‘No men, just all the Walsh women. The five of us, plus Mum and Kate, Francesca and Molly. And Margaret’s friend, Emily.’
‘And Holly?’ he asked.
‘Too young.’ But I was touched that he remembered her.
‘And Helen’s Best Friend, Bella Devlin?’
I burst out laughing. ‘How d’you know about her?’
‘Met her at your mum’s party.’
His eyes flicked away. There was a second, a hiccup of discomfort, as we remembered that night, then we proceeded.
‘So tell me, Anna’s in Ireland again? She visits … how often?’
‘Every couple of months, sometimes more often if she’s in Paris for work.’
‘Does she ever think about moving back? With your parents being …？’
‘Old? It’s okay, Luke, you can say the word.’
‘Elderly? Does it bother Anna?’
‘I don’t think so. Her life is in New York – her job, her apartment. And I couldn’t see Angelo living here. Anyway, she’s here a lot. Air travel, ya know? How are you feeling since your mum …’
‘Say it, Rachel.’ He was smiling. ‘You can say the word.’
‘Since she died.’
‘It’s still early days. But I’m doing okay. It hasn’t made me hate everyone …’
‘That’s how you felt after Yara?’
‘Yeah.’ Such a heartfelt sigh. ‘With their bullshit platitudes and their pity. I didn’t know how angry I was. You?’
‘Well, we all know how I “coped”。’ Then, ‘I’m so sorry, Luke.’
‘Stop. Please, Rachel.’ Even with the awkwardness of the screen, our eyes seemed to meet.
‘How’s your dad?’ I asked.
‘A pain in the hole.’ He laughed. ‘He is not going gently into that good night.’
‘He’s only – what? Seventy-eight? He’s young.’
‘Well, he wants to see the world. “While he still can.” I mean, fair enough. Next month we’re taking him to Vegas and Palm Springs. After that he’s talking about Cuba. But I’m glad to get time with him.’ Suddenly sombre, he said, ‘Mum’s death has certainly changed my perspective …’ Then, ‘So! You need to get to your meeting and I should get to bed!’
‘… Luke, are you okay?’
‘Yeah. Just … sorry, I guess, that I didn’t visit my mum more often. Time I’ll never get back now. But we can’t know until we know. And we had a great relationship, there’s nothing left unsaid there. But yeah, it’s something I’ll have to live with.’
‘Luke …’
‘So you’ll give me a heads-up about Yara’s tree? You’re thinking a week? More?’
‘Let’s say a week. Any time of the day that’s better for you to talk? Mornings? Evenings? I mean, with the time difference?’ This was a sneaky attempt to find out about his routine with Kallie.
‘Any time is fine.’ This gave me no information. ‘I mean it. Any time is good. Take care, Rachel.’
‘… You too.’
With a blooping noise, he was gone.
It’s me. Checking in on you regularly. Heard you’ve started having the chats with trees. Are you okay? Yes? No? A one-word answer will do. No need to write Game of Thrones.
Yes, I replied.
‘Welcome to Bottomless Brunch.’ A young server with pigtails and a cute hat slung menus our way.
‘Lunch,’ Claire said firmly. ‘It’s almost two o’clock. It’s lunch.’
‘Claire …’ I side-eyed her. ‘Let it go.’
‘Yeah, sorry.’ She waved away the jug of mimosa. ‘None of that bottomless crap for me, I like my alcohol to contain actual, you know, alcohol. I’ll have a negroni, thank you.’
‘Hey!’ Margaret’s friend Emily had arrived and we got up to hug her. Francesca and Molly were next to appear, then Helen and Kate and, finally, Mum and Anna.
Turning to me, Claire muttered, ‘I don’t know which is worse. That it’s “brunch” or that it’s a “girlie brunch”。’
‘It’s Margaret’s birthday,’ I hissed. ‘She can have whatever she wants.’
‘Hey,’ Helen said. ‘I’ve a question. If my baby is a girl, would it be weird to call her Bella Devlin?’
‘Yes,’ Claire said. ‘You fucking lunatic. They’d be sisters.’