Page 15 of For Love or Money
‘Yeah, I guess I am.’
‘You don’t sound too sure.’
‘It’s just all happened so fast, I can’t get my head around it. Anyway, the good news is we’ll be moving back to Ireland. I’ll be living in Dublin. We can see each other.’
‘Great! It’s been a long time.’
‘Yeah.’ He was the person she loved most in the world. It had been far too long. Tears welled in her eyes at the thought of being able to put her arms around him again, of seeing him smiling at her ...
‘Look, I’ve got to go now,’ Dan said. ‘But let me know when you’re back and we’ll arrange something.’
When she had showeredand dressed, she went downstairs. Maria, the maid, squeezed her some fresh orange juice and she took it out onto the patio and sat on a bench at the front of the house overlooking the sloping garden, her long legs tucked beneath her. She would miss this house. She’d been happy here – which seemed a little strange, in the circumstances. She’d enjoyed the time she’d spent here with Peter, just the two of them. She’d felt useful, looking after him and keeping him amused. It had been almost like a holiday, a time out from real life – they’d played Scrabble and watched television, and taken gentle walks in the garden, a little further each day while Peter built up his strength.
She heard him talking to Maria in the kitchen, and then he joined her on the terrace.
‘Good morning.’ She smiled. He looked well – rested and handsome.
‘Good morning.’ He sat beside her on the bench. ‘Maria’s making huevos rancheros,’ he said, putting an arm around her.
She frowned. ‘But you’re not supposed to eat too many eggs.’
‘They’re for you,’ he said. ‘I know they’re your favourite. I’ll just have some muesli.’
She smiled as he pulled her to his side and she curled into him, laying her head on his shoulder. This was nice. Maybe this was all marriage meant and she was silly to panic about it. It was just about having someone who knew what you liked, and who wanted to please you; someone who was on your side and would always have your back.
‘Thank you,’ she said, taking his hand and playing with his fingers.
‘I’m sorry it’s not been much fun for you here. I’m not usually such a boring old fart.’
‘Don’t be silly. I haven’t been bored.’ She lifted her head and looked out over the gardens to the horizon. ‘I hate leaving this. It’s so lovely.’
‘It is. But it’s always good to go home, isn’t it?’
Stella shrugged. She didn’t feel any special connection to Ireland or any fondness for the grim little seaside town in Galway where she’d grown up. She had led a rootless, peripatetic existence since she’d left home at the age of sixteen, never looking back – well, except for Dan. He was the one thing she could never leave behind. ‘I guess it’s different when you have family,’ she said. ‘Home for me is wherever I live.’
‘Wherever you hang your hat,’ he said, smiling. ‘Well, I’m glad you’ve decided to hang it at my house. I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone.’
‘What if they don’t like me?’
‘They’ll love you,’ he said, smiling into her eyes.
‘Easy for you to say. You don’t have to worry about meetingmyfamily.’
‘Poor Stella,’ Peter said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. ‘You’re so young to be all alone in the world.’
‘You’ll be my family now,’ she said, giving him a bright smile. ‘When we’re married.’ As she said it, she realised she meant it. She could do this. She could be Peter’s wife, and they could have a good life together. She would be faithful, and she’d take care of him. They’d be loyal and kind to each other, and she would prove to his family that she wasn’t on the make. She’d show them that she was good for him.
She was going into this with her eyes open and she would do all she could to make their life together work. It would be fun too. Peter was rich, and they could travel and do interesting and exciting things. It would be an adventure. Looked at from that angle, it wasn’t scary at all. It was just another new beginning, and she was good at those.
‘You’re not having second thoughts, are you?’ Peter asked her. She realised she’d gone quiet.
‘No,’ she said. ‘I want to marry you, Peter.’
‘You do?’ He smiled, leaning forward to kiss her.
This time, when she said ‘yes’, she really meant it.
7
