Page 60 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
“Have you lost Robert?” Sinéad asked, looking up.
“He’s gone to find Ted,” Jess said.
“That fellah’s gone home hours ago.” She sniffed. “He’s not much for parties.”
“Oh.” Jess glanced around. “I think Robert wanted to give him something.”
Sinéad tutted. “I wonder why he didn’t just give it to me, so?”
“He probably forgot.” She gestured to the food. “What happens to the leftovers?”
“Whoever wants something can take it.” Sylvia pointed to a container she’d just packed. “They’re those stuffed vine leaves you liked. Why don’t I put them aside for you?”
“That’d be great, thanks. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I might ask you and Robert to round up those teenagers, now.”
“Sure.”
Jess looked around. Robert was on his way back across the green.
“Any luck finding Ted? Sinéad said he’d gone home.”
“It’s grand, it’s not urgent.” He flashed her a quick smile. “What would you like to do?”
“We’ve been asked to get all the teenagers out of the woods.”
Robert draped his arm casually across her shoulders. “Let’s see that river.”
“Okay, I have to agree, the river looked pretty magical tonight,” Jess said, after she and Robert managed to coax the remaining youngsters back to the green.
Robert held out his hand. “Do you want to keep walking?”
“Back into the woods?” Jess slipped her hand into his.
“I mean, if you want.” He looked at her for a long moment. “Or up towards Linford Close, if you prefer.”
To his house? Did she want that?
“Or I can just walk you home,” he said as she hesitated.
Maybe by the time they got there she’d know what she wanted. “Can we walk the long way around the village?”
He looked amused. “Sure.”
They said goodnight to a few of the others, and Jess pretended to ignore the knowing looks from Sylvia and Emily as she collected the wrapped container that Sylvia had kept for her. When they reached the end of Main Street, they looped back up to the small parallel estate at the back and Robert put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close as they continued to walk by the rows of quiet houses.
“So, is Sinéad your dad’s sister or your mam’s?” Jess asked.
“She’s my mother’s. My grandparents were both born in Mayo, and Mum and Dad lived in Linford until about ten years ago before they moved to Carlow.”
“Right. So did you just come back to Linford because you got the job in Ballina?” Jess said.
She felt him shrug.
“Partly. I work from home a lot of the time. In a very affordable house. It seemed like a no-brainer.”
“Is it still?”
