Page 86 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

‘Could I have a few moments?’ Hattie asked.

‘Of course, just call if you need anything. I’ll pop back with a nice cup of tea in a few minutes.’

Hattie stooped, her shoulders lowered as her chest caved. Her arms hung slack by her sides. ‘Oh, Bill,’ she whispered. ‘I fear that we let you down.’ She felt hot tears trickle over her face and slumped on a chair.

She held her head in her hands and wept.

Death wasn’t kind. It snatched when you least expected it.

But as Hattie’s sobs subsided and she reached into a pocket for a tissue, she suddenly felt as though she was floating, her body enveloped in warmth. Wide-eyed, she looked up and gazed over at where Bill lay. The man looked almost handsome, his skin smooth, lips smiling and he wore an expression of peace, as though the last piece of his puzzle was finally in place. A voice nearby seemed to be whispering and Hattie tilted her head.

It was my time but I didn’t go alone, for my friends were with me. My friends, my friends.

Hattie shivered.

She stood and reached for her phone. She must call Harry but before she dialled, she leaned over and placed a kiss on Bill’s cheek. ‘Sleep well, old son,’ she said.

33

Melissa held a cup of tea in her hands. The china was warm and felt soothing as her cold fingers wrapped around the prettily decorated cup. Finbar paced beside the window, occasionally stopping to look out. Jo had disappeared to take a phone call, while Alf sat beside the fireplace, the dogs sprawled at his feet.

Bunty suddenly lumbered to her feet. She placed her head on Alf’s knee and began to thump her tail. Teddy woke too and began to run in circles as Ness pricked up her ears, her eyes watching Alf.

‘I’d better let these ‘un’s out,’ Alf said. ‘I’ll not be long, don’t go anywhere.’

Melissa and Finbar were alone.

She hadn’t spoken to him since Jo had led her into the room and now the silence was thick, suspended in a confusion of unanswered questions.

Finbar had his back to Melissa. He stared out to the garden, where workers stacked staging onto a truck and dismantled the marquees. Despite James’ offer of a strong drink, Finbar had stuck to tea, not knowing when he would be needed behind a wheel. He held a cup in his hand and sipped as he watched the activity outside.

Melissa felt foolish and sank deeper into the sofa. Mortified that she might be the reason for so much commotion, she wished that she could put the clock back to this time yesterday, when she’d been so happy as she’d wandered around the garden, enjoying the opening event. She reached out to place her cup on the tray and as she sat back, crossed her fingers. Waiting to hear news about Bill’s condition and Malcolm’s whereabouts was excruciating, but God willing, Bill would make a full recovery. She shuddered when she thought of Malcolm. Where the hell was he and what mayhem was he creating now?

Melissa raised her head and glanced at Finbar. There was so much that she wanted to say to him but all would go unsaid. She was aware that Finbar didn’t remember her. Many years had passed but she’d thought that something might have sparked in his mind. Clearly, their time together had meant nothing and she had been just another blonde in his bed.

Another cruise, another caper. Another faceless encounter that had come and gone.

As she stared at Finbar’s strong shoulders and straight back, she wished that she could go and wrap her arms around his body, nestle into his neck and feel his arms pull her into him. But that could never happen and now, as Melissa waited, a sense of impending doom made her heart race.

She should have taken James’ offer of a stronger drink.

* * *

Finbar was rootedto the spot, his legs unable to move and his body taut, as he watched Declan and the twins straightening the garden. Benches were being put back in place and flower urns reappeared on patios, as borders were tidied and plants watered. A couple of garda from the local police were walking around the lake and bushes beyond. Perhaps they were searching for Malcolm.

But in his thoughts, Finbar was on a ship.

Thousands of miles away, a young vocalist, touring the Caribbean islands as a guest entertainer. He’d fallen in love and it had knocked him sideways. The girl was a dancer, she could sing too. From their very first night on stage together, he’d been head-over-heels and their romance was like a magical merry-go-round for two fantastic weeks. But as quickly as she’d come into his life, she’d disappeared. Her contract had ended and she’d been flown back to Britain, leaving him alone, on the quayside in Bridgetown, as he watched a taxi take her to the airport in Barbados. He’d tried to contact her and had found her parents’ address. But his letters were returned and when he phoned their hotel in Newquay, her father had bluntly told him that he was to stay away. Finbar was a no good philandering waster and his daughter would set her sights higher than an Irish tinker.

And now, after all this time, here she was.

When their eyes had met that morning, as he stood on the driveway and looked up to her room, the years had dissolved. There was his Mel, the name she’d used then. Older but still beautiful. The only girl he’d ever loved. No one had touched his heart in the years that had followed and despite many attempts, Finbar had never felt that way again.

But she knew who he was, and for that reason Finbar was acutely aware that Melissa was avoiding him. She couldn’t look him in the eye nor hold a conversation. Their relationship must have been an embarrassment to her and something that she’d buried. The coincidence of running into each other again had unsettled her and she’d made it obvious that she’d no intention of speaking to him. Finbar wondered about her husband. Malcom, they called him, a man whom he’d been told wanted to track down his wife and posed a possible threat. Finbar would do what was needed to protect Melissa and if she refused to have anything to do with him, he’d accept that it was the way she wanted things to be. He’d no choice but to respect her decision and let things lie.

His heart was heavy, as Declan, on the other side of the window, gave him a thumbs up and waved.

With a sigh, Finbar forced a smile and waved back.

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