Chapter 32
‘I’ve been a fool, Nora.’ Liam Kelly’s hands were clasped and resting on his belly as he lay in his hospital bed. He didn’t expect a reply. Thinking out loud was what he was doing, because he wanted to go home. Things needed to be put right. Where was Dr Jassim? Until the good doctor, whom he was yet to be convinced wasn’t a sixteen-year-old playing dress-up with a stethoscope, gave him the all-clear to be discharged, this was where he’d stay.
Somehow, three days had passed since he’d been airlifted here to Galway Hospital, where a stent had been placed in his artery to open the blocked vessel.
Post-surgery, Dr Jassim had reassured him he’d be back to his old self in no time, although Nora had been quick to inform him he would not. Liam Kelly would be turning over a new leaf, one which would see him cutting out the bad fats, sugar and salt he’d such a penchant for from his diet. ‘Watch this space, Dr Jassim,’ she’d said. ‘My husband’s going to be a new and improved version of the fella you see lying here in front of you.’
Liam hadn’t argued with her, because he felt too badly over the scare he’d given Nora and all his family, especially Grace. He’d seen it in their eyes as they’d flouted the visiting rules and squeezed around his bed. Grace had only just managed to talk Ava out of getting on the first flight home, reassuring her twin that their dad would be OK. He’d had a good chat with his youngest daughter and told her in no uncertain terms she was to stay put. It was all a big fuss over nothing, a bit of a fright, was all.
Liam knew his wife well enough to know he would be on a diet of green smoothies and seeds from hereon in. Even his dear mammy and trusted food ally was a convert to this healthy new diet he’d be going on – she’d patted his hand as she’d told him all about the cookbook she was after buying from Quigley’s Quill: From Leaf to Feast – A Kale Cookbook. Janey Mack! They were going to kill him with kindness, he’d thought while telling his mam he couldn’t wait to get home. Kitty Kelly had just pressed her lips together and told him sarcasm didn’t become him, and she’d not have her son going the same way as his poor late da.
At least he didn’t need to be worrying about the Shamrock. It was in the safe hands of the girls, with Hannah having stayed on to help Imogen manage it, freeing their mam up to be here with him. As for Grace, he didn’t like to think about what would have happened if she hadn’t decided there was still unfinished business between them and turned back on that track. Never had he been so grateful to have children who answered him back. It was a miracle she’d not done too much damage to that leg of hers. Rest, ice and elevation had been prescribed, and Nora was insistent she stay on at the pub, where she could keep an eye on her until it was better. It was just as well she could work anywhere, because otherwise, who’d be tiding her over with her share of the ridiculous rent she was after paying for a shoebox in London? Was it any wonder his heart was after giving him bother what with five daughters? he thought, realising Nora was looking at him expectantly.
‘What was that, love?’
‘I said you might be a fool, Liam, but you’re my fool, and I love you.’
His eyes misted at that, and he stopped twiddling his thumbs, reaching out to take her hand. ‘I’m also a lucky man, Nora Kelly.’ His big pawlike hand closed over his wife’s as the years fell away, and he remembered the day she’d finally noticed him.
The Shamrock’s interior was dim thanks to the timber floors, walls, ceiling beams and bar. In winter, it offered a cosy ambience with an open fire crackling; on a sweltering summer’s day, there was sanctuary from the sun; and between seasons, it was a place to pass the time of day with your friends and neighbours. Liam often thought he’d not know whether it was raining or sunny outside if not for the small windows looking out onto the street. Not that he minded. Working here at the pub suited him very well, because the Shamrock and the people who frequented it were his home and the pub his birthright. Besides, one Kelly son had already up and left, making it clear he wouldn’t be back, so even if he’d wanted to spread his wings, he would have stayed. Oh, his mam put a brave face on things, but he knew his younger brother’s leaving under a cloud had broken her heart, so Liam had resolved to make sure it wasn’t broken twice. He’d be the best son a man could be to his mam and da.
He was chatting to Ollie Quigley, home from college, where he was doing business studies, to see his sweetheart Rita Doyle. He reeked of Brut aftershave and was wearing one of those new tracksuits that were all the go. It was fair to say Liam had tracksuit envy as he drilled him over where he’d bought it, resolving to take a shopping trip into Galway one day soon. How was a man supposed to attract a girlfriend when his mam still bought his clothes?
When Nora stepped through the pub door that evening, she illuminated the old place with her warm smile. As she leaned over the bar to call out a hello, he caught the heady scent of her perfume. This was a miracle in itself, given he’d not thought he’d ever get the Brut smell out of his nostrils. She smelled like an exotic flower, and he wished it was a barrel he was after carting about, or something more manly than polishing the glasses, as he stood talking to Ollie, but there you go, someone had to do it.
She was wearing her chestnut hair loose tonight, and it shone with glints of red and gold under the lights. Her chocolatey eyes glinted with anticipation of the evening stretching ahead, and her lips were the same deep shade of red as her dress. Liam’s pulse quickened in response to her proximity, because she was close enough he could have kissed her if he wanted to, and he wanted to. Of course, he didn’t, and put the glass and cloth he’d been holding down, hoping she didn’t notice the tremble in his hand.
