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day – cannelloni with a salad.
    ‘Is everything okay at home?’ quizzed Grace.
    She had debated telling Grace about her meeting yesterday, but there was no point in worrying her younger daughter.
    ‘Fine, and Rena’s minding Daisy while I’m away, so hopefully she’s behaving.’
    ‘I really miss her.’
    ‘Well, come home and see her then,’ she urged.
    ‘Mum, I’ve two massive projects to hand in in the next week or two! Then Sophie and I are going to the
Star Wars
Ball in two weeks … Maybe after that I’ll try to get home for a weekend.’
    ‘A
Star Wars
Ball!’
    ‘The computer science geeks have organized it, but it should be fun. I’m wearing that silvery dress and Karl, one of the guys in my class, is loaning me a light sabre.’
    As they ate, Molly listened as Grace told her all about her friends, her classes, her lectures and her housemates. Her daughter’s life was packed to the brim, as any twenty-year-old’s should be.
    Molly smiled as Grace devoured a big slice of chocolate fudge cake for dessert.
    ‘Are you staying in town tomorrow, Mum? Maybe we could meet up again!’
    ‘Sorry, but I plan to head back home mid-morning,’ she explained. ‘I’m trying to get Jimmy Fallon to come and fix the leak in the bathroom, so I need to be there … You know what that man is like, and I don’t like leaving Mossbawn empty …’
    ‘Mum, I’ll try to get down home soon,’ promised Grace. ‘It’s just that with the exams the work is piling on.’
    ‘Of course, pet … don’t worry, and remember to send me some photos of that ball!’
    Paying the bill, the two of them headed back towards O’Connell Bridge and Molly insisted that they share a taxi home. Hugging Grace tightly when they reached Ranelagh, Molly watched her daughter disappear into a narrow road of similar-looking red-brick houses, then she gave the driver Roz’s address.

Chapter 8
    IT WAS GOOD TO BE BACK IN MOSSBAWN, ENVELOPED IN THE familiar routine of the old house.
    Rena had stayed for coffee when she had brought the dog back; Molly thanked her as Daisy raced off immediately on an inspection tour of the garden.
    ‘She’s no trouble,’ laughed Rena. ‘She got on fine with George once she didn’t try to eat from his dog bowl. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed yourself.’
    ‘Thanks, Rena, it was great. I got to see Grace and Roz and a few of my friends and did a bit of shopping. But to tell the truth it’s a great relief to get back home,’ she confessed. ‘I missed the place.’
    ‘I’m the exact same! A few days on holidays or staying with my sister in Cork and I’m ready to come back home again,’ confided Rena. ‘Jack complains I’ve lost my adventurous streak, but I’m not sure if I ever really had one!’
    ‘But you and Jack have been all over the place!’ exclaimed Molly; her neighbours were renowned for their travels all over the world.
    ‘I know, but once you’ve seen one rainforest, sat on one deserted tropical island and visited one more temple, you find yourself wanting to be back sitting pretty here in Kilfinn.’
    Molly burst out laughing.
    ‘You can’t beat it,’ Rena added, laughing too. ‘It’s not just the place, it’s the people too.’
    Molly had to admit there was a lot of truth to what her neighbour was saying. Living here in Kilfinn she was part of a community where everyone looked out for everyone else. When David had died she had been inundated with help and support, and had been shown a genuine kindness by all those around her. It was something that she would never forget.
    Later, when Rena was gone, Molly decided to get stuck in doing a bit of much-needed work in the garden. Pulling on her wellington boots and her light fleece jacket, she decided it was high time she began to tackle some of the heavy, overgrown sections in the large herbaceous borders. There was no room for anything and she urgently needed to strip out some of the plants and trim others back so there was space for