After they return home from the pub, Cushla and her mother drink heavily together while Gina recounts stories about Michael. The next morning, Gina makes breakfast for her daughter and calls the school to inform them that she is taking a sick day. Cushla dials the number for Michael’s flat even though she knows he is gone. An unfamiliar voice answers, and Cushla hurriedly hangs up. She goes for a drive, passing Tommy, who looks as though he doesn’t recognize her. Several officers are outside Michael’s house, and she’s so distracted that she nearly hits the constable who tells her to leave. Cushla goes to the gully where Michael gave her the gorse and recalls what he said about the plant bringing bad luck to both the giver and the receiver.

She returns home, and Gerry comes to see her. He picked Davy up because he’d heard that she would miss the last day of school. Her absence also led him to realize that she was in a relationship with Michael. He asks her if she loved Michael, but she can’t bring herself to reply. When an intoxicated Gina returns, ready to share all the details she’s gathered about Michael’s death, Cushla calls Gerry and tells him, “I can’t stay here” (243).