Page 61 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

‘Well, don’t forget it and let me know if you need any help with anything, properties need carefully managing when you’re not there.’ Hattie thought of her own house in Marland and the terrible state she’d found it in.

Jo handed a list to Alf. He nodded his head as he read it. ‘Leave it with us,’ Alf said and passed the list to Bill.

Bill looked puzzled, manual work wasn’t his forte. ‘Soon have this lot done,’ he said, determined not to let his new mates down.

‘I’d better go and check on Lucinda,’ Jo said and she looked at her watch.

To Jo’s horror, Lucinda’s art students had been stoned when they returned to the manor for lunch. Covered in paint, they’d all laughed hysterically as they fell into the dining room, clutching their etchings. Jo told Lucinda that she didn’t want a repeat performance in the afternoon class, most of the boomers were on medication and she feared for their health.

But Hattie had told Jo to back off. ‘Take a chill pill,’ she’d said. ‘Pot, paint and penicillin works wonders at their age.’

Reluctantly, Jo had agreed.

‘Aye, let’s get cracking,’ Hattie said. ‘We can’t stay here gossiping here all day, there’s lots to be done.’

‘Did you forget something?’ Harry reached down and took Hattie’s support pants from the bench.

‘Shite,’ Hattie mumbled.

‘Hang on to ‘em,’ Alf chuckled. ‘We need an extra awning for the stage.’

Hattie swiped at Alf’s head and snatched her pants.

‘See thee later.’ Alf whistled for the dogs to follow and together with Bill and Harry, set off.

‘Have you seen Melissa today?’ Jo asked as she watched Hattie retrieve her shoes.

‘No, I haven’t and she went to bed early last night.’

‘Do you think she’s heard from Malcolm?’

‘Unlikely, he won’t know she’s here.’

‘I think one of us should check and make sure she’s alright.’

‘Aye, leave it with me.’

They’d reached the door of the manor and as they stepped in, a clock on the slender mediaeval tower of the church in the distance chimed twice.

Jo paused to listen and turned to Hattie. ‘Only twenty-four hours to go,’ she said.

* * *

Behind the lockeddoor of her bedroom, Melissa sat on her bed and wondered what to do. After the shock of the previous evening, her instinct told her to hide away. Terrified of mixing with the hotel residents and seeing Finbar again, she’d ignored the housekeeper’s earlier knock on the door.

Her room could wait; it didn’t need servicing.

As the morning passed, Melissa ran herself take a warm soapy bath. She took care when styling her hair and to pass the time and organise her thoughts, gave herself a manicure and face-pack. Anything to keep occupied while she decided what to do. She wondered if Finbar would remember the nervous young singer who’d joined him on stage all those years ago. Did he ever think about their time on the cruise and would he recognise her now?

Melissa could see that the years had been kind to Finbar.

Middle-aged but still handsome, as soon as he’d appeared the previous evening, she’d known that Finbar was the man who’d stolen her heart and left her with a lasting souvenir of their brief encounter. What on earth would he say if he ever found out that he had a twenty-six year old son, when he’d never been given the opportunity to get to know him?

When she’d discovered that she was pregnant, Melissa’s parents had nagged and cajoled their daughter, in their quest to find out who the father was. Melissa had refused. She’d wanted Finbar to find her but she’d never heard from him again and instead, as her belly swelled and her future looked uncertain, she’d kept the secret to herself, realising that Finbar was a nomad with no intention of settling down. Surrounded by beautiful women wherever he went, why on earth would he take up with a silly young girl who’d been foolish enough to get herself into trouble? It would never have worked and despite her parents’ protestations, Melissa was adamant that it was in everyone’s interest that child and father never know each other.

Until now. The shock of seeing the only man that she’d ever slept with, until Malcolm came along, had sent Melissa into a spin.

She decided to skip classes that day and go for a walk to clear her head. As she ran down the stairs to the hallway, James, sitting at the desk in reception, called out a greeting.

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