Page 30 of A Merry Irish Christmas
He shrugged. ‘I like them, I guess.’
‘Great. About how many would you eat? More than five? Less? How many will I put you down for? It doesn’t have to be exact,’ she added to his slightly panicked expression. ‘Just a rough estimate.’
He frowned down at the notebook in her hands. ‘You can put me down for none because I won’t be there.’
‘Don’t be like that. Now, cats?—’
‘I don’t eat cats.’
Mary gave him a patient smile. ‘Do you like them?’
‘I can take them or leave them. You can put me down for neutral on cats.’
‘I suppose that’s good enough. Chuckles O’Sullivan has a very big personality, though. He’s not a take-him-or-leave-him kind of cat. And if he doesn’t take to you, he’ll make his feelings known.’
‘How?’
‘Well… he’s been known to pee on people he doesn’t like.’
‘Okay, I’ve changed my mind. Not that it’s relevant, but you can put me down as firmly in the anti-Chuckles camp.’
‘Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get along fine with him. Okay, spuds – there’ll be roast, mash and croquettes,’ she said, tapping her notebook. ‘Any other kind you’d like?’
‘Three types of potatoes?’
‘Welcome to Ireland.’
He gave a crooked smile. ‘None of the above, thanks. Zero spuds for me.’
‘Oh, I suppose you can’t eat potatoes, can you?’ She smirked. ‘I guess you have to watch your figure.’ She ran her eyes over his body. ‘That catsuit you wear is pretty tight.’
‘I do so eat potatoes. And I do not wear a “catsuit”.’
‘Onesie, then. Whatever.’
Evan rolled his eyes. ‘I don’t want potatoes at Carmel Somebody’s?—’
‘O’Sullivan.’
‘At Carmel O’Sullivan’s house tomorrow because I won’t be there.’ He raked a hand through his hair exasperatedly. ‘Look, I’ve travelled halfway across the world to avoid thisexactsituation?—’
‘Oh, come off it! That’s not true. You didn’t even know who the O’Sullivans were until five minutes ago. You can’t have travelled halfway across the world to avoid having dinner with them.’
There was the ghost of a reluctant smile on his lips. ‘You know what I mean. I’ve gone out of my way to avoid anyone finding out where I am.’
Mary sighed. ‘So you’re worried about them recognising you and word getting out that you’re here?’
He shifted uncomfortably and she decided she’d hit on the problem. ‘You don’t have to worry about that. You always wear that stupid mask on TV anyway. They’ll never know it’s you.’
‘I’ve done other things, you know. Anyway, I’m not alwayswearing the mask. Sometimes Peter Parker is just tooling around pretending to be a regular guy. And also…’
‘What?’
‘Spider-Man’s mask isn’t stupid,’ he said solemnly.
‘Honestly, they won’t even know who you are. They lead a very simple sheltered life up here. They won’t have seen any of your movies or TV shows.’ Mary would have to brief the O’Sullivans later and get them on board with this ruse. Carmel wouldn’t mind; in fact, she’d probably enjoy the shenanigans. Their grandson Charlie might be a problem, though. He was only five.
‘Give me a break!’ Evan scoffed. ‘This place may be remote, but I know you have TV.’ He waved in the direction of the big flatscreen in the living room.
