Page 122 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
“Who are you going to tell, Jess?” Emily demanded. “Okay, get this. Mr Neary reviewed some security footage from the camera outside Afric’s suite, and guess what he found?”
“Footage of Robert letting himself in the day we were trying to get Afric back into the castle?”
“Corr-ect!But not only that. Guess again!”
Jess thought for a moment. “Doug?”
“Yeah, how did you know?” Emily sounded a bit deflated. “Anyway, can you believe that Doug was the guy Afric has been seeing? Like, he’s so old!”
“And so married,” Jess said dryly.
“Yeah, that as well,” Emily agreed. “So this whole thing with Spencer –”
“Is something they’d decided they had to do, Emily,” Jess said firmly. “You know this needs to stay between you, me and Mr Neary.”
“Hey, discreet is what I do,” Emily said firmly.
Jess smiled. “I know, Em. And thanks for everything, you’re a good pal.”
“Right back at you, Jess!”
After she hung up, Jess reached for the radio and found a local station, laughing quietly as she recognised her mother’s favourite song by Daniel O’Donnell playing. Settling back, she allowed it to become white noise as she mentally prepared herself to see Adam again.
There was no sign of Adam’s jeep as Jess pulled into the yard at the Rourkes’ family farm just over an hour later, but she parked and got out of her car, hoping that he might have just gone out for a while.
She had debated ringing him before she left, but she’d been afraid she wouldn’t say the right thing on the phone. She needed to see him in person.
If he wasn’t here, could she just knock at the back door of the house? Either his father or his mother was bound to answer, and would insist she came in – but she couldn’t face their kindness. Not after what she’d done. And especially when Declan had been so sick.
She was getting back into the car when someone called out to her.
“Hello?” An older man in overalls and black wellington boots came through the gate at the end of the yard. “It’s Jess, isn’t it? I met you before. Last year, maybe?” He looked at her curiously.
“Yes, hi.” She offered a quick smile. “Michael, right?”
He nodded. “Are you looking for Adam?”
“His car isn’t here, so I figured –”
“He had to go back up to Dublin.” Michael scratched his head. “Or was it Switzerland? Can’t remember now – I don’t go asking him his business. Enough going on here, to tell the truth.”
“Yes, I heard.” Jess tried to suppress her disappointment. “How is Declan?”
“Taking it easy,” Michael said. “He and Anna went out to do a bit of shopping, but they won’t be long. Will you wait for them?”
“Oh, no.” Jess spoke hurriedly. “I won’t intrude.”
“I’ll tell them you stopped by, so.”
Please don’t. Had Adam told them what had happened, she wondered. Had he said that she’d blocked him after just two weeks? They probably hated her. She managed a nervous smile.
“Nice to see you again, Michael.”
“Right you are. We’ll see you soon?”
“I hope so.” Jess walked swiftly back to her car and got in. By the time she’d turned the key, Michael had walked away.
CHAPTER 64
