Free A Glimpse at Happiness by Jean Fullerton Page A

fecking encounter he had ever had with Patrick Nolan. That bloody flash Paddy always seemed to out-talk, out-think and out-tough him. He remembered Josie’s pleased expression.
     
    ‘No, I fecking well won’t!’ he bellowed. Warmth briefly flickered in Ma’s eyes and he grinned. ‘Too right, Charlie! No poxy Mick’s going to get the better of me.’
     

Chapter Five
     
    Josie pulled her purse from her handbag and snapped it open. She fished around inside it, extracted a sixpence and handed it to Sam. ‘It’s three o’clock now and I want you to come back for me in an hour.’
     
    Sam touched his cap and pocketed the coin. ‘Very good, Miss.’
     
    Josie stood for a moment, watching as he headed off towards the London Docks to buy himself a pie and coffee.
     
    Across the muddy street a front door opened and then another. Two women in the usual garb of dark gowns and head shawls eyed her curiously. A few children in rags edged out of doors and stood clinging to their mothers’ skirts.
     
    Josie had put on her cream dress that had just a single ruffle around the neck and sleeves, and had chosen a simple bonnet with nothing more than a ribbon around its crown yet - in this street of modest, tightly packed cottages - she stood out like a duchess in ermine.
     
    She studied the door of number twenty, reflecting how, when Patrick hadn’t returned to New York she’d presumed him dead. It had taken several years before she could think of him without tears but now, knowing he was alive, had seemed to unlock her memories.
     
    They had spoken for no longer than fifteen minutes but she could remember every detail of their meeting: the way his hair had moved as the river breeze ruffled it, the dark hue of his jaw with its day’s worth of bristle, and the shape of his strong hands, the balance of his shoulders . . .
     
    Her body had recalled past pleasures as his eyes had travelled over her, their expression changing as they always used to.
     
    Josie studied the panelled door for a second longer, then rapped firmly with her knuckles. Her heart thumped in her chest as she waited. After what seemed like an hour the door flew open and Sarah Nolan stared at her.
     
    Although a little heavier and greyer, Patrick’s mother was much as Josie remembered her. The black dress she wore gave her pale skin a waxy look, but her eyes were still soft and kind, as they always had been.
     
    Her gaze flickered down the street and then she smiled warmly. ‘Josie O’Casey, as I live and breathe!’
     
    Josie gave Sarah an apologetic smile. ‘I hope I’m not early, Mrs Nolan, but I was so eager to see you all.’
     
    It was true. She had been on tenterhooks all day. She woke from a fitful sleep at first light - ravenously hungry but found she’d lost her appetite after the first couple of mouthfuls of porridge. After breakfast she’d tried to read but found herself turning over pages without the faintest idea as to what was written on them. She abandoned the book and took up her needle, but her concentration wandered again and she stitched a red petal on a daffodil without even noticing. All the while the clock tick-tocked out the hours more slowly than ever until finally it was time to put on her coat and bonnet, summon Sam and head off towards the river.
     
    ‘No, you’re not early.’ Sarah glanced up the street again. ‘Although I was hoping Patrick might be back before you arrived.’ She ushered Josie through the door. ‘Well, for the love of Mary, what am I about? Come in! Come in!’
     
    Josie stepped in to the narrow hallway and Sarah closed the door. ‘When Patrick told me that he’d met you in the street I could hardly believe it.’
     
    ‘Neither could I,’ Josie replied. ‘I just turned around and there he was, as large as life.’
     
    ‘Large as life is the truth of it. He fair blocks the sun if he stands in front of you.’ Sarah showed her down the passageway. ‘Go through - there is someone in