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Date Posted: 18:03:53 09/07/09 Mon
Author: Carla
Subject: Chapter 80: The Butcher's Bill



Pat and Sylvie are getting ready for the regular Sunday dinner at Jamie’s house. Pat is distracted but thoughts unpleasant and pleasant. Pat goes back to find his wallet, and in a loving exchange, we learn that he and Sylvie are married and planned to tell Jamie that day. When the phone rings, Pat answers to hear a panicked voice claiming to be Tom, telling him the Centre was on fire. When he realizes the call a hoax designed to get him in the car, Pat runs, knowing all along it’s too late, to warn Sylvie not to start the engine. He gets outside in time to see her smile at him and turn the key in the ignition. The resulting explosion is devastating and Pat has to be held back from the flaming wreckage by neighbours.

Pamela is sitting alone in the nursery she’s just painted and is reflecting on what she’d like Casey to do for the room, but cuts the thought off as she’s not sure he’ll ever return. She dozes off and wakes to the sound of Jamie’s car in the drive. He tells her of Sylvie’s death and Pat’s injury. Jamie is looking for Casey and Pamela has to admit he left her over a week earlier and she has no idea where he is or how to find him. They go to visit him in the hospital and Pat has a message for Jamie.

In the hospital waiting room, Jamie tells Pamela he knows she pregnant and promises her she won’t be alone with the child, even should Casey fail to return to her. We also learn that Belinda has left Jamie, not satisfied with having half a man. Jamie already knew of Sylvie and Pat’s marriage and tells Pamela. David shows up at the hospital, clearly worried about Pat. He declines to see Pat. It comes out that Robin is dead by his own hand and Jamie comments that Casey may well regret not doing it himself, freaking Pamela out more than a little.

Later, Pamela expresses regret they came back to Belfast and Jamie regrets it as well, although he feels partly responsible, as he made sure she married a man who could never be happy away from Belfast. When Pamela asks Jamie about ghosts, he says “We take them with us.”

Sylvie’s death hit me hardest of all the deaths in “Mermaid,” perhaps because it came as the biggest shock. It seems as if tragedy and heartbreak are piling up for the Riordans and Kirkpatricks. Do you believe bad things come in groups? That negative events/emotions/thoughts attract more negative things to your life? Or is it just the way the cookie crumbles and there’s no logic or reason behind it?
What do you think Pat whispered in Jamie’s ear in the hospital?
Why do you think David refused to go and see Pat? When he said “No, I’ll wait until . . . until. I’ll just wait.” What do you think he’s waiting for?

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