Free Born & Bred by Peter Murphy Page B

dressed in something nice with her hair brushed and shining. Maybe his deal with God was working.
    “I promise,” he had added to his recent prayers, “that if you let my ma come back to live with me that I will become a priest.”
    “Good afternoon, Mrs. Boyle, Danny.” Martin stepped across the path that led to the front door.
    “Martin!” Granny seemed happier. “It was good of you to come.”
    “Is everything all right? My sisters said you phoned.”
    “We’ll talk about it later.” She nudged Danny toward the door but he saw her try to catch Martin’s eye unnoticed.
    “Fair enough then. How are you, Danny, and would you ever hold the door for your granny?”
    “He’s losing his manners,” Granny rolled her eyes a little. “Maybe you could have a word with him.”
    Danny hung his head and held the door as they passed by, entwined in their conspiracy. The whole world was changing, and sometimes it felt like it was turning against him.
    But his mother was delighted to see him and rose from her chair in the crafts room where she had been weaving plastic strands to pass the time.
    “Danny! Come here and give your mother a big hug and a kiss.”
    She squeezed him tightly and wrestled him onto her lap, his weight almost crushing her and his long legs dangling out before him. “You’re getting so big,” she laughed as she struggled for breath. “Maybe from now on I should be sitting on your lap. Are you well?”
    “Well enough,” Danny pouted a little. “But I really wanted to go to the pictures and instead Granny said we had to come here, and Uncle Martin and I always go to the pictures on Saturdays.”
    “Now Danny.” Granny admonished as she lowered herself gingerly into a chair.
    “Okay, but I really miss the pictures.”
    “Sure we’ll see them another time.” Martin stood behind Granny’s chair and his face was almost stern.
    “Martin?” Jacinta moved and dislodged Danny from his perch. “I’ve no cigarettes left. Would you be a love and run to the shop down the street? Maybe you could bring Danny, too, and get him a chocolate bar.” She nudged Danny toward his uncle. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, pet?”
    “Why doesn’t Martin go and I’ll stay here?”
    “Because,” Martin coaxed. “I wouldn’t know what to get you. C’mon now.”
    Martin waited for a moment but his sister just stared back blankly.
    “Here. Take this,” Granny held up a pound note and snapped her purse shut. “Go on now and get them.”
    **
    Granny must be getting bad , Jacinta thought to herself with her head averted, avoiding confrontation. She was on her best behavior. She had to be. She was on trial and her release depended on it. She was nervous but determined to look and act like the worst was behind her. She even crossed her ankles and sat straight with her hands nestling in her lap.
    **
    Granny didn’t notice; she was deep in her own thoughts, a dark and dreary place of late. Her last visit with the doctor confirmed her condition was no better, and was probably getting worse. She might not even see out the year. There wasn’t much time to put everything in place. She had spoken with the solicitor and was making provisions for them all. She would let Jeremiah come home as soon as she could have someone find him a job. And then Jacinta might be able to come out on weekends—with her doctor’s agreement—something Granny had already sought. It would be better for Danny if they all seemed more like a family.
    **
    “And how are you, Mrs. Boyle?” Jacinta interrupted her thoughts.
    “I’m well enough, all things considered. Have you had any news of my Jerry?”
    Jacinta almost smiled; he would always be her Jerry. “I did. He phoned last week and said he had a bit of a surprise but he couldn’t tell me about it.”
    “He’s a great one for surprises.”
    “He said he might be able to come over in a few weeks.”
    “It’ll be nice for Danny to see him. He hasn’t been over in