Page 118 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
“I’m glad.” Jess looked at them both. “So are you staying a while?”
“Yep!” Ciara shot Neil a warm look. “We’re staying in the Air BNB at the top of the town until the end of the week and then Adam got us a fabulous deal in the hotel for four days from Monday next. One of the suites!”
“The Lady Linford suite?” Jess asked.
“That’s it!” Ciara beamed. “That’s the one where everything happened, isn’t it?”
“You have no idea,” Jess muttered, lifting her glass. “Do you think Adam will be back in Dublin next week?”
“Should be,” Neil said. “I think he might be at the farm for the weekend.”
“Do you think –” Ciara began.
“I don’t know,” Jess said quickly. “I was just wondering, honestly. Please don’t tell him you were talking to me.”
Ciara and Neil exchanged a quick glance.
“Whatever you want,” said Neil.
“Thank you.” Jess finished off her wine in a gulp. “I have to go. But I’m really glad I ran into you both.”
“Us too.” Ciara reached over and gave her a hug. “See you soon?”
“I hope so.” Jess picked up her bags and left.
She walked quickly up the hill towards the cottage, her mind racing. She’d planned to leave late Friday afternoon. But there was nothing to stop her leaving a bit earlier and taking a detour on the way.
CHAPTER 61
“I’m going to really miss you!” Emily flung her arms around Jess when she came up to Linford to say goodbye.
“I’m going to miss you, too,” Jess said, pulling out of the hug. “But we’re going to keep in touch, okay?”
Emily nodded. “Totally! Hey, Dermot and I are heading up to Dublin next month for a gig. We might catch up then?”
“Sure.” Jess smiled. “Let me know. And don’t lose touch with any of the girls, yeah? Things mightn’t always work out with a guy, so hang on to your friends.”
“You don’t have to remind me. Holly’s been great. And I’ve been getting to know her gang really well.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’ve decided to take down my jewellery website. I was thinking it might become a bit demanding, and I don’t want it interfering with my job. Anyway, I’m not sure I’m cut out for being a high-powered entrepreneur. So I’ll just do it as a hobby and sell at the local markets.”
“I’m really glad to hear that,” Jess said, not bothering to hide her smile. “We’d miss you too much if you left.”
The reception phone started to ring. “Hang on.” Emily picked up the call.
As Emily dealt with the phone call, Jess let her mind drift to her earlier conversation with Holly’s mum, Sylvia, when she’d handed back the key to Ivy Cottage.
“I hope you had a comfortable stay?” Sylvia had hurried on before Jess could answer. “I just wanted to say that I was completely against suing Linford Castle and I’m delighted it all worked out in the end.”
“We knew it was Ted’s idea.”
Sylvia had slipped the key back onto her own keyring before meeting Jess’ eyes. “Ted wouldn’t be Linford Castle’s biggest fan.” When Jess had said nothing, she’d added, “When the Charleston Group bought the hotel and did the big redevelopment, some of the local kids like Holly got jobs there.” She’d hesitated. “Did you know that Ted’s son is a chef?”
“Sinéad mentioned it.”
“He was working for one of the restaurants in Dublin. Paying ridiculous rents to live there, of course.” She’d pursed her lips. “At the time they were building those new apartments just outside the village, and Ted promised he’d help his young fellah to buy one if he got one of the jobs in Linford.”
“And he didn’t?” Jess had already guessed.
“No.” Sylvia had sighed. “He got an interview but they told him to go away and get some more experience, and to reapply in the future. So off he went to London.”
