Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
‘How’s it goin’, Kate? Am just checking in on the ticket sales for Friday night.
’ Dan does a double take as he sees me. ‘Oh? Maggie?’ His arm flies out wide and his hand waves as he looks at me quizzically but I notice that his eyes take me all in.
Immediately, I feel my face flush. My mouth dries up.
‘Hi Dan.’ I manage, turning my back on him and busying myself unnecessarily in my satchel. He crowds this tiny back room. He has a presence like no other man I’ve ever encountered and it’s completely disconcerting. Kate looks at me, then at Dan, then at me again and back to Dan.
‘Is it me or did a bow just shoot across this room?’ Comically she does three double takes again.
‘Get away outta that, Kate O’ Toole.’ Dan moves past her to the round table where she left the pink booklet of tickets. ‘These all the tickets we have left?’
‘Right. Yes, I’m not doing too bad actually, I think I sold another eight.
Jimmy has that English couple – swingers apparently, according to Betsy – out on a private heritage trip.
He’s showin’ them all around Heartwell, so I sold them a pair of tickets too!
’ Kate looks pleased with herself as I just stand there, my back against the wall, observing.
I know exactly what they are talking about and feel like I’m a part of this conversation, but I am in fact a total outsider who only arrived yesterday. How can that be?
‘Why are they not stayin’ at the castle?’ Dan quizzed Kate.
‘More backpackers, they’re above the café in that new Airbnb Syd and Marv set up.’ Kate rolls her eyes under her heavy fake eyelashes.
‘Bloody hell, Heartwell doesn’t need anymore feckin’ Airbnbs!’ Dan’s eyes cloud over as he pulls out a chair and sits down. The heaviness seems to fall over him again. He crosses his left leg over his right, his boot balancing on his sturdy thigh, props his chin in his hand.
‘Maggie here is a high-flying reporter from New York, asking about love and the long-lasting marriages from the castle. Should I tell her to talk to our famous Lord Bachelor of the village? We’re sick of trying to get that fella married off, aren’t we?’ Kate laughs as Dan shakes his head.
‘Ye all need to leave that poor man alone, is what ye need to do. He’s exhausted with ye all.
I’ve told him he needs a holiday. A sunny one.
He’s looking at going to Thailand, says he may never come back.
I wouldn’t be surprised.’ Dan stretches his arms above his head as his shirt rises and I see a glimpse of his taut, toned stomach.
‘We’ve met, a few times, isn’t that right, Maggie? We’re old friends at this stage.’
‘More like frenemies!’ But I crinkle my nose and smile warmly at him. He returns my smile. For some reason it feels like we’ve just broken the ice.
‘Ah, of course ya have met above in the castle. Keep yer clothes on, Dan, we have guests.’ Kate playfully pokes him.
Dan fixes his shirt, tucking one side into his jeans. My eyes dip and he catches me looking down before I stare in deep concentration at the thatched roof above us, only short of whistling my way out of this one.
‘I had to spin Séamus and Kathleen home from the wedding last night, ya know, he was fierce confused,’ Dan tells Kate with sorrow swimming in his voice.
‘I ended up letting Kathleen sleep in the spare room and I sat up with him until he fell asleep in the early hours of the morning.’ Dan stifles a yawn.
I wonder if this explanation is also for my benefit because he didn’t return last night or am I being totally nuts?
‘Poor Séamus, but you’re so good to him, Dan, so good to Kathleen too.
But did ya hear he wandered out toward the lake last week?
Kath nearly had a nervous breakdown. I’m not sure how much longer that poor woman can mind him for.
Aisling has her own life to live now too.
She’s helped Aaron and Kath for so long with him but she wants a baby right away.
There’s another great love story for ya, Maggie, those pair had the most wonderful marriage before Séamus was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s three years ago,’ Kate tells me, finishing her orange.
‘Ah sure, we’ll all help her. We’ll be okay. He’s not going into any home.’ Dan sounds determined.
‘’Tis okay you saying that, Dan, but it’s his safety we need to be concerned with now,’ Kate tells him but with a soft sigh.
I sit down, open my MacBook on my lap, feeling like I’m eavesdropping on a private conversation, so I begin to type the names of Esther and Michael. Dan stands, slowly flicks through the tickets book, reading the names written on the back, then looks at me questioningly.
‘She’s interested in our marriages. I’m helping her with her article,’ Kate explains.
‘Not personally!’ I add with another unglamorous snort. ‘I’m not the marrying type,’ I say, looking for my composure.
‘Maybe you’re just not with the right man,’ Dan replies and before I can answer Kate says, ‘Well, I’m with the right man but my chances of a happily-ever-after marriage are precarious!’ She sounds defeated.
‘I wish I could help yis, Kate, you know my hands are tied.’ Dan shakes his head.
‘It’ll be grand, Dan, don’t be mindin’ me. You better be coming to the wedding? You missed Betsy’s divorce party when you were in America,’ Kate says but again emotion peppers her voice. ‘There ya go, Maggie. Prime example – Betsy married up in Dublin.’
‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world, but I’m glad I missed the divorce party, stupid things.’
‘I tell ya what if you’d married Denise, I bet you’d have a different opinion.’ Kate tilts her head at him, her ponytail swinging.
They both laugh as my ears prick up. A feeling of insane jealousy washes over me for a man I don’t know and a woman I’ve never met!
‘If I’d married Denise, I’d be in a straightjacket!’
‘Where did you say you were getting married again, Kate?’ I ask abruptly, pretending I didn’t hear all that.
‘The Moritz Hotel. It’s a small hotel on the outskirts of Galway that my aunt manages.
Just holds fifty. We’re supplying our own food and drink.
It’s just the room really and she’s giving us the hire for free.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, I’m gonna go call Esther and Michael, see if they are up for a visit?
In fairness, they love nothing more than to talk about themselves, isn’t that right, Dan?
’ Kate pulls her phone out from the pocket of her knee-length denim skirt.
I watch her dial a number and press her phone to her ear as she walks away, pushing open the swinging doors with her foot.
‘You’re looking to interview them?’ Dan asks me with a narrowing of his dark eyes.
‘If possible.’ I nod.
‘Just don’t drive into their front porch and kill them now, do ya hear?’ Dan’s eyes holds mine again but with what I recognise now as a flash of mischief in them as he crosses the room.
‘You really should consider a career in comedy,’ I pretend to look out over the doors, ‘maybe you can go on after the band?’
‘Blue suits you.’ Dan’s eyes roam.
‘Oh—’ He stops me in my tracks with the unexpected compliment as I look down to my sweater. When I look up, Kate has stepped back in and Dan nods at me as he passes her. I realise I’m holding my breath.
‘Alright, the pub is sending them a plate of freshly caught fish and chips for their lunch tomorrow. Esther said if you can take them over, they’ll have a chat with ya?’ Kate squashes her phone back into her front pocket as I release a long exhale. ‘Y’all right?’ Kate’s shoulders hunch in wonder.
‘I’m fine, bit jet lagged is all, only hitting me now,’ I fabricate.
‘A hot whiskey, thick white batch bread toasted with melted cheddar cheese, tomato and onion and you’ll go out like a light. Ask the kitchen up at the castle to rustle you up one.’
‘I’ll try that and thanks so much for setting that interview up for me.’ Delighted, I beam at Kate. If this goes well it can be my second interview for the article. Then I can write around Aisling and Aaron’s wedding. ‘One more favour?’ I ask her.
‘Go on? I’ll have to start chargin’ ya for my time,’ she jokes, tipping her finger off her wrist watch.
‘You and Jimmy,’ I look to Kate’s simple diamond engagement ring, ‘could I interview you guys?’ I ask hopefully. Ever since I spoke to Kate at the wedding, I’ve been thinking they would be a brilliant third and final interview for my piece.
‘Us?’ Her eyes widen. ‘In a New York magazine? I’m all for it but I need to ask Jimmy first.’
‘Of course,’ I say, nodding.
‘Better get back out there, it’s my night to volunteer. Check back with me tomorrow? Shit! He didn’t spot the bucket, did he?’ Kate lifts the bucket up as I shut my MacBook.
‘Dan? No, I don’t think so. Why?’ It’s only then I see the writing on the bucket: SAVE CASTLEMOON.
‘We’re trying to raise extra funds on the side. A few of us have been collecting all year. We’ve quite the haul in the credit union. Look, I better fly, my bucket’s not nearly full enough.’
‘But where will I find you tomorrow?’ I jump in, following Kate. What the hell is going on that people are fundraising so damn hard for a castle that is being sold?
‘At the organic market, drop in any time after ten.’ Kate exits through the swinging doors. ‘I’m on the till,’ she calls over her shoulder.
I push the doors and the sound of the trad band serenades my ears. Once again, I squeeze though the heaving crowd, this time happily saying a few hellos to familiar faces as I sit back down on my stool.
‘I put a fresh head on the Guinness for you. Sláinte, we say here.’ Gráinne grins.
‘Sláinte!’ But as I raise my glass the pub falls silent. ‘What the—’
I look at Gráinne who smiles, leans on the bar top, her finger over her lips.
‘A sean-nós song, in Irish,’ Gráinne says quietly as an older woman begins to sing. The woman’s voice is so sweet that even though I don’t understand the words, it moves me tremendously, so much so that a lump forms in my throat and my eyes fill with tears. The song ends to rapturous applause.
‘Sure you’re not Irish?’ Gráinne laughs, hands me a tissue as I blow my nose and pick up my Guinness.
‘Drink up. I’ll walk you home if you like? We can stroll back through Heartwell village and I’ll show you the sights?’ Dan stands in front of me now and instantly I nod in agreement, but as I finish my drink, I’m already wondering what the hell I am doing.