Chapter 8
8
Vi’s thoughts were still so full of what she had learned that she was only listening with half an ear to what her grandmother was talking about during their drive into Dingle for lunch a few days later. She had tried to contact both Lily and Rose but only got their voicemails, so she had left a short message to each of them, saying she would be at the gatehouse and would love to see them. There had been no response from either of them, but Vi knew they were busy and maybe also wary about meeting her, so she decided to try to forget about the rift and enjoy spending time with her grandmother. Mending all the fences would be a long process in any case, and she wanted to be patient with her sisters. Especially if it was true that they were both a little stressed.
The view out of the window of the car was an added distraction, as it was a glorious winter’s day with cold winds but bright sunshine from a clear blue sky. The spray of the green-blue waves lashed the shores and the seagulls squawked above them as they got out of the car that Sylvia had parked near the harbour.
‘Oh,’ Vi said as the wind whipped her hair around her face. ‘I’d forgotten how the air feels here when it’s windy. Cold but still soft, salty and sweet at the same time. I love it.’
‘Yes, it’s very special,’ Sylvia agreed as she locked the car. ‘A lot of people don’t understand why I love stormy weather so much. But I know you share that strange feeling. We’re winter girls, aren’t we?’
‘We are,’ Vi said, smiling at her grandmother, who was looking fit and energetic today, her cheeks rosy and her brown eyes sparkling. Her grey hair, cut in a chin-length bob, blew around her face and then settled again into the same perfect shape. She was dressed in a white polo neck under a bright red down jacket and blue trousers, which made her look both chic and warm. ‘And you look like the perfectly dressed Kerry woman, ready for any kind of weather.’
‘That’s nice to hear,’ Sylvia said. ‘But let’s go and get lunch before we blow away. I’ve booked a table in Fins. It’s a new fish restaurant just up the street from here. Lovely views of the bay, if you manage to get a table by the window.’
‘Which you did, no doubt,’ Vi remarked, winking.
‘Of course,’ Sylvia said, zipping up her jacket. ‘Come on,’ she said and led the way up the street and into a charming little restaurant with floaters and fishnets in the ceiling and blue and white tiles on the floor. There was a lovely smell of woodsmoke from the fireplace where logs blazed, making the room warm and comforting after the cold winds outside. They were greeted by a cheerful waiter who showed them to a table by the window and handed them two menus.
‘The special today is chowder with freshly baked brown bread,’ he announced. ‘Mrs Fleury, would you like the usual with that?’
‘Yes, please,’ Sylvia said. ‘And my granddaughter will have the same.’
‘Grand,’ the waiter said and smiled at Vi. ‘Lovely to meet you, Miss Fleury. And congratulations on landing the part of Kathleen O’Sullivan. We’re all very excited to see the movie shot here in Dingle.’
‘Thank you,’ Vi said and looked at her grandmother. ‘What’s the usual?’
‘A small glass of Chardonnay,’ Sylvia said. ‘But don’t worry, it’ll be a while before we drive home.’
‘If that’s all you’ll be drinking, I’m not worried,’ Vi replied. She looked at the waiter. ‘Yes, please. The same for me, then.’
‘Perfect.’ The waiter hesitated. ‘Would you mind if I asked you for your autograph? Better to get it before the stampede, so to speak. Everyone will want one very soon.’
‘Gosh!’ Vi blushed. ‘That’s… Of course. No problem,’ she ended.
‘Great. I’ll get a piece of paper and a pen when I bring you your drinks.’ The waiter smiled and walked off.
Vi stared at Sylvia in shock. ‘Goodness. That’s never happened to me before.’
‘You’ve never been the star of the show before,’ Sylvia said. ‘And of course, the town is buzzing with the news right now after that piece in the paper. It’ll die down soon, though, so enjoy it while you can.’
‘Enjoy it?’ Vi said, horrified. ‘I don’t think I want all the attention on me right now. I’m trying to get used to playing this part and getting to know Kathleen and find out what her early life was like. I thought I’d get some peace and quiet here.’
‘Peace and quiet?’ Sylvia said with an amused smile. ‘After that bombshell in the press? Local girl hits the big time with a starring part in a movie that will be shot in a place everyone knows and loves. How could you expect them not to be excited?’
‘I didn’t realise,’ Vi said. ‘Never thought it would be such a big deal.’ She shook her head and laughed. ‘But when Jack Montgomery rides into town, they’ll forget all about me.’
‘Probably,’ Sylvia agreed. ‘But until then you’ll be in the spotlight.’
‘What do Lily and Rose think about all this?’ Vi asked.
‘I haven’t seen them since the news broke. I spoke to Rose, who thought the actual filming will be good publicity for the gardens and the café. Everyone will want to see where the movie was shot. It’ll be like when Ryan’s Daughter was filmed in Kerry. Long time ago but people still want to see the locations.’
‘I know. Well, that sounds positive, anyway.’
Their drinks arrived and shortly afterwards the waiter brought two steaming bowls of chowder. ‘There you go,’ he said as he carefully placed a bowl in front of each of them. He slipped a piece of paper towards Vi. ‘Could you sign this, please?’ he asked, handing her a pen.
