Chapter Sixteen
The large dining room was mostly empty; a couple were staring at each other lovingly over their toast and an older woman was seated at another table reading a book. At the far end she saw that a collection of tables had been reserved – clearly for the coach party. Nick was determined to sit as far away from them as possible in case she got dragged into being an honorary interpreter. A movement caught her eye – at the other end of the room Gabe had risen from his table. Smiling, Nick walked over to say good morning before she even realised what she was doing.
She had plans for the day and chatting to random strangers were not part of them. Even ones that looked so pleased to see her.
‘Hello, again. Would you like to join me?’
Now Nick was stuck. Having walked over she could hardly say no, besides which he seemed to know about dogs, she could quiz him for more information.
‘Thank you. Isn’t this place amazing? I’ve got incredible views over the sea.’
Gabe rolled his eyes dramatically and gave a deep sigh.
‘I, on the other hand, appear to have drawn the short straw. I’m in the new wing with our mutual friends,’ he said inclining his head over to the long table. ‘They are incredibly noisy. They keep visiting each other’s rooms, back and forth, back and forth. I may need ear plugs! Now look, change of topic. I hope you don’t mind but I searched online for nearby pet suppliers. There are a few within thirty miles that will probably have all you need for Ohana.’
Nick looked at him in surprise – that was a helpful thing to do, but did he think she was incapable of doing her own research? Thinking about it, all he knew about her was that she was someone who carried a dog in a bag, didn’t have a clue how to deal with it, and freaked out when she lost her bag. Maybe his first impressions of her weren’t of the cool, calm businesswoman she usually was.
‘That’s so kind of you.’ She broke off her conversation as the waitress came over with some toast and a pot of coffee.
‘Oh, what a little dote!’
The waitress had arrived just as Ohana had woken up and popped her little head out of Nick’s bag. Nick was once more flustered. On the phone the hotel had said the dog would be fine, but she wasn’t convinced.
‘I am so sorry. She was a last-minute present and I didn’t know what to do with her. I couldn’t leave her behind.’
‘Of course you couldn’t,’ said the waitress in a shocked voice. ‘And don’t you worry none, Mum loves dogs, wait ’til I tell her about this little pet.’
With that, she took their breakfast order and headed back to the kitchen.
‘Don’t look worried,’ said Gabe reassuringly as Nick looked after the dog. ‘It’s not like you’ve unleashed a pack of wolves. The most damage that little one can do is lick you to death.’
The noise in the room increased as the coach party arrived, and Gabe gave a mock groan and slumped down in his chair .
‘Save me. If they come over here, please tell them I’m a terribly light sleeper. Where did you learn Mandarin by the way – was it Mandarin?’
Nick watched as the party arrived and settled down. She enjoyed watching how people moved in large groups. The lady with the matching overnight bag saw Nick and gave a little wave before sitting down. Nick waved back and returned her attention to Gabe.
‘Yes, I know some Cantonese and Korean as well, but my Mandarin is better. A lot of my work is based in Asia so I figured I may as well learn the languages.’
‘Just like that?’ laughed Gabe.
Ohana was now wriggling around in her arms, looking for escape, smelling all the new shampoo scents in Nick’s hair, and tickling her bare neck.
‘I’ve got a good ear for languages. On my street were lots of families from Kenya and India, plus several Jamaicans. Then in school there were lots of Vietnamese, Poles and Lithuanians. The English language was very much an also-ran where I grew up.’
‘Sounds like fun?’
‘It was, actually. For all the talk of urban deprivation we had a good time of it.’
A woman had been helping to settle the coach party but now she peeled away and came over to join them.
‘Oh sweet Mary. Roisin said you had a wee dachshund. She’s a sweetheart. May I hold her now?’ The woman stuck her hand out, whether for the dog or a handshake, Nick was uncertain. ‘I’m Mairead Devaney by the way, this is my place. ’
The woman was in her sixties and was dressed in a smart tweed set with a double row of pearls, and smart leather shoes, laced on the side, with a small heel. Every inch the country house proprietor. Nick smiled and passed Ohana across.
‘Roisin said she was an unexpected gift. Honestly, what a thing to do. You must have been at your wits’ end?’
Nick tried to reply but the woman carried on.
‘We have dogs ourselves, but they’re wolfhounds. This little one could probably sleep curled up in their collars. You can get sorted in Clonty’s Pet supplies, up there in Cork.’
Nick nodded at Gabe; it was one of the names on his list. She was about to say as much when Roisin re-appeared with their breakfasts.
‘Tell you what,’ continued Mrs Devaney, ‘why don’t you eat your breakfast in peace and I’ll take Ohana here for a little play in the office?’
Nick was worried; she had gone from being concerned that she had broken house rules to now imposing on this lovely lady’s time. Mairead could see that Nick was about to protest and cut her off.
‘Sure it’s no bother. You’d be doing me a favour and I’ll go further. I’ll sort out this little one when you drive over to Clonty’s. There’s a big storm coming in this evening and it’ll be high tide. You don’t want to be driving then. The causeway can be a bit tricky in a big storm. We’re advising all our guests to be back by mid-afternoon, or they may need to find somewhere else to sleep.’
Nick thanked her for the offer of entertaining Ohana, but now she was worried about the storm warning. As she watched Ohana leave with Mrs Devaney, she gave an embarrassed chuckle.
‘I’ve only been with that little scamp twenty-four hours but I’m already missing her when she’s not with me.’
‘Not surprised, as they say around here, she’s a proper dote, so she is.’ Dropping the atrocious accent he continued, ‘That storm sounds exciting, doesn’t it?’
Exciting wasn’t the word Nick would have used. She was comfortable analysing risk variables and she had decided that a drive to Cork was far beyond her risk parameter for this situation. There were too many things not in her favour. She didn’t drive much at the best of times. She didn’t know her way around this area. The storm could come in early. She already thought the weather was pretty dreadful – no one else did, though, which suggested that the storm was going to be truly beyond her comfort zone. However, she did need to get things for Ohana; if she left straight after breakfast and dashed straight back it should be all right.
‘Can I tag along?’ said Gabe.
Nick looked up from her food in surprise. She hadn’t thought of asking for help but having someone with her would be reassuring.
‘I mean, if I’m not imposing?’
Nick smiled and felt some of the tension leave her shoulders.
‘You would be most welcome. In fact, I was just wondering if it was a good idea. I’m not much of a driver.’
‘Tell you what then. Why don’t I drive, and you can be my trusty navigator? ’
‘You’re on.’ And she leant across to shake his hand. It felt like the right thing to do, two partners in crime about to go on an adventure together but as his hand wrapped around hers in a firm grip, she felt a sense of solidity and rightness that caught her on the hop. He let go of her hand and raised an eyebrow, then laughed.
‘Come on then, Letta. Eat up and let’s go exploring. My day seems to be getting better already.’
Nick knew she should feel uncomfortable about that handshake – it was clear that it had caught Gabe off guard as well – but instead, it seemed to cement something between the pair of them, and they both started chatting about the various adventures they had been on. Gabe almost won with his tales of mud slides in Nicaragua on a motorbike but had to concede to Nick’s tale of shopping in Camden on Christmas Eve.
As she finished her breakfast, she wondered about how relaxed she felt for the first time in weeks. Gabe’s easy company was a tonic, and he was great to just chat to. Almost reluctantly she finished her breakfast but was now looking forward to the drive. Gabe checked his watch.
‘What time shall we head off?’
Having agreed to meet up in half an hour, Nick went to the main desk and found that Mrs Devaney was more than happy to have Ohana for the day.