Tara Road

by Maeve Binchy

  And they held each other tight in a way they wouldn't be able to do at the airport.

  Annie was coming to say goodbye, accompanied by Sean Maine and Brian. As they got into the car Clement came out to say goodbye. It took the form of a huge yawn and stretch but they all knew what it was.

  'I'm sorry about letting him into your bedroom,' Marilyn said.

  'No you're not, but it doesn't matter, we'll be somewhere new soon and he'll have to relearn all his good habits.'

  Colm was in the back garden, he came out to wave them off.

  'You are still working in that garden even though other people will get the benefit?'

  'No, they won't get the benefit, I'm moving it all up to Jimmy and Frances Sullivan's garden, that's what I'm at.'

  'Why don't you dig up that awful concrete behind your restaurant? You could plant there.'

  'I'm hoping to build there,' he said. 'Build?'

  'Yes, proper accommodation at last, not just a bachelor flat.' 'Great idea.' 'Well, you never know.' 'I hate to go,' Marilyn said.

  'When you come back we'll welcome you somewhere new.'

  'I don't suppose you could take anything live on the plane, could you, Marilyn?' Brian asked.

  'Not really, except myself,' she said.

  'Then it's no use giving you a guinea pig for Zach, is it?'

  'We can't go beyond here,' Ria said at the passenger check-in.

  'Aren't we magnificent?' Marilyn said.

  'Yes, we really took a chance, didn't we,' Ria said.

  'And how very well it worked out,' said Marilyn.

  They were still unable to say the goodbye.

  Annie flung herself into Marilyn's arms. 'I hate you going, I just hate it, you're quite different to anyone else, you know that. Will you come back so that I'll have someone to talk to?'

  'You live in a place where there are plenty of people to talk to.'

  Ria Lynch wondered were people speaking about her over her head, but she must be imagining it.

  'And you'll keep an eye on things from over there,' Annie said.

  'Yes, and you from here?' Marilyn begged.

  'Sure.'

  Sean Maine shook her hand gravely and Brian gave her an embarrassed hug. Marilyn Vine looked at Annie Lynch. The blonde, beautiful, nearly fifteen-year-old Annie walked up to her mother and put an arm around Ria's waist. 'We'll keep the world ticking over until you get back,' she said. 'Won't we, Mam?'

  'Of course we will,' said Ria, realising that it might be possible after all.

  THE END