‘It was very brave of you to up sticks and move to another part of the country all on your own. Do you still have family back in Dublin?’
‘No, there’s no one. My mum died when I was eight.’
‘Ah, that’s awful. I’m sorry.’
‘Thanks.’ Lou smiled at her.
‘And your dad?’
‘He died three years ago, but he hadn’t been well for a long time. He was an alcoholic and he really went off the rails after Mum died. I had to go into care a few times, foster homes and that.’ Lou found herself easily opening up to Sheena as they chatted. Sheena asked a lot of questions, but it didn’t come across as nosy or intrusive.
‘And what about Jack’s father, if you don’t mind my asking?’
‘It’s fine.’ Lou shrugged. ‘He’s not on the scene. He bailed when Jack was only a month old.’
‘And he doesn’t see him at all?’
‘No. He’s not interested. He did use to arrange to see him sometimes, birthdays and stuff, weekend outings. But nine times out of ten he wouldn’t turn up. Jack would get all excited about it, then he’d be so upset when Rob didn’t show.’
‘That’s horrible. And awful for you having to watch Jack go through it.’
‘Yeah.’ It had broken Lou’s heart every time, seeing Jack’s face whenever he realised his father had let him down yet again. It was another reason the move to Dingle was good – there was very little likelihood of Rob winding them up like that here. Hehadn’t been in touch for a long time anyway, but if he couldn’t make the effort to see his son when they’d lived in Dublin, she couldn’t see him even bothering to pretend he’d make the trip to Kerry for Jack’s sake.
‘That’s a shame. Not unlike Aidan’s situation.’
‘Oh?’ Maybe she was going to find out how he’d ended up a single father without having to ask.
‘Astrid – Bo’s mother – left when she was only eight months old. She decided motherhood wasn’t for her and took off.’
‘And she doesn’t visit now?’
‘No. She doesn’t keep in contact at all. She’s living off-grid, apparently, whatever that entails.’ Sheena rolled her eyes. ‘Aidan doesn’t even know where she is any more. He couldn’t get in touch with her if he wanted to.’
Lou wondered did he want to.
‘These are gorgeous,’ Sheena said, reaching for another biscuit. ‘Did you make them yourself?’
‘Yeah. They’re Jack’s favourites.’
As if on cue, Jack burst into the kitchen, Bo following behind. ‘Can we play in the garden?’ he asked Lou. ‘I want to show Bo the secret door.’
‘Okay, but don’t go out. Stay in the garden where I can see you. We can walk down to the front together later. Do you want a snack?’
‘I’m not hungry.’
‘Bo, what about you?’ Lou called after her as the two of them headed out the door.
‘I’m not hungry either!’
‘It’s not really a secret door,’ she said to Sheena as she started to clear the table. ‘But there’s a path that leads down to the seafront.’
‘We could walk back that way when I’m bringing Bo home?’
‘That’d be nice.’
Sheena looked around the room as Lou cleared the table. ‘You have your work cut out clearing the place out,’ she said, indicating the cluttered surfaces, the piles of books and papers Lou was still sorting through, and the refuse sacks lined up, destined for the charity shop.
‘Yeah.’ Lou sighed. ‘I’m trying to get as much of it done as I can before I start work on Tuesday. There’s so much stuff.’
