Page 57 of The Life Daisy Devlin Designed
“You’d think she’d have mentioned it.”
“She probably forgot, James. Anyway, it’s hardly a big deal.” She remembered something Laura had said. “It wasn’t too expensive, was it?”
“What?”
“You know, everything: the venue hire, the food, the whole lot.”
“No.” His expression was shuttered as he turned back to the TV.
Daisy heard the front door open. “Are you sure I can’t get you anything while I’m out?”
James sighed. “I don’t know – a bottle of 7UP?”
“Grand.” She looked at him closely: he seemed to be a bit flushed. “I wonder if you’re coming down with something.”
“Great, that’s all I fucking need.” He buried his nose in his honey-and-lemon drink.
Out in the hallway, Alma was putting her things away.
Daisy grabbed her helmet. “Hi, Alma, I’m going out to get some fish and chips. Do you want some?”
Alma smiled politely and shook her head.
“Good. I mean, fine.” Daisy flashed her a slightly manic smile. “Uh, James is in the sitting room, but he’s not feeling too well, so it’s probably best if you leave him alone.”
Alma frowned. “Is it strep throat?”
“I don’t know.”
Alma looked solemn. “It’s highly possible, Daisy.”
Daisy took a breath. “Well, you’re unlikely to get it again. So there’s no need to worry about James.”
Before Alma had a chance to reply, Daisy left.
As she cycled up the road, she wondered if Alma could be right. Didn’t you get strep through close contact with someone who had it? James and Alma were bloody close!
James couldn’t be happy with the way things were, could he? She tried to imagine how she’d feel if James left. But even if they did split up, did she really want to take a chance again with Matt? Matt, who’d shown up for her on her birthday. Who’d shown her every day since his return just how much he’d changed.
She’d never before felt so utterly confused.
CHAPTER 25
American country singer Kayley Lynch flew from Dublin to Cork this morning to meet third cousins John and Noelle Lynch, who run ‘Lynch’s’, Bantry’s popular gastropub. A spokesman for Kayley said that she wouldn’t be drinking, or sampling the pub’s signature ‘Surf ’n’ Turf’, as she is just out of rehab and is also raw vegan. The singer – whose hits include ‘From My Heart’ – arrived in Ireland two days ago for her three-week visit, and is staying in Dublin’s five-star Shelbourne Hotel. Her first Irish performance will be on June 1 at Wicklow’s Granary House, followed by Dublin’s 3 Arena on June 3, before continuing her tour in Galway, Cork and Limerick.
Kayley’s publicist added that ‘Kayley is excited to be here and able to connect with her father’s Irish family’. Her great-great-grandparents emigrated from Cork to New York before eventually settling in Colorado, where she was born and raised.
The singer has been surrounded by controversy since a video of her appearing to verbally abuse former employees went viral. Since then, her US record sales have plummeted, and she’s been forced to cancel her US concerts.
Ireland will be the last stop in her European tour which included Holland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK. The singer is accompanied by a camera crew who are making a documentary of the tour highlights.
Kenny and his crew were busy by the time Daisy arrived at Matt’s place the following day. It had been a relief to leave for work, although she was a bit worried about James, who’d woken with a sore throat and high temperature, and announced he was working from home.
Meanwhile, the family WhatsApp group was buzzing with daily messages from Rosie. The previous evening she’d posted links to different companies in Galway offering marquee hire, so that their parents could decide on the size they wanted, and compare prices. This morning, she’d posted another link to her spreadsheet, with a list of people who could do catering and music. If Rosie didn’t go back to her old job, Daisy figured somebody should just make her Mayor of Galway.
“Morning, Daisy,” Kenny said gruffly as she walked into the kitchen. “Watch the circular saw, love.”
“Thanks.” Daisy stepped neatly over it, and looked around the room. Everything had been stripped out, the wall between the original kitchen and the old conservatory was gone, and the middle of the room was full of scaffolding so that Kenny’s crew could replaster the ceiling. Daisy knew that once the replasteringwas finished, the new kitchen could go in in a day. But right now, it was a building site.