‘Of course.’ Vi quickly scribbled her name on the piece of paper.
‘Thanks a million,’ the waiter said.
He was about to walk away but Vi stopped him with a hand on his arm. ‘Hang on,’ she said. ‘I think I saw chocolate cake on the menu.’
He grinned. ‘Yes, indeed. It comes with whipped cream. You want that after the chowder?’
‘Yes, please,’ Vi replied. ‘A large dollop of whipped cream, please.’
‘No problem,’ he said and walked off.
Vi met her grandmother’s puzzled look. ‘I told you I have to put on weight for my role. They said I’m too skinny and Kathleen was quite curvaceous. Like a lot of women in those days.’
Sylvia laughed. ‘Oh, yes, I remember. Well, isn’t that a nice challenge for you? I’m looking forward to seeing you fill out a bit.’
‘I’m going to do my best,’ Vi said and picked up her spoon. ‘But it’ll be a bit of a struggle. I eat like a horse as it is and never put on weight.’
‘Just like your father,’ Sylvia said. ‘He was skin and bone like you despite his huge appetite.’
‘I didn’t know that,’ Vi said and put down her spoon. ‘I barely know how to picture him.’
‘Well,’ Sylvia said between mouthfuls, ‘he was tall and skinny and had reddish hair and green eyes. Just like you really.’
‘Oh, I know all that,’ Vi said impatiently. ‘But what was he like? I don’t know much about his personality.’
‘He was a very cheerful lad,’ Sylvia said. ‘Always looking on the bright side. Loved fooling around, telling jokes and playing tricks on people. In a nice way, of course. He made people laugh but he didn’t suffer fools gladly either. He was a great judge of character and had everyone taped immediately.’ She paused as her eyes gleamed with unshed tears. ‘I miss him so,’ she whispered.
Vi put her hand on her grandmother’s arm. ‘Of course you do. I’m sorry. Shouldn’t have asked.’ Vi had always been reticent to ask too much about her father, but she’d thought it was finally the right time. Perhaps she was wrong.
‘You have the right to know as much about him as you can,’ Sylvia said. Vi looked across the table at her with a smile, feeling relieved. ‘And I will tell you more soon. We can look at the photos in my albums together.’
‘I’d love that,’ Vi said as her chocolate cake arrived.
‘And now you must eat up,’ Sylvia urged. ‘To be a little sturdier, just like Kathleen O’Sullivan.’
‘I know.’ Vi picked up her spoon. ‘What was that you said about her that night I arrived? I have feeling you know stuff you won’t tell me. Something bad.’
Sylvia shrugged. ‘It’s just gossip and talk that I picked up when I was young. I don’t like to repeat it. You know yourself how things get twisted and changed as people talk about celebrities. No idea how true it was. No smoke without a fire, though, I suppose,’ she ended cryptically.
‘I’d still love to know,’ Vi said, taking a bite of cake and waiting to see if Sylvia would respond. As she didn’t, Vi went on. ‘But if it’s not true, I suppose it wouldn’t be fair. In any case, I’ve found someone who knew Kathleen in the early days.’
‘That someone must be very old by now,’ Sylvia remarked drily.
‘A little over ninety but as sharp as a tack, I’ve heard. She’s an old lady who went to the same dance school as Kathleen. I’m going to call her in about an hour. She has a nap after lunch and then she is as bright as a button, apparently.’
‘I can believe it,’ Sylvia said, smiling. ‘I quite like a nap myself from time to time. It’s very refreshing. So who is this person?’
‘Her name is Fidelma Sheridan,’ Vi said. ‘She lives in Dublin. That’s all I know.’
‘Interesting,’ Sylvia said. ‘Let me know what she says.’
‘I will,’ Vi promised and went back to her cake. ‘This is very good. You want to taste it?’
‘No thanks,’ Sylvia replied, pushing her bowl away. ‘I, unlike you, have to watch my waistline. So I’ll just have a coffee and then we should go. All that talk of naps has made me sleepy, so I think I’ll have a little lie down when I get home.’
‘Okay, Granny,’ Vi said, scraping her plate. ‘Gosh, this putting on weight is quite nice, actually. I hope it works.’
‘It should, the way you laid into that cake.’ Sylvia waved at the waiter. ‘Hello, could you bring us two coffees and the bill please?’ she called.
When they had paid the bill and drunk their coffee, they left the restaurant and walked along the quay for a while ‘to blow the cobwebs away’, as Sylvia put it. Then they got back in the car and drove the short distance to Magnolia Manor, Sylvia stopping to let Vi out at the gatehouse.
‘Thanks for lunch, Granny,’ Vi said as she got out. ‘Give me a shout when you want company and we’ll look through the family albums together.’
‘That’ll be lovely,’ Sylvia said.
Vi went inside and instead tried to think about what she was going to say to the old lady who had known Kathleen O’Sullivan. It might be tricky to get any information out of her, especially if her memory was failing. But she’d have a go all the same. Every lead had to be followed in order to learn as much as possible about the woman whose life must have had many ups and downs through the years. Vi was determined to find out everything she could in order to be as close to the original as she could. She couldn’t wait to talk to this Fidelma Sheridan.