The party was planned for the afternoon of Saturday 14th September. The guest list was long: Angela and Nadine, Aunt Christine (who would stay the night), Mark, Stella and her husband, Kieran, Kenneth and Sue, Anubha, Martha and Udo, Laura from the Gala supermarket, Fernanda and Rodriguo, Valerie from the cafe and Ger McCarthy, as well as all of their kids. Sixteen adults and seven children altogether.
I also invited Geoff Barrington, the solicitor, out of politeness, who thankfully declined, and Tina, who said that it was best if we kept our relationship on a professional footing.
I rented a marquee-style tent and a bouncy castle for the children. I also hired a security guard. A female one. I spoke to her on the phone and I looked her up on the internet. She was tall and strong-looking, lots of tattoos. When I told Sue and Martha, they were taken aback, but I reminded them that my mother was snatched from a garden on a sunny day. Also, at the back of my mind, although I tried hard not to think about it, Conor Geary was still out there somewhere. He knew where I lived. I didn’t want to risk him or anyone like him abducting children from my garden.
Not content with designing my new home, Nadine arrived the day before the party with festoons of bunting and lights, which she hung from tree to tree. She helped me empty the cupboards of all the stuff I didn’t want to bring with me to the cottage. We had marked everything that was up for grabs with yellow Post-it Notes. Guests could take what they wanted. Nadine suggested that we taste some of the wine to make sure it was okay. She was such good company, talking about the cottage. I would be able to move in in mid-October. ‘There will still be a few finishing touches to be done,’ she said, ‘but it will be home.’
Although I didn’t expect to, I slept well the night before the party. I woke with a dry mouth and a slight headache. I don’t think we should have tested the red, white and the rosé. I struggled out of bed.
Sue arrived early to help, bearing several containers of bean salads, flavoured rice and empanadas. Two men came in a truck and took half an hour to inflate the giant castle on the site Nadine had designated. They were friendly and wished us a good time. They would return to collect it on Monday.
As the truck disappeared up the side lane to the road, Sue looked at me and looked at the castle. She kicked off her shoes, yelling ‘Come on!’ as she sprinted towards it and leapt into the interior, rebounding almost to the top. It did look like fun. I kicked off my trainers and ran towards it, and soon we were both jumping up and down, holding hands, bumping into the soft walls and each other, screeching with laughter.
Ten minutes later, we were lying on our backs, wheezing. ‘Oh my God,’ she said, ‘you have this until Monday? Can my boys come back tomorrow? Please?’
‘I guess all the kids should get the use out of it while they can.’
She beamed at me.
I showed her inside the marquee where the plates, napkins, cutlery and glasses were neatly stacked, ready for use.
‘This is going to be awesome!’
‘I hope so.’
Sue went home to collect Kenneth and the children to be back in time for two o’clock.
I chose a smart short silk dress that tied in a bow at the back. It had a heart-shaped neckline. When I had tried it on in Zara, Sue had said I’d need some fake tan for my legs. I didn’t have any fake tan and my legs were the colour of legs, so I felt satisfied. The dress was comfortable. My body was comfortable. Yoga had made me more flexible. I could stretch and bend now without any groans or creaks.
Today I liked what I saw in the mirror. The short skirt swished and flared at the hem. I brushed my hair out and let it hang to see what it was like. It changed my face too much. I didn’t like the feeling of it on my shoulders and twisted and rolled it into my regular bun. I liked my face. I liked the faint crinkly lines that came from the corners of my eyes when I smiled at myself. I was beautiful.
At 1.45 p.m., to calm myself while waiting, I played the piano. I remembered the Adele songs that Sue had played and sang to myself, softly at first and then louder to try and match her powerful voice. There was a knock on the front door. I went to meet Lina, the security guard. I gave her the guest list and asked her to make sure that nobody else got past her.
‘You’re that girl, Mary Norton, right? At first it didn’t make sense, but then I googled you.’
‘Yes, but please call me Sally. I don’t wish to discuss the past.’
‘Okay, right, so where would you like me?’
I showed her the spot where I wanted her stationed, to direct cars to the end of the lane, though most people would be coming on foot from the village as it was such a nice day.
‘Watch out particularly for elderly men, please.’
‘They never caught him. I read about it. But you don’t think he’s in Ireland, do you?’
