A Keeper(63)

‘Thank you.’

Gordon sat down beside her. ‘These things look much worse than they are. We see them all the time. I think it’s more upsetting to watch than it is for them.’

Elizabeth nodded doubtfully.

‘I was talking about you last night.’

‘Were you?’

‘It turns out my Aunt Patty went to school with Teddy.’

‘Your aunt went to school with my father?’ It seemed unlikely.

‘Ah, there’s a fierce clatter of them. Twelve kids. My father is the baby, like.’

‘Right.’

‘Anyway, she had the whole story. I couldn’t believe it. The drama. It’s amazing. I mean, we just see these old people sitting in here,’ he indicated the other occupants of the day room, ‘half of them gaga, but you forget they’ve all lived lives. Like, did you know about his brother?’

‘The one that drowned?’

‘Yeah. Wasn’t that fierce sad?’

‘It was, yes.’

‘And then the wife. Was that your mother?’

‘She was, yes.’ Elizabeth was beginning to feel uncomfortable. She wasn’t sure she should be talking about Edward’s life as if it was just idle gossip.

‘Aunt Patty said she probably was. And then the mother to top it all off. Awful.’

Elizabeth was tempted to pretend she knew what Gordon was talking about but her curiosity got the better of her.

‘The mother? What do you mean?’

‘Well, you know. The bad death.’

‘Bad death?’

‘The suicide, like.’

‘Edward’s mother killed herself?’

‘Sorry now, I thought you’d know. According to Aunt Patty, she went out and hung herself from a tree in the orchard. It was poor Teddy found her.’

Elizabeth just stared at him. She didn’t know what to say. This couldn’t be true, could it? Surely someone, old Mrs Lynch, would have told her?

‘I’m not sure that can be …’ she began, but just then Sarah Cahill, carrying a thick pile of files, appeared at the door.

‘Nurse. Are you still on shift?’

Gordon jumped to his feet.

‘Sorry, I was just—’

‘May I borrow you?’ Sarah interrupted him with a tight smile.

‘Of course.’ And the two of them were gone.

Elizabeth thanked the young woman for her tea and stood in the reception area, not sure what she should do. Edward would be sleeping and although she was fairly certain that Aunt Patty had got her wires crossed, she felt she should find out for sure. Mrs Lynch was the obvious person to check with, but if she drove out to Muirinish again she definitely wouldn’t get back to Buncarragh tonight. As she made her way back out towards the car her phone rang. Brian.

‘Hello?’

‘Hello. Where are you?’

‘I’m just leaving Abbey Court.’

‘Great. Are you still on for lunch?’

Elizabeth’s heart sank. She was in no mood for a silly flirty lunch. Her decision was made.

‘I’m really sorry, but I’ve got to head out to Muirinish again to check on something.’

‘Oh.’ He sounded deflated. ‘Well, never mind. I’ve got stuff I should be getting on with anyway.’

‘Thanks.’ She hardly knew this man, why did she feel like a bitch? ‘Nice to meet you.’

‘You too. Thanks for everything. Bye.’

‘Bye.’ She hung up feeling as if she had just dumped someone.

Back in Muirinish, Elizabeth had almost given up waiting for the door to open, when the diminutive grey-haired figure of Mrs Lynch appeared behind the frosted glass. When she saw who her visitor was she did not look thrilled.

‘I promise not to burst into tears!’

Mrs Lynch gave a half-hearted chuckle.

‘Sorry. I think I must have dozed off in the chair. Did you forget something?’

‘No. It was just, well, I wanted to check something with you. It’s probably nothing.’

‘Well, you’d better come in, so. My legs aren’t great for standing. They’re not great for anything to be honest,’ the old woman said as she made her way slowly back into the gloom of the house towards the kitchen.

‘Tea?’ she offered but her tone suggested the answer she was hoping to hear.

‘No, thank you. I’m grand.’

Mrs Lynch retook her seat from that morning. The large black and white cat didn’t look as if it was going anywhere on this visit so Elizabeth sat down beside it.

‘So, what can I do for you?’ Mrs Lynch put her hands on the table with the air of a professional. Elizabeth was reminded of a bank manager or head teacher.

‘It’s probably a misunderstanding, but I just wanted to check: somebody told me, Edward’s mother, she, well, she didn’t take her own life, did she?’

The expression on the old lady’s face was the only answer Elizabeth needed. Before Mrs Lynch could speak, she demanded, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

One of the old woman’s hands was now twisting the small gold chain around her neck. ‘You were so upset. I was going to tell you but then I just thought it would be too much for you.’