MUCH LATER, WHEN HIS Ma had unearthed the bottle of brandy he had given her for Mother’s Day, and they had both had several glasses, she returned to his reasons for joining the dating agency.
‘Do you think me so lacking in understanding of what it is to be lonely that you felt you needed to do such a thing in secret, Joseph? The Lord knows, I’ve had lonely times enough in my life.’
Rafferty’s head jerked in surprise; Ma lonely? Such an idea had never occurred to him. She had a livelier social life than he did – not that that was difficult – but between his sisters, brothers, the grandchildren and the neighbours, his mother could hardly be short of company.
‘I’m not talking about now,’ she told him. ‘Though living alone is not something I ever thought I’d get used to. I’m talking about w
