Page 43 of A Merry Irish Christmas
‘What about your mom and dad? What do they do?’
‘This and that. I suppose they’re semi-retired now, though you wouldn’t know it. Dad was a carpenter, and Mum used to run this house as a bed and breakfast before all us kids came along. They still run a taxi service, and Mum’s very active in the local community. She organises beach clean-ups, fairs and street parties and so on. She has her finger in a lot of pies.’ She drained her wine and glanced at the clock. It was seven-forty already. She hadn’t felt the time go. Earlier she’d thought she’d be desperate to escape to the pub and get away from Evan for a few hours. But now she’d happily spend the evening here with him, drinking wine and chatting. She liked this new, warmer Evan a lot.
‘I’d better head off,’ she said, pushing away from the table. ‘I said I’d meet the gang in the pub around eight.’
‘Oh, right.’ Evan looked disappointed as she stood and gathered the plates. ‘Um, I might change my mind… about going to the pub with you. If that’s all right?’
Mary smiled. ‘Of course! That’s great.’ She was glad that he seemed to be enjoying her company too. ‘But aren’t you worried someone will recognise you?’
He shrugged. ‘I’ll keep my head down. Wear the cat burglar combo.’
‘Okay. I’ll just get changed quickly and I’ll meet you back here in ten?’ She stopped halfway out the door as a thought struck her. ‘I should warn you, though, Ryan Furey might be there.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah, he’s from here. Did you know that?’
He nodded. ‘Your mom told me, actually.’
‘He’s a friend of ours, and he used to go out with my sister Abbie. Still does, I suppose… kind of.’ Once again, she wondered what was going on with those two. ‘Anyway, I’m just giving you a heads-up, in case you see him.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Evan said, lips twisted in a mocking smile, ‘I’ll be cool. I won’t try to lick him or anything.’
Mary laughed. ‘It’s not that. But obviously he’ll know who you are.’ She might be able to get her friends to feign ignorance, but Ryan was a fellow actor and rising star in Hollywood. It would be ridiculous – not to mention insulting – for him to pretend he didn’t recognise Evan. They might even have crossed paths before, for all she knew.
Evan grinned. ‘You don’t think I actually bought that story about your neighbours and their weird cult, do you?’
‘Oh! You didn’t?’
He shook his head. ‘Not for a minute.’
‘So you’re not worried about being seen?’
He shrugged. ‘I’ll take my chances. I’m done sweating it.’
‘I might as well tell you, then, that your cover’s already blown.’
‘People know I’m here?’
She nodded. ‘Word spreads fast around here. You’re the talk of the town.’
‘Oh.’ He looked disconcerted.
‘But don’t worry about it. People around here are cool. They won’t hassle you. No one’s alerted social media yet, have they?’
‘No, that’s true. And even if they did, what’s the worst that could happen? I doubt the paps are going to descend on this place in droves right before Christmas.’
‘But why didn’t you say something, if you didn’t buy my story about the O’Sullivans? Poor Carmel’s family thought they were going to have to forego TV for all of Christmas Day.’
He shrugged. ‘If you thought I believed it, you’d all have to go through with it anyway. I thought it’d be fun to watch the machinations.’
‘Oh, you’re evil,’ she said, rolling her eyes, but she couldn’t suppress a grin as she turned and left the room.
15
Mary changed into black jeans and a cashmere jumper in a soft purple shade, then threw on some make-up and earrings for their trip to the pub. When she went downstairs, Evan was waiting for her in the living room.
‘I didn’t bring anything very smart,’ he said, holding out his arms. ‘Mainly just cat burglar stuff. I didn’t think I’d be socialising.’ He was wearing black jeans and a black and red check flannel shirt over a black T-shirt.
