Authenticity by Deirdre Madden

Author:Deirdre Madden [Deirdre Madden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780571298051
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2012-11-27T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

The brothers arrived at the funeral home moments after the rest of their family, who were getting out of their cars as Dennis drove up. His mother offered Roderic a dry cheek to kiss, as did Cliona and Maeve; Arthur offered him his hand, his sympathies, half embracing Roderic whom he had always liked. ‘This is a bad business, a bad business,’ he said as they went into the building and sat down in the waiting room beside each other on steel and moulded-plastic chairs. ‘It’s a sad homecoming for you.’

‘Yes,’ Roderic replied, grateful for his concern. The room, cold and discreet with a vague nod to religious sensibilities unnerved him.

‘Bloody awful places these, aren’t they?’ Arthur said. ‘Bed but no breakfast.’

Roderic, taking in the garish stained glass, the stiff carnations thrust in a vase, could not but agree. As always, he felt scruffy beside Arthur. No matter how well he polished his shoes or brushed his jacket, he could never bring himself up to the sartorial heights his brother-in-law seemed to achieve effortlessly with his gold signet ring and his lime after-shave, his brogues like black glass and his well-cut overcoat. ‘I feel bad that I didn’t get here in time,’ Roderic added, but Arthur narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

‘Would have made no odds,’ he whispered, ‘no odds, so don’t think about it, don’t fret. Once the stroke hit, that was that. Believe me, I was there. Those extra two days in hospital … well, it was a mercy it was only the two days. No, Roderic, put it from your mind. You’re here now, that’s what counts.’

‘I came as soon as I could.’

‘Of course you did.’

It was Maeve who had rung Roderic to tell him that their father was in hospital. It was the call he had dreaded receiving ever since he went to live abroad and had imagined many times; but in the event it baffled him.

‘How is he? Is it serious?’

‘Well, he’s not marvellous,’ Maeve said slowly after some thought, which told Roderic precisely nothing.

‘Should I come home?’

‘You can if you want,’ she replied calmly.

‘But what do you think?’

‘It’s not up to me. You must decide for yourself.’

‘Yes Maeve, I know that, but I think you’re missing the point. It’s impossible for me to know unless you tell me how critical the situation is. I need the information to make the right decision. You can appreciate that I don’t want to leave Marta at the moment unless it’s absolutely vital.’

‘Hmm, I was forgetting about Marta. When is she due?’

‘Yesterday’

Maeve gave a pettish sigh, sounding exactly like their mother. ‘This is all very inconvenient, I must say, but it is down to you. Mum said that someone should probably ring Roderic and tell him what has happened so I’ve rung you. What more can I do?’

At that Roderic gave up. He said good night and went back into the sitting room, where Marta was draped out full length on the sofa, which she completely filled, before a huge fire.

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