nodded.
‘Not well at all.’
Murph nodded again.
Jerry put a hand to his chin. ‘Do you know something?’ he said. ‘I think that woman would hug you every minute of the day if she could.’
Murph smiled, and his shoulders went up to his ears.
‘But you know that’s a small bit harder for her, now she’s not well.’ He paused. ‘And that’s all that is. She’s a bit weak.’ He patted Murph on the head. ‘But you’ll always be her little man … no matter what.’
Johnny waited outside the bar until everyone had caught up. He pushed open the door and guided everyone through with a sweep of his arm. The room had a mix of mahogany panelling and slate-grey walls, thick carpet in charcoal grey, and small round tables with green leather chairs. A log fire burned and crackled drawing everyone’s attention until Murph boomed, ‘No way,’ and crossed to the opposite wall. Johnny, Edie, and Helen laughed.
Murph looked back at Johnny and Edie, his eyes gleaming. ‘Is that … is your drinks cabinet an actual confession box?’
‘Yes, it is,’ said Johnny.
Murph shook his head, smiling.
‘It’s a little kitsch,’ said Edie, ‘but we couldn’t resist.’
‘I love honesty bars,’ said Murph. ‘But I prefer lying, filthy, cheating bars.’
‘It’s superb,’ said Clare. ‘Is it from the chapel?’
Johnny nodded. ‘There were four of them, which was a bit much when you think of the size of it. We kept one where it was, ripped the other three out, and had this one restored.’
‘Look,’ said Murph. ‘It actually accepts sins.’ He pointed to a slot, and pulled out the drawer underneath. There were folded-up notes inside. He picked out three. ‘“Stole a bathrobe”, “Filled my purse with croissants at breakfast”, and “Had impure thoughts. Followed through.” Fair play to them. I hope the purse one was an American or she wouldn’t have got far.’
‘Is anyone weird about it?’ said Clare. ‘The sacrilege of it all.’
‘No one’s complained yet,’ said Edie. She put her hand on the small of Johnny’s back. ‘Well done, by the way.’ She gestured around the room. ‘He set this all up.’
‘He’s got the fire on, the candles, everything,’ said Laura. ‘Never thought I’d see the day.’
‘I do this all the time,’ said Johnny, frowning. ‘Why is everyone so surprised?’
‘Jesus – I don’t know,’ said Murph. ‘Maybe because of this.’ He pointed to the wall beside the confession box. ‘Johnny’s glory wall under a picture light, in case we might miss it.’ There were framed newspaper cuttings, Munster team photos, shots of Johnny on the pitch, at award ceremonies, with celebrities. Murph pointed to one: ‘New Zealand, 1989. You played some game.’
‘How you didn’t end up playing for Ireland is beyond me,’ said Clare.
‘I agree,’ said Edie.
‘Thank you, ladies,’ said Johnny. He walked over to the drinks. ‘Right – what are you having?’
‘The time of our lives,’ said Murph.
Everyone put in their orders, and Johnny started to make the drinks.
‘Speaking of time,’ said Clare, ‘this is very early for pre-dinner drinks. This could go horribly wrong.’
Johnny handed her a gin and tonic. ‘Starting now.’
‘That’s my fault,’ said Helen. ‘I can’t last very long in the evenings these days. So apologies to all of you for tomorrow’s hangovers.’
‘Who says I’m going to have a hangover?’ said Clare.
‘As Johnny hands everyone a massive drink,’ said Helen. ‘You’ll all be dying in the morning.’
‘Not me,’ said Patrick, pointing to his 7UP.
‘Do you not drink?’ said Laura.
‘No,’ said Patrick. ‘I gave up years ago.’
‘Why’s that?’ said Laura. ‘Health reasons?’
Patrick nodded. ‘I guess so. Stopped one January and never looked back.’
‘Hey – that’s Clare’s line,’ said Johnny. ‘“Never look back”.’
‘“Eyes ahead” is my line!’ said Clare.
‘It’s “eyes ahead”,’ said Murph at the same time.
‘Relax, the pair of you,’ said Johnny.
Clare looked around the room. ‘You’re all an appalling influence and I know I’m going to end end up in some “District Court Judge in Drinking Shame” situation.’
‘We’re well tucked away here,’ said Johnny. ‘What happens in Pilgrim Point stays in Pilgrim Point.’
‘I’d say any fart I crack off tonight after a rake of pints will go well beyond the boundaries,’ said Murph.
‘Any development on the spa?’ said Clare.
‘Well, the plans are drawn up,’ said Edie, ‘but before we can put in for planning, we have to get an archaeological survey done. And there’s no point getting it done at this time of year, so we’re looking at March for that. And on and on.’
‘Ooh,’ said Murph, sucking in a breath, ‘Johnny fucked up there.’
‘What?’ said Edie. She flashed warning eyes at Murph. ‘No, he didn’t.’
‘Sorry,’ said Murph. ‘He just looked a little—’
‘Bored,’ said Edie.
Johnny frowned. ‘I’m not bored, I’m—’
‘I’m teasing,’ said Edie. ‘The chapel is Johnny’s thing.’
‘The chapel’s not “my thing”,’ said Johnny. ‘It’s—’
‘Jesus, lads,’ said Murph. ‘You’ve got visitors. Did your mammies not teach you anything?’
‘So, what are the plans for the chapel?’ said Patrick.
‘Well …’ said Johnny.
‘Well …’ said Edie.
‘What
