34
I nip to the loo and when I get back, the place is heaving. Sarah and Scott are at our table by the stove. Sarah’s wearing a wild jet-black wig, raven feather collar, with a fake crow glued to her shoulder. Definitely not cosy, but I love it.
I have to weave through half the cast of Derry Girls to reach them, and I make it as one of the trad musicians starts to drum on his bodhran.
‘Flynn’s awake.’ I lean in to make sure Sarah can hear me over the music. ‘Will you help me hand out the signs?’
‘Of course.’ Sarah turns to Scott and yells in his ear. ‘We need you to do lookout, babe, and keep an eye on Moll and Barty.’
‘I’m on it.’ He gives us a thumbs up and follows us out into the fray. We squeeze our way over to the arch to unload the bench, and I wave to Audrey, standing behind the bar in full Sister Michael regalia.
She lifts her handbell and calls, ‘Time!’ Everyone gasps in horror and starts shouting in protest, until she yells, ‘Not closing time, you fools. I mean Gracie’s plan.’
Ten minutes later, everyone has a sheet of cardboard with green lettering, apart from Moll and Barty as I have an even more important job for them.
‘Great costumes,’ I say as I hand each of them a placard. The ones that until this afternoon said Down with Plastic in black caps, now say Stay. Stay. Stay. in bright grassy green.
‘It’s freezing out there,’ Barty grunts as I usher him towards the door.
Moll gives him a dig and pushes him outside.
They’re both wearing padded black coats, woolly hats, and fleece-lined wellingtons.
And they each have an oversized black sack, torn and tied at the collar as a cape.
I’ve no idea who they’re supposed to be, but at least they’ll be warm.
Scott pulls on his long black coat and Nosferatu mask. ‘I’ll wait over on the other side of the road, and I’ll text as soon as I spot Flynn coming up from Hazel Cottage.’
I give him a thumbs up, and Sarah and I grab a table near the door as Finbarr starts the session with an acoustic rendition of ‘When You Were Sweet Sixteen’.
By the time he’s finished, I’m feeling quite emotional, but there’s still no sign of Flynn. Then I feel a blast of icy air as the main door swings wide. I swivel in search of a sexy Twilight vampire. And stare in abject horror as Jamie breezes in.
What the hell? I told him not to come. And Sarah warned him too.
Sarah pulls me back. ‘Stay there and I’ll go get you a wine.’ She glares at Jamie. ‘Piss off, you.’ Then she turns to me. ‘Ignore him, Gracie. I won’t be long. And don’t worry, Flynn will be here soon.’
Jamie hasn’t bothered to dress up, and I’m about to tell him he’s not welcome, but he jumps in first. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not staying, I’m meeting Olivia for dinner. I just wanted to check that you’re okay.’
‘Seriously?’ I arch my brows. ‘Like you care.’
‘Of course I do.’ He huffs frostily. ‘I’ve only ever wanted what’s best for you. And now that Flynn’s back with his ex, I’m sure it can’t be easy.’
I grit my teeth. ‘You know absolutely nothing about Flynn’s relationships.’
‘He hasn’t told you?’ His brows arch, and the smug expression on his face makes me want to hurl.
‘You haven’t seen the photographs?’ He scrolls through his phone then holds it out to me with a face that could curdle the freshest milk.
‘Olivia’s aunt sent these to her yesterday.
She grew up with Flynn’s mother and they’re still friends on Facebook.
But I’m sure these are all over Instagram too. ’
I do my best to ignore him, but he lifts his screen to my face and carries on. ‘It’s for the best, Gracie. You know it is.’
I stare at a photo of a tall, auburn-haired beauty that I know is Natalie, with one arm through Flynn’s, and the other wrapped around Flynn’s mother’s waist. Everybody’s smiling, and relaxed, and so, so together, and my stomach sinks to the floor.
‘Apparently, Elaine has always loved this girl, Natalie, so she’s thrilled it’s all working out. These were taken at his father’s sixtieth, just a couple of days ago. Looks like she’s been welcomed back into the family with open arms.’
‘Are you still here, Jamie?’ Sarah glares at him. She’s back with my wine in double quick time. Audrey must have poured it as soon as she saw Jamie come through the door.
‘Just leaving.’ He shrugs. ‘Check your Instagram, Gracie. Flynn’s tagged in all the photos. I don’t like to say I told you so, but . . .’
Sarah steps past him and pulls open the door. ‘Get the hell out of here,’ she yells, at exactly the same time as my phone pings with a text from Scott:
Flynn’s on his way. At least, I think it’s him coming up the road. He’s practically glowing in the dark.
