Free Mercy of St Jude by Wilhelmina Fitzpatrick Page A

faces away from her.
    â€œI’m not sure what I would have done if she hadn’t been so generous,” he adds. Despite himself, he is beginning to feel a slightly sadistic enjoyment in the conversation. He really should go to bed.
    Sadie keeps slicing, slowly, methodically. Only a short quick sigh slips out.
    â€œYes, she was good to a lot of people,” he continues, “even helped that frigging Aiden get out of jail that time. Now that’s what I call generous.”
    â€œCops should have locked them up and chucked the keys. Good call, that was.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? What call?”
    Sadie looks startled. “Nothing. Not a thing.” She takes a decisive swipe at the pope’s nose and plops it and the knife on the counter. “There. That’s that.”
    Gerry notices that his mother’s back is slightly hunched. It occurs to him that she had this same roundness to her shoulders the last time he was home, but he’d forgotten it until this minute. He drains his cup. “How about a fresh pot of tea?”
    â€œSure, go on. Make you a plate to go with it.”
    He plugs in the kettle, then hugs Sadie around the shoulders. She glances up at him. Her face looks tired; the colour in her cheeks does not match the pallor around her eyes. Whether he wants to see it or not, his mother is getting old.
    â€œSome scoff here. You must have been cooking for days.” He kisses her forehead and hugs her again. “Thanks, Ma. It’s good to be home.”

5

    1999
    Pat’s hands are fists. His back is rigid. “That cop thought I was behind the wheel. He as much as said so. Now why was that? Huh? Why?”
    â€œLet it go, Pat. Besides, Aiden’s better off for it.” Lucinda rises unsteadily, one hand on the St. Anne medal around her neck. “I’ll go keep Derm and Joe company.”
    Pat waits until Lucinda is out of earshot. “Mercedes left that party, walked home and phoned the cops. I’d swear to it on a stack of bibles.”
    â€œThat’s a bit hard to swallow, Pat,” says Annie. “Even I don’t think Mercedes would turn in her own nephew.”
    Aiden gets up from the table. “Well, we’ll never know now.” His tone is harsh, angry. “And I, for one, don’t give a rat’s arse anymore. So drop it.”
    â€œWhat do you want to defend her for?” asks Pat.
    â€œDefend her?” Aiden shouts. “You are such an idiot, Pat!” Turning from his brother, he catches Annie’s eye and mutters “fucking fool” under his breath.
    Pat obviously hasn’t heard the insult. “She did it on purpose and you knows it, too. You just never had the guts to say anything to her.”
    â€œCome off it, you two,” warns Annie with a glance towards the doorway. “Don’t be getting into anything tonight. Mom’s got enough on her mind.”
    Aiden ignores her. “What would you know about guts, Pat?”
    â€œMore than you, that’s for sure.”
    Aiden faces him eye to eye. “What the hell does that mean?”
    Pat stares him down. “It means I’d face up to responsibility, that’s what.”
    â€œYou don’t know the first thing—”
    â€œI knows you were messing around with that poor stupid girl.”
    Annie looks from one to the other, surprised that a conversation about Mercedes has veered off in this direction. Then again, Mercedes was all about accountability.
    Aiden groans. “Don’t tell me you’re on about that Griffin slut again. Christ!”
    â€œYou made your bed.”
    â€œHard not to when she throws herself at you.”
    â€œYou could have said no.”
    â€œLike you would, I suppose?”
    Pat crosses his arms. “Like I did.”
    â€œYeah, right.”
    â€œIt’s the truth.”
    Aiden snickers. “Just proves the bitch would go to bed with anyone.”
    Annie