“There’s a carat in each earring, so don’t lose them!” he guffawed. Annabel wanted to throw them in his face but decided it was best to say nothing. He always ruined gift-giving by informing the recipient of the cost. “Bye, and be good,” he called, his countenance beaming at her through the tinted glass of the car. Annabel leaned against the frame of the front door and watched him drive away with a mixture of disgust and relief. “Will I give the girls a bath?” a voice called from behind. Annabel turned around. “Yes, Rosa, that would be good,” she nodded. “I’ll be going out in a couple of hours.” She had plenty of time to shower and apply her make-up – she wanted to look her best. Ella’s was a trendy bistro in the middle of the village and it wasn’t unusual for the cognoscenti of Howth to gather there on a Friday evening.
