‘So, seven rooms. But she books way in advance and gets a discount.’
‘Four nights, five-star hotel, the top floor, view of the lake, Easter weekend. Liam, they must be loaded.’
‘She works hard. They both do.’ They’d talked about this too much. It was starting to piss him off.
Without any real interest, he switched on the TV and speedily clicked his way through an afternoon chat show, a technicolour cartoon, a rugby match and a news report of desperate-seeming crowds, standing in the rain, behind coils of barbed wire … The camera focused on a small boy sitting on his father’s shoulders, wearing what looked like a Tesco bag to protect his head from the downpour. Immediately Liam hit the off button – but it was too late, Nell had seen. ‘Let’s check out our balcony,’ he said quickly.
He slid open the glass doors and stepped outside. To his relief, Nell followed. In silence, they leant on the railing, looking out over the muted navy blue of the lake and the craggy grey-green mountains on the far side. Three storeys below, in the grounds, shrieking children ran around.
‘Ha-ha.’ Nell reached for her phone and clicked off a flurry of shots. ‘Yeah, it’s stunning.’
‘Now are you glad you came?’
‘Hah! Like I had any choice.’
Liam shrugged. When Jessie issued her decrees, people tended to fall in.
It was five months since he’d married Nell. To begin with, Jessie had given them space, but in the last number of weeks, she’d invited them to several family events. Pressure had really been brought to bear for this weekend.
‘I’ve litch never met a human with such a strong will,’ Nell said.
‘You’re not exactly a pushover yourself. My money would be on you,’ Liam said, and was relieved to see her smile.
Further along the corridor, Johnny was disappointed to discover that he and Jessie were billeted in a two-bedroomed suite, sharing with their two youngest daughters, TJ and Dilly. This weekend, he’d been hoping to have sex with Jessie, without fearing the sound of small feet running out of their bedroom and bursting into his.
A locked door was his idea of freedom.
But Jessie had said that Dilly was still too young. ‘Maybe next year, when she’s eight.’
‘She’ll be eight next month. And she’s sharing with TJ. TJ’s nine, she’ll take care of her.’
‘Shut it.’
Speaking of which, here came TJ, trailed by Dilly. ‘Mum, I’ve unpacked my case. Applause, please.’
‘You’re a legend. It’s more than your father has done.’
‘Why would I,’ Johnny said, ‘when you do it so much better than me?’
‘Do it, you lazy feck!’ TJ said.
Johnny laughed. ‘Wonder who she heard saying that.’
‘It was Mum.’
‘I know, hon. It was a rhetorical question.’
‘What’s that?’
‘“Rhetorical” means it doesn’t need an answer,’ Bridey explained loftily.
Where had she come from?
‘Your suite door was open,’ Bridey said. ‘You really need to be more careful. I could have been anyone.’ She turned to TJ and Dilly. ‘Right, kiddos. Let’s inspect this room of yours.’
Johnny began to hang up his clothes. ‘Bridey’s bound to find some safety issue. She’s a pain in the hole.’
‘Johnny, no. Don’t say that, she has ears like a bat. Anyway, that officious thing, she’s only twelve, she’ll grow out of it.’
He’d paused in his unpacking. ‘I brought a suit? We’re supposed to be relaxing.’
‘Saturday night, we’re having dinner in the fancy restaurant.’
‘I don’t want to wear a suit.’
‘No one’s making you. It’s there if you want the option.’
Yeah, right. ‘Okay, Mission Control, give me my schedule.’
‘Tonight, casual dinner in the Brasserie, six thirty, nice and early. Afterwards the kids go to the movie and the rest of us have a few drinks. Tomorrow, Good Friday, day at leisure.’
That just meant she hadn’t organized any big lunches or dinners. He’d still be made to go for a hike. Or to meet friends from Dublin who were also down in Kerry. And what was the point of that? They could see them at home any time. He was meant to be on a break.
‘Tomorrow, people can get room service,’ Jessie said. ‘Have toasted sangers in the lobby, whatever they like.’
‘Even go into Killarney for chips?’ Bridey asked. She, along with TJ and Dilly, had shoaled back into the room.
Johnny could see that Jessie wasn’t keen on that idea. She liked everyone on the premises, where they could be summoned at a moment’s notice. If she could have made them wear electronic anklets she would have.
‘Mum, Dad, are you aware that their window opens? Might I remind