‘How’re you, Liam?’ Nora enquired, barrelling on before he could reply he was grand or fair to middling or whatever. ‘I’m meeting Mark here for a quick drink before heading to my friend Cynthia’s sister’s engagement party. You might know her – sure, everybody knows everybody around these parts – Cynthia Pike?’
Liam shook his head, wishing he did know who this Cynthia was, because then he’d have some common ground with Nora other than Mark.
‘Well, you’re welcome to join us if you can be spared. It’s a shame you have to work on such a gorgeous night.’
Liam knew his da would give him the night off if he asked, and the thought of spending an entire evening in the company of the intoxicating Nora Kelly was tempting, but three was a crowd. Mark might not appreciate him crashing his party, so to speak. ‘Oh, I don’t mind working. At any rate, it’s more socialising than working.’
‘Fair play to you,’ Nora replied, her mouth curving as he fetched her a drink. He didn’t need to ask what she’d be having. He set about pouring her a brandy and lemonade, checking his dad wasn’t in earshot as he slid it toward her with a chivalrous, ‘It’s on the house.’
‘Thanks a million.’
But the smile Liam received would’ve been worth an ear bashing from his da over giving away the profits, he decided, watching her make her way to the snug. Had she carved hers and Mark’s initials in the timber tabletop there? he wondered as his mam appeared through the connecting door to their living quarters and gave him short shrift.
‘Those tables won’t clear themselves, son.’
Half an hour later, as Liam set the glass washer to run, there was no sign of Mark, and the last time he’d done the rounds clearing the tables, he’d seen Nora tucked away in that snug, her hands wrapped around her tumbler but her hair having fallen like stage curtains, shielding her face from view. That cock-o’-the-walk friend of his had stood her up, he realised, because if he was running late, he’d have rung the pub and left a message.
‘Do you need it spelled out to you, son?’
Liam looked toward his mam, her red curls a halo around her head, the coins that Enda Dunne was after passing over for the Guinness he insisted Liam or Finbar Kelly pour in her hand. ‘What are you on about, Mam?’
‘Sort Enda out, then take a drink over to the girl and one for yourself.’ Kitty Kelly’s blue eyes were sharp as a tack.
His mam didn’t miss a beat, Liam thought, trying not to rush the pouring of Enda’s pint, because that would be akin to sacrilege.
A haze of blue-grey smoke floated in the light as Liam carried the drinks over to the snug, and when Nora looked up, he could see her eyes were overly bright. At that moment, he could have punched his friend in the nose for making her cry. But Mark wasn’t here, and he was, so he set the brandy and lemonade down in front of her, holding his pint uncertainly. ‘I thought you could do with a refill. I’m, er, I’m on my break. Would you mind if I join you?’
Nora’s smile was wan, but he took it as a yes, sliding in opposite her.
‘Sláinte.’ She raised her glass, and he picked up his, clinking it against hers.
She didn’t look at him as she gulped her drink, which made Liam brave. ‘Does that invitation still stand?’
‘Sorry?’ Nora raised her gaze, her thoughts obviously a million miles away.
‘To the party. Sure, I could do with a break away from this place.’
Nora shrugged. ‘To be honest, I didn’t want to go in the first place. Cynthia’s sister’s an awful smug eejit.’
‘A walk, then? You said it yourself: it’s a gorgeous evening. It would be a shame to waste it holed up here now.’
Nora’s gaze put him in mind of Van Morrison’s ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ as she eyed him thoughtfully. He willed her to say yes.
‘That sounds a grand idea,’ she said just as he’d convinced himself she was going to tell him thanks but no thanks, she was going to go home.
They knocked back their drinks, and then Liam, torn between excusing himself to tell his mam he was taking the rest of the night off and not wanting to leave Nora’s side lest she change her mind, caught his mam’s eye. Her wink told him to go, and so without a backwards glance, he held the door open for Nora and stepped outside onto Main Street.
If you were to ask him later where they’d walked that night, he couldn’t have told you. He could recall every word they’d exchanged, though. How he’d laughed over her stories about the clientele that frequented the posh hotel she worked at over in Kilticaneel. He’d fallen head over heels for Nora Nolan that night, and by some miracle, she’d fallen for him, too.
‘Earth to Liam.’
Liam blinked, clearing the memories away to focus on the present, because Dr Jassim was walking down the ward toward them. He greeted them with a cheerful good morning, checked his notes and told Liam he was happy for him to go home. There was no reason for life not to resume as usual, so he’d no excuses for lying about recuperating on the sofa, the doctor said, smiling, and they both laughed as though this was a great joke, the way you did when you were relieved.
‘Thank you, Dr Jassim,’ Nora said.
Liam reiterated this, grateful he’d had a second chance. He wouldn’t waste it. The first thing he’d do when he got home to Emerald Bay was something he should have done a long time ago.
Face his demons – or, rather, Mark Dorrance. It was time to put things right between them.