Page 34 of The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright

‘I’m getting the Luas and the bus,’ Malcolm goes on.

I shove my hand into my pocket and feel around for the loose coins that I know will be enough for a Luas or a bus. But not both. Ellie and I have a long walk ahead and if Malcolm joins us, at his pace it will take hours.

Shayne sighs. ‘I’m here now. The car is warm. Please, Grandad, can we just go? I will give your friend and her daughter a lift to anywhere they want to go. How does that sound?’

‘That’s the problem with you young people. Always so busy. Busy Bea is just as bad. So busy buzzing from one place to the next, she doesn’t even take the time to check we’re in the right place in the first place.’

Shayne seems confused and looks at me as if he is expecting me to explain. I bend and scoop Ellie into my arms. All the feelings of worry and distress bubble to the surface again, and if I’m going to start crying again I would really rather it wasn’t in front of these people.

‘Get in the car, Malcolm,’ I say. ‘Take the damn lift.’

‘I will, if you will,’ he says.

I breathe in until I am light-headed. After what he just said about the whole flat hell scam, I can barely look at him. But Ellie is flagging and she really should be in bed in an hour, not dragging her little feet across Dublin. I swallow my pride and say, ‘If you’re still offering, a lift would be great, Shayne. Thank you.’

‘Of course. But I don’t have a car seat, I’m afraid. Will she be ok?’ he asks, glancing at Ellie who is tugging on my arm and complaining about being tired and cold.

‘Erm… it’s just a short ride. She’ll be fine,’ I say, crossing my fingers behind my back as I add another parenting faux pas to my ever-growing list.

‘Can I get your name? If I’m going to be your Uber, that is. I mean, I doubt Busy Bee is your official title, and you didn’t share your name at the hospital, so I’m guessing it’s something terrible like Prudence or Gertrude or something even worse.

‘Gertrude is my mother’s name,’ I say, and wait for him to squirm.

‘Mine too,’ he says, calling my bluff.

I let the joke hang in the air just long enough to make him uncomfortable before I say, ‘Bea. My name is Bea.’

His face lights up and he says, ‘Now,thatreally is a lovely name. It reminds me of summer.’

ELEVEN

We reach the apartment faster than I expect. Travelling by car instead of two buses and a Luas cuts travel time by more than half. Regardless, both Malcolm and Ellie are sound asleep. Ellie’s head is flopped on my shoulder and she is drooling. And Malcolm’s head is flopped back against the head rest and he is drooling.

‘The circle of life,’ Shayne jokes as he finds a parking spot almost directly outside the main doors to the apartment block.

I thank him sincerely, unhook my seat belt and get out. By the time I walk round the back of the car to fetch Ellie, Shayne is at her door, opening it for me. He shoves his hands into his pockets and shuffles his feet awkwardly. I have a horrible feeling that he is going to say something I don’t want to hear. Like ask me for money for fuel. Or even worse, ask me on a date. I bend into the car and take my time getting Ellie out, giving him time to work up the courage to spit whatever it is out. When he doesn’t say anything, I finally say, ‘Well, good night. And thank you again for the lift. I really do appreciate it.’

‘And I appreciate you taking care of him,’ he blurts.

I know he’s talking about Malcolm. But he’s also talking about Malcolm in the same way I talk about Ellie. He’s thanking me the way I thanked Órlaith earlier for watching Ellie.

‘I’m not so sure who was taking care of who tonight,’ I say, honestly, thinking of the yummy sandwiches Malcolm bought. Or how he took Ellie’s hand and reassured her when my brain turned to mush over the flat scam. That reminds me, I really need to text that landlady and demand my money back. It wouldn’t get me a flat, but at least I’ll have a deposit to start looking again. ..

‘Look, I don’t know what he told you about why he was at the hospital?—’

‘He didn’t tell me anything,’ I say, quickly, picking up on the same undertone that was present between Malcolm and Shayne earlier when I thought they were arguing.

‘Oh. Erm. Okay.’

I can tell he’s instantly sorry he brought it up and I try to deflect. ‘It’s none of my business. Honestly.’

Shayne runs a hand through his hair and it must get caught in some curly knots at the back, because he makes a face before pulling his hand down.

‘It’s just. It’s complicated,’ he says.

Ellie stirs on my shoulder and I’m glad of the excuse to leave. ‘I better get her to bed,’ I say.

‘Yeah. Of course.’ He seems disappointed. ‘It was really nice meeting you, Bea.’

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