"As I said," Marilyn replied cooly, "there's nothing certain about anything."

"I'm sorry if I said something -"

"It's nothing," she said firmly. "Do you have family?"

"My Da passed a few years ago. I think he had dreams of a last pub fight to glory, but in the end his liver just gave up and he died the death of an alcoholic. Ma is still alive, though." Although I have no idea where she is.

"And the seven siblings?"

"Ah well, you know us Irish. Full of charm and wanderlust. They are spread all over the world, just about." I took another swig of beer and stole a glance...