For Once In My Life

Chapter 49

‘Thank you, Louella’s team,’ said Patrick. ‘What about team Elevation? Jacinta, are you ready?’

‘We most certainly are, Patrick,’ she said. ‘I just want to say how much we loved this journey around Ireland, to really think and connect with this little country of ours, and we think we have come up with something very special indeed.’

Jacinta’s team had decided to focus on a camper-van trip, very similar to Alex’s initial idea, the van taking a family around the country, from north to south and east to west with a tagline: ‘Ireland, where magical voyages await…’

‘Thank you, Jacinta,’ said Patrick O’Malley as Jacinta brought the presentation to a conclusion. ‘Right, last but not least…’

Louella poked Christopher and said something under her breath and they both sniggered.

‘We have the team from Mulligan O’Leary. Who is leading the pitch this morning?’

Mary Rose caught Kitty’s eye. ‘Showtime,’ she mouthed. Kitty’s nerves began building. Focus on why you are here, Kitty told herself. She had to change herself and challenge herself and put herself out there. Being part of the messiness and the chaos of the universe was what made life more interesting, not hiding away trying to be perfect and not getting inkblots on life’s copybook.

‘It’s Kitty O’Sullivan,’ said Mary Rose, as their team walked to the front of the room. Hughie nearly stepped on Kitty’s heels, as they shuffled around to face everyone.

Deep breath. Right.

Kitty smiled. ‘Good morning, everyone,’ she began. ‘It’s a great honour to be pitching this morning. To be able to think about our wonderful country in a new way has been a real privilege.’ She had to make this work. She had to do everything she could. She thought of her team members, Hughie, Mary Rose and Alex. She thought of Catherine and her constant bravery. She thought of Shazza and how she had handled her life. She thought of little Romeo, attached to the drip, his eyes closed. She thought of Billy and how much she’d learned about him over the last couple of weeks, and how she felt so much more accepting and forgiving of him, just as we all had to accept and forgive everyone. We were human, after all. And then she thought of Tom and wondered what he was doing. She was going to speak to him, she resolved. As soon as she had a spare moment, perhaps she could see if he wanted to explore something with her. Or if he didn’t… if she had got everything wrong, if she had misunderstood what had passed or if she was too late… but she had to find out. The cracks were, after all, where the light got in.

At the back of the room, Mr Mulligan’s cup of tea rattled on the saucer, bringing her to the present. And so she began. ‘This morning, we’d like to pitch our campaign called Heartstoppers…’ She smiled again, feeling the sweat trickle under her armpits and prickle all over her back. Had they turned the heating up? Why had she decided to do this?

‘A heartstopper is something that stops you in your tracks, something that takes you out of everyday life and makes you marvel at the wonders of the universe… We know how we feel when we see a rainbow, don’t we? We point it out to people – look at that rainbow, we say. Isn’t it beautiful? And, of course, it is. And Ireland is full of beauty, everywhere we go, from our magnificent mountains to the sea, our lakes, our uplands and lowlands… and how do these sights make us feel…?’

Behind her, Hughie began clicking through the images, some of those they had collected when Alex was leading the pitch, photographs of mountain walkers, of sea swimmers, of people eating an ice cream in Dingle or playing on a beach in Kerry. ‘It’s about soul,’ went on Kitty, as the photograph of Rory poking out of his hatch came onto the big screen. Transformed by Hughie, the words ‘Feed Your Soul’ were emblazoned across the top, and Kitty’s copy below. ‘It’s about connection, it’s about people, it’s about being transformed to something other than our ordinary lives.’ Next, another picture of Rory’s handsome and happy face popped up. ‘It’s about finding your real self,’ went on Kitty, ‘discovering who you are, knowing that this time you spend in Ireland, on this mountain, or walking in the rain, these feelings won’t leave you as you board the bus or the plane or the ferry home. They stay with you.’

Next, the image of Tara, her ball in the air, her face laughing, her hands up and slightly blurred, and the words ‘Mind your inner child’.

’Because when you connect,’ went on Kitty, ‘when you change your neurotransmitters, whether it’s to take a moment to marvel at a rainbow or to play with friends, it’s enough to sustain you.’ Next, there was Edith, smiling, the light reflected in her eyes. She looked stunning. And the words ‘Find your sprit’. ‘There is only now,’ said Kitty, ‘we have only today to live as well as we can. Find love, find the things that make your heart skip, open your mind.’ And then there was the image of Tom, with tiny Juliet in his arms. He looked even better blown up to the size of a wall, thought Kitty, with the words ‘Follow Your Heart – make your life shine’. ‘Ireland is here, to connect you to your heart, your soul, the life you wish you were living. Ireland is…’ She paused, glancing at Hughie, who smiled at her, and at Mary Rose, who was looking intently at her, with the kind of look on her face reserved for parents watching their child perform. ‘Because Ireland is truly heartstopping.’ Kitty paused again, breathed in, and managed to smile at everyone. Even the bespectacled DNG and Elevation teams were looking impressed. One or two were nodding. ‘Thank you,’ she said, ‘for letting us share our pitch this morning. We’ve enjoyed every second of working on it.’ She looked at Mary Rose again, who flashed her a big grin.

It was over. She breathed in deeply and sat down, feeling the sweat on the back of her neck, her hands hot.

Hughie felt for her hand and squeezed it. ‘Well done,’ he whispered. ‘You were brilliant. My imaginary parrot couldn’t have been more inspiring.’

Mary Rose insisted on taking them out for lunch. ‘Champagne for all of us,’ she said, when they sat in Gibaud’s, starched white napkins on their laps, perusing the menu.

Hughie had disappeared behind his. ‘I think I will have the oysters,’ he said loftily. ‘And a glass of the…’ He peered closer at the menu. ‘Cava…’

‘We’re having proper champagne,’ said Mary Rose. ‘You were both amazing. And I don’t care if we don’t win or if my probation isn’t successful, I feel we’ve won anyway.’ She looked up at someone coming towards them, weaving through the tables of the restaurant. ‘Ah, here she is. I didn’t know if she’d got my text.’

It was Alex. ‘So? Is the champagne a good sign?’

‘So far,’ said Mary Rose, moving along the bench to make room. ‘Kitty did a brilliant presentation. Mr Mulligan is going to text us when Welcome Ireland comes to a decision.’ She looked up at the waiter. ‘A bottle of champagne,’ she said. ‘We’ll celebrate whatever the result. It’s not about winning, is it? It’s the taking part.’

‘Mary Rose,’ said Alex, ‘it’s always about the winning.’

Kitty thought about Tara and her need to win. And she thought of Tom, and that phrase he’d used about not wasting this wild and precious life. From now on, she was never going to waste a moment longer. She’d wasted a bit of time with Dave but it wasn’t too long. Thankfully, they’d both come to their senses early enough. She wondered if Tom was going to be part of her future but whatever was in store for her, she was going to make sure she had fun.

‘Have some more champagne,’ said Mary Rose. ‘Before Hughie polishes the whole bottle off.’

‘I think I could get used to the expensive stuff,’ Hughie said. ‘From now on, I only drink vintage champa?—’

Just then, Mary Rose’s phone beeped and she grabbed at it. ‘Hello? Yes, hello, Mr Mulligan… okay… yes, I thought so too… really?’ Her eyes were shining. ‘Yes, right, well… that’s wonderful news! Fabulous news! I will, I’ll tell them. And what? My contract? Of course! Yes… Okay. I will see you on Monday morning. Thank you. Thank you.’ Her eyes glistened with tears. ‘We’ve only gone and fecking well done it,’ she said. ‘We’ve won! Welcome Ireland loved it!’

The four of them cheered and began hugging each other.

Hughie’s arms were wrapped around Kitty. ‘You did it!’ he said. ‘You got us there!’

Alex was next to hug her. ‘I am so proud of you,’ she said. ‘I used to think you were my protégé, but I think you’ve overtaken me.’

Mary Rose was next to squeeze her. ‘You’ve been a marvel,’ she said. ‘The kind of person who rises to challenges, who treats life like a treasure hunt, you keep finding keys to unlock the next adventure. Don’t stop the adventure, will you? Keep going.’

‘Best of all,’ said Hughie, when they were all seated again, a glass of champagne in their hands, ‘we’re not being dispersed. Well, as long as Alex comes back. Are you?’

Alex nodded. ‘HR called me this morning to say Ben O’Leary has left the company. His wife contacted Mr Mulligan and informed him what was going on. I offered to resign, but they said that they wanted me back and Ben’s behaviour is not befitting a manager. And apparently, there are financial irregularities…’ She looked at Mary Rose. ‘Do you have an idea what they are?’

Mary Rose gave a non-committal shrug, while Hughie and Kitty didn’t dare look at each other.

‘Anyway,’ said Alex, ‘having said all that, I’ve decided to take some time off. A friend of mine lives in Dingle and needs someone to help run his glamping site… so I’m leaving the rat race behind…’

‘And rat-faced men,’ said Hughie.

Alex laughed. ‘Yeah… exactly. But I am so ashamed of what I did, I don’t know how I will ever forgive myself.’

‘You have to,’ said Kitty, immediately thinking of Shazza and Annie. ‘We all do things we’re not proud of.’

‘Well, I’m staying,’ said Mary Rose. ‘And I called Ailish last night and I told her everything. She was delighted to hear about Sylvester and managed not to say she told me so. But, what’s more, she’s been miserable in Galway but has managed to get a new job in Dublin starting in September and she’s going to move in with me!’ Mary Rose looked thrilled. ‘Which means…’ She looked at Hughie. ‘There’s one room still available… I don’t suppose… you know of anyone who needs somewhere to live?’

‘I might do,’ Hughie said, slowly. ‘He’s clean, tidy, and excellent company. He was very kindly going to go to another friend’s. But this is a bit more permanent.’ He gave Kitty a look, and she smiled back at him. ‘He needs somewhere he can spread out and he’s got a really big record collection. But he’s really tidy. And a good cook. And his strawberry caipirinhas are to die for.’

‘He sounds amazing,’ said Mary Rose. ‘Well, as long as he is also a Rick Astley fan, give him my number.’ She winked at him before clutching his hands. ‘You and Ailish are going to love each other. Now, more champagne?’

Kitty shook her head. ‘I can’t. I have a football match tonight.’

‘Well, then, we’re going to have to plan for another karaoke night,’ said Hughie. ‘And this time, Alex, you’re coming too.’