Page 48 of Just Say Yes
‘Being kind. Making someone feel safe and looked after.’
‘I didn’t think you went in for all that stuff.’
‘Everyone should be kind. And I think we all want to feel looked after from time to time.’
‘I’d agree. Maybe you ought to let people do it for you now and then. Now, get some sleep.’ He clicked the light off beside me, allowing the beams of the full moon to shine through the open curtains and bathe the room in a peaceful, heavenly light. ‘Do you want these closed?’
I shook my head. ‘I like the moon.’
‘Me too.’
I returned his soft, moonlit smile and snuggled down, realising he’d been right about my eyes. They were doing their utmost to shut all by themselves.
‘Goodnight, Maddie,’ he said, turning, one hand on the door catch.
‘’Night, Lorcan.’
The door clicked behind him.
‘Lorcan!’
‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, returning immediately, concern shadowing the blue of his eyes.
‘Thank you.’
This time the smile was full-wattage but I only got a glimpse as my eyes closed. The words ‘you’re welcome’ drifted around in my mind for a moment before everything faded to black.
* * *
The next morning found me, still sore, but sitting in the window seat of the pub tucking into another of Brighid’s amazing breakfasts with her fussing around me like one of the mother hens outside the window. After my attempts to kindly stop her doing so, Gerry had paused by my table, bent and whispered, ‘Just let her, love. It makes her happy.’ Patting my hand, he’d then ambled back on his way. So I had. As unfamiliar as it felt, it was also wonderful. I’d stayed at plenty of hotels in my time, including some of the best five stars in the world, with very attentive staff, but this was nothing like any of them. This felt like a home, and Brighid’s fussings were almost familial, because, as Gerry had said, she did it because she really cared. It wasn’t just a gimmick to try and bring the money in.
‘And what are you up to today?’ she asked as she came over and began pouring me another cup of tea from the enormous pot. ‘Not too much, I hope. Dr McGinty said you’re to rest for a couple of days when you can.’
‘Not many secrets around here, are there?’ I said, laughing as I thanked her for the tea.
‘Ah, no. That’s for sure.’
‘I do have to go and check out the castle though. Make sure I know what I’m working with.’
‘And I assume young Lorcan is coming to get you?’
‘I think so,’ I said, having only very vague memories of last night. Whatever the doc had given me was good stuff. I’d settled for paracetamol this morning as I needed to be able to remember what I saw at the venue. ‘I’m not entirely sure what we discussed, if I’m honest. The painkillers were rather strong.’
‘He’ll show up. For all his bravado, he’s a good lad. Do anything for anyone.’
‘Really?’
‘Oh, yes,’ she said, clearing away my main plate and pushing one full of hot, buttered toast towards me. ‘He never used to have that tough exterior, of course.’
‘Oh?’ I asked, biting into a piece of toast and closing my eyes momentarily in bliss. Lorcan had been right about the butter.
‘No. But life can do that to you, can’t it?’
I had to agree.
‘But we all know he’s the same old Lorcan underneath and nobody stands for his messing here anyway,’ she added, laughing.
‘Maybe he’s just worried about his mum finding out,’ I added, thinking back to what he’d said at the health centre.
