A turn for the bad, p.25
A Turn for the Bad, page 25
After Sean left, Maura went back into the building through the back door. The noise seemed to have swelled in the few minutes she had been gone, and when she walked into the front room she knew why: John and Conor Tully had arrived and everybody wanted to shake their hands and hear the story from them, to add to the two or three versions they had already heard. Which required another round of drinks for everyone, and she and her staff were swamped with orders.
When she had a few moments to spare, Maura slipped out the front door for some fresh, cooler air. Billy joined her. “I’ll be headin’ home now.”
“It’s kind of overwhelming in there, isn’t it?” Maura said. “Billy, you’re the one who got Conor to tell us what really happened. We couldn’t have pulled this off without that. Is that what you hoped?”
“Conor’s not a bad man. There’s plenty around here who’ve found themselves doin’ somethin’ they’d rather not talk about, because the money’s always short. Conor thought he was helpin’ out.”
“That’s what I figured. And he did everything he could to get John back. The gardaí understand that. But I still don’t know what we’d do without you at Sullivan’s.” Impulsively, Maura gave him a quick hug, which startled him.
After a few seconds he pulled away, after giving Maura a few clumsy pats on her back. “I’ll be off, then. This lot’ll be goin’ on fer a while, and I need my sleep. Slán go fóill.”
“Good night, Billy.” Maura watched as he made his slow way up the sidewalk to his apartment at the other end of the building. When she turned around, Harry and Gillian were approaching.
“Hey, you coming in?” Maura greeted them. “It’s wild in there.”
“I don’t think so,” Gillian told her. “I wanted to let you know I won’t be back at your cottage tonight. Harry and I have a lot to talk about. I would have called, but I doubt you would have heard your mobile with that racket in there.”
Maura wasn’t surprised. “Thanks for letting me know—I won’t wait up. As if I could, after this day. Are you planning on staying on at the manor?”
Gillian laughed. “I’ve told Harry no, not past this night, at least for now. But nothing’s settled yet. I’ll see you tomorrow sometime.”
“I hope so. Good luck, you two.” Maura watched them fade into the night, back toward the manor. Should they be together? She hadn’t made up her mind: Harry had stepped up today, but that didn’t make him better marriage or father material. But Gillian knew her own mind, and the two of them had to work things out. She turned to go back inside and came face-to-face with Mick.
“What, you can’t stand all the congratulations you’re getting in there?” Maura said.
“I won’t complain. How’re they doin’?” He nodded toward the retreating figures of Harry and Gillian.
“They’re talking about things. I don’t know what’s going to happen with them. Harry’s job is in Dublin, and I don’t have a clue how Gillian can support herself here with a baby. It’s not like Harry can help her out much, although things may be easier when Eveline goes and he doesn’t have to pay for her care.”
“They’ll manage. People do.”
“It makes me realize how lucky I am—I’ve got a home and a business, free and clear. At least I have choices. Besides, this place is kind of fun, you know? I mean, these unexpected things keep happening. Like drug busts.”
“So they do. I came out to tell you that the Tully brothers wanted to thank you officially fer all yer help in savin’ them, one way or another.”
“They don’t have to do that! And what did I do, anyway? You and Harry and Gerard did all the dangerous stuff.”
“You put the pieces together, and you made the whole thing work. No one else here coulda done that. So enjoy their thanks, will yeh? Yer sellin’ more pints than in the last month taken together.”
“All right, then, I will.”
Mick guided her back toward the door to Sullivan’s, and when she walked in, the cheers hit her like a wave as the Tully brothers raised their glasses to her.
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Sheila Connolly, A Turn for the Bad
