The painting is the feeling of youth. Of fleeting moments, of afternoon sun warming your bones, of luck caught in the palm of your hand. It is a painting of innocence. Of a future filled with promises. Of someone trying to grasp them.’But how do I express that in words?’’Perhaps you can’t,’ says Ettie. ’There’s […]

 ’Here, let Mammy have some of that.’ She takes a bite of Ella’s ice cream, aiming to get rid of it before it melts completely. The sweetness makes her stomach turn. She can feel Ryan watching closely. ’Oh, God. The state of them. Ice cream is never that brilliant an idea, is it?’Ryan says nothing. Here […]

Olive rolled her eyes. ”I don’t believe in God. That’s all rubbish,” she said firmly.”Okay, but think of this, Olive. If God is love, then that man was touched by God.”Olive rolled her eyes again.”And maybe you don’t believe in God – which is fine, I don’t care – but you have been loved. And […]

”Tonight was lovely,” Eva said.”Mm,” Isabel said, washing her hands.”I really have been wanting to meet you, you know. You most of all. Louis has told me so much. You live in the old family home, right? In the house where you three grew–””I didn’t invite you here tonight.”Eva was caught in a breath, mouth […]