The call from the hospital came through around 5 pm. Stole and holy water, Eris Doran mumbled to himself as he collected all he thought needed. He had promised his former housekeeper, Mollie O’Toole, that he would be with her to ‘pray her through the passage’ as she described moving from life to death. Twice before he had had urgent calls that Mollie was on the point of death. Now, the third time, the hospital had assured him that she was in a coma and her body was shutting down.
As he raced around the corner of the building to the garage, he literally ran into Simon.
“Eris, I desperately need to talk to you!”
Although the older man had rushed past and had already opened the car door, he was suddenly aware of the urgency in Simon’s voice and the brief sight of his face.
“Sorry Simon, I must run. Another call to the hospital for Mollie – double urgency this time. Get yourself something to eat – and something strong to drink. I’ll be back soon.”
For a second after the key entered the ignition he stopped. I’ve never seen Simon like this before, he thought. Fear, agony in his face. Perhaps Mollie will wait if Simon and I have just a little time – just enough to ease Simon’s worry, whatever it is.
But the call to loyalty to an old past employee was strong. Eris turned the key and arrived at the hospital in minutes. Mollie, surrounded by her family, drifted quietly from life to death some time after 9 pm., quite unaware of the prayers for the dying, the rosaries being said and the blessings Eris was called on to give by the close-knit family.
After reciting an appropriate prayer and joining in the prayers that Mollie’s eldest daughter had insisted upon, Eris was able to slip away, asking the family to call the next day to arrange Mollie’s Requiem. By then, it was well after 10 pm. As he raced the car into the garage, Eris froze – the presbytery was in darkness.