Chapter 22
Grace pushed open the door to the bustling Silver Spoon cafe and was instantly hit with the yeasty smell of fresh baking. If she hadn’t had an enormous breakfast a little over an hour ago, her mouth would be watering in anticipation of one of Carmel Brady’s delicious cakes or slices.
The door closed behind her, and a few familiar faces waved over. Grace grinned hello back before nabbing a seat by the window to wait for Clara. The sunshine streamed in, and she shrugged off the light cardigan she’d tossed over her shirt, hooking it over the back of the chair. She was both nervous and excited as to how the festival she and Chris were organising would be received by her friend.
Carmel finished serving a man in work boots whom Grace didn’t recognise and called out a greeting. ‘Is it just the weekend you’re home for, Grace, because the weather’s after turning it on for you?’
‘I know, it’s gorgeous out, and yes, a flying weekend visit. I’m waiting on Clara, Carmel, then I’ll order.’
‘Grand. It was terrible her house being damaged like so with the rain,’ Carmel tutted.
Grace nodded but was pleased when a woman strode up to the counter to place an order, saving her from having to say anything on the subject. She turned her attention to the foot traffic passing by and spied a frazzled-looking Clara crossing the road. She saw Grace in the window and waved, bursting through the door a second later and asking breathlessly, ‘I’m not late, am I?’
‘Not at all. I was a few minutes early.’ Grace gave her friend a fierce hello hug, but not before she’d clocked how pinched she looked.
‘It’s so good to see you.’ Clara squeezed her back. ‘But why didn’t you tell me you were coming?’
‘It was all a bit last minute,’ Grace said, letting her friend go. ‘What are you having? It’s my treat.’
‘I need caffeine and cake, preferably with cream. Alfie’s after spilling orange juice all over the carpet this morning, even though he’s been told drinks are only to be had in the kitchen. I think I got most of it out before Mam came in from walking the dog, but it’s doing my head in, this living-at-home-again business. And I know that sounds like I’m ungrateful.’
Grace held her hand up, stopping her friend. ‘You don’t have to explain yourself to me Clara. I get it. I love my family, but if I had to move home permanently…’ She shuddered.
Clara laughed, pulling the opposite chair at the table out. ‘Well, even if it is all a bit last minute, I’m glad to see you. Your timing is perfect, because you always make me feel better. Can you ask Carmel for extra cream?’
Grace grinned and chose a slice of what she knew was Clara’s favourite cake. She did as she’d been told and asked for an extra dollop of cream to be served with it, which saw Carmel raise an eyebrow, before she ordered two coffees as well. Then she carried over the enormous wedge of hummingbird cake all but buried under the fresh whipped cream and two forks in case the temptation was too much – and presented it to her friend. ‘Eat up. Doctor’s orders.’
‘Don’t mind if I do. Thanks a million, Grace. Hummingbird cake’s the best. Where’s yours?’
‘Nan cooked us a full Irish this morning, so I’m stuffed, but I might stretch to a forkful or two of yours.’
‘Stretch away.’
The extra fork slid toward Grace as she settled back in her seat. ‘Have you told your mum and dad about the insurance?’
‘Lack of, you mean. And yeah, I did. Dad keeps coming out with a new lecture each time I walk in the room, and they’re determined I won’t lose the house. But if they help me out, there’ll be no trip to Australia for them.’ Clara put the fork down. ‘I feel, so, so stupid, Grace. If I could turn back the clock and renew the fecking thing, I would.’
‘Stop that.’ There was no point in making annoying observations about hindsight being wonderful. It was friendship Clara needed, not another lecture. Friendship and good news. At least, Grace hoped she would see it that way. ‘You’re not stupid. You just made a mistake. Actually, Clara, that’s what brought me home. There’s something I want to talk to you about.
‘Oh yes.’ Clara eyed her with a cocktail of curiosity and apprehension.
‘You’ve got cream on your nose.’
‘Is that it?’ Clara wiped it off, laughing.
‘No!’ Grace joined in before getting what she’d come to say off her chest – or trying to. ‘Chris and I had this idea. Well, Chris did. I can’t take credit for it.’
‘Grace, would you get on with it?’ Clara demanded, the fork en route to her mouth.
‘Sorry. OK, I’ll spit it out. We’re after organising a musical festival. It’ll be held in Emerald Bay on the last day of summer to raise money for your house repairs, to replace the school computers and anything else damaged in the recent rains, with whatever’s left over being donated to the children’s hospital in Crumlin.’
Clara’s mouth fell open. It wasn’t a pretty sight. ‘Grace, what are you talking about?’
‘A music festival.’
‘Yeah, I got that.’
‘To raise money.’
‘I got that, too. But for me? My house?’
‘And the school and the children’s hospital,’ Grace ploughed on. She needed her friend on board with the idea, or there’d be no festival. ‘I knew you’d be funny about accepting anything you deemed to be charity, but this way, people aren’t specifically putting their hands in their pockets for a cause. They’re paying to come and hear the bands play.’ She was babbling. ‘And the musicians and costs involved in setting it all up will be covered by the tickets, and there’ll be enough left over to fix your house, Clara, and the other stuff I mentioned. You’ll be back in your own home before winter.’
Clara reached across the table and rested her hand on her friend’s arm. ‘Stop.’
‘Please, Clara, let Chris and me do this for you and Alfie.’
‘You’re serious about this? A music festival in Emerald Bay?’
