Page 117 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
The other man’s eyes widened. “Are you Jess Bradley? Adam mentioned you were staying down here for a while. I’m Neil Rourke, Adam’s brother.”
Jess blinked and looked back at Ciara. “So you’re –”
Ciara nodded. “I’m Neil’s partner.”
CHAPTER 60
Jess recovered first. “It’s lovely to meet you both.”
Neil ran a hand back through his hair in a gesture that reminded her of Adam. “I’m sorry we never met before. The timing never seemed to suit, I suppose.” He looked a bit uncomfortable. “Ciara and I were really sorry when we heard you lost the baby.”
Jess nodded. “Thanks.” She’d always feel sad. But that rawness wasn’t there anymore.
Ciara touched her arm. “We were just about to go for a drink. Will you join us?”
“Oh, I should really just get back. I have to –”Pig out on Cadburys and Sauvignon Blanc.Except shewastrying to avoid Robert! Nope, Robert wasn’t going to stop her having a drink with anyone. “Actually, I’d love to!”
There were a couple of locals sitting at the bar when they went in but otherwise the pub was mercifully empty.
“Over here.” Jess headed for the furthest corner and tucked herself right into the booth, putting her bags on the floor beside her.
Ciara gave her a curious look as she slid in beside her. “Who are we hiding from?”
Jess sighed. “Everyone.”
“Grand so, I’m going to hide with a Guinness,” Ciara said. “What’ll you have?”
“White wine, please.”
“I’ll get them.” Neil headed off to the bar.
As soon as he left, Ciara turned in the seat and tucked one leg up under her. “So, why are we hiding? What have you done?”
“Nothing. Well, nothing really.” Jess pulled a face. “I just want to go home – I’m heading in a few days.”
Ciara glanced over to where Neil was standing at the bar. “Okay, I need to say this. Adam misses you. Like, really misses you.”
I miss him too. Her stomach squeezed painfully. “We’d never have worked, Ciara. I was just out of a relationship. The only reason we gave it a go was because –”
“Of the baby?” Ciara spoke gently. “That’s not what I heard. Adam told me he’d fallen hard for you before you both found out about the baby.”
“And I suppose he told you everything that happened afterwards was my fault?” Jess hugged her arms around her waist.
“No,” Ciara shook her head. “He didn’t blame you at all. He thought he’d give you some space. He was going to go talk to you in person but, before he had a chance, his dad had a relapse. He almost died, to be honest.”
For a few moments, Jess was speechless, her thoughts scattering as she tried to pinpoint exactly what had happened. She’d been so depressed after the miscarriage that she’d shut everyone out. Including Adam. But deep down some part of her had hoped he’d want to try again. When she’d heard nothing from him, it had reinforced her worst insecurities and, beforeshe could change her mind and do something she’d regret, she’d blocked his number.
She snapped back to the moment as Neil returned with two pints of Guinness and a white wine. “Here you go.” He sat down, glancing from Ciara to Jess. “Is everything okay?”
“Ciara was just telling me your dad has been really sick. I’m so sorry – I honestly didn’t know.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Neil’s face. “Yeah, he had a pretty serious relapse, but if he takes it easy and stays on all the medications, the doctors say he’ll be fine.” He drank for a few moments before putting down the glass. “The truth is, he was doing too much – he can’t go back to how he was working on the farm. Michael, our farm manager, has been great and Shay and I have been helping out when we can. But Adam has been taking the brunt of it. He took time off his job to be there for Mam and Dad.”
It explained so much, Jess thought, her stomach churning. She’d run home to her parents, so wrapped up in her own grief and self-doubt that she hadn’t bothered to find out about Adam’s feelings.
It had been too easy for her to assume that he’d returned to Switzerland. Instead, he’d put everything on hold to help out his family when they’d needed him.
“We’re both on summer holidays from our teaching jobs,” Ciara was saying, “so while Neil was doing his stint on the farm, Adam offered to bring me down to see Linford Castle.”