That’ll be the diamond glitter, I presume. But then again, maybe not. Would he really dress as Edward Cullen for me if he’s happily reunited with Natalie?
I blink back tears as I stare at my phone and try to make up my mind.
I’m not going to cry. I don’t have time anyway.
But should I really leave Moll and Barty out there with placards begging Flynn to stay in Oakwood if he’s already made up his mind?
Even if I can claim they’re asking on behalf of the villagers, and not me.
Then it hits me that I’m letting Jamie control my choices again. And I can’t let that happen. I won’t.
So what if there’s a photo of Flynn linking arms with an old girlfriend?
Even if he was in love with her once. He was in love with me too.
I saw how he looked at me when he told me he’d waited ten years.
I felt how much he wanted me that night.
And I read his letter again before I came out.
I think I’ve been in love with you since the first day you smiled and said hello.
And if you want me to stay, I’ll find a way. Please, Gracie, ask me to stay.
I let him down then, thanks to Jamie. And I should have asked him anyway, even if I never got that letter. I can’t change the past, but I can be braver now.
I stand tall and lift my chin. ‘Signs, everyone,’ I call out. ‘Flynn’s on his way.’
Sarah grabs hers from underneath her stool, and I take mine and disappear down the back to our spot by the stove. I want to watch Flynn’s face as he walks through the crowd and sees everyone holding their signs. And I want to save my signs for last.
It’s almost impossible to see through the throng, so I perch on the table to get a better view, then I take a deep breath and wait for my sexy Twilight vampire to walk through the door.
I clutch my curled fists to my chest as I see Scott’s head appear, followed by his arm in the air, giving me a thumbs up. Then I hear Moll and Barty chanting, ‘Stay. Stay. Stay.’ And everyone joins in. Flynn must be really close.
‘Hold them up properly,’ Sarah yells again and everybody lifts their signs, blocking my view. I climb down from my perch to make my way through.
I peer through the Derry Girls’ ponytails and Sarah’s wicked feathers, and strain to catch a glimpse of diamond glitter or Flynn’s messy fringe. But the only headgear I don’t recognise is fluorescent orange felt, and there’s not a messy Edward bedhead in sight.
Mam comes rushing forward to shoo everyone back. And Pat yells, ‘Make way for Gracie!’ The crowd parts and I see an orange padded pumpkin bumping through the throng. It’s topped with a green-tipped orange hat, twinkling blue eyes, and a mischievous smile.
And it’s making straight for me. Through a sea of smiling villagers holding up their signs. Stay, Flynn, Please, Oakwood for Flynn, and Stay, Flynn, Stay, all scribbled in bright grassy green. Gertrude has improvised with Flynn’s Garden Dreams.
I step out in front of him, feeling every pair of eyes in the bar on my face. But I don’t care.
‘Did you do all of this?’ His eyes are soft on mine. He hesitates before he adds, ‘To make up for the graffiti?’
I shake my head, and Flynn’s shoulders drop, disappointment etched across his face. ‘This wasn’t you?’
‘It was me.’ I reach out and take his hands. ‘But it wasn’t to make up for the graffiti.’ I gulp a breath. ‘I got your letter.’
My gaze drops as I think about the words he wrote. And I spot his padded orange middle with the string of Zzzz’s across the centre. My eyes pop wide as I pull back to take it in. ‘You found a sleepy pumpkin costume!’ I squeal way too loud, but it is really cute.
The whole bar erupts with laughter and my face flames beneath my make-up. I forgot they were still watching.
Flynn laughs so hard his padded middle shakes.
‘Actually, I improvised.’ He taps his chest to catch his breath.
‘I got the costume in Cricket Falls and I put the letters on myself. I thought I’d have to cut up an old shirt, but Pat suggested the party shop in Abbeyville, and they had these stick-on ones.
’ He rubs his middle proudly. ‘I think I look cool.’
‘I think you look hot.’
‘Really?’ He leans closer, and I inhale that sweet verbena smell, and my skin tingles. But then Flynn frowns and pulls back.
‘Hold on. What letter?’ He tugs at his fringe and his floppy orange hat falls to the ground, and I notice Sarah ushering people back to give us more space. They are all still watching, though. And listening.
Flynn drops his voice. ‘I got your letter and I jumped on the next flight. But I didn’t write back. There wasn’t time.’
‘Your first letter, Flynn.’ I reach out and take his hand. ‘The one you wrote before your family left for Cricket Falls.’
His eyes drop to the floor. ‘You mean the one you said wasn’t a proper goodbye? That really hurt, Gracie. Maybe I shouldn’t have told you how I felt, but I wanted to be honest.’