We present an extract from Turmoil, the new novel by Jane Buckley.
Set in Derry in 1972, the first installment of Jane Buckley's Stones Corner series takes readers back to a city under siege — soldiers on the streets, families divided, and a community trying to hold on to ordinary life amidst extraordinary times. Through the eyes of factory girls, soldiers, and mothers, Buckley tells the story of those who endured the chaos, with courage, wit and an unbreakable spirit.
From Patrick Comes Home
Patrick McLaughlin finally came home. His body had been released by the hospital early that morning.
Caitlin stood beside the brass-handled pine coffin that dominated the centre of their living room. She inspected the corpse and blessed herself. Patrick lay in his best suit and tie, his only pair of cufflinks fastened to the cuffs of a specially bought crisp white shirt. She hated his coffin, lined with garish, cheap blue satin. His face expressionless, bearing the vacant look of the dead.
She bit back her emotions while she regarded his thick, freckled fingers intertwined with rosary beads, remembering how often she'd held his hand as they walked uptown before he got sick.
It had been a running joke between them until she turned sixteen, when he’d tease her and refuse to hold it, saying, 'People’ll think you’re me girlfriend.’ It wasn’t funny; holding his hand made her feel safe. Passing cars would pump their horns, and Patrick would wave back. Over and over, she’d ask who it was in the car, and he’d laugh – hadn't a clue!
Ever since he came home, a steady stream of people had been in and out of the house with its curtains drawn tight. They brought food and flowers, murmuring condolences. As they gathered around the coffin, whispering prayers, everyone remarked, ‘Och sure, doesn’t he look grand?’
Their words were ludicrous. Her daddy was anything but ‘grand.’ That body in the box wasn’t him. It was a hollow, lifeless shell, a cruel mockery of the man she’d loved. Anger burned through her grief, bitter and unforgiving. How could he leave her like this? How dare he? He was supposed to be here. Always.
Tommy placed a large hand on her shoulder and caressed it. Today, he wore a dark suit, a black tie, and a white shirt beneath a long black leather coat. His hair was tousled and uncombed, his eyes shadowed and puffy.
'Love, I need a moment,' he said, drawing nearer. 'Can you come into the kitchen?’
With a nod, she followed him, moving through the overpowering scent of flowers and tobacco. People dipped their heads and grasped her hand as she passed, murmuring, ‘Sorry for your trouble.’ Most of them were strangers to her.
In the kitchen, Caitlin found her heartbroken mother, slumped in Patrick’s chair. The doctor had increased her medication; it was working. She wore a dark dress – not black; she didn’t have one, and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, framing her pale, tear-streaked face. Heavily sedated, she sat there, listless and indifferent to everything around her.
Tommy gently ushered a few mourners out of the kitchen and closed the door, leaving Majella, Caitlin, Maggie from next door, and himself.
'Sit down a minute,' he said, guiding Caitlin to a chair. I need to ask you somethin’.’
Caitlin stared at him across the table, piled high with sandwiches, biscuits, and hot stew. People had been so kind. How bitterly ironic that they had so much food now when they’d struggled to scrape some bits for Martin only a few days ago. Tommy gestured sombrely towards his sister.
‘Caitlin, look at your ma. She’s not fit to lead today. Please, love, you need to take her place. The boys have offered, out of respect, if they might escort the funeral and place a Tricolour on your da’s coffin.’
He watched as Caitlin jumped up and cried. ‘What the hell! Are you serious? Respect Tommy? Daddy wanted nothin’ to do with them. Tried to warn us to keep out of it, and God love him, look where he’s ended up. Dead! So no, Tommy, no way. They’re not going to use him as another martyr!’
Tommy could see her answer was a big fat no, but tried again anyway. 'Think about it, love. You don’t turn these guys down just like that, and most likely, if your Martin were here, he’d do it.’
The Prison wouldn’t release Martin for the funeral, and Caitlin was angry that her uncle was using him against her with his subtle threat of upsetting the Provos. She loved him, but now she was as angry as hell.
‘Well, Martin isn’t here, is he? And I’m certainly not worried about them ones, those Provos. I’m here for Mammy and Tina. Martin made his choice. Besides, I blame him for this—’ She flung her arms wide, as if the whole kitchen had to see. ‘He’s the reason Daddy’s dead!’
Tommy sighed and caught Maggie’s eye. She shook her head, knowing he was right and Caitlin was wrong. His niece was close to breaking point, and he had to play his cards carefully.
‘Right, love, if that’s what you want. Though I still think you’re wrong. Believe it or not, this nightmare is important for the Cause.’
Caitlin saw his concern and took his hand. Poor Tommy was caught between a rock and a hard place, and she knew it.
‘No, Tommy. The answer’s no. The minute Daddy died, I decided, fuck the Cause and all those with it.'
Depressed, Tommy inhaled and got up from his chair. The boys won’t be happy. As for Martin, he’d be furious.
Frustrated, he quickly left the house of mourning and crossed the street towards a darkly dressed figure who sat on a wall, smoking and waiting for an answer.
He gave a nod as Tommy reached him and said. ‘Sorry, it’s a no. They’re upset, especially the eldest girl. Our Jella's off her head; couldn’t make a decision to save her life. She’s so away with it. If it was up to her—’
Not the answer he wanted and pissed at the news, the man grunted, flicked his cigarette to the ground and rose to leave.
‘Right then,' he said. Meanwhile, Caitlin stayed in the kitchen, watching Majella, who sat unnervingly still. Maggie bustled about, busying herself with making more tea as the house filled once again with an endless stream of mourners. As Caitlin rose from her seat, she saw through the kitchen door visitors subtly sharing whiskey, secretly adding shots to their tea...
Stones Corner Volume 1: Turmoil is out now - find out more here
