Page 95 of Just Say Yes
‘Do you have more things to do for the wedding this afternoon, or have you got time to have a look around? Has our lad showed you the sights yet?’
‘Ma, we’re in the middle of nowhere. There are no sights. She’s seen the sea. We flew over it. Even if she missed most of it the first time.’ His blue eyes glinted mischievously as he said this and I raised my chin, ignoring the jibe and doing my best not to laugh. When he’d made a comment immediately after the incident weeks ago, I was still embarrassed at having thrown up at all, let alone in front of him. Now, though, I didn’t mind so much. I wasn’t the first person to ever get travel sick and I most definitely wouldn’t be the last.
‘Ah, you leave her alone, you big lump. No wonder she was sick, stuck next to you and the Beast of Bodmin for the entire flight.’ We exchanged a conspiratorial grin as she slid another potato scone onto my plate and I didn’t have the heart to refuse.
‘Don’t listen to them, Bod,’ Lorcan said, leaning over and lifting the dog from my lap to immediately be greeted by a wriggly, cuddle-hungry dog who acted as if he hadn’t had human contact for a week, despite having been resting contentedly with drowsy eyes since I’d sat down.
‘Beast of Bodmin?’ I repeated, laughing.
‘That’s how he got his name,’ Lorcan explained. ‘When I brought him home the first time, he was this tiny little ball of fluff. Ma took one look and said, “Not exactly the Beast of Bodmin, is he?” I hadn’t settled on a name for him and it seemed to suit him so it stuck.’
‘I love it. It’s great that the name’s got a story behind it too.’
‘Thanks,’ he replied, looking up at me through long dark lashes as he placed the little dog down on the floor to hoover up a crumb that had dropped from Maria’s plate.
‘It’s such a shame he doesn’t feed the poor animal,’ Lorcan’s mum said, laughing as the furry little vacuum wound himself round table and chair legs, ever hopeful.
‘Some days I look for the zip – I’m sure I’ve been saddled with a micro pig in a dog outfit.’
‘Or maybe he’s just taking after his owner. You’re hardly one to turn down a meal.’
‘That’s not the point.’
‘No, love. Of course it isn’t.’
I hid my smile behind my cup but not well enough. Lorcan caught me and raised his eyebrows, before emitting a small sigh, but there was a sense of calm behind it. His body was languid and relaxed, his expression soft. It was how he’d been with me when I was ill on the plane, when I was high as a kite on painkillers and lonely in my hotel room on my last visit and, despite the odd disagreement, how he was when we were together working on the wedding.
As time had gone on, Lorcan had spent more time at my place, especially once the sale of the schoolhouse had gone through and the renovation began. Quite often, he’d drop Bod at my house while he went across the village to oversee the project. I was always thrilled to see my fuzzy four-legged friend and I loved having his company in the office. He was so well mannered that several clients hadn’t even noticed he was there until they got up to leave and saw him curled up cosily in his little bed. Lorcan never took it for granted that I would look after him, even though I was sure he knew that I was as excited at seeing Bod each time as he seemed to be at seeing me. I never got used to that adoration from the little dog and didn’t think I ever wanted to. It felt like forever since someone had been that pleased to see me and I doubted any human would ever be able to match that enthusiasm again. Even if I’d let them.
‘He’s got himself a much better work-life balance now, haven’t you, love?’
Lorcan smiled in return but didn’t elaborate. ‘I got so worried about him. Well, you would, wouldn’t you? Even though he’s that size, he’s still my boy. I’m sure your mammy is the same with you.’
‘I… unfortunately my mum died, but I’m sure she would have been, yes. It’s natural, as you say.’
‘Oh, darlin’. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. Lorcan, why didn’t you tell me instead of letting me go and put my foot in my mouth?’ she said, reaching out to take hold of my hand, which was resting on the table in front of me.
‘No, really, it’s fine. It was a long time ago.’
‘Still, I’m sorry, love. Men! They don’t tell you anything, do they?’
‘If I’d known, Ma, I’d have told you.’ His voice now was low and steady, and when I risked a glance his jawline was tense. He met my eyes, his own shuttered now, the warmth of earlier gone. A knot formed in my stomach, tightening as he looked away.
‘You mustn’t blame Lorcan. He didn’t know. I don’t really talk about it with anyone. As I said, it was a long time ago.’
Maria gave my hand another pat, a soft, understanding smile on her gentle face, her skin pale and unblemished, an almost youthful bloom on her cheeks. The easy, relaxed atmosphere of a few moments ago had shifted and I desperately wanted to get it back. I wanted the easy, relaxed Lorcan back too but I wasn’t about to beg forgiveness for not sharing something personal when, judging by the arctic conditions that had blown in when Siobhan had entered the pub, there was a full-size skeleton lounging about in his own closet.
‘So, have you had enough to eat?’
‘More than enough, thank you. We ate lunch with Calum at the castle and your scones were delicious.’
‘Good. Now, as you haven’t seen much of the area, and there’s still some light out there, Lorcan can take you out and show you around a bit. Give you a break from work before you dive back into it tomorrow, I’m sure. Bod can stay here and keep me company in the meantime.’
‘Maddie might not want to see the sights,’ Lorcan said from behind a local newspaper. I had the feeling it was more thathedidn’t want to, but Maria was right, it did seem a shame to miss out on a chance of exploring a little more.
‘I would, actually, but it’s fine, Maria. I have a hire car so can take myself. I’m sure Lorcan has plenty to do anyway.’
‘Obviously,’ she replied, the words spread with a thick layer of sarcasm.
