Free Semi-Sweet by Roisin Meaney Page A

“And maybe apple crumble
     for afters.”
    “Very romantic.”
    In the small kitchen, she rinsed the cups and left them on the drainboard, and slid the biscuits back into their tin as her
     thoughts returned to her daughter. Hannah had been flown to Paris for her birthday last year, didn’t know a thing about it
     until they’d arrived at the airport. Patrick had pretended he was picking someone up—his brother, was it? Some relation anyway.
    Geraldine had been charmed when she’d heard; it had sounded so romantic. By then, of course, she and Stephen had had several
     weeks to get used to the fact that their daughter was living with a man who wasn’t her husband. It had been a different story
     when Hannah had told them that Patrick was moving in.
    You haven’t known him a wet week, Geraldine had protested.
    Three months, Hannah had said. I know it seems soon, but it’s what we both want. And with Annie being transferred to Cork, the timing is perfect.
    Annie had moved into Hannah’s spare room three weeks after Hannah had bought the house, and she’d been with her ever since.
     She was the perfect housemate, paying her rent on time each month and going home to her family in Sligo every weekend. And
     now she was being transferred, and Patrick, whom Geraldine still regarded as Hannah’s new boyfriend, was to be her replacement.
    It’s still so soon, though, Geraldine had said. Couldn’t you get another housemate, just for a few more months, even?
    But Hannah had been determined, and Patrick had moved in. And despite her parents’ misgivings, it had seemed to be working
     out. Geraldine remembered the phone call from Charles de Gaulle Airport, how happy Hannah had sounded. She’d been convinced
     they’d come back engaged, but that hadn’t happened. And look at them now.
    She sighed as she replaced the lid on the biscuit tin. Just as well Hannah was worn out these days, with no time to brood.
     Up in the middle of the night to bake, bake, bake, and then standing behind that counter all day long. Thankfully, things
     seemed to be working out nicely in the shop so far. The cupcakes were selling reasonably steadily, and Hannah seemed to be
     enjoying it—at least that’s what she told them. But she looked so tired and lost whenever Geraldine met her. Of course her
     heart was still broken.
    Geraldine knew what her daughter needed for her birthday—she’d known as soon as Hannah had signed her name on the lease, as
     soon as she’d finally committed to opening her own business. And much as Geraldine hated presenting her only child with a
     check on her birthday, that was what she and Stephen had to do.
    She washed her hands and walked back out to the shop. She’d talk to Stephen this evening, decide how much they’d give. He’d
     be happy with her choice, always the practical one.
    And tomorrow she’d parcel up the nice pink sling-backs that Alice would let her have for forty euro. Whatever else, a girl
     needed shoes on her birthday.

    “I have a proposition for you.”
    Hannah eyed him warily. “Go on.”
    “Don’t look so suspicious. This could be mutually beneficial.”
    “Go on.”
    “Well, you know that Nora’s coming home next week, for a while anyway.”
    “Yes?” Hannah’s guarded expression slid up a notch.
    “And you still haven’t gotten around to advertising for a housemate, although you’re probably living off beans on—”
    “No,” Hannah said quickly. “No. I’m sorry, Adam, but it wouldn’t work. We…might fall out over something, and things could
     get messy, and…look, she’s your sister and all, but I really don’t know Nora that well. I mean, we’re very different, and
     you’d be caught in the middle, and…” She trailed off, looking trapped.
    “Hang on a sec,” Adam said. “What do you think I’m suggesting?”
    “That Nora move in with me. And while in theory the idea is fine, I just think—”
    “Stop talking,” he said. “Stop now.”
    Hannah