Page 104 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

Jo drove carefully along the narrow winding roads as she left the Old Head of Kindale behind. She wanted to detour through Kindale and pick up some shopping that she’d been meaning to do, but with time moving on, she knew that she needed to get back to the manor. Her car rattled as she drove and Bunty, who’d refused to get in the back, sat next to Jo, securely strapped in, barking at every passing vehicle.

The car had been purchased from Declan. It was slow and steady but battered both inside and out. Jo’s dear dad had always told her that to be prosperous you have to look prosperous and she knew that she’d upgrade the vehicle as soon as finances allowed, despite Declan telling her that the old charabanc had many years of happy motoring to go.

As she pulled onto the drive at the manor, she saw Finbar’s taxi neatly parked. Was Pete was still here? Jo wondered why he hadn’t sent a text; that was his usual form of communication. Perhaps Pete thought that turning up in person would be the best way of winning her back, for there could be no other reason for his visit.

As she unbuckled Bunty and the dog scrambled over her knee, Jo climbed out of the car. A voice called out and she looked up to see Pete, crossing the lawn and coming towards her.

‘Jo, it’s me.’

‘Hello, Pete,’ Jo said. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I thought that we could have a chat?’ He reached down to ruffle Bunty’s fur.

The dog sniffed his hand. Bunty recognised Pete but for reasons of her own, trotted off and away into the garden without a backward glance.

‘We could chat on the phone.’

‘Well, not properly, it’s not the same as being together to talk.’

Jo didn’t reply and there was an awkward silence as Pete scraped a hand through his hair and cleared his throat.

‘Is that yours?’ he asked, staring wide-eyed at Jo’s car.

‘Yes.’

‘It’s as vintage as my tractors.’

‘Pete, I’ve really got nothing to say to you.’ Jo sighed. She reached into the car to find her bag and Bunty’s lead then closed the door and looked at him. ‘But as you’re here, I’m sure you could do with a drink and a bite to eat, then I’d be grateful if you could make arrangements to leave as soon as possible.’

‘There’s no need to be like that,’ Pete began as he followed Jo into the manor. ‘I made a stupid mistake but it’s all over now, no harm came of it and I think we should carry on where we left off.’

Halfway across the hallway, Jo stopped in her tracks.

Had she really just heard the nonsense that was coming out of Pete’s mouth?Carry on where we left off?She had her back to Pete and, taking a deep breath, she slowly counted to ten.

‘We were good together,’ Pete continued. ‘All those years must mean something, it would be stupid to throw them away.’

He reached out and took Jo’s hand, but she snatched it back.

‘There was a time when I would have shouted and ranted and told you what I really think of you,’ Jo said, ‘but now, at my age, I simply won’t get myself worked up.’

‘Good, that’s got matters out of your system.’ Pete smiled. ‘I knew you’d agree if I came all this way to see you.’

Jo felt colour creeping up her neck, her cheeks were hot and her pulse had begun to hammer in her temple. Was this man, whom she thought she’d known so well, really so insensitive?

Pete was walking around the reception area, taking in the antiques and polished furniture. ‘It looks a nice set-up but you don’t seem to be very busy; there’ll be plenty of room for me to stay for a couple of nights.’

Having heard enough, Jo took another deep breath and braced her body. She was about to give Pete a piece of her mind with both barrels blazing, when the door to the music room opened and Hattie appeared.

‘Ah, Romeo,’ Hattie said, ‘you’ve flown the love nest, where’s Saint Amanda?’ Barefoot and with a slight stagger, she stepped out and began to look around the room. ‘Nope, I can’t see her here.’ Hattie pulled back a curtain and made a show of searching high and low. ‘Did you leave her cooking casseroles and polishing your wellies?’

‘Piss off, Hattie. I’ve been knocking on the front door for the last three hours; you could have let me in.’

Finbar stuck his head around the doorway and looked from one to the other. ‘Is everything alright?’ he asked.

Hattie swept her arm in an arc. ‘Finbar, this is Jo’s ex, Pete, who you met when you bought him here.’

The two men nodded in greeting.

---