"What are you looking at? Come to bed luv," Ambrose pleaded.
"You were staring out of the window the other night. Why is it okay for you to do it and not me?" Niamh snapped.
"I was looking at an empty building from a Guard's point of view, you're obsessing."
"How am I obsessing?" she asked dismissively.
"You're thinking about Assumpta."
Niamh said nothing so he continued. "People grow apart luv, happens all the time."
"Yeah maybe," she said reluctantly and began to move away from the window when something outside caught her eye. A car had pulled up outside the pub with British registration plates.
"Bit late for tourists. I hope they don't expect to find accommodation," she muttered.
As she watched a woman got out the car. Niamh couldn't make her out at first in the dark but then she moved under the glow of a street light and Niamh gasped. It couldn't be. It was her mind playing tricks on her because of everything she'd been thinking about the last couple of days. The woman opened the rear car door and crouched down to talk to someone inside. Then the front passenger door opened and a boy, who looked to be two or three years younger than Kieran got out. He was quite tall for his age and had a thick shock of dark hair. He yawned and looked about him as the woman moved to the boot and opened it. A black Labrador jumped out and she gestured to the boy who wandered sleepily towards her and took the dog's lead. She ruffled his hair affectionately and moved back to resume speaking to someone in the back seat. After a few moments she helped a sleepy looking girl of out of the car. She knelt to do up the girl's coat and Niamh saw the girl, who looked about seven, had dark blonde hair and looked like she was asleep on her feet. The woman put an arm round her and steered her onto the pavement where the boy was already sitting on the bench waiting with the dog. The girl flopped down onto the bench and the woman opened the other rear door and after a minute lifted out another girl of about three. She was fast asleep and her head lolled on the woman's shoulder. Niamh could see this third child had chestnut brown hair. She glanced again at the two children on the bench who both looked very like their father. She was in no doubt who the woman was now. Assumpta had enclosed a photo of all the kids in her card last Christmas; Sam, Abigail and the youngest, Molly. Niamh even recognised the dog, Brody.
"Ambrose, it's Assumpta."
"What?" he asked wearily.
"Assumpta, she's outside with the kids."
"It's midnight Niamh what would she be doing outside? And anyway, they live in England," he said with exasperation.
"Well they're not in England now." Niamh let the curtain fall back and headed to the door.
"Where are you going," Ambrose asked, while peering out the window.
"To say hello of course."
Niamh rushed out the door and across the road.
"Assumpta?"
Assumpta who was busy looking through the roof rack and pulling out various bags looked up and smiled at her. "Hi Niamh."
Niamh spluttered slightly, "What are you doing here?"
"The pub needed someone to run it and no one else is very interested so I decided to do it myself."
Niamh couldn't believe how calm Assumpta was being. "What, just like that?"
Assumpta frowned. "Niamh, it's late and I need to get the kids into bed, can we talk tomorrow?"
Niamh looked over at the three sleepy children on the bench and felt guilty. "Yeah, of course. I'll give you a hand in."
Assumpta looked grateful. "Thanks." She scooped the youngest girl, who was fast asleep on the bench, into her arms and fumbled to unlock the door.
"Here let me." Niamh unlocked the door, picked up the bags that Assumpta had put down on the pavement and held the door open.
"Come on you two. This is my old friend Niamh but you can meet her properly tomorrow. Right now I want teeth brushed and pyjamas on."
They made their way upstairs and Assumpta peered into rooms with a curious and somewhat wistful expression on her face. Luckily the Dooleys had kept the rooms as private living quarters rather than renting them out, even after their kids had left home. In fact Dermot and Grainne's bedrooms didn't look like they'd changed at all since they were teenagers. Assumpta efficiently sorted out whose bag was whose and helped Sophie get ready for bed whilst keeping an eye on the other two, who looked dead on their feet. Niamh tried to help but she felt awkward. She'd never met the kids before, although she'd sent birthday and Christmas presents every year. She was also wondering where Peter was but decided Assumpta was right and this wasn't the time. Soon all the kids were in bed and the dog was settled in the kitchen. Assumpta followed Niamh to the front door.
"Thanks for your help Niamh. You should be getting home, won't Ambrose be wondering where you are?"
"Ambrose knows where I am." She stared at Assumpta. She really hadn't changed. Her hair was longer and a slightly darker shade than Niamh remembered and although she was older looking, she was no less beautiful but she looked tired. Dark circles stood out under eyes and there was an air of defeat about her that Niamh did not associate with the Assumpta she knew. Fury, yes, passion, yes, defiance and stubborn independence, definitely, but not this quiet melancholy.
"Is everything okay Assumpta?"
"Fine Niamh, I'm just tired, it's been a long drive, and a long day."
Niamh felt instantly guilty realising that Assumpta must have driven from the Lakes to Holyhead then caught a ferry to Dublin and driven down from Dublin all whilst trying to entertain and watch three kids. "Of course, I'm sorry. I'll come over tomorrow morning, we can chat then?"
"That would be great," Assumpta said gently. "Night Niamh, and thanks again."
Niamh smiled, "Sure, what are friends for." She paused feeling suddenly awkward, "I mean I know we haven't been close recently but I'm really glad you're back. I missed you."
Assumpta studied her for a second then shook her head saying, in a heartfelt voice, "I've been a really bad friend. I know we kept in touch but it wasn't the same as before and I never really made the effort, I'm sorry."
Niamh swallowed the lump that was building in her throat. "It was my fault I should have supported you more when everything happened." She trailed off not wanting to dredge the past up. "Oh come here you." She pulled Assumpta into a hug. Assumpta hugged her back fiercely and Niamh sensed there was something more going on. She pulled back to look at her old friend.
"Are you okay? I mean, where's Peter why isn't he here?"
Assumpta gave a mirthless laugh and said, "Oh you know Peter. Anyway it's late, I'll see you tomorrow Niamh."
Niamh nodded realising she wasn't going to get answers out of Assumpta tonight. "Night then, see you tomorrow."
She turned and crossed the street to her own front door. She did know Peter, or at least she had done years ago and she would have expected him to be here.