Ash Mountain by Helen FitzGerald

Author:Helen FitzGerald
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orenda Books Ltd
Published: 2020-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Six Days before the Fire

Fran was getting into some necessary and depressing routines. She was up every three hours with her dad during the night, had her biggest meal (pre-prepared by Dante) at 10.00 am, including a glass of dusty sherry, and dozed whenever she could in the afternoon. She was on the sofa at 3.20 when the doorbell rang. She checked on her dad, who was still sleeping with the television on in the background – (The Love Housers were doing an obstacle course involving tarantulas and key lime pies). She switched it off and answered the door.

It was Father Frank, and he was carrying a large, reusable plastic bag. ‘Francesca, top of the afternoon to you.’ He didn’t wait for her to invite him in, and she just let it happen. He had vampire qualities. He put the bag on the kitchen bench. ‘Sister Mary Margaret asked me to drop this bag off, didn’t say what’s in it.’

Fran wanted to look inside the bag, but didn’t. ‘Great, thanks.’ There might have been an awkward pause, Fran wasn’t sure. ‘Cup of tea?’

‘Love one, thank you. Is he up for a visit?’

‘Sorry, he’s asleep. You have it the same as Dad, right?’

The tea-making distracted her and the priest was on his way up the hall to her dad’s bedroom.

‘Father?’

‘Just looking in on him,’ he said.

He’d definitely be awake now. Fran completed her father’s tea routine (hers too, now) and carried the cup and saucer to the bedroom. She could hear something before she went in, but she wasn’t sure what it was till she saw it. Her dad was sobbing loudly. Father Frank was holding him, his head buried into the invalid’s chest. Fran put the tea on the bedside table and returned to the kitchen.

She listened to the sobbing for ages, then there was silence for a while, then the sh-sh-sh-shushing of the rosary, which was going on for ever. She tried to block out the noise by concentrating on today’s project at her desk, an Invasion Day poster for Vonny’s protest at the fete. So far it was colourful and informative, but not at all eye-catching. It needed work. Vonny hadn’t shown any interest in holding a protest at the fete, but Fran thought she’d make the poster just in case she changed her mind. Vonny often changed her mind. She also did one hell of a protest. Thankfully, Nurse Jen arrived just as Father Frank exited her dad’s bedroom. Fran said goodbye to the priest, did the handover and log book with Nurse Jen, and closed herself in the bedroom to look in the bag.

Sister Mary Margaret had responsibility for all the sick Catholic school children in town. She set up a crafts area in the kitchen, and among other projects designed to keep the meek meeker, encouraged her patients to make a ‘treasure box’ while they waited for their mothers and fathers to collect them. In the box, the nun put each child’s favourite lollies and any precious artwork they created.

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