‘Emerald Grooves. It’s got a great ring to it, don’t you think? And Chris and I are so serious, we’ve got the venue, the bands and the financial backer organised already.’
Carmel brought their coffees over and looked as though she’d like to loiter for a chat about why Clara’s mouth was hanging open. However, she had a customer tapping the counter impatiently, and the two friends heaved a relieved sigh as Carmel reluctantly sidled behind the counter.
‘I can’t get my head around it,’ Clara said once Carmel was out of earshot.
‘There’s nothing for you to get your head around. You just have to be OK with letting us do this for you.’ Grace reached out for her friend’s hand and gently squeezed it.
‘I can’t believe you would do that for me.’
‘Don’t cry, Clara,’ Grace said, seeing her pal’s eyes beginning to shine. ‘And it’s not just me. Chris wants to help, too. You deserve it. So will you let us?’
Clara’s bottom lip quivered as she blinked furiously and nodded, to Grace’s relief.
‘Thank you,’ she said softly.
‘Give me that cake,’ Grace said, lightening the moment as, despite her best intentions, she dug in.
Clara sat back in her chair, watching her. ‘I noticed you used words like “we” and “us” a lot when talking about Chris. Is there something else I should know about?’
Grace began to cough as a piece of cake lodged in her throat. Carmel hurried over with a glass of water.
‘Go down the wrong way, did it?’
Grace, eyes watering, nodded and wheezed a thank you before downing the water. Carmel buzzed off to faff with the coffee machine.
‘So come on then – fess up. What’s going on with you and Chris?’
‘Nothing,’ Grace hissed, mindful of Carmel’s flapping ears. ‘He has a girlfriend. You know that.’
‘I also know you think he’s hot stuff.’
‘That’s as may be,’ Grace said primly, finally owning up to her crush, ‘but I would never poach another woman’s man, even if she never smiles, hardly speaks and has this awful habit of lurking. Chris is here, though, at the moment. I can’t believe I almost forgot to tell you. He’ll probably call around and say hi at some point, so if he wants to surprise you, don’t let on I told you he’s here.’
‘Whoa, hold up. Chris is back in Emerald Bay?’
Grace nodded, helping herself to more cake. ‘We didn’t fly home together if that’s what you’re thinking. I had no idea he was coming.’ She told Clara about the pebbles he’d tossed at her bedroom window the night before and their drive to the bay.
Clara swooned. ‘That’s romantic.’
‘Not really. The Silent Finn is back in Finland for a few days, and Chris decided to come home and ask his dad about backing the festival, which he is, by the way. Isn’t that fantastic?’
Clara nodded. ‘It is. I’ll have to thank him.’
‘As for the pebbles and drive to the bay, Chris was avoiding my dad.’
‘If you say so. The feud’s still going strong, then?’
‘As strong as ever on my dad’s part. I can’t speak for Mr Dorrance. But I did learn it has something to do with Mam.’
Clara’s eyes rounded. ‘They fought over her? Like a duel.’
‘I think we’d have heard about it if a duel had taken place on Main Street, Clara. You’re a hopeless romantic.’ Grace shrugged. ‘Truth is, I don’t know. They won’t tell me. If Dad would come clean, maybe I could understand his issue with Mr Dorrance, but from where I’m sitting, he’s behaving like a child.’
‘Have you told him about you and Chris?’
‘House-sharing. Yes. I had to, given we’re organising the festival together. Dad picked me up from the bus station in Galway yesterday, and I told him on the drive home. Let’s just say it was the longest car trip ever.’
‘That bad?’
‘Yep.’ Grace checked the time. ‘I’m done thinking about it, though. I’m focusing on what I came home for, and that’s the festival.
‘And to see how your poor friend here’s coping.’ Clara grinned.
‘Of course! And I can’t wait to call round later and see Alfie. Don’t tell him I’m coming, OK?’
‘OK.’
‘I have to head off soon to fetch Hannah from the Shamrock, then we’ll head across the road to the Bus Stop. Chris is picking us up there at midday. We’re going to check out Enda’s farm. He’s after letting us use one of his fields for the venue. You’re welcome to come along for the ride.’
‘I’d love to, but leaving Mam with Alfie isn’t fair. I said I’d only be an hour or so, and I don’t want her thinking I’m taking advantage now I’m back under her and Dad’s roof.’
Grace nodded her understanding.
‘I can’t believe how much you’ve managed to organise already. It’s so exciting!’ Clara let out a squee. ‘You’re amazing, Grace, no pun intended there, and so’s Chris – I shall tell him the same thing when I see him. Emerald Bay’s not going to know what’s hit it.’
Clara started laughing – and rather manically as it happened.
‘What’s so funny?’ Grace asked.
‘I just pictured Mrs Tattersall’s face when she hears about this.’ She mimed holding a phone. ‘“Sergeant Badger, what are you going to do about all these hooligans disturbing the peace?”’
‘Oh dear. She’s already in a tizz over Mr Kenny riding his scooter into the pub. Have you signed their petitions?’
‘Mr Kenny’s, yes. I hide when I see Mrs Tattersall coming.’
‘That reminds me. I haven’t told you about Shannon’s klepto cat, Napoleon.’ Grace lowered her voice to a whisper in case anyone in the cafe happened to be missing their knickers, and the two friends were bent over the table, tears of laughter streaming down their cheeks.
Carmel stared at them when she came to collect the empty plate with its smattering of cake crumbs and mumbled something about them having too much sugar before leaving them to it.