No Way to Say Goodbye - Anna McPartlin [9]
Despite another night with little sleep, Mary was the first to wake. She showered and dressed while Penny and Mr Monkels slept on. She laid out the dog’s breakfast and started to cook something for Penny. She broke some eggs and the bell rang. She left them to sizzle in the pan while she opened the door. Jerry Letter grinned at her. “Soft day,” he said, handing her two bills from his postbag.
“Coffee?”
“No. I’m running a bit late and I promised Maura I’d take her to Killarney to get her ingrown toenail sorted out.”
“Too much information, Jerry!”
“You think that’s bad, you should see her arse!” He winked at her, and gave his familiar gummy smile. “I hear Lucy was in next door last night?”
Mary grinned. “You don’t miss a trick.”
“Well?”
“Well, what?”
“So you’re getting a new neighbour?”
“You tell me.”
“I hear it’s soon,” he said, winking.
Ivan walked up behind him. “Jerry!” He clapped the postman on the back.
“Ivan,” Jerry said. “That was a fair old game on Saturday. Damn near close to losing.”
Ivan laughed. “Ah, sure, almost losing is better than almost winning.”
Mary waved at Jerry, who was already halfway down the road, then followed her cousin in and closed the door.
“Just in time for breakfast. Jesus, I’m a mighty man for timing!” He handed her his newspaper and sat down.
“I watched the film,” she said, while she broke some more eggs.
“Did you cry?” he inquired, making coffee.
“No.” She chuckled. Ivan knew her better than anyone, including Penny.
“Liar! You cried when a Fraggle stole the Gorg’s tomato in Fraggle Rock.” He laughed at the memory.
“OK, Ivan, we both know that the tomato was Junior Gorg’s only friend. Not to mention the fact that I was a child.”
“You were sixteen,” he said, sitting down.
“All right, I might have squeezed out a tear or two over DiCaprio last night but Penny did most of the crying.”
“Penny was here?” he asked.
“Still is. Why?”
“It’s over with Adam.”
“I guessed,” she said. “How is he?”
“Devastated but it’s for the best. How’s Penn?”
“Not really talking. She got drunk and went to bed.”
Ivan nodded. “It’s for the best,” he repeated.
“Yeah, I know.”
Penny appeared in the door, hung-over, with her head in her hands. “And just when you think things can’t get any worse you succumb to the hangover from a place they call hell.”
Mary went to her medicine press and handed her friend two painkillers, while Ivan poured her a glass of water.
“You know?” Penny asked Ivan.
“I do.”
She looked at Mary. “Did I tell you?” she asked, embarrassed by the gap in her memory.
“Not in so many words. I’m sorry, Penn.” She served the eggs.
“Thanks,” Penny said, welling up.
Ivan hugged her. “It’s for the best,” he reiterated.
They sat down together, Mary and Ivan eating eggs and Penny chasing hers around the plate.
“What’s the situation with next door?” Ivan asked his cousin.
“New neighbours?” Penny asked, attempting to perk up.
“Yes,” Mary said. “Three days and counting.”
Ivan knew she hated to be bothered and secretly hoped that whoever moved in next door would do just that.
“Stop grinning!” She shook her fork at him.
“Let’s hope they’re interesting.” Penny sighed.
“Well, just as long as they can speak English,” Ivan said.
“Jesus, there’s nothing worse than having to deal with people through sign language and a shagging phrase book,” she said.
“Oh, sweet God!” Mary moaned, while Ivan and Penny grinned at one another.
3. The new neighbour
Four days had passed since Sam Sullivan had emerged from rehab and made a call that would hopefully change the course of his life. It had been a long flight, New York to Dublin, followed by another shorter and more uncomfortable flight, Dublin to Kerry, followed by a thirty-mile drive to Kenmare.
The man at Avis had given him a map, which would take him onto the Cork road rather than over the mountain