Page 24 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
Jess had a quick look down the aisles, but there was no sign of Ted. Mentally she ran over the day ahead as she waited for him to appear from the employee area at the back of the shop. Lisa had mentioned that Doug was shooting all the winter scenes this week at the castle – and there was even a huge, fake Christmas tree going into the Great Hall this morning. There were days she really loved her job.
Absently, she ran her hand over the well-worn Formica countertop, wondering why Ted had never bothered to put in a modern till with conveyer belt for his customers. Although maybe in such a small village there was no need.
The wall behind the counter was covered with faded, framed photos, a large clock, a pretty tattered calendar and a large noticeboard. Jess peered closer at it. There were flashcards advertising babysitting services and guitar lessons and flyers for a summer solstice party and enrolment in the GAA club in Ballygobbin. Her eyes drifted to the nearest photo of two middle-aged women standing either side of a tall, bespeckled boy in a school uniform, who was holding what looked like Leaving Cert results.
“I’ll be with you in just a minute!” somebody called from the back of the shop.
That didnotsound like Ted.
A woman with short, salt-and-pepper hair, in faded jeans and a collarless blue blouse appeared. “Morning. Jess, isn’t it?”
Jess nodded, her eyes sliding back to the photo. She looked a bit like an older version of one of the women in it.
“We haven’t met,” the woman continued. “Have you a shopping bag there? I’ll have to charge you for one, otherwise.”
“Right, yes.” She opened her rucksack and pulled out the string bag she carried around, wondering if the woman was going to introduce herself. “It’s,er, lovely to meet you …”
“I’m Sinéad Nolan.” She gave a small sniff. “I’m Ted’s wife.”
He was married?
“Thirty-six years. I’d have got less time if I’d murdered someone.”
Briefly, Jess wondered if she’d blurted her thoughts out loud, and she gave an embarrassed laugh. “I’m still getting to know people in the village.”
“Oh well, I suppose you spend most of your time in that posh hotel.”
“Uh, no, I’ve been in The Tin Whistle, and Sylvia’s café is great.”
“Hmm.” Sinéad looked at her. “I see yourself and Robert around a bit alright. He’s a good man. He’s choosy, too, doesn’t have many girlfriends.”
“Oh, right.” Jess felt her cheeks heat. Was that a compliment? It sounded like one. “Er, Linford’s a lovely place. I’ve noticed there’s a lot of young families around.”
“There are, yeah.” Sinéad finished scanning the items and rang up the total, turning the card machine so that Jess could pay. “It’s a grand little place when your kids are small, but the secondary school is in Kilshanley and the nearest university is Galway. And, sure, there’s nothing here for our kids once they grow up.”
Except for Linford Castle, Jess thought. But her instincts told her it was better not to mention that.
“Have you …?”
“Two of our own.” Sinéad pursed her lips. “Our daughter’s in Dublin and our son is in London.”
The bell over the door rang and Jess glanced around as another customer came in. “I’d better get to work. It was nice to meet you, Sinéad.”
She left, walking out of the village and up to the castle.
At the front gate, she slipped through a group of regular reporters and flashed her security pass to the guard on the other side.
“Hiya, Jess!” He grinned at her. “Welcome to Christmas in June.”
Jess worked in her office all morning, before stopping for lunch. She took a few moments to admire the foyer again, which sparkled with hundreds of fairy lights, huge, realistic-looking wreaths and Christmas garlands, draped along the mantels of the four fireplaces. This was probably what Christmas in Australia felt like, she thought.
After collecting a roll and a coffee from the hotel’s basement kitchen, she headed up to the orangery to eat, relieved to see a few skylights open and some blinds drawn on the windows to cool it down a bit.
As she rounded a grouping of tall plants, she noticed Spencer Torres at a table by himself, a small plate of salad and a green smoothie in front of him. He looked up from his phone and flashed her a grin. “Hey, there.”
“Oh, hey.” Jess returned his smile. “I won’t disturb you.”
“You’re not.” He gestured to the seat opposite. “Join me.”
