“I never went away so…” Mel sighed. “Nobody asked you to stay, I mean – ” “You know,” Rose interrupted, “he must be smiling up there. What a pair we make. Now don’t tell me you’re thinking of going in those jeans?” Mel looked down at her black jeans which she’d teamed with pointy black boots. “They’re my good ones,” she said. “Come, you’re a lady, let’s dress you like one.” * The two sisters walked into the almost empty church, linking arms. Two sisters wearing long black dresses; one with pointy boots, one with dainty pumps. The priest cleared his throat at the pulpit and nodded towards them. On Rose’s insistence they sat in the exact place they’d sat with their father for their mother’s funeral: the front pew on the right-hand side. Rose clutched Mel’s hand. “It’s okay,” she whispered. Mel nodded, feeling the ground was starting to slip beneath her. Ben and three of his staff carried the coffin out of the church. Mel insisted that he come to the graveyard and then back to the house. There, a neighbour, Mary, Cheryl and a grand-uncle whom they hadn’t seen since their mother had died, sat on the edge of the sofa. They balanced china plates on their knees, rows of pretty cups and saucers with boiling tea sitting on the table in front of them. Nods and half-smiles flew around the room, filling the awkward silence. Ben looked from Mel to Rose. “See if you can help with Daddy’s bed upstairs,” Rose asked Ben. “If you’ll excuse us,” she added as she left the room, bristling as she felt Mel follow. “Didn’t you put an announcement in the papers?” he asked, tugging at his tie. “Well,” started Rose. “John didn’t have many friends,” put in Mel. “He was sick for such a long time.” “So the nurse I was speaking to said,” Ben answered. He scratched his head. “Is the HSE not going to take back that
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