Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy

raised the bar bringing an orchid to this house,” he said to Declan. “There'll be no getting away with a bunch of flowers from the petrol station for Maureen from now on.”
    “I hope it wasn't the wrong thing to do,” said Declan fearfully.
    “Not at all, lad. It was a grand thing to do.”
    Fiona was relaxed and at ease. Nobody was fussing or insisting that people wash their hands or take the best chair, so different from what would happen in his house. Fiona was putting the salad and bright-colored napkins on the table. Her mother, Maureen, called the younger children, Ciara and Sinead, to the table and served a big bowl of chili and rice. They hardly seemed to notice that he was there. Once more he thought of the interrogation that Fiona would get whenever she came to his house. He shivered.
Why
couldn't Paddy and Molly Carroll be like this normal, relaxed family instead of groveling with inadequacy like his father or raking the conversation for a slight or an insult like his mother?
    “Do you think they liked me?” Declan asked anxiously as they went to the bus stop.
    “Sure, they loved you. But they would have anyway, you know.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, compared to the last fellow I brought home, you are like an angel with wings,” she said, as if that explained everything.
    Declan put off the business of inviting Fiona to St. Jarlaths Crescent.
    It was all going so well, why ruin it now? He had also put the whole matter of sex on hold. There had been fond kisses good night, and on the evening he had supper with Fiona in her flat, Barbara had been out. Perhaps that could have been an opportunity, or indeed an invitation, but he hesitated. He cared so much about her and wanted it all to be perfect. Was he a fool in this regard? Fiona was a normal girl.
    Declan had had sex before. Not enough of it, of course, but he knew how much he had enjoyed it. And possibly Fiona might too. But he must be certain. Maybe they could go on a little holidaytogether. By now they were seeing each other almost every evening after work.
    The days flew by at the clinic. He learned a great deal from Clara, who taught him without appearing to do so. They would have case conferences where she would ask as many questions as she answered. He got to know his colleagues. He was now a legend among the patients because he had minded Judy Murphy's dogs while she had gone into hospital for a procedure. Judy had bought a wonderful bowl with DIMPLES painted on it for the big soppy Labrador. Declan's mother said that Judy was
much
too old for him and he mustn't get notions about a woman like that who could be his mother. Paddy raised his eyes to heaven, begging Declan not to engage on the subject.
    “I'll take very good notice of what you say, Mam, as always,” Declan said.
    He had become very friendly with Hilary in the clinic. She had asked him to cover for her one lunchtime. She simply had to go home. The neighbors had phoned to say her mother was out in the garden in her nightdress. Like everyone, Declan had suggested that Hilary's mother might be ready for residential care. And, like everyone, he was gently refused. Nobody could begin to understand what this woman had done for Hilary. She was not going to be tidied away in the twilight of her years just in order to give Hilary a less-complicated lifestyle.
    “You'll have to give up work soon, Hilary,” Declan said in his calm voice.
    “No, no. My son, Nick, is a great help. He's there a lot. He's composing music, you see, and he keeps an eye on his gran.”
    Declan thought that it wasn't much of an eye if the old lady was out in the garden in her nightdress. But, agreeable as ever, he said he would mind the desk during lunchtime and take any calls.
    That evening Fiona was going to a hen party, so Declan had dinner at home with his parents. His mother had to go through a scene of pretending to be surprised to see him home. He listened patientlywhile Molly said she was glad the