Page 25 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

The bastard.

A one night stand she could handle. But to have been in love with someone else all these years? Every day Pete told Jo how much he loved her, how she rocked his world and how he loved being with her. And now this? Jo was poleaxed and didn’t know what to do.

She closed her eyes and felt his strong arms around her, his warm and tender hands, capable of giving so much pleasure. His face, kind and loving as he lay next to her in bed, when they were wrapped in each other’s arms. She could smell his skin, feel his touch.

Jo shivered and had to fight for breath as realisation dawned.

Every man in her life left her. From her first husband taking off with a younger model to her beloved John dying. Now Pete, so suddenly and abruptly ending their love, for a woman he barely knew. It made a mockery of all that they’d had.

Jo slumped forward and held her head in her hands. Pain shot through her body and she shook uncontrollably. Tears welled and with huge shudders that wracked every muscle, Jo began to sob.

10

Hattie ended the call. As her fingers drummed heavily against the polished surface of the desk, she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

Revenge, as the saying went, was a dish best served cold.

But right at that moment the dish was piping hot and Hattie had no intention of letting it cool any further. She stormed out of reception and went through the hotel. When she got to Jo’s house, she stomped into the kitchen. Rummaging about under the sink, she found what she wanted and set about her task.

In less than an hour, she’d completed her job.

Hattie was waiting on the driveway when Harry pulled up. As he climbed out of the squad car and walked towards her, Hattie held up her hand.

‘Don’t get comfy,’ she said, ‘you’re not stopping.’ She pointed to a pile of bulging trash bags. ‘You can be responsible for that lot.’

‘Hang on a minute,’ Harry began. ‘For one thing I’m on duty, and for another, I don’t see what it’s got to do with me.’ He frowned as he stared at the mound, where coat hangers poked out amongst shoes, toiletries and items of Pete’s clothing.

‘He’s your mate and it’s all in the line of duty, sergeant.’ Hattie folded her arms. ‘Otherwise I’ll have Alf take it to the local refuse station.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘He’s out the back and can have it loaded on his truck in minutes.’

‘Oh, bloody hell…’ Harry scowled but knew that Hattie meant business, and began to gather Pete’s belongings into the car.

‘And you can tell the feckless bastard that he’d better not show his two-timing, lying face around here ever again.’

‘Tell me how you really feel,’ Harry muttered. There was a strange smell coming from one of the bags and Harry knew that the sooner he got the goods offloaded at Pete’s, the better.

Hattie turned on her heel and marched back into the hotel.

She went through to the bar and poured herself a measure of gin. Adding a splash of tonic, Hattie took a swig then went through to the conservatory where she sat and stared out at the garden.

‘What a bastard!’

All these years and he’d been holding a candle for a woman called Amanda?Pete had certainly had Hattie fooled. When Jo had called, it had been hard not to drop everything and jump on a plane to Cork, to head straight to Flatterley Manor, to comfort her best friend. Jo had sounded devastated and it had been difficult to make out her words. God willing, Jo had calmed down now and that fella, James, was keeping an eye on her. It was impossible for Hattie to leave here with a hotel full of residents and Jo had refused to come back.

What on earth was Pete playing at? He wasn’t operating on a full deck in Hattie’s opinion and there must be something more to the tale. But there was a fair chance they’d never know what had caused him to act so out of character. Thank goodness she’d got rid of everything he’d left in Jo’s house and there were no reminders. She raised her glass and knocked back the last of her drink.

‘Excuse me.’

Hattie stood up. ‘Hello, Bill,’ she said. ‘What can I do for you?’

‘You mentioned last night, at dinner, that you were putting a quiz team together?’

‘Aye, I did, there’s a game at the pub tonight; are you in?’

‘I’d be happy to give it a go.’ Bill came into the conservatory. ‘I’ve done a bit of quizzing in my time.’

Bill looked smug and at that moment Hattie tried hard not to dislike him and every member of the male species. Instead, she gave him one of her best smiles. ‘Well, I say we make you captain.’ She beamed. ‘Guests who want to take part have been asked to assemble in the Red Room at six-thirty and you can make your team choice.’

‘Oh, I don’t know about that,’ Bill stammered, his hands floundering about in the air. ‘I’m not a leader or anything.’

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