The Stone House Read Online Free Page A

what to say. She hadn’t the same faith or belief as her aunt.
    â€˜Would you like some tea or coffee?’ she asked.
    â€˜A mug of tea would be grand, pet.’
    In the far corner of the room there was a sink and an electric kettle, mugs and cups, spoons and plates, and an assortment of different types of teas and coffee, packets of biscuits and milk and sugar.
    Kate was glad to busy herself, wiping around the sink with a cloth and cleaning the worktop.
    Her aunt looked wretched, she thought, as she passed her the hot mug of tea. ‘It must have been a shock for you finding Mammy like that,’ she said.
    â€˜All I can say is thank God we’d arranged to meetfor lunch and that I was so mad with her I drove over, otherwise God knows what would have happened!’
    Kate couldn’t help but feel the reprimand in her aunt’s voice. Her mother lived on the outskirts of the town and if it wasn’t for her friends and activities could go for days without seeing anyone.
    â€˜I’m so glad you were there,’ she said, squeezing her aunt’s hand.
    Her mother would be lost without her older sister, the bond between them still strong.
    â€˜When I got to the house it was too quiet – you know your mother, she always has the radio or music blaring – then I found her. I thought she was dead at first. I came with her in the ambulance. Once we got here they all took over, but I kept talking to her. You know Maeve, she loves talk.’
    â€˜I don’t know what we’d do without you, Aunt Vonnie. You and Mammy are so close.’
    Her aunt took a packet of tissues from her bag and blew her nose. She looked absolutely exhausted, her face drawn, a ladder in her tights, and her pale blue and cream suit crumpled.
    â€˜Maybe you should go home for a while and have a rest,’ Kate suggested gently. ‘You’ve had such a shock today, and contacting me and the ambulance and everything.’
    â€˜Maybe you’re right,’ agreed her aunt, rubbing her eyes. ‘I’m all done in.’
    â€˜I’ll stay here with Mammy.’
    â€˜What did the girls say? Are they on their way?’
    â€˜I spoke to Romy, but,’ she shrugged, ‘I don’t know.’
    â€˜This time she has to come home, Kate. Give me herphone number, I’ll phone her when I get home and tell her to come immediately. Your mother needs her!’
    â€˜I know.’
    â€˜And what about Moya?’
    â€˜She’s probably getting a flight. I don’t know.’
    â€˜A mother needs her children around her at a time like this, and you girls should be together if anything were to happen.’
    â€˜Please, Aunt Vonnie, don’t say that.’
    Kate was too tired and upset to get into any kind of argument or deep discussion with her aunt, who was far too overwrought herself.
    â€˜There’s a payphone outside the door. I’ll go and phone Joe. I won’t be long.’
    A few minutes later her aunt reappeared. ‘He’s on his way. He’s so good he’d already left to come and get me.’
    Kate smiled. Her uncle was one of the nicest men put on the planet: caring and protective and still mad about her aunt after thirty years of marriage.
    â€˜He wants to look in on Maeve anyways. Maybe you should try Moya again?’ Vonnie said.
    â€˜I’ll use my mobile. I’ve got the number in that.’
    â€˜You’ll have to go outside or downstairs where we came in to use it. There’s signs everywhere here.’
    Kate sighed. Her aunt wasn’t going to give up on it. Getting up from the low, tweed-covered couch she made her way down in the lift and out past the night porter’s desk to the automatic doors.
    She redialled Romy’s number. No answer. She didn’t bother leaving a message. She went down through her address book and called Moya. The number rang andrang and was finally answered by her niece Fiona. Rock music