Chapter 44
At 7a.m., after a few hours of sleep, Kitty took out her phone, knowing Billy was one of life’s early risers.
‘Dad? How’s Romeo?’
‘He’s asleep,’ he said. ‘Very sweet, he is. And breathing, so don’t you worry. What do you want me to do with him? I can take him to the vets if you need to work?’
‘I do need to work,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a lot to do. You’re sure Romeo is all right?’
‘Look, you don’t worry, I’ll drop the little fella in. I’ll open a tin of sardines for him and take him to the vets when they open, the one in the village, is that right?’
‘I’ll ring them and tell them you’re on your way.’
Tom was more than likely to be in Trinity, she thought. Didn’t he say he taught in the morning and then worked in the vets in the afternoon? Probably just as well he wouldn’t be there.
Next, she called Mary Rose. ‘I’m going to be late today,’ Kitty told her. ‘I’ve got an idea for the Welcome Ireland pitch. Just give me a few hours because I have an idea… I am going to work on something here.’
‘On your own?’
‘No… I’m going to ask some friends…’
Next, she phoned the vet.
‘Hello, Sandycove Veterinary Surgery and Day Hospital, your pet is our passion, how may I help you?’
‘Is Tom Sweetman on duty today?’
‘No, it’s Mr Kelly. Prof Sweetman is at Trinity this morning. Would you like to make an appointment with Mr Kelly?’
‘Yes, please. My dad is on the way with my cat, Romeo,’ said Kitty. ‘He’s been attacked again and will need stitches. So, he’ll drop him in and I’ll collect him later. Will you call me when he’s ready to come home?’
After making her calls, Kitty’s eye was caught by the sight of a little toy mouse belonging to Romeo and she felt her stomach crumple again. Poor Romeo.
‘Who’ve you been talking to?’ It was Dave, in his boxer shorts and grey T-shirt, scratching his armpits and yawning, standing at the top of the stairs. ‘Because Mam?—’
Kitty held up her hand, as though directing traffic. ‘I need to go out,’ she said.
‘I’m hungry,’ he said. ‘Can’t do anything without a bowl of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes.’ He patted his belly, like a bear.
‘Okay, fine,’ said Kitty, turning away.
‘Fine? You sound annoyed?’
She turned back to Dave and smiled back up at him. ‘Not annoyed,’ she said. ‘Not annoyed in the slightest.’
‘Why are you smiling?’
‘I don’t know… well, I do know… I’m happy,’ she said. ‘Really happy. I mean, Dave, I don’t want to marry you any more. And I am so sorry, but you’re better off with someone else… I made a mistake…’
‘What?’ He started walking down the stairs. ‘What did you say?’
‘I said, I’m sorry. I have enjoyed the last five years… okay, that’s not entirely true, but I would say that you have enjoyed them as much as I have. I thought I could solve all our problems by getting married and I am sorry for any pressure I put on you.’
He was staggering towards her, still half-asleep, his balance a little off-centre, almost like a zombie.
‘Dave, I’m so sorry but I have to go,’ she said, ‘I have a million things to do! You go back to your mother’s. Bye, Dave!’
And she ran out of the house. Just as she was halfway to the village, she realised she still had the ring on her finger. She should have left it behind, she thought. But too late and too much to do, she kept running. Kitty only had the day to win her best friend back, to finish the Welcome Ireland pitch, to save Mary Rose’s job, keep her team together and to make sure Romeo stayed alive.