Page 17 of A Merry Irish Christmas
‘No, just one grandkid. The rest are all adults. So they won’t be weeing and throwing up everywhere and wrecking the place, if that’s what you’re worried about.’
‘I don’t care how old they are, I don’t want a bunch of random strangers staying in my apartment, going through my stuff.’
‘They won’t. Sheena’s a lovely lady and I’m sure they’ll be very respectful. I mean, they’re trusting you to look after their house too. It’s a two-way street.’
‘Where are they even all going to go?’
‘It’ll be fine – this place is plenty big enough for six adults and one little kid.’ Max looked around. ‘Most people don’t have a home this size all to themselves, you know.’
‘Stop trying to apartment-shame me.’
‘Whatever. The McBrides will squeeze themselves in here somehow. I thought the parents could have your bedroom, the two sisters could share the other bedroom, the brothers could sleep out here on this—’ he patted the couch ‘—and we could put a daybed in the study for the little girl.’
‘You’ve got it all figured out, haven’t you?’
‘I do my best,’ Max said with a satisfied smile.
‘But look, I don’t care where they sleep as long as they don’t sleep here in my apartment. What possessed you to sign me up to this without even running it by me?’ This was above and beyond even for Max.
Max gave an apologetic grimace. ‘I saw Sheena’s ad and I felt sorry for them.’ He pressed a hand to his heart. ‘Sorry. Sheena seemed like a really nice lady and they were desperate to come to New York to visit their daughter. She’s having some kind of crisis, I think.’
‘Why didn’t they just book a hotel, then, like normal people?’
‘There are so many of them, and you know what New York hotels cost. Or maybe you don’t.’
‘Of course I do. Quit acting like I’m some out-of-touch billionaire because I’ve had money for, like, five minutes.’
‘Sorry. Anyway, they couldn’t afford it. That’s why they wanted to do a house swap.’
‘I see. And why didIwant to do a house swap?’
‘Because… you’re kind and you felt sorry for them?’ Max looked at him hopefully. ‘They didn’t have much chance of getting a swap at such short notice. I figured you were their only hope.’
‘Well, you’re always telling me I’mtoonice and I should say no more often. So here I am saying no. This isn’t going to work. You have to call it off.’
‘I can’t! It’s all agreed. And where else are the McBrides going to find somewhere this late in the day? They’ve probably already booked their flights.’
‘Not my problem,’ Evan said, determined to stand firm.
‘You know, I take it all back. You can be a real jerk when you want to be.’
‘Thanks. Happy now? Just cancel this and get me something else, okay? Somewhere upstate maybe – or anywhere in the US. I don’t need to fly all the way to Ireland like some goddamn lovelorn heroine in a cheesy romcom.’
Max got a steely look in his eyes. ‘Sorry, no can do. I am not going to be the one to break our promise to Sheena. If you want to call this off, you’ll have to do it yourself.’
‘Fine,’ Evan huffed. ‘Give me her contact details and I’ll call her myself. But I’m seriously beginning to wonder what I need you for.’
Max was of course unperturbed by the implied threat. He wasn’t just an employee, he was a friend, and he knew damn well Evan would never fire him. So he was just going to have to man up and do his own dirty work – as he should have done in the first place.
Max scrolled through the string of messages between himand Sheena on the house swap website and showed Evan the one where they’d exchanged email addresses and phone numbers. ‘It’s afternoon in Ireland,’ he said, glancing at his watch, ‘so you could Zoom her now. I’ll just text her to see if she’s free and then I’ll send her a link. You can use my laptop.’
‘Thanks,’ Evan said drily. ‘That’s very good of you.’
Ten minutes later, Max had set up the Zoom call. ‘Good luck,’ he said as Evan took the laptop and headed for the study.
Evan should have paid more attention to that knowing smirk of Max’s as he’d wished him luck. He clearly knew what he was doing, making Evan talk to Sheena McBride himself. Because as soon as Sheena started talking, Evan realised there was no way he could tell her the house swap was off. Before he’d even opened his mouth, she’d launched into profusive thanks.
‘Evan, it’s lovely to meet you. I’m so glad I have a chance to talk to you in person and tell you how grateful I am for this. Thank yousomuch.’
