Free City Lives by Patricia Scanlan Page B

precious mother. Why
could Richard never see that? How come her needs and feelings were judged of no importance? And always had been in their marriage.
    This was about her, too. Why should she feel bad about that? She had every right to put her feelings forward for consideration. But because she had, Richard had accused her of being self-centred
and unsympathetic. If he’d been approachable and civil when she’d asked about his mother, she wouldn’t have brought up the subject of his plans or postponement of them until he
had broached it. But he’d been cold and huffy and she knew from bitter past experience that that was his favourite ploy when he wanted to be evasive and avoid difficult decisions. It was a
way he used to undermine her and keep her off balance until he was ready to make choices and decisions.
    Caroline breathed deeply and tried not to feel like an insensitive bitch. Maybe she’d gone in a bit too strong. When
was
the right time to stand up for yourself? This carry-on
could continue for weeks, months, if Sarah recovered. Her mother-in-law was pulling all the strings as usual, even on her sickbed, Caroline thought bitterly.
    She had the feeling that Richard was half glad of the excuse to postpone selling up. He was too afraid to make his leap of faith and move on, she recognized sadly. If she wasn’t careful,
his fear would hold her back and she’d never get on with her life. This wasn’t all about Richard. This was about her, too. But it looked like she was going to have to make the break on
her own.
    Caroline’s stomach tightened in knots. All her optimism of yesterday was well and truly gone. She’d be taking this step on her own. Right now she didn’t think she was going to
make it.

Ten
    ‘Mammy, I don’t want to get out of the pool. Why do we have to go to Wicklow? I want to keep swimming.’ Mimi, Maggie’s elder daughter, pouted
petulantly.
    ‘I’ve told you why we have to go to Wicklow, Mimi, now don’t give me a hard time,’ Maggie warned, as she swam to the side of the pool.
    ‘But it’s not fair—’
    ‘Mimi Ryan, Grandad McNamara is sick and we have to go and look after him. Stop being so selfish this minute and get out of the pool and go and have your shower.’ Maggie’s
patience was dwindling fast. Mimi always pushed as far as she could go. Today Maggie was not in the mood to humour her.
    With bad grace, Mimi climbed the ladder and flounced towards the showers, dripping indignation.
    ‘Mammy. Mammy look I can swim underwater. Watch me.’ Shona, her youngest child, took a deep breath, stuck her head underwater and managed a half-dozen ungainly strokes before she
surfaced red-faced, gasping and proud.
    ‘Oh you’re great. A brilliant swimmer,’ Maggie praised. ‘Now run in and have your shower with Mimi, and I’ll be in to you, OK.’
    ‘OK, Mam,’ Shona responded obediently as she swam to the ladder and pulled herself up. Maggie smiled at her. Shona was such a peaceful little soul. Mimi was much more strong-willed
and argumentative. They were like chalk and cheese.
    ‘Michael, time to go,’ she called down the pool to where her son, Mimi’s twin, was swimming with some friends. She heard them teasing him. He laughed back and her heart
lightened. Michael was a happy-go-lucky little chap these days – it was a joy to watch him having fun and living life to the full. He’d been devastated when Terry had gone to live with
Ria Kirby. He’d started bedwetting and had become introverted and clingy. His reaction to their separation was the main reason Maggie had decided to get back with Terry. Her son was swimming
towards her now, good strong strokes. He was fearless in the water.
    ‘Mam can I go to the pictures with Owen and Raymond tomorrow? Owen’s mam is going to bring us.’ He brushed the water from his hair and she had to resist a fierce urge to
smother him in kisses. He’d have died of mortification if she’d disgraced him in front of his