Can you wait until then before we contact each other again? I need a clear head for the moment and you fill my thoughts far too much. I understand if you’re not prepared to wait but I hope you’ll give me this time to sort out my life. I’ll be in touch as soon as I can offer you something more than empty promises.

In anticipation of better times,

Jake

She responded with a brief text.

New York is waiting for your call.

That too had been deleted.

Nadine straightened and tucked her hands under her arms as a sudden flurry of wind tossed her hair. She checked her watch and stood. ‘We’d better go back to work.’

‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

She nodded and shoved her bag over her shoulder. ‘‘It’s just… meeting Carol and all that… it’s so real now.’

The ducks bobbed their heads under the water, tail feathers fluttering. The woman, far too tall to be Karin Moylan, crossed the bridge above the pond and disappeared from view.

On Grafton Street the buskers were out in force: guitarists, artists in goggles, violinists, fire eaters, a threesome of cellists. A young woman worked two sticks and created enormous, elongated bubbles. A bubble floated towards them. An instant of luminosity. Rainbow hues shimmering, its distended belly almost touching the pavement before it disappeared with an inaudible plop. How could such a delicate transporter of air be responsible for killing the rip-roaring Celtic Tiger?

Chapter 17

His mother had already arrived when Jake drove into Bartizan Downs. The blinds were open and he had a clear view of her silhouette, the high sweep of hair, her imperious head. She was in a dangerous mood. He could read her body language, the subtle signals she gave out, the merest pressure of her lips, the lift of her eloquent eyebrows. He had no interest in being inside her head. Understanding one’s mother was almost as unhealthy as having an Oedipus complex. He squared his shoulders and hurried towards the front door.

She had rung him earlier in work and invited herself to dinner, insisted she had something of the utmost importance to discuss with him and Nadine.

‘If she mentions another word about marriage counselling I’ll strangle her with my bare hands,’ Nadine threatened before leaving the office early to shop and prepare an evening meal.

‘I’ll help you hide the body,’ he had promised.

He entered the drawing room and air-brushed Eleanor’s cheek before heading to the kitchen where Nadine was removing a roast chicken from the oven. She looked composed but she was moving around the kitchen in a controlled frenzy.

‘Eleanor’s got something up her sleeve,’ she whispered. ‘I know the signs.’

‘She can’t make us do anything we don’t want,’ he whispered back. Why were they whispering? Their kitchen was almost the size of a football stadium.

He carved the chicken while Nadine mashed potatoes and strained green beans. Years of co-ordinated practice had welded them into an efficient team when it came to bringing a meal to the table.

‘Any word on the house?’ Eleanor asked as soon as they were seated.

‘Nothing definite as yet,’ Nadine replied. ‘We’re had a lot of interest and we’re confident we’ll close the deal soon.’

‘How long has it been on the market?’

‘Not long,’ Jake said.

‘Just long enough for the For Sale sign to grow roots and sprout branches in the spring.’ Eleanor’s short bark of laughter set his teeth on edge.

‘And Tõnality?’ she asked.

‘Almost there.’ Nadine passed the green beans to her. ‘We have a buyer who’s seriously interested in making us an offer.’

When had his wife become such an accomplished liar?

‘Are you still going ahead with this ridiculous separation?’ Eleanor ladled the beans onto her plate and added chicken from the platter.

‘With our divorce, yes,’ said Nadine and Jake nodded in agreement.

‘Then listen to what I have to say.’ Her voice softened to a persuasive pitch he instinctively mistrusted. ‘I want to help.’

‘We’ve not having a repeat discussion,’ Nadine said. ‘No marriage counselling. That subject is closed.’

‘This is not a discussion, it’s purely a suggestion. You and Jake are lying through your teeth. Putting food on the table in the middle of a recession is a more immediate priority for families than buying grand pianos.’

‘We don’t just sell grand – ’

‘Property prices have collapsed,’ Eleanor cut through his interruption with scythe-like determination. ‘Just listen to this evening’s news if you need a reality check. I passed two other For Sale signs on this estate and your house, if you do manage to find a buyer, will sell at a considerable loss. The same applies to your company.’

‘This is none of your business, Eleanor.’ Nadine’s knuckles tightened as she sliced into her chicken.

‘You’re my family and that makes it my business,’ said Eleanor. ‘A house of cards doesn’t fall slowly. All it takes is a finger flick and the whole edifice collapses. You and Jake borrowed heavily to set up in that business park. You’ve lost STRUM, your customers aren’t paying their bills and it’ll be impossible to move your unsold stock while this recession lasts. No one is interested in buying Tõnality. Your most sensible option is to agree a quick sale on your house and use the money to pay off your bank loan.’

‘How dare you make such assumptions about us!’ Nadine’s hair swept forward and hid her face.

‘I’m a pragmatist, Nadine. Essential in politics. I’ve changed my mind about Sea Aster. A number of planning difficulties have made it difficult to proceed with the renovations. First Affiliation can wait a while longer for its new headquarters. In the meantime – ’

‘I can see where this discussion is going, Eleanor,’ Jake interrupted her before Nadine could do so. ‘You can stop right – ’

‘You want your freedom, don’t you? Well, freedom comes at a price. I’m willing to give you Sea Aster. No rent in lieu of maintaining the house and grounds for me. Two apartments, two entrances. Do what you like within its confines but, outwardly, to the world, you remain a married couple.’

‘That’s a preposterous suggestion.’ Nadine laid her cutlery beside her plate and abandoned all pretence at eating. ‘We’ve no intention of accepting it.’

Eleanor dabbed her lips then placed the serviette back on her knees. ‘Consider my suggestion, that’s all I’m asking.’

‘Why would you do this, Eleanor?’ Nadine asked. ‘Why does our marriage matter so much to you?’

‘It matters because I love you both. I don’t want to see you making a dreadful mistake.’

Jake laughed, an abrupt bark that hid his anger. If only he could leave the table and retreat to his music room. But those days were gone. He no longer had the urge to write down a catchy line, or record a riff with potential. He was sleepless, stressed, helpless. And his mother believed maternal love was the answer to his problems.

‘When did this flowering of love occur?’ he asked ‘Was it sudden or was it your best kept secret?’

‘Don’t be cruel, Jake,’ she said. ‘Repetition diminishes meaning which is why I don’t often express my feelings for you and Nadine. And my grandchildren, let’s not forget them in this scenario. I want them to have a base when they come home, some place where we can all be together. Sea Aster will be there when you need it.’

Undaunted by their refusal to consider her offer, she left shortly afterwards.

‘We’ll pretend this conversation never happened.’ Nadine rose from the table and gathered the plates and serving dishes, unwilling or unable to discuss the crisis they were facing.

They were living on borrowed time. Soon it would run out of control. Jake opened his laptop and clicked into the Kingfisher website. Karin Moylan stared back at him from the homepage. The longing to contact her was constant but nothing had changed since he emailed her. He was stuck in the same rut. Soon he would have to meet his bank manager and plead with him once again for an extension of his loan. The domino effect of recession. Jake felt a chill ring of perspiration around his neck, a noose tightening.