Page 131 of To Hell With It
‘I don’t know,’ I said.
‘Will you carry on at the shop or has New Zealand given you anewlease for life?See what I did there?’
‘Very good,’ I said. ‘I think it’s helped me in lots of ways but I alwaysknewI was happy here.’
‘Touché.’ Una laughed. ‘So you’re not going to pack up and go back then?’
‘Why would I do that?’
‘That’s what people do isn’t it, they go off and decide the grass is greener and all that.’
‘I prefer Drangan’s grass.’
‘That’s good. And the shop?’
‘I’m happy at the shop,’ I said. ‘I’m happy with my life here, that was never the problem.’
‘I know,’ Una said. ‘I’m proud of you for going, you know. I never thought you would.’
‘Me neither.’
‘What about Niall?’
‘God, what’s all this about Niall. You’re the one that bloody went home with him.’
‘You know he painted that gate for you?’
‘It wasn’t for me.’
‘Of course it was.’
Una nudged my arm with her elbow.
‘Have you been to see him yet?’
I nodded.
‘You know he told me,’ she said.
‘Told you what?’
‘About his dad and Maggie Ryan.’
‘He told you?’
‘When he was drunk, I’m not sure if he remembers or not though. He’s wanted to tell you for a long time and felt bad about it.’
‘Did he tell you that he couldn’t stop thinking about it?’
‘Yep, poor bugger. Can you imagine that?’
‘Funnily enough, I can.’
‘Maybe you could help him out?’
‘He doesn’t suffer from OCD.’
‘No, I don’t mean that.’
