Read Stand by Me for Free Online Page B

Dominique tightly, but Brendan smiled at her and said it was no problem, it would be nice to say hello.
     
    She gritted her teeth as Evelyn ushered him into the front room - the room that was only used on special occasions and which was decked with photographs of Gabriel looking pensive and priestly among the glass and porcelain ornaments that Evelyn liked to collect.
     
    ‘Our son,’ Evelyn explained as Brendan perched on the edge of the sofa next to the sideboard with the biggest picture of Gabriel. ‘He’s a wonderful lad. He’s studying in Valladolid at the moment.’ She said the name ‘Valladolid’ as though she was actually saying ‘Heaven’.
     
    ‘I’m sure you’re very proud of him,’ said Brendan politely.
     
    ‘Of course we are,’ said Evelyn. ‘Now, can I get you a cup of tea?’
     
    ‘We don’t have time, Mam.’ Dominique spoke quickly. ‘We’re supposed to be at the party by eight.’
     
    ‘Of course you have time for tea,’ she said. ‘Come along, Dominique, you can help me.’
     
    Dominique shot a helpless look at Brendan, who winked at her. She followed Evelyn into the kitchen. Seamus was sitting at the table, reading the Evening Herald but he got up when his wife and daughter entered.
     
    ‘He’s a bit old,’ said Evelyn to her husband. ‘But you’d better see for yourself.’
     
    ‘Mam, Dad. For heaven’s sake!’ hissed Dominique. ‘He’s not here to be checked out. And he’s not old. He’s only twenty-eight.’
     
    ‘He’s your boyfriend,’ said Evelyn. ‘And twenty-eight is much more mature than you.’
     
    ‘It doesn’t matter how old he is,’ Dominique retorted. ‘We’re going out together. There’s no need to make a big production of it. Please,’ she added, looking at her father. ‘You’ll make him think he’s being investigated or something.’
     
    ‘I’ll just say hello,’ said Seamus. ‘Man to man.’
     
    Dominique sighed. Her relationship with Brendan was the best relationship she’d ever had in her life. (Well, she corrected herself, the only relationship she’d ever had in her life. She couldn’t count two trips to the Carlton cinema with John McNulty, who’d worked behind the bar at American Burger but who’d headed off to New Zealand shortly afterwards; or a boring theatre visit with Tom Fitzpatrick, who wanted to be an actor and who was only working in the restaurant until his big break came along.) Now her parents were about to destroy her chance of happiness. Brendan would see that she came from a house full of religious nutters and he’d think that she was a nutter herself.
     
    ‘We really don’t want tea,’ she said as Evelyn filled the kettle.
     
    ‘Nonsense.’ Evelyn shook some custard creams on to a plate. ‘He’s a guest.’
     
    ‘He’s only here to take me out,’ said Dominique desperately. ‘Mam ...’
     
    ‘We’re being polite,’ Evelyn said firmly. She put the plate on to her large, gold-rimmed tray along with four cups and saucers, a jug of milk and a bowl of sugar, and carried it into the front room. Dominique stayed in the kitchen, contemplating her ruined relationship.
     
    The kettle boiled and Dominique made the tea. There was no point in trying to outmanoeuvre her parents. They did what they wanted to do. They never listened to her.
     
    There was no sign of Evelyn returning, so she carried the blue ceramic teapot (it matched the cups and saucers; Evelyn had used their good crockery) into the front room.
     
    She thought she saw relief in Brendan’s eyes as she walked in. No doubt he was getting the rundown on Gabriel’s priestly vocation. Everyone who visited the house got that.
     
    ‘We only have time for a very quick drop, Mrs Brady,’ he said as Dominique put the teapot down on the coffee table. ‘You know what it’s like trying to get a taxi.’
     
    ‘You’re getting a taxi?’ Evelyn looked at Dominique.
     
    ‘Easier than trying to catch buses,’ she said. She had no