Chapter Thirty-Two
They keep Granny in for another day, just to be sure, before finally letting her go home.
She’s shaken, but otherwise uninjured, and when Callum drives the two of us back, we find a brand-new ramp installed by the front door, courtesy of Jack, according to the men who installed it.
Plankton is also beside himself. The two days might as well have been two decades with how he acts when he sees her again and he doesn’t leave her side, not even to go to the bathroom.
I’ll admit I’m equally as cautious for the first twenty-four hours, watching the woman like a hawk, even though I know it annoys her.
But eventually I’m pulled back to my other responsibilities and resume the rest of my neglected life.
It’s a little strange how quickly the village empties, and even stranger how odd it feels once they do.
Even though it’s normal and is how it always is, I can’t help but feel like Ennisbawn is a little like a ghost town over the next few days.
A small part of me even starts to look forward to the hotel opening, to people walking around.
But right now, I have to deal with more pressing matters.
The cleanup.
“Have you figured out where we’re going to store all this stuff?” Gemma asks, as Nush lays another bag of bunting by my feet.
“That’s a problem for tomorrow.”
“That’s what you said yesterday.”
“And it still stands,” I say, as Adam sticks his head through the back door of the pub. He and Noah have been clearing out the wishing well all morning and his face is already a little sunburned.
“Is Callum here yet? I need his help lifting something.”
“He went back to his to get some packing tape,” I say, checking the time on my phone. “But he should be back any minute.”
“I can lift things,” Nush says.
“You weigh a hundred pounds.”
“Yeah, of muscle.”
He turns back to me. “Send him out when he’s here, yeah?”
“You’ve got it.”
“Half of lifting is how you lift,” Nush argues, following him out to the patio. I head out front, wondering where Callum got to.
I don’t have to wonder for long.
I spot the Jeep first, gleaming in the sunlight.
And then I spy the brothers next to it. I immediately tense, watching the two of them talk.
The body language is…not great. They both stand rigidly, several feet apart.
I know Callum still hasn’t spoken with Jack since their argument and every time I’ve tried to bring it up (which has been frequently the last few days), he either ignores me or kisses me to shut me up.
But he obviously got tired of waiting and it’s Jack who spots me first, nodding over Callum’s shoulder to where I linger. I relax a little at the grin Callum sends me and don’t hesitate when he beckons me to them.
“Everything alright?” I ask, trying to sound more blasé than hopeful.
“Everything’s great,” Callum says. He draws me into his side, that grin still plastered across his face. “Jack has something he’d like to say.”
Jack gives him a look. “Seriously?”
“Oh, extremely. After you.”
I shoot Callum a confused look as Jack turns stiffly to me. “Katie, I wanted to apologize for the last few months. Both regarding my handling of Kelly’s and your relationship with my brother. I hope you can forgive me.”
“He’s been doing a lot of soul searching,” Callum whispers, earning himself a sharp look.
“I have not ,” Jack says. “You’re just—”
“Apology accepted,” I interrupt, not wanting another fight on my hands. Brothers. “Thanks, Jack.”
“And thanks for looking after her and Maeve,” Callum says, turning serious. “I’ll never forget it.” He starts forward, only to stop when Jack grimaces.
“What?” Callum grins. “Afraid I’ll wrinkle your suit?”
“Yes, actually I— okay.” Jack stiffens as his brother draws him in for a hug. “Alright, thank you.”
Callum takes pity on him, slapping him on the back before releasing him.
“We don’t have to hug,” I tell Jack, when his eyes go to me. He looks relieved.
“You’re good here?” he asks in a careful tone, and Callum nods.
“I am,” he says. The two words so simple yet meaning so much.
The brothers stare at each other for a moment and then Jack clears his throat. “I’ll see you in two weeks,” he says with a businesslike nod before turning to me. “You’ll be fine.”
I’m a little confused by that last comment, but I wait until he returns to his car before I nudge Callum.
“What’s in two weeks?”
“Family dinner,” he says pleasantly, and I go rigid.
“What?”
“My parents are visiting the area. They invited you.”
“They…what?”
“They found a nice restaurant in the city. I hope you like seafood.”
“I’m meeting your parents ?”
“You don’t want to?”
“Of course I want to!” I exclaim. “But didn’t you hear my accent story?”
