie - Maeve Binchy [68]
Her father had agreed to sell his house and divide the money among himself and his two children. Mrs. Kennedy had apparently thought this was highly satisfactory and was busy planning a new kitchen. So there were some areas of Moira’s life that were a great success.
But not all. Maybe she was just too ambitious about her success rate.
Her father’s house did not fetch a big price at the auction. It was a small holding and this was the wrong time to sell. But it did mean that she had the deposit for a house. She must look around for somewhere to live.
“Make sure you get a place with a small garden,” Emily advised.
“Have it be somewhere near a tram or a bus,” said Hilary, who managed the heart clinic with the same practical sense.
“Buy a dilapidated sort of house and do it up,” said Johnny, who did the exercise routines at the heart clinic.
“Get a nice, modern place that isn’t falling to bits,” said Gerald, who seemed to have a new lease on life and whose brain cells seemed to be working at full power.
She called at Noel’s family home in St. Jarlath’s Crescent, as she did from time to time. It was easier than facing Noel and Lisa in Chestnut Court, where they both seemed very resentful of her role in anything. At least Emily and Noel’s parents could have a civilized conversation.
“This is exactly the kind of street I would like to live in,” Moira said. “Do you know of any houses coming up for sale in the area?”
Emily knew that Noel wouldn’t like Moira, who was regarded as “the enemy,” moving closer to him and being a neighbor of his parents.
“I’ve heard nothing of anyone moving,” Emily said, and, as they did so often, Josie and Charles took their lead from her.
“It’s nice to think that people would want to come to live here,” Josie said, heading off down memory lane. “When Charles and I were young it was regarded as the last place on earth.”
“Maybe Declan would know of someone thinking about moving …,” Emily said.
She knew very well that Declan and Fiona had no great love for Moira, and thought her unnecessarily interfering in Noel’s efforts to make a reliable home for himself and Frankie. Even if Declan knew that half the street was for sale, he wouldn’t give the news to Moira.
Moira asked politely about the campaign for the statue to St. Jarlath and Josie and Charles showed her some quotes they had from sculptors. Bronze was very expensive, but they hoped they might be able to afford it.
“Do you have a particular devotion to St. Jarlath, by any chance?” Josie was always hopeful of recruiting others to the cause.
“Admiration, certainly,” Moira murmured, “but devotion might be putting it a bit strongly.”
Emily hid her smile. When Moira was being diplomatic you could see she’d be good at her job. What a pity she couldn’t see what huge strides Noel was making. Why did she have to behave like a policeman with him rather than an encourager and someone he could turn to if there were any problems? As usual, Emily wrote it all to her friend Betsy back in New York. Somehow, typing it on her laptop made it seem clearer.
Honestly, Bets, you just have to get yourself over here. When you and Eric get married, as you will, sooner rather than later, I hope, you will need a honeymoon. Find a good airfare and I’ll find you somewhere to stay. But you have to meet this cast. Noel and his little girl. A changed man, he hasn’t had a drink in months and he’s working his butt off in this dreary company and he is keeping up with his lectures too.
He and a slightly kooky girl named Lisa live like an old married couple in their apartment, taking care of the child and studying for their diploma. There’s no sex because she is involved with some society guy—a celebrity chef, no less! They are being stalked by this social worker, Moira. She is doing her job, but she sort of hides in their garden and pounces on them, hoping to catch them at something.
And the campaign for the statue is going great guns. We are thinking of having it cast in bronze at this stage. And the whole business of the thrift shop has given Josie a new