Saturday, April 13, 1912
On Saturday morning, leaving Eileen still sound asleep in her berth, Katie went to the dining room with Kevin and Bridey in tow. She found Paddy and Brian standing in a corner near the bulkhead arguing heatedly. They didn’t see her come in, didn’t notice her approaching with a child attached to each hand. And they didn’t stop arguing.
“…ashamed of yourself,” she heard Paddy say in an accusing tone of voice. “Behavin’ like a rogue, you are. What would Ma say?”
They’re arguing about Marta, Katie thought, and stopped walking, holding the children back as well. She didn’t want to overhear this conversation. It was between the brothers and had nothing to do with her. But if she tried to remove the hungry children from the dining room now, Bridey would pitch a fit. Katie stood perfectly still, trying to shut her ears against their words and hoping they wouldn’t notice that she’d arrived.
But since she had to continue holding on to the children, she couldn’t very well clap her hands over her ears. With no practical way to keep the heated words from reaching her, she found herself listening in spite of her good intentions.
“What are you blatherin’ on about, Paddy? Ma isn’t here, is she, then? I’m on me own, and can pick and choose as I see fit. Marta’s a fine girl. Strikes me that you might be jealous because ’tisn’t you she’s fancyin’.”
Katie’s ears burned. Hadn’t she wondered the same thing herself? She strained to catch Paddy’s answer. But Bridey picked that moment to begin whining loudly that she was hungry, and all Katie heard was, “can’t hold a candle to…” She didn’t catch the name of the girl Marta couldn’t hold a candle to.
“…don’t know what you’re talkin’ about, Paddy, and that’s the truth of it. You never did see things the way they really are, with your head in the clouds all the time. Why don’t you ask her how she feels? I already know, but you’re too thick-headed to see it. Ask her!”
Katie frowned. Why was Brian pestering Paddy to ask Marta how she felt, when anyone with two eyes in their head could see for themselves, plain as day?
It was time to end the argument. Katie marched over to the two of them, saying, “Top of the mornin’ to you both! Are you not hungry, then? I had thought to see the two of you already sittin’ and fillin’ your bellies. You could have been savin’ us some seats. What good are you?”
Brian laughed and led them all to seats. Paddy followed, looking thoroughly disgruntled.