“I’ll warn them in advance.” His eyes slide to mine, his expression softening when he sees how nervous I look. “Seriously, Katie. Relax. They’ll love you.”
“You can’t know that. How do you know that?”
“Because I love you. And I’m the favorite child.”
That doesn’t make me feel any better, but he grabs my hand before I can worry further and leads me around the pub to where the others have joined Adam and Noah by the well.
When we stopped being able to hear splashes of water at the bottom of it, we figured we’d better bring all the contents up.
Adam’s getting a professional to come out and look at it next week, but, for now, we’re having fun with an old-fashioned rope and bucket situation to dig up our treasure.
So far, as well as the expected coins, we found a fifty-dollar note sealed in a ziplock bag, a wedding ring that we’ve already posted online, hoping to reunite with its owner, and a number of trinkets, charms, and thingamabobs that make me think most people don’t know how wishing wells work.
Then again, it’s not like there’s a rule book. Shoot your shot, I guess.
“We’re putting up a sign next year,” Adam says, when he spots me. “Only coins allowed.”
He plucks a stuffed animal from the bucket to prove his point and tosses it to Nush, who adds it to her collection.
“I found another ten euro,” Noah says, rifling through his own pile. He stares at the plastic bag for a long second before handing it over. “What are we going to do with all of it?”
Gemma makes another note on her spreadsheet. “We’re giving it to a children’s charity.”
“ I’m a child,” he points out, and she ducks her head to hide her smile.
Callum meets my eye and nods toward the back door, which Adam just disappeared through. My good mood vanishes, replaced by nerves and a distinct feeling of I don’t wanna , but he just gives me a look, ignoring my pout until I force myself to head inside.
The door to his office is open, but I knock on it anyway, swinging inside to see Adam working on his laptop.
“Hey, boss.”
“Hi there.” He does a double glance, pausing when he sees the look on my face. “You seem chirpy.”
“I’m always chirpy.”
“You’re right. I guess the word I’m looking for is smug.”
“And I’m always smug. I just hide it well.” I close the door, ignoring the urge to put myself back on the other side. “Do you have a minute?”
“Sure.”
“Really? Because I can come back.”
He gives me a patient smile. “What do you need, Katie?”
I take a seat by his desk, immediately forgetting the entire speech I’d planned. And I mean all of it. Every word. Gone. And Adam lets me sit there and stare at him for approximately ten seconds before he realizes it. “What’s up?”
“I want a raise.” The words spill out of me, each one tripping over the other to the point where I’m not sure they’re actually decipherable, but Adam’s expression doesn’t change.
“A raise?”
“Yes,” I say. “I think I deserve a promotion.”
“A promotion or a raise?”
“…both.”
“Okay.” He settles back, lacing his hands across his stomach as he nods for me to continue.
“I know margins are tight,” I begin. “And I know with the new pub at the hotel, they’re going to be even tighter.
But I think I’ve more than proven my loyalty to this place.
I work hard. I never miss a shift except when I’m sick.
My theme nights have gone down a treat, and I am always looking for ways to improve how we do business.
I’ve also helped you with finances the last two years and, therefore, I know we have some wriggle room in the budget, and with everything I’ve done the last few months, I think I more than deserve to take the next step in my career and—”
“I agree.”
“—help you run this place on a more…” I trail off, blinking at him. “You do?”
“Yes.”
“With what?”
“All of it.”
“Oh. I mean, good,” I add hastily, trying not to sound too surprised. “Great.”
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” he continues, while I just sit there, buzzing. “Before everything happened with Glenmill. But I was waiting to see if you wanted to spread your wings a bit first. The last thing I wanted to do was tie you down here.”
“Very considerate,” I agree. “So, what are you thinking? Because I’m thinking head bartender.”
“I was thinking business partner.”
“I know the title is a bit of leap, but I think it will…come again?”
“You got a hundred quid?”
“On me?”
He grins and I freak inwardly. Adam doesn’t grin. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him grin in my life, but he’s looking at me now like he’s got some big secret and is waiting for me to catch up.
It takes me a second. A very long one.
“Nu-uh.”
“You said you wanted a promotion.”
“Yeah, but I meant like a normal one. I can’t own a pub.”
“Co-own.”
“I mean, surely, I need a business degree or something,” I say, ignoring him.
He just shrugs. “I have one and I barely use it.”
“Yeah but—”