Page 107 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

‘Aye, back to Saint Amanda.’

‘If she’ll have him.’

Both women giggled.

Finbar, Melissa and Patrick had had a lot of catching up to do and they’d been left in the music room while Hattie showed Pete to a room and Jo and James prepared a meal. Later, everyone sat around the kitchen table, as Jo served spaghetti bolognaise and James poured wine. Hattie, still in her overalls, had encouraged Finbar and Melissa to take to the floor and show everyone what had created the magic, all those years ago. Jo grabbed her laptop and after searching online, soon found the song that Melissa said was her audition piece on the cruise ship, when she’d met Finbar.

Finbar had stood up, taken Melissa’s hand, and led her to the centre of the kitchen.

Jo started the music and everyone watched, spellbound, as the pair harmonised perfectly, remembering every word as they gazed into the other’s eyes.

‘Tell me, how am I supposed to live without you?’

‘It’s no wonder this lad here came into the world nine months later,’ Hattie said and patted Patrick on the back. She slid off her stool and indicated that Jo should crank up more hits from the 90s, so that they could all have a dance. Barefoot, Hattie led the way as hips wriggled and heads bobbed to songs from Madonna, Billy Idol and Jon Bon Jovi. James kept the wine flowing in perfect time to his own version of the “Electric Slide” and they’d finished in the early hours, with Hattie’s rendition of “The Macarena”, and Finbar’s energetic “Mambo Number Five”.

‘Do you think that Finbar and Melissa will make a go of things?’ Jo wriggled on the bed and plumped up the pillows.

‘Aye, they’re a match made in heaven, with a lot of catching up to do.’

‘Do you think I’ve lost my newest member of staff, before she’s even started work?’

‘Maybe. But you’ve a hotel to get open in a couple of days and a funeral to arrange.’

Jo walked slowly over to the window to see Pete placing his case in a taxi. ‘I ought to go and say goodbye,’ she said as she watched her old flame glance at his watch, indecision furrowing his brow.

‘Just give him a knock on the glass.’

‘No, I can’t be so rude, I must go down.’

Jo ran along the corridor and down the stairs, Bunty by her side. She’d have to hurry to catch Pete; his flight was at lunchtime and she knew that he needed to get away if he was to make it in time. Realising that she was barefoot, Jo slid her feet into a pair of wellingtons, that stood on a boot rack by the front door. Bunty nuzzled the muddy rubber, as Jo pulled the boots on then hurried down the steps and ran out across the gravel, where the taxi had begun to pull away.

‘Pete!’ Jo called out and held up her hand.

He turned his head and seeing Jo, asked the driver to stop the car and got out.

‘Don’t go without saying goodbye.’

‘I thought you were having a lie-in.’ Pete stared at the woman whom he’d travelled across the sea to win back.

What a bloody fool he’d been.

Pete shook his head and reached out. ‘I’m so sorry, Jo,’ he said. ‘I really have messed things up, haven’t I?’

‘Yes, I’m afraid you have.’ Jo took his hand.

‘You’re a still a beauty.’ Pete stared at her thick auburn hair, longing to lift it from her shoulders and feel it soft on his face. His eyes travelled over her slim, shapely body, under the soft silk of her nightgown. He looked at her feet, encased in muddy wellingtons. ‘But always the country girl at heart.’ He smiled.

‘Goodbye, Pete.’ Jo leaned in to kiss his cheek.

‘Goodbye, lass,’ Pete whispered. ‘Good luck, I hope you find happiness.’ He had tears in his eyes and not wanting Jo to see, quickly turned.

Jo watched until the vehicle become a distant speck on the drive. She reached down and stroked Bunty’s head, then whispered, ‘And you,’ as the taxi disappeared onto the main road and Pete faded from her life. ‘I hope you find happiness too.’

* * *

Melissa luxuriatedin the soft downy duvet which covered her naked body. She stretched, her movements cat-like as she slowly opened her eyes.

‘Good morning, beautiful lady,’ Finbar’s rich voice whispered softly in her ear. ‘Did you sleep well?’ His arm snaked around her waist and Melissa felt herself being pulled into a warm and loving embrace.

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