The Boatman's Wife(38)

Jesse awakened all of her senses. The whole of nature became their lovemaking. The fluttering of butterflies in the long grass by the lough, and the bright blue damselflies hovering over the still lake. The feeling of the water on their bodies as they waded in, the sun kissing her forehead as they lay down together, and the scent of the woods as they walked into the cool shade, quiet as they could be in case they saw a red fox.

Was being with Jesse so intoxicating because she knew it couldn’t last forever?



The beginning of the change between Niamh and Jesse started the Sunday morning that Brendan rang to remind her of the border road rally and festival.

‘What time will I pick you up?’ Brendan asked.

‘I’m not sure I can come now,’ Niamh said. It was going to be a hot afternoon, a rare one, and she and Jesse had planned to go swimming in the sea out at Rosses Point again.

‘You can’t miss it, Niamh,’ Brendan said. ‘We need all the hands we can get hold of, and there’s going to be bands playing. You promised.’

Niamh’s body tensed. She knew how important promises were to Brendan. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘I’ll be there, but you don’t need to pick me up. I’m bringing someone.’

‘Fuck, Niamh, not the American boy?’

‘His name is Jesse,’ Niamh said tartly. ‘And yes, I want to bring him. His father was Irish.’

‘I warned you not to get involved with anyone else,’ Brendan said.

‘You’re not in charge of my life, Brendan,’ she said, her heart thumping.

There was a pause.

‘True,’ he said, careful always, in case someone else was listening in.



To her surprise, Jesse was a bit nervous about going to the festival.

‘But aren’t there armed soldiers at the checkpoints?’ he asked her, frowning. ‘I mean, do you really want to go after what happened to your father?’

‘It wasn’t British soldiers who shot my father, Jesse,’ Niamh reminded him. ‘It was Loyalists dressed up as soldiers, remember?’

‘But still, I’m not keen,’ he said. ‘Can’t we hang out at the beach? Just the two of us.’

She wanted so much to say yes, but she knew Brendan would be raging if she let him down. Besides, she wanted to see if he’d asked Tadhg about her situation. It was a chance to try to do something about it. Especially if they all met Jesse. Saw how good they were together. Surely her father’s cousin would want her to be happy?

‘We have to cross the border all the time,’ Niamh reassured Jesse. ‘It will be good for you to see what it’s like for people who live in the border counties.’

Jesse didn’t look like he agreed, frowning and looking at her intensely as he chewed his lip. ‘I’d rather go to Rosses Point,’ he repeated.

‘But I promised my cousin Brendan I’d help build the road again,’ Niamh said, looking at Jesse with big eyes. ‘We’re doing something for the people in his community.’

‘What’s the point, if the British army just blow it up once you’re done?’ Jesse said, still resistant.

‘That’s exactly the point,’ Niamh said, feeling a little irritated. ‘It pisses them off. Come on, your ancestry is Irish, right? This is something small you can do to make a statement.’

‘Not sure I understand the political intricacies enough to make a statement,’ Jesse said, his eyes dark and pensive.

‘It’s not that complicated, Jesse,’ Niamh said, crossing her arms, and for the first time feeling real friction between them.

‘I’m sorry,’ Jesse said, clearly seeing her annoyance and backing down. ‘Must bring stuff back about your dad.’

‘That’s why I want to go,’ she pushed. ‘It’s my duty, and besides, it’ll be fun. There’s live bands playing and there’s always a great session in the pub afterwards.’



Before they got on the bike, Niamh gave Jesse instructions on which route to take and the approved checkpoint they were going to pass through. They were heading just south of the border, all the way to Monaghan, to join in rebuilding the Munilly Bridge road just outside Clones.

There were two soldiers at the checkpoint. Niamh and Jesse had to take off their helmets and tell them where they were going. One of the soldiers looked very edgy, his gun almost cocked at them, but the second one was more relaxed, especially when he heard Jesse’s American accent.

‘Where you from?’ he asked Jesse.

‘Cape Cod,’ Jesse said, looking a little nervous.

‘What are you doing in this backwater?’ the soldier asked.

‘Just curious,’ Jesse said. ‘I’ve never been to the north.’

‘Nothing to see, mate,’ the soldier said, turning to Niamh. ‘Where’re you going?’

‘We’ve visiting friends,’ Niamh said stiffly. ‘In Rosslea.’

The soldier narrowed his eyes at her, and she waited for more questions. She hated the soldier and everything he stood for. This was her land, and he didn’t belong here. Then to her surprise, the British soldier waved them on through.



There was already a large gathering at the crater site at Munilly Bridge. They parked the bike in an open field and followed the crowd. There were way more people than Niamh had expected. A makeshift stage was set up for bands in the field next to the cratered road, and there was a van selling burgers and chips. The early heat of the morning had waned; it was slightly cloudy. Niamh spotted Brendan with his distinctive red hair up ahead with a group of friends, most of them local – though a couple she recognised as mates of his from Belfast. There was no sight of Deirdre, which pleased Niamh. No matter how she tried to get on with her, the girl left her cold.