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“Easy for you to say,” Caleb said, swirling the contents of his glass.

“Why?”

“Because I’m just holding on, man.” He sighed.

“I know what you mean,” Sam said, as he poured coffee grounds into a percolator. “So, where you staying?”

“Sheen Falls.”

“She’s at the Park.”

“I always thought you were an asshole,” Caleb said.

“You were right. I was – maybe I still am. It’s a constant battle.” He hid the reality of his statement. “She said she’s in love with you.”

“Don’t fuck with me.” Caleb looked as though he was about to cry.

“I’m not.”

Caleb lowered his glass. “I’ve loved her since the first day I saw her. Do you think I should go to her?”

“Have some coffee first,” Sam instructed.

“No, thanks. I must go.” Caleb stood up. “You got a bathroom?”

Sam waited while Mia’s bass player gargled with mouth-wash. He emerged pumped up.

“Good luck,” Sam said.

“Thanks.” He walked outside and stopped dead. Sam deduced that he didn’t have a clue where he was going. He’d probably come here in a taxi, which, of course, had gone when he’d paid it off.

“You couldn’t drive me, could you?” Caleb wondered.

Sam smiled. “Get in the car.”

Mary’s day had been eventful. Although the glitterati often visited Kenmare, Mia Johnson was the first of the fraternity to have spent time in her home. By coincidence that evening she had invited Ivan and Sienna to dinner at Ivan’s behest. He had confided in her that his relationship was suffering slightly under the strain of his children’s homecoming. As their mother was at a rather unfortunate crossroads that she was taking her time to traverse, his new girlfriend could only wonder whether or not she had inherited another woman’s kids. Of course, she hadn’t said as much but she had become slightly snappy, if not downright sulky, especially after a long day’s work. She was used to having Ivan to herself, and family life was way more difficult than The Brady Bunch had suggested. Mary had agreed to distract his new girlfriend with her famous scallop salad, but unfortunately she had fed this to a ravenous rock star. Her father came to the rescue, providing her with fresh sole that she planned to serve with risotto. It hadn’t been the dish requested but it was the best she could do.

Fortunately Sienna was partial to sole and it appeared that she was so glad to spend a night away from the kids that a two-litre bottle of cider and a park bench would have sufficed. Mary played an old Bonnie Raitt album, one of her favourites that she knew the hippie in Sienna would like. “I love Bonnie.” Sienna sighed, and sipped some red wine.

Ivan sat at the kitchen table drinking beer and texting the baby-sitter.

“We’ve just left them, Ivan,” she said, irritation in her voice.

“Sorry,” he said, when he’d pressed send.

“Can I help?” Sienna asked Mary, who said she could manage fine.

Ivan took her hand. “Cheers!” he said. He and Sienna clinked glasses. “Any news from next door?” he asked.

“No.”

“You’re still giving each other space.” His voice was laced with sarcasm.

“None of your business,” said Mary.

“Well, I’ve some news on the subject,” Sienna said. “An American booked into the hotel late this afternoon. He asked if his girlfriend was staying.”

“Who is she?” Ivan asked.

“Mia Johnson.” She smiled smugly.

“No!”

“Yes!”

“Did she mention a boyfriend to you?” he asked Mary.

“Hardly.”

“Well, now the plot thickens,” said Ivan.

“I wonder why she didn’t stay in the Sheen?” Sienna said, as much to herself as anyone else.

During dinner Sienna revealed the strain she felt at having Ivan’s kids around. He was talking about the great day by the sea that he, Sam and the kids had spent and said she should have come too. She told him it was hard enough for her to share a large house with them, never mind a small boat.

Bolstered by the presence of his cousin, he drew her on the subject. “They’re not that bad, surely?”

“They hate me.”

“They do not.”

“Justine refuses to look at me when I talk to her. She doesn’t respond when I call her. She won’t eat