10 #2
Jamie nods and holds up his palm to shush his audience.
At least a third of them are on their feet, shouting at him to tell them what he knows.
I wish Sarah was here – she’d march Jamie right back to his seat.
Or even Pat – he’d put him in his place with a witty takedown.
But Sarah has a late meeting and Pat’s off sunning himself in Spain.
I scan the room for any sign of support, and my eyes land on Flynn.
He gives me a reassuring nod as if he’s telling me I can handle this. Can I?
‘I have it on good authority,’ Jamie lifts his chin as he booms haughtily, ‘that Patrick McArdle intends to sell his land and his premises to an international plastics company. I’m sure Mr McArdle would prefer that nobody finds out and has a chance to stop him destroying our village.
But I couldn’t keep this from you all.’ He glares down at Flynn.
‘I may have been away for a while, but at least I still care enough to stand up for what’s right. ’
Gertrude sways to one side, and I reach out to grab her before she falls off her chair. ‘But the library, our plans,’ she keens like she’s lamenting at a wake. ‘Surely, Pat wouldn’t do this.’
Finbarr rushes over, wraps his arm around her shoulders, and tells her not to worry; it’s only a rumour, and he doubts that it’s true.
But she stares up at me, her eyes pleading for answers.
And all I have are questions of my own. What plans?
Nobody mentioned any plans to me. Gemma, the county librarian, did say she’d set up a meeting with me soon, but I’ve only been back in Oakwood a month, so she hasn’t had time yet.
I was hoping it might be about assigning another library assistant. We’re getting busier by the week. But I can’t worry about that now, because, according to Jamie, my beloved library is in danger of being swallowed by a monstrous plastics giant. But I can’t imagine Pat ever allowing that.
I look up to see Flynn walking towards the stage, and I mouth the question I’m almost afraid to ask, Is this true?
He shakes his head, but before he reaches me, Jamie starts again.
‘And so, everybody, what I want to say to you—’
No. No way. I’ve had ten years of Jamie taking centre stage. But being back in Oakwood, and working on this festival, has made me feel part of something special again, and I’m not prepared to let Jamie take that away from me.
I dart over and take the mic from his hand. ‘No! We’ve heard more than enough.’
He jerks back in surprise, but I ignore him and step up to the lectern. Gertrude’s in bits, and Finbarr needs to focus on her. Somebody has to take charge. Looks like it’s me.
‘Excuse me, everyone,’ I call. And nobody pays the slightest bit of attention. They’re all head down in huddles, moaning and groaning, as though Jamie’s announced the village is about to blow up.
‘Ciúnas!’ I yell as loud as I can.
Silence descends and I stare at a sea of shocked faces.
I may be a librarian, but I’m not the type to call for quiet, and nobody in Oakwood has even heard me say shush.
I fire a glance to my side, and I see Flynn has stepped up to block Jamie now.
He gives me a reassuring nod, and I take a deep breath.
‘Thank you.’ I address the crowd again, a bit more softly this time.
‘I know Jamie has told you he heard a rumour, and I’m sure we’ve all heard lots of rumours over the last few months.
Only last week it was a pound shop, or a euro store, or whatever, and next week it’ll probably be an Aldi or a Tesco, or maybe even a space station, who knows.
My point is these are all just rumours, and Pat will be back next week, and we can ask him then if any of them are true. ’
I look over at Flynn. He’s still blocking Jamie, and he mouths you’ve got this, and I feel a bit more strength seep into my bones.
Jamie scowls over Flynn’s shoulder, and I shake my head furiously to let him know I have no intention of listening to anything else he has to say. I turn and face the crowd again.
‘We all know Pat well enough to know that he wouldn’t do anything to harm Oakwood,’ I say in my most determined voice. ‘This is his home. He loves this place.’
‘Is that why he’s moving to Spain?’ someone shouts from down the back.
‘I don’t think that’s definite.’ I sigh.
‘But even if he is, he still offered to help with the festival. And that is why we’re here tonight.
If we can make our Halloween festival a vibrant, welcoming event for everyone, we could build on that for next year, maybe even replicate that feeling for more festivals throughout the seasons.
We have so many natural treasures on our doorstep, with the forest, and the lake, and all our beautiful woodland trails.
And we have so much talent and community spirit in our town.
I want us to tap into that and put Oakwood on the map for all the best reasons.
So, please, if we could focus on what’s really important, and forget about rumours and scaremongering for now, until we can ask Pat for more information. ’
I throw a stern glare in Jamie’s direction, and he takes a step towards me, but Flynn blocks him again.
‘Why don’t we ask him?’ Jamie pouts like a sulky child as he points at Flynn’s chest.
‘Because it’s not Flynn’s land. It’s Pat’s,’ I say firmly.
‘That’s okay.’ Flynn shrugs, and holds out his hand, and I pass him the mic.
‘I can’t say much at the moment,’ he says calmly as he faces the crowd.
‘There’s a lot to be signed off on, but one thing I can say is that Gracie’s right.
You do all know Pat, and I want to reassure you that he loves this place.
We both do. Whatever Pat decides to do, whatever happens, the best interests of Oakwood will be at the heart of any future plans. ’
‘So, you haven’t a clue what his plans are,’ Jamie growls.
‘That’s the point, Jamie,’ I snap back. ‘None of us has. If you want to call a meeting of your own to discuss it, go ahead. But not on my time. Now, sit down, and let me wrap up this meeting.’
I feel proud of myself for standing up to Jamie, for insisting that my dreams, my priorities, are important, for me, and for Oakwood. But as I watch him retreat, his snide comments echo in my brain. I really don’t have a clue what Pat’s plans are. And I have even less of a clue about Flynn’s.