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To it as soon as he'd spoken Laurence is co tomorrow

Oh good, she said, I a herself

But you're not Laurence, are you? she said, a few moments later

No, he said No, I' his words, David I used to call you Auntie Julia, renantly

But I'm not your aunt, she said

No, he said, no, you're not It was just so we used to call you Me and Susan

Yes, she said, relaxing, that's right, Susan She smiled suddenly

She asked hiarette He found the packet in her bedside drawer and helped her to light one She turned her face to the , closing her eyes with each long and slow inhalation He waited She see in the ashtray, half-s into the air He reached across to stub it out, and emptied the ashtray into the bin

Julia, he said She turned towards hi to Ireland, he said

She looked at him What's that? she said Ireland, he repeated I want to see if there's anything I can find out, he said She smiled

That sounds nice, she said What tier and thu the tip of his nose He couldn't help s a little

I don't knohat tiht stay the night I hts, he added

He looked out of theA gardener was raking up fallen leaves, working his way around the five trees in the enclosed garden, leaving a trail of molehill heaps behind him It had been a dry autues Thevery slowly, his breath condensing around his face as the last warmth ebbed out of the day

Angela wanted me to come over to dinner, she said I told her it would have to wait until next week because you were co out of her as she turned towards hiht his eye She squinted at hiain Hello dear, she said

I thought Itowards her She atching the gardener retrace his steps, stooping down to gather up the arht go to Donegal, he said again, when I go to Ireland, I've heard it's nice there Do you know Donegal at all? He shuffled his seat a little closer towards hers Do you know of any good places to visit? he said She kept her face turned to theThe tone of her skin was softening as the light faded, and her eyes were half closed She didn't say anything She see to the sound of his voice