CHAPTER 30
By ten o’clock, most of the parents of young children had left the party, and some of the cast and crew had slipped away back to Linford Castle. Jess wondered if they’d simply taken the party back there.
Not that it mattered at this stage. They’d all made a huge effort and she had a feeling the resulting publicity would be very positive.
As soon as the celebrations began to break up, she’d spotted groups of teenagers – armed with plastic shopping bags – head in the direction of Linford Wood and had mentioned it quietly to Sylvia.
“I don’t want to be a killjoy so feel free to tell me to mind my own business. But I know the river’s quite high right now, and if they’re drinking …”
Sylvia had squeezed her hand. “I saw them going too, don’t worry. A couple of us will check up on them in a while.”
Look at me, Jess thought as she wandered away.
Just a year after getting so drunk on her hen weekend that she’d slept with a total stranger, she was worrying about teenagers drinking around water.
Clearly, a huge leap of maturity. Not to mention that she didn’t want anything else blamed on the Linford Curse.
As she wandered back across the green, she spotted Emily with a group who were all playing cards. Jess waved, and Emily and Holly waved back. There was no sign of Afric or Spencer, she realised. Not surprisingly, all the press had disappeared too.
She turned to Robert. “I’ve decided this is my favourite bit of the night.”
He grinned. “Not the Ferris Wheel ride?”
“That’s a close second, obviously. Hey, what were you and Afric chatting about?”
He shrugged. “She was on her own so I was just asking if she was enjoying the party. Hang on.” He strode over to the table and picked up a bottle of wine. “Seems a shame to waste it.” He poured two glasses and handed her one. “To our summer solstice!”
They clinked and grinned at each other. Over the speakers, the music changed from popular country hits to quieter, cool jazz.
“People will be trying to get their kids to sleep,” Robert said. “This usually winds down shortly after midnight but, apart from putting the food and drink away, most of the cleaning is left until tomorrow.”
“I wonder if any of the cast have updated their socials yet.” Jess checked her Instagram feed. “Afric has something.” She tapped on her story and watched as it unspooled through the highlights of the solstice party. “Oh my God, this is brilliant publicity for Linford!”
Robert stepped behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. “We’ve a full moon,” he whispered.
“Should I be scared?” She twisted her head to meet his smile, and met his mouth in a lingering kiss, before leaning back and gazing into the still-bright sky, determined to imprint the moment on her memory.
“Stay right here, will you?” Robert moved away. “I’ve just remembered there’s something I need to give Ted.”
Jess wandered back over to the food table where Sylvia, Sinéad and some of the other committee members were packing leftover food into foil containers.
“Have you lost Robert?” Sinéad asked, looking up.
“He’s gone to find Ted,” Jess said.
“That fellah’s gone home hours ago.” She sniffed. “He’s not much for parties.”
“Oh.” Jess glanced around. “I think Robert wanted to give him something.”
Sinéad tutted. “I wonder why he didn’t just give it to me, so?”
“He probably forgot.” She gestured to the food. “What happens to the leftovers?”
“Whoever wants something can take it.” Sylvia pointed to a container she’d just packed. “They’re those stuffed vine leaves you liked. Why don’t I put them aside for you?”
“That’d be great, thanks. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I might ask you and Robert to round up those teenagers, now.”
“Sure.”
Jess looked around. Robert was on his way back across the green.
“Any luck finding Ted? Sinéad said he’d gone home.”
“It’s grand, it’s not urgent.” He flashed her a quick smile. “What would you like to do?”
“We’ve been asked to get all the teenagers out of the woods.”
Robert draped his arm casually across her shoulders. “Let’s see that river.”
“Okay, I have to agree, the river looked pretty magical tonight,” Jess said, after she and Robert managed to coax the remaining youngsters back to the green.
Robert held out his hand. “Do you want to keep walking?”
“Back into the woods?” Jess slipped her hand into his.
“I mean, if you want.” He looked at her for a long moment. “Or up towards Linford Close, if you prefer.”
To his house? Did she want that?
“Or I can just walk you home,” he said as she hesitated.
Maybe by the time they got there she’d know what she wanted. “Can we walk the long way around the village?”
He looked amused. “Sure.”
They said goodnight to a few of the others, and Jess pretended to ignore the knowing looks from Sylvia and Emily as she collected the wrapped container that Sylvia had kept for her.
When they reached the end of Main Street, they looped back up to the small parallel estate at the back and Robert put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close as they continued to walk by the rows of quiet houses.
“So, is Sinéad your dad’s sister or your mam’s?” Jess asked.
“She’s my mother’s. My grandparents were both born in Mayo, and Mum and Dad lived in Linford until about ten years ago before they moved to Carlow.”
“Right. So did you just come back to Linford because you got the job in Ballina?” Jess said.
She felt him shrug.
“Partly. I work from home a lot of the time. In a very affordable house. It seemed like a no-brainer.”
“Is it still?”
He glanced at her. “Lately, it seems like the best move I ever made.”
Jess stopped halfway up the hill. Ahead of her, she could just make out the dark outline of the village church and its adjacent community centre and primary school.
“Here’s the thing, Robert, I don’t want to lead you on. Not when I’m going back to Dublin in a few weeks.”
“Hey, I’m a big boy!” He tugged Jess towards him and she put her free hand flat on his chest.
“You are only here for another few weeks. Why don’t you just have some fun?”
“Tonight was fun.”
“I was thinking about more grown-up fun.” His eyes darkened. “When was the last time you just let yourself go, Jess? Honestly?”
She didn’t want to think about that. That was before. This was now. She could be tempted into some fun, no-strings sex with a nice, uncomplicated guy. There was nothing wrong with that. In fact, it was probably exactly what she needed.
“Isn’t this a short cut back to the main street?”
He nodded.
Last chance to just say goodnight and keep things simple, Jess. But Robert was right – and she wanted to see if there was more between them. And, if she were being honest with herself, to see if she could put Adam behind her once and for all.
“Come and spend the night at mine,” she said.
“You sure? I don’t want to pressure you.”
Don’t make me change my mind. “You’re not pressuring me.”
He reached up and brushed her hair off her shoulders, tucking it behind her ears in a gesture she wished didn’t remind her of Adam. “I’ve been wanting to do that since I met you.”
“Is that all you’ve wanted to do?” She aimed for a light, flirty tone, and judging by his expression, it landed.
“What do you think?” He took her hand. “Let’s go to your place.”