“Listen, how would you feel about Lizzie coming to stay with us instead?” Walking over to my bed, Mam sat down and plucked a T-shirt from the pile. “I’m sure a change in environment would do her the world of good,” Mam hedged, as she folded my shirt. “It can’t be easy for her all alone in that big house with only her parents for company. Especially with her mother still undergoing treatment.” Handing me the folded T-shirt, Mam plucked another from my haphazard pile. “If Lizzie was to come toourhouse for the summer, I could look after her.” Another neatly folded T-shirt came my way. “I would feel a lot better about this if you were both under my roof, where I could keep an eye on you.”
“I would love that,” I replied evenly, shoving another T-shirt into my bag. “But it won’t work.”
“Why not?” Mam probed, unwilling to give in. “I’ve told you that she’s always welcome at our house.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, closing the zip of my duffel bag. “And I’ve toldyouwhy she can’t come here.”
“Mark’s gone,” Mam urged. “You know that, Hugh. He won’t be back for a very long time.”
“Yeah, I know,” I replied. “He’s not the problem.”
Mam was quiet for a while before the penny finally dropped. “Gibs.”
Bingo.
“Oh, Hugh, love. You know Gibsie has nothing to do with that mess.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, jaw clenching. “Iknow that.”
“Lizzie must know that, too,” she pushed. “Gerard is her friend. They’ve been thick as thieves for years.”
“Iknow, Mam,” I bit out, feeling the pang of anguish in my chest. “You’re not telling me anything I’m not aware of.”
“Then surely she has to know he’s not at fault,” Mam urged. “She has to believe he’s innocent.”
“Oh,shehas to believe.” My tone was hard and laced with sarcasm. “Well, maybe Liz is a little short on belief these days, Mam, especially considering nobody has shownherthe same grace.”
“Hugh.” A deep sigh escaped her. “Please don’t bring that up again.”
“Ibelieveher, Mam.” I went right ahead and brought it up.Again. “IbelieveMark raped Caoimhe, and I don’t blame Liz one bit for wanting to stay as far away from this street as possible. It kills me that she’s projecting her pain onto Gibs, but I can’t honestly blame her. Because if the shoe were on the other foot and something happened to Claire, I would lose my mind, too.”
“You know what the Gardaí said. Mark was cleared of those accusations.”
“Yeah, and I know what my girlfriend said, too.”
“Hugh, you know I adore Lizzie. She’s like one of my own. But you also know that she’s a very troubled—”
“Don’t say it,” I warned, instantly on edge, as I held a hand up in warning. “Don’t use her bipolar disorder against her. Don’t be like the others.”
“It’s not like that, and you know it,” Mam countered, voice thick with emotion. “I love Lizzie like she’s my own flesh and blood. I always have.”
“But?”
“I’mconcerned, Hugh!”
“Youshouldbe concerned,” I wholeheartedly agreed. “Her sister killed herself, Mam.” Had everyone forgotten that tidbit of information? “Liz was there when they pulled Caoimhe’s body out of the river. Shesawthat.”
“I know.” Tears filled my mother’s eyes. “That poor girl.”
“Her dad’s a walking zombie since the funeral,” I continued, unyielding. “And her mam’s a weeping corpse. My girlfriend is completely alone in that house, and I won’t let that stand.” Steeling my resolve, I looked my mother dead in the eyes and said, “And I won’t allow everyone to label her a liar, either.”
“I don’t I think she’s lying,” Mam hurried to defend. “I believe that Lizzie believes every word.”
“That’s the same fucking thing,” I snapped back. “Jesus, why do you insist on speaking to me like a child? I have a firm grasp on semantics, Mam, and that’s exactly that you’re doing right now.”
“Hugh, this isn’t helping anyone,” Mam urged, looking devastated. “Two families are in ruins right now, and instead of fanning the flames of resentment, we should be supporting them and encouraginghealing.”
“Then why don’t you do that, Mam?” I countered, giving her a hard look. “Why don’t you practice what you preach and visit Catherine? I mean, she’s your friend, too, after all. Or does Sadhbh Allen hold the deciding factor on who you can offersupportto